Two Rings, Shattering the Limit Theory

For two consecutive days, Lu Yan and the Guard Team traveled through the outskirts of Sunset Forest, yet found nothing.

Spirit-type Soul Beasts were already rare and difficult to track. On top of that, Lu Yan had specific requirements regarding the species and traits of the Soul Beast, making the search even more difficult.

It was not until the afternoon of the third day that Gao Shi, relying on the sharp senses of a Soul King, finally discovered a Spirit-type Soul Beast in the grass.

"What a pity." After examining it carefully, Gao Shi shook his head regretfully. "This Three-tailed White Fox exceeds the theoretical absorption limit for a Second Soul Ring. Otherwise, with its rare Spirit Attribute, it would have been the best choice."

Lu Yan fixed his gaze tightly on the Soul Beast.

Its fur was white as snow, and its body was no bigger than that of an ordinary kitten. Yet three enormous, fluffy fox tails swayed behind it, while intelligent light flickered in its eyes.

This is the one.

"Uncle Gao, I want it." Lu Yan's tone was firm and decisive.

Gao Shi frowned deeply and patiently tried to persuade him in a low voice. "Young Master, do not act rashly.

"According to the theory proposed by Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, the absorption limit for a Soul Master's Second Soul Ring is 764 years. This Three-tailed White Fox has cultivated for over nine hundred years. Forcing the absorption could lead to a Body Explosion."

"Uncle Gao," Lu Yan sighed helplessly and asked, "do you truly believe that something written by a man whose own Soul Power Level was trapped at level twenty-nine for life, unable to advance even a step further, is absolute truth?"

"Isn't it...?" Gao Shi was stunned.

He himself had cultivated step by step according to those widely circulated theories, and nothing had gone wrong.

"Of course not." Lu Yan spoke firmly. He was particularly eager to overturn Yu Xiaogang's seemingly authoritative theories. Raising a hand, he pointed at the Three-tailed White Fox in the distance. "Uncle Gao, then tell me—how many years has this Three-tailed White Fox cultivated for exactly?"

Gao Shi replied confidently, "More than nine hundred years. There can be no mistake." As a Soul King, he still possessed that much perception.

"Exactly how far past nine hundred years?" Lu Yan pressed.

"Nine hundred..." Gao Shi fell silent, unable to answer for a moment.

When Soul Masters identified the cultivation age of Soul Beasts, they generally first determined the species using the Soul Beast Compendium, then roughly judged the range through the strength of its Soul Power Fluctuation.

As for pinpointing the exact year, he truly could not do that.

Lu Yan shook his head. "Uncle Gao, forget the cultivation age of Soul Beasts—even with a person's age, unless they tell you themselves, who can see through it at a glance?

"Take me, for example. I am nearly eight years old and already close to one and a half meters tall, almost ten centimeters taller than many children my age. If I did not tell you, could you accurately determine my age?

"Let alone Soul Beasts of different species. No one can judge it precisely."

Gao Shi opened his mouth, unable to refute him.

"But..."

"Rest assured, Uncle Gao. I know my limits. I would absolutely not joke with my own life.

"Please do as I say."

Lu Yan had already given the order, and seeing this, Gao Shi no longer insisted.

He had been paid for this trip. Since the employer had made his decision, all he needed to do was carry it out.

Gao Shi gave the team members a solemn order. "Protect the Young Master."

Before his words had even faded, Gao Shi had already entered Martial Soul Possession. Holding a Wolf Soul Spear, five Soul Rings—two yellow, two purple, and one black, the optimal configuration—flashed beneath his feet.

After only a few exchanges, accompanied by a shrill cry, Gao Shi returned to Lu Yan carrying the white fox by the neck. It had been subdued and had completely lost the ability to resist.

"Young Master, absorbing a Soul Ring is no trivial matter. We are only responsible for protecting you and hunting the Soul Beast.

"If you insist on absorbing it, any accidents during the process and their consequences must be borne by you alone." Gao Shi gave one final reminder. It was also a necessary disclaimer.

Lu Yan nodded and, Without Hesitation, drew the Short Knife at his side. With a precise and swift motion, he ended the Three-tailed White Fox's life.

A Yellow Soul Ring slowly condensed above the white fox's corpse and emerged.

"All on alert!"

At Gao Shi's command, the Guard Team members immediately spread out, forming a tight defensive perimeter around Lu Yan as he prepared to absorb the Soul Ring.

Lu Yan took a deep breath, summoned the Dream Butterfly Martial Soul, and circulated the Mysterious Heaven Skill, using his Soul Power to draw in the Soul Ring.

The power of the Soul Ring surged in through his Right Hand like floodwaters released from a dam, pouring into his Meridians in an instant and rampaging through them. Lu Yan let out a muffled grunt as circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill became difficult, forcing him to subdue the Soul Power that had violently invaded his body.

The Physical Body forged through years of limit training and consuming Whale Rubber was as sturdy as a stubborn rock at this moment. No matter how the Soul Power charged through his body, he remained unmoved.

At the same time, a cool sensation washed over his mind, and his Spiritual Power grew rapidly.

Nearby.

While vigilantly scanning for any potential danger, Gao Shi also kept close watch on Lu Yan's condition.

Nearly two hours later, he watched with his own eyes as Lu Yan absorbed the Soul Ring, with two Soul Rings now circling his body.

"He... he really succeeded?" Gao Shi stared in disbelief, finding it difficult to accept.

The theories he had believed in for years had collapsed before his eyes.

Lu Yan was currently focused on absorbing the abundant Soul Power fed back by the Soul Ring. His Soul Power Level naturally broke through the level-twenty bottleneck and continued rising until it stabilized at the peak of level twenty-one before gradually stopping.

Lu Yan slowly exhaled a breath of foul air and opened his eyes.

His clothes had become smaller again.

"Uncle Gao, you believe me now, right?" Lu Yan smiled at Gao Shi, who was still in shock.

"I believe you. I truly believe you this time!" Gao Shi nodded repeatedly. Facts spoke louder than words; he had no choice but to believe.

With the Soul Ring acquired, the group did not waste any time. Since it was still early, they swiftly Embarked On the road back to Heaven Dou City.

Moonlight Pavilion.

"Xiao Yan, you were far too impulsive this time."

After hearing the entire account, Tang Yuehua rose to her feet and walked over to Lu Yan. She extended a slender Jade Finger and lightly tapped his forehead, her gesture carrying a trace of intimacy.

Yet deep within her Beautiful Eyes lay a flicker of barely concealed astonishment.

For many years, the Soul Master World had cultivated according to Yu Xiaogang's Limit Theory, especially since it was Spirit Hall that had released this theory on Yu Xiaogang's behalf.

No one had ever violated it.

Yet Lu Yan had broken all of that.

Geniuses truly were different from ordinary people.

She had to make Lu Yan rely on her, depend on her, perhaps even make him see her as... his Mother.

"Aunt Yue, I only did it because I was confident," Lu Yan explained.

"Even if you were confident, you should not have taken such a risk." Tang Yuehua's tone carried a trace of reproach, but even more concern. "Xiao Yan, if something had truly happened to you, Aunt Yue would... be heartbroken."

"I only wanted to become stronger." Lu Yan appropriately revealed a Just Right look of "emotion" and followed her words. "Next time, I will definitely be more careful. I will Absolutely Not make Aunt Yue worry about me again."

Seeing his expression, Tang Yuehua's heart softened. A gentle smile bloomed across her face again as she stretched out her arms and gently pulled Lu Yan Into Her Embrace. "You stubborn little fellow, with Aunt Yue here, you do not always have to be so strong.

"Sometimes... you can try relying on Aunt Yue too."

Rely on you?

Buried deep within her warm embrace, Lu Yan's eyes remained clear and calm.

If she ever learned of the conflict between him, Tang San, and Tang Hao that would ultimately be unavoidable, what awaited him would likely not be a warm embrace, but a sharp blade piercing his heart Without Hesitation.

In this world, the only thing that could give him a sense of security was strength held in his own hands.

If his Parents had not hidden him aside when he was three years old, he would have long since died miserably alongside them at the hands of Thieves.

Back then, he had already deeply understood that if he wished to live freely and without restraint, he had to possess great strength.

After awakening the Dream Butterfly Martial Soul, he entered dreams night after night, like a detached observer watching all the joys and sorrows, schemes and calculations of the human world unfold.

This only strengthened his belief—only strength never betrays.