I Can Break Through to Soul Elder. Can You?

"Choosing the healing path is indeed a good fit for the development of Blue Silver Grass, but the Soul Ring Age you can obtain is still far too low."

The Old Dean still did not want such a promising Seedling as Lin Xuan to go to waste. In the eyes of the older generation, Soul Ring Age was often more important than type.

"Tang San's Blue Silver Grass can follow the control path. If you are willing to change directions, then setting everything else aside, I can definitely help you hunt a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring."

At those words, a resolute look appeared on Lin Xuan's face. He bowed slightly and said,

"I appreciate your kindness, Dean, but my mind is made up.

Soul Ring Age is certainly important, but finding a path that suits oneself is what truly matters.

That Blue Silver Grass was cultivated by my own hands and nourished day and night with Soul Power. A unique connection has long since formed between us. Its healing potential is by no means something a random Hundred-Year Soul Beast from the Soul Hunting Forest can compare to.

Besides, although my Blue Silver Grass and Tang San's share the same name, there is a fundamental difference between them. Otherwise, there would not be such a vast gap in our Innate Soul Power. The path that suits him may not suit me."

No matter how the Old Dean tried to persuade him, Lin Xuan had to insist on absorbing the Blue Silver Grass Soul Ring. It was merely a cover for the First Soul Ring that was about to "appear out of nowhere."

Even if the Old Dean truly could find him a Hundred-Year healing Soul Ring, he would find an excuse to refuse it.

Seeing the determination in Lin Xuan's eyes, the Old Dean did not know how else to persuade him.

Lin Xuan's reasoning was sound, and his path was clear. Since he could not help, he no longer had the right to keep persuading him.

"Heh, it is good for a man to know his limits. At least you can recognize the gap between yourself and Xiao San."

Yu Xiaogang had listened long enough from the side. Seeing that the matter had been settled, he could not help but sneer.

"Your talent aside from Soul Power is indeed passable. Unfortunately, limited by your Soul Power, this is as far as you will ever go."

"That is right. This is indeed as far as I will ever go."

Lin Xuan replied calmly, staring straight at Yu Xiaogang.

"But I can at least break through to Soul Elder, perhaps even Soul Ancestor. Can you... break through the shackles between Soul Grandmaster and Soul Elder?"

Yu Xiaogang's expression instantly froze, as though someone had fiercely seized him by the throat.

Being stuck at the Soul Grandmaster realm for decades without making the slightest progress was the pain of his life. It was also a secret everyone on Douluo Continent knew, yet few dared to expose so bluntly.

Especially after he had just belittled Lin Xuan for his "limited talent," that question was like the sharpest sword, piercing through all his disguises and pride.

"You..." Yu Xiaogang pointed at Lin Xuan, his lips trembling as he failed to form a complete sentence for a long while.

Rage churned in his chest, yet he could not refute that indisputable fact. His face turned from red to green, then from green to white, making for quite the spectacle.

The Old Dean frowned at the sight and coughed lightly to smooth things over.

"Enough. Both of you, say a little less.

Xiao Gang, Lin Xuan is young and speaks bluntly. Do not take it to heart.

Lin Xuan, Master is still your Senior. You should show more respect with your words."

Lin Xuan nodded slightly, giving the Old Dean face, but said nothing more.

His gaze was calm, as if the words that had caused Yu Xiaogang to lose his composure were merely a simple statement of fact.

Yu Xiaogang took several deep breaths and forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart. He glared fiercely at Lin Xuan, his eyes full of resentment. In the end, it all became a heavy cold snort as he turned his back and stopped speaking.

He had originally wanted to take the chance to suppress Lin Xuan, only to have his sore spot exposed so easily and end up humiliating himself.

The gunpowder in the air gradually faded, but a subtle awkwardness remained.

The Old Dean looked at the two of them and shook his head helplessly. One was proud and arrogant yet trapped by his talent; the other seemed ordinary but possessed unwavering resolve and sharp words. This grudge was probably impossible to resolve.

He could only wonder to himself when Lin Xuan's monstrous strength would stop growing. If it kept increasing, then even with limited Soul Power, Lin Xuan could still establish himself through sheer strength.

But if it stopped growing, then once Tang San grew up, with Yu Xiaogang's vindictive nature, Lin Xuan would have a hard time ahead.

After leaving the dean's office, Lin Xuan was in an excellent mood.

He had long sensed that his Soul Power had reached the Level 10 bottleneck. A breakthrough was right before him. It would not be long before it was time for Tang Wulin to absorb Jin Lin.

Not long after Lin Xuan left, Yu Xiaogang also returned to his room with a cold expression.

"Teacher, how did it go?" Tang San hurriedly stepped forward.

"Do not worry, the situation is true." Yu Xiaogang wore a smile, as if he had not been the one wounded just moments ago. He even claimed the credit for making the Old Dean give up on helping Lin Xuan hunt a Soul Ring.

"Lin Xuan truly intends to absorb the Blue Silver Grass he cultivated himself as his Soul Ring. Moreover, he plans to take the healing path rather than the control path.

"I have already dispelled the Dean's intention to find him a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring. Now, he can only choose that Blue Silver Grass.

"A ten-year Blue Silver Grass—even if it shares the same origin, what decent Soul Skill could it possibly give him?"

"Whew, that is good!" Tang San let out a breath of relief.

When he had heard that the Old Dean planned to help Lin Xuan hunt a Soul Ring, he had genuinely worried that Lin Xuan might gain a powerful Soul Skill. Now that Lin Xuan could only absorb a Blue Silver Grass Soul Ring, he was completely at ease. As long as Lin Xuan could be weakened, he was delighted.

"All right, Xiao San. You need to speed up your cultivation."

Yu Xiaogang instructed, "Lin Xuan is nearly Level 10, while you are only Level 19. Do not let Lin Xuan break through to Soul Master while you remain stuck at the Soul Master stage. That would be embarrassing.

"If you want to defeat Lin Xuan, you can only rely on realm and Soul Skills to suppress him now."

Three years had passed, and Tang San's progress remained "steady"—two levels per year. He was only Level 19 now, while even Xiao Wu had already reached Level 22.

It could only be said that Lin Xuan had been truly ruthless back then, forcibly slowing Tang San's progress.

"Yes, Teacher! I will cultivate diligently and strive to break through before school starts next year!" Tang San's expression turned solemn as he felt immense pressure.

When he was Level 13, Lin Xuan had only been Level 3. Now Lin Xuan was nearly Level 10, yet he had only just reached Level 19.

Even with one major realm above Lin Xuan and one additional Soul Skill, he still could not defeat him. If they were in the Same Realm, would he not be beaten like a dog?

At that thought, Tang San shuddered. He hurriedly bowed, returned to his room, cast aside all distractions, and began cultivating with all his strength.

On the Other Side, Lin Xuan had just returned to the Seventh Dormitory when his expression suddenly changed. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately picked up the Iron Box containing the Blue Silver Grass and quickly headed toward the Dark Room he had chosen earlier.

He could clearly feel the Soul Power within his body beginning to churn violently. The Level 10 bottleneck was as fragile as thin paper, ready to collapse. The breakthrough had arrived.

The Dark Room was a place Lin Xuan had selected long ago. It was remote, hidden, and extremely well soundproofed, ensuring no one would disturb him.

He gently set the Iron Box on the ground, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and calmed his mind.

The Soul Power within his body was like a surging river, crashing against the shackles of Level 10 at an unprecedented speed.

Unlike other Soul Masters breaking through, Lin Xuan's Soul Power also contained an almost imperceptible thread of golden energy. It was a power innate to Tang Wulin's bloodline, quietly awakening at this Crucial Moment and merging into his Soul Power.

He did not rush to guide his Soul Power into attacking the bottleneck. Instead, he followed the Soul Power Recovery Method he had learned from the Old Dean, organizing the scattered Soul Power within his body.

After three years of refinement, his Soul Power recovery rate had reached twenty percent. As he circulated the method now, his Soul Power became increasingly condensed, and the force striking the bottleneck became more focused as well.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth slowly gathered around him, flowing into the Dark Room through the cracks in the doors and windows. He continuously drew it into his body and transformed it into his own Soul Power.

Lin Xuan could clearly sense subtle changes taking place in his body. His meridians were becoming wider and tougher, while the upper limit of Soul Power his body could contain steadily rose.

The breakthrough did not last long. Half an hour later, a soft crack sounded within his body, and the Level 10 bottleneck shattered at once!

A stronger Soul Power flowed through his body. His original Level 9 Soul Power instantly rose to Level 10. He was only one step away from entering the Soul Master realm.