Choosing Soul Beasts and Spirit Rings

"It doesn't seem particularly special. How was this chosen?"

On the way back, Xue Qingxi kept studying Tang San. In the end, unable to hold back, he moved closer to Tang Ling and asked with a curious expression.

"Based on the course of the world's fate and the Heavenly Dao's judgment." Tang Ling kept her eyes on the road as she satisfied his curiosity.

"The Heavenly Dao's judgment? That sounds pretty subjective." Xue Qingxi paused, then muttered with a smile. He was immediately shoved by something invisible, and his expression changed at once.

"Watch your words." Tang San glanced at the Little Heavenly Dao that had flown away, then spoke to Xue Qingxi.

Xue Qingxi's face instantly turned pale. Trembling, he edged closer to Tang San and cautiously asked, "It didn't hear that, did it?"

Before Tang San could answer, he pressed his palms together and gave two small bows. "Heavenly Dao, please forgive me. I was merely driven by curiosity; I absolutely meant no offense. And thank you for giving me the identity of a Child of Destiny. I..."

A clear laugh interrupted Xue Qingxi. Looking flustered, he glanced around and reached out to grab Tang San's clothes.

"Don't scare him too much. Otherwise, where am I supposed to find another one?" Tang Ling said softly as she raised a hand and knocked on the courtyard gate.

As soon as she finished speaking, a little round ball slowly appeared before the three of them under Xue Qingxi's horrified gaze.

Xue Qingxi's body immediately stiffened. Pulled along by Tang San, he involuntarily headed toward the meeting room on the first floor.

"This is the Heavenly Dao. It wasn't angry just now—it was teasing you. Don't be afraid." Tang Ling pulled out a whiteboard and explained gently, then patted his shoulder reassuringly.

"It's not a ghost?" Xue Qingxi looked up at Tang Ling tremblingly. Tang Ling shook her head faintly.

Upon receiving the answer, Xue Qingxi immediately relaxed. He studied the little ball excitedly. "So the Heavenly Dao is invisible!"

"You're not afraid of me?" The Little Heavenly Dao floated solemnly into the air and looked at Xue Qingxi.

"The only thing I fear in this life is ghosts." Xue Qingxi grinned at the little ball's beady eyes. "Besides, I'm a Child of Destiny, and I'm also friends with the Son of the Heavenly Dao. Rounding it off, that makes you my uncle. What's there to be afraid of?"

Xue Qingxi had always been open-minded and bold. He had not believed in such things before, but once the facts were laid before him, he accepted them quickly.

Besides, the Heavenly Dao must have always been around. Tang Ling and Tang San were so close to it, which meant it posed no danger.

"You've got a good temperament, kid. No wonder you're the one Little Ling'er chose." The Little Heavenly Dao giggled as it circled Xue Qingxi a few times, then pounced toward Tang Ling. "Since he can know about me too,

can I show myself openly at home now? You haven't talked to me in so long. I've nearly died of boredom!"

Tang Ling smiled and rubbed the Little Heavenly Dao's round body, then nodded. "You can. Just remember to interfere with their memories. Don't let them spread the word."

At once, the Little Heavenly Dao excitedly floated above Tang San's head and rolled around once before drifting out the door. "I'm going to the kitchen to find something to eat. It's been so long since I've eaten openly—I'm practically dying of cravings..."

Its voice grew fainter as it drifted away.

"So it has the temperament of a child. No wonder it scared me just now." Xue Qingxi opened his mouth and looked at Tang San with a strange expression.

"The Heavenly Dao is utterly pure and kind. That's a good thing for the world." Seeing Xue Qingxi's expression, Tang San echoed his senior sister's words in an attempt to salvage a little of its image.

"So that's how it is!" Xue Qingxi looked enlightened. After thinking it over, he nodded in agreement.

Tang Ling watched as one of them bluffed and the other believed so easily, then laughed so hard that she slumped sideways in her chair.

After laughing enough, she raised her hand and beckoned the two of them to look her way.

"These are the Spirit Rings I found that should suit you better." Tang Ling stood up, clipped two sheets of paper onto the whiteboard, and pointed them out to the pair. "Gyrfalcons have strong offensive power but weak defenses,

so the soul skill granted by the first Spirit Ring needs to provide you with defense. I selected two options:

the ninety-year Soul Beast, the Land-Rending Turtle. Its soul skill should provide a turtle shell to protect the body. The one-hundred-year Soul Beast, the Long-Armed Ape. Its soul skill should strengthen the physical body.

Qingxi, consider it yourself and see which one you want."

Xue Qingxi stared at the two Soul Beasts on the whiteboard. After pondering for a moment, he looked at Tang Ling. "Teacher, I choose the second one. But I don't know whether I can absorb a hundred-year Spirit Ring."

"Of course you can. You have Innate Soul Power at rank nine. You can still absorb a one-hundred-year Spirit Ring." Tang Ling explained calmly.

"Alright! I trust you, Teacher!" Xue Qingxi looked determined. A hundred-year Spirit Ring as his first Spirit Ring had never existed in the royal family, but with his teacher's assurance, it was worth trying.

"Don't worry. Your meditation and martial training over this period have improved both your physical strength and spiritual power. You'll definitely be able to take a hundred-year Spirit Ring." Tang Ling patted his shoulder and comforted him with a smile.

Then, ignoring the excited young man, she pointed to the other sheet and looked at Tang San. "You've been learning the bow and whip very well,

so your first Spirit Ring should be something that enhances your attacks and suits you. I found two Soul Beasts for you as well.

The two-hundred-year Sky-Rebuking Eagle. Its soul skill can sharpen your vision and enhance your offensive power. The two-hundred-sixty-year Seven-Step Serpent. Its soul skill carries poison and can also enhance your attacks."

"Which one do you think is more suitable, Senior Sister?" After listening, Tang San did not look at the whiteboard. Instead, he looked at Tang Ling.

Tang Ling met his gaze and smiled as she pointed to the first Soul Beast. "The Sky-Rebuking Eagle is more suitable. It isn't too old, and you're better with the bow than the whip.

As for a soul skill with poison, you can find a similar Soul Beast to use with your second martial soul."

"Alright, then I'll listen to Senior Sister!" Tang San nodded with a smile. "Besides, I can make poison myself. Whether the soul skill has it isn't important."

"Good. Then it's decided. After breakfast tomorrow, we'll head to the Star Dou Great Forest." Tang Ling nodded in satisfaction as she looked at the two delighted boys.

Xue Qingxi would become emperor in the future. He needed ideas of his own, as well as the courage to accept others' advice. As for A-Xuan, he was her junior brother. She could protect him for a lifetime, so if he wanted to rely on her, she would let him.

After hearing their conversation, Xue Qingxi could not stop marveling inwardly at Tang San's good fortune. If he had such a capable senior sister, he would let her arrange everything too.

"Tang San, Third Brother! Do you have any prepared poisons?" After sighing over Tang San's luck, Xue Qingxi quietly leaned closer to him and looked at him expectantly with a grin.

Tang San gave him a sidelong glance, then looked at his senior sister, who did not object. He took a box from his Storage Ring and handed it to Xue Qingxi. "The red bottle contains Drunken Flower Shade, a slow-acting poison. The white bottle contains Single-Verse Poem, a poison that will See Blood Seal Throat.

The blue bottle is the antidote to Drunken Flower Shade. Single-Verse Poem has no antidote, so use it carefully."

"Alright, alright. I'll definitely use it carefully!" Xue Qingxi nodded repeatedly and looked at Tang San solemnly before carefully accepting the box.

When he opened it and saw the two red bottles, one white bottle, and one blue bottle inside, he became even more excited, marveling at how loyal Tang San was.

Once he had calmed down and closed the box, however, he suddenly realized something important.

Xue Qingxi looked at the fairly large box in front of him, then turned to look at Tang San's not-so-wide robes.

After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "This is your special ability, right? Aren't you being too bold by exposing it so openly?"

"It's fine. I have Senior Sister to cover for me." Tang San raised his eyebrows in surprise, then proudly pointed at the person opposite him.

Seeing the mischievous young man, Tang Ling smiled and nodded when she caught Xue Qingxi's gaze.

"Then we won't have to sleep rough and eat whatever we can find in the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow!" After receiving his teacher's response, Xue Qingxi squeezed closer to Tang San and looked at him joyfully.

Tang San pushed him away in disgust. Before he could lean in again, Tang San turned his gaze toward his senior sister, who was watching the show.

After receiving that resentful little look, Tang Ling smiled and took out a box, handing it to Xue Qingxi. "I was teasing you. Spatial abilities don't exist in this world.

A-Xuan is using the Storage Ring I gave him. I prepared one for you too.

But I don't have any Storage Rings left, and bracelets and pendants are inconvenient, so I found an earring I refined before."

"Because it's been so long, and the box holding it was too small, I only found it today. I checked—it's a golden earring, and it suits you especially well." As Tang Ling spoke, she rubbed the tip of her nose somewhat awkwardly.

All the storage spaces she had refined were piled together in boxes, so they really were troublesome to find.

"Wow! Thank you, Teacher. It's really beautiful! And I already have pierced ears, so I can wear it right away!" Xue Qingxi accepted the box in delight, took out the earring, and examined it excitedly.

"What a coincidence." Tang Ling smiled and handed him a silver needle. "Just prick your fingertip and drip a drop of blood on it to open it. There are some common medicines and Soul Coins inside.

Since your parents already gave you some, there aren't many Soul Coins. Consider it a small token from your teacher."

"As far as Soul Coins go, I'll never complain about having too few!" After taking the silver needle and dripping his blood, Xue Qingxi quickly checked the space inside the earring. Then he looked at Tang Ling with excitement,

constantly marveling inwardly at how lucky he was, and how rich his teacher was!