System Guidance, Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring!

The instant he broke through to Level 20, the system prompt in Huang Fei's mind did not immediately stop.

Just as he thought the rewards had finished being issued, that cold mechanical voice rang out again:

[Detected that the host completed the extreme breakthrough from Level Thirteen to Level 20 within thirty days, with Soul Power tempering reaching the perfect grade. Hidden achievement triggered: Diligent Can Reach the Heavens.]

[Achievement reward: Second Soul Ring optimal target guidance.]

[Notice: This target is an extremely rare Life Attribute Plant Soul Beast, Ten Thousand Year in age. Its attributes are perfectly compatible with the host's Martial Soul, with a 99.9% absorption success rate.]

[Warning: Absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring will be accompanied by Soul Shock. Please prepare cautiously.]

A stream of information flooded into his mind, and Huang Fei's pupils suddenly contracted.

Ten Thousand Year!

His Second Soul Ring would be Ten Thousand Year?!

Though he had been mentally prepared and knew the Soul Beast guided by the system would certainly be extraordinary, he had never expected it to leap straight past the Thousand Year threshold and point directly to the Ten Thousand Year level.

One had to know that the upper limit for an ordinary Soul Master's Second Soul Ring was only around seven hundred years. Even someone with Innate Full Soul Power like Tang San had merely obtained a six-hundred-year Ghost Vine as his Second Soul Ring.

A Ten Thousand Year Second Soul Ring had never been recorded even in the continent's history!

Thousand Year and Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings were worlds apart.

"System, what Soul Beast is it exactly?" Huang Fei asked gravely in his mind.

[Target: Ancient Spirit Tree]

[Age: Ten Thousand Three Hundred Years]

[Attribute: Extreme Pure Life]

[Traits: Non-aggressive. Its Life Energy is vast and gentle, and it possesses the "Life Origin" trait. It can greatly elevate the life level of the Martial Soul and may trigger a bloodline evolution.]

[Location: At the boundary between the Core Zone and Mixed Zone of the Star Dou Great Forest. Coordinates have been marked on the map.]

[Absorption recommendation: On a Full Moon Night, use the Wood Breathing Technique to draw in Moonlight as assistance. This can further increase the absorption success rate and Soul Ring quality.]

Huang Fei took a deep breath and suppressed the surging turmoil in his heart.

Ancient Spirit Tree... He had seen that name when selecting targets for his Second Soul Ring that day. It had ranked as the first candidate, but because its whereabouts were difficult to trace and its age unknown, it had only been considered theoretically optimal.

He had never expected the system to directly provide the precise location of a Ten Thousand Year young tree!

Young meant it had yet to fully mature. Though its Life Energy was vast, it was gentler, making it far easier to absorb than an adult specimen.

With Moonlight assistance and the Wood Breathing Technique to balance it... the 99.9% success rate was no empty claim.

But it was still a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

Even if its attribute was gentle, even with the system's guarantee, the danger of Soul Shock remained.

One misstep could result in mental collapse and a shattered Martial Soul.

"What do I need to prepare?" Huang Fei asked calmly.

The system swiftly responded:

[Recommendations:]

[1. Raise Spiritual Power to the Soul Ancestor Initial Stage. Current: Soul Elder Peak.]

[2. Physical strength must reach the Level 30 Soul Elder standard. Current: Level 25 standard.]

[3. Prepare at least three Calming Spirit Pills or similar Elixirs to resist Soul Shock.]

[4. Find a natural Secret Land rich in Wood Attribute energy, where Moonlight can shine directly.]

Huang Fei committed every point to memory.

As for Spiritual Power, he cultivated the Soul Condensing Secret Art every day, which already tempered his mind. Combined with the nourishment of the Wood Breathing Technique, he was only a step away from the Spirit Connection Realm Mid Stage. With several more days of hard cultivation, he should be able to reach it.

His physical strength was somewhat lacking, but with Medicated Baths and the Body Tempering Paste he had received from Song Yunzhi, reaching the Level 30 standard within ten days was not impossible.

The most troublesome matter was the Calming Spirit Pill.

This Elixir was as high as Fourth Grade, precious and scarce. Shrek Academy might have reserves, but it was certainly not something an Outer Academy Freshman like him could easily exchange for.

"Perhaps... I can ask my teacher."

Huang Fei's thoughts turned.

Since Song Yunzhi had already taken him as her disciple and given him resources, she presumably would not begrudge him a Calming Spirit Pill.

Moreover, a Ten Thousand Year Second Soul Ring was such a shocking matter that he needed to inform her in advance, lest it arouse unnecessary suspicion.

As for the natural Secret Land, the location marked by the system was already a valley in the Star Dou Great Forest rich in Wood Attribute energy, where Moonlight could shine directly. It perfectly met the requirements.

Once his thoughts were clear, Huang Fei no longer hesitated.

Not using a Super Douluo teacher when he had one would be foolish.

Everyone had secrets.

He believed his teacher would not pry too deeply.

He rose, changed into clean clothes, and headed straight toward the Soul Tool Department.

Song Yunzhi usually spent her time at either Sea God's Pavilion or the Soul Tool Research Institute. It was late at night, so Sea God's Pavilion was not suitable to disturb, but the Soul Tool Department still had a Duty Instructor.

Under the night sky, Huang Fei hurried along, continuously working through the Follow-up plan in his mind.

"Within one month, I must obtain my Second Soul Ring."

"The Newborn Assessment is approaching. My Second Soul Ring will be my greatest trump card."

"A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring... I wonder what kind of Soul Skill it will bring?"

As he pondered, the gray-white building of the Soul Tool Department came into view.

Several Windows inside were still lit, with shadowy figures moving about.

Huang Fei arrived at the entrance and showed the student on guard the Token Song Yunzhi had given him.

The student checked the Token, then gave Huang Fei another look. Surprise flashed through his eyes, but he asked no questions and simply said:

"Old Song is in the Third Laboratory. You can go straight up."

"Thank you."

Huang Fei nodded and quickly went upstairs.

The Third Laboratory was on the top floor. Its door was slightly ajar, with a faint glow spilling out from within.

Huang Fei lightly knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Song Yunzhi's voice came from inside, calm and even.

Pushing the door open, he found a spacious room filled with various precise Soul Tool Apparatuses and workbenches. Song Yunzhi stood before a waist-high metal instrument, holding a Core Magic Array as though Debugging it.

Seeing Huang Fei enter, she set down the magic array and turned to look at him.

"You came here in the middle of the night. What is it?"

Huang Fei bowed, then got straight to the point.

"Teacher, your disciple has broken through to Level 20 and needs to obtain his Second Soul Ring."

Song Yunzhi's gaze shifted slightly. She examined him from head to toe, then nodded.

"Your foundation is stable, and your Soul Power is condensed. Not bad."

She paused before asking, "Have you chosen a target for your Second Soul Ring?"

Huang Fei pondered for a moment before deciding to reveal part of the truth.

"Your disciple wishes to attempt... a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring."

The room suddenly fell silent.

Song Yunzhi's gaze sharpened instantly, stabbing into Huang Fei's face like needles.

"Do you know the age limit for a Second Soul Ring?"

"Seven hundred years."

"How much greater is Ten Thousand Year than seven hundred years?"

"More than thirteen times."

Song Yunzhi was silent for a moment before she slowly said:

"Do you know the greatest difference between a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Thousand Year Soul Ring?"

Huang Fei replied, "Soul Shock."

"Since you know, you still dare to try?" Song Yunzhi's voice sank. "Even if it possesses the Extreme Life attribute and is as gentle as spring water, the Soul Shock will not weaken in the slightest because of that. Your Spiritual Power may be stronger than others of your rank, but you are still only at the Soul Elder Peak. How will you withstand it?"

Huang Fei raised his head, his gaze calm.

"Your disciple possesses a special Breathing Technique that can harmonize Life Energy and nourish the spirit."

"Furthermore, the target Soul Beast is an Ancient Spirit Tree. Its Life Energy is pure and gentle, and the absorption success rate is extremely high."

Song Yunzhi's pupils contracted slightly.

"Ancient Spirit Tree... Where did you learn of such a thing?"

"Your disciple happened to see records of it in an Ancient Book, then received some form of guidance that confirmed its existence and location."

Huang Fei's words were vague, but he slightly emphasized the word "guidance."

Song Yunzhi looked deeply at him and did not press further.

Everyone had secrets. She was not someone who dug to the bottom of everything.

Clearly, Huang Fei had made the right bet.

His teacher would not keep probing.

Besides, since Huang Fei dared to raise the matter, he must have some confidence.

After contemplating for a Long Time, she finally asked, "What do you need?"

"Three Calming Spirit Pills, as well as a Secret Land rich in Wood Attribute energy where Moonlight can shine directly."

Huang Fei relaxed inwardly. He knew that his teacher was giving her tacit approval.

Song Yunzhi walked to a storage cabinet at the side, took out a Jade Bottle, and tossed it to Huang Fei.

"I have two Calming Spirit Pills. Take them first."

"I'll retrieve the third from the Inner Court storeroom tomorrow."

She then took a leather map from her robes, spread it across the table, and pointed to a location in the Star Dou Great Forest.

"This place is called Moonflower Valley. It lies in the Depths of the Mixed Zone. There is a Moonlight Spring in the valley. Whenever the moon is full, Moonlight Essence gushes from the spring, bringing immense benefits to Soul Masters with pure life attributes."

"I can arrange for someone to escort you there, but you must hunt the Soul Beast and absorb the Soul Ring yourself."

Huang Fei looked at the marked location, and his heart jolted.

That position differed from the Coordinates marked by the system by less than Three Li!

Could there really be such a coincidence in this world?!

"Thank you, Teacher." He bowed solemnly.

Song Yunzhi waved her hand.

"No need to thank me."

"You are my disciple. Naturally, I will help you."

"But there is one thing..."

Her expression suddenly turned stern.

"A Ten Thousand Year Second Ring has never existed before."

"Once you succeed, it will surely alarm the academy's upper ranks, perhaps even powers across the continent."

"By then, you may never know peace again."

Huang Fei remained calm.

"Your disciple understands."

"But the path of a Soul Master is one of defying the heavens."

"If I abandon this opportunity out of fear of others' words, I might as well not cultivate at all."

Song Yunzhi stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"Good ambition."

She put away the map and said:

"Ten days from now will be the Full Moon Night."

"For these ten days, devote yourself to raising your Spiritual Power and physical strength. I will give you the Calming Spirit Pills before departure."

"Yes."

"Go."

Huang Fei bowed and withdrew from the Laboratory, gently closing the door behind him.

The corridor was silent. He clenched the Jade Bottle in his hand, his eyes blazing.

A Ten Thousand Year Second Ring...

He was determined to walk this path that no one had ever taken.