Obtaining the Second Soul Ring

Time continued to pass amid day after day of cultivation. Before he knew it, it was almost time to enter the Third Grade.

Lin Li had tried using Martial Soul Possession midway through to adapt to the hunger, but Mahoraga only began adapting once he started feeling hungry, and his current physical strength could not endure it for that long.

Therefore, his plan to enter secluded cultivation for an extended period was temporarily shelved. He could only try again after becoming stronger.

After two years, Lin Li had reached Level 20.

More precisely, he had reached Level 20 three months ago.

However, because Lin Li did not dare expose how quickly he cultivated, he had delayed obtaining his Soul Ring.

The Spirit Hall was not a problem. Lin Li was no longer short of Gold Soul Coins, so he only needed to avoid registering.

But he could not withstand the fact that Tang Hao was secretly watching him. That reckless man's mind had never been very sharp. What if he decided that Lin Li possessed a way to court death?

In the end, after thinking for a long time, Lin Li chose to delay for three months.

In any case, his cultivation speed could accelerate with time, so he did not need to worry too much.

People on Douluo Continent could indeed cultivate and increase their Soul Power before obtaining a Soul Ring, but no one chose to do so.

Simply put, Soul Scholars cultivated much faster than ordinary Soul Scholars, and Soul Ancestors cultivated much faster than Soul Elders. This boost in speed grew greater the further one advanced, so nobody would waste time.

Obtaining a Soul Ring first, then cultivating at a faster pace—that was the mainstream approach.

After delaying his cultivation speed for three months, Lin Li felt that he could go obtain his Soul Ring.

Under normal circumstances, reaching Level 29 at the age of twelve would make someone a supreme genius. Lin Li was adding another level to that, making it Level 30.

Someone with Innate Full Soul Power began cultivating at the age of six and reached Level 20 in six years, averaging a little over three levels per year.

So, having cultivated to the Level 20 bottleneck in two years... the difference should not be that great, right?

"Forget it. I refuse to believe that a Titled Douluo like Tang Hao would fear an underdeveloped genius like me enough to make a move."

Lin Li felt that if he delayed any longer, he might reach Level 26 or even higher by the time he obtained his Soul Ring.

At worst, he could leave Nuoding City then. The world was vast—why fear being confined to one corner?

To be honest, if Lin Li had built a good relationship with Tang San from the start, things would not have been so difficult. He might even have gained Tang Hao as a Dao Protector.

However, after spending two years together, Lin Li truly could not get along with Tang San.

On the other hand, he was still considered friends with Xiao Wu, since she came looking for Lin Li to fight from time to time.

As for his relationship with Tang San, Lin Li could only say that they were neither friends nor enemies. They greeted each other when they met and exchanged a few words now and then.

They would not even sit at the same table to eat, much less do anything else.

It was not because of anything else. Their differing ways of conducting themselves came purely from incompatible values, making it impossible for the two to be close.

Lin Li did not think there was anything wrong with that. He had thought this way from the beginning.

The only thing worth mentioning was that, seemingly because of Lin Li's appearance, Tang San's personality differed slightly from the original course of events.

Lin Li did not know whether it was because he had gained a powerful roommate or because Lin Li occasionally told stories. The stories he told were all classic tales from his previous life, and perhaps that was what had slightly changed Tang San's values.

"That settles it. I'll go obtain my Soul Ring tomorrow."

Lin Li stopped thinking and rose from the bench, strolling through Nuoding Primary Soul Master Academy.

His level after obtaining the Soul Ring definitely would not be the ordinary Level 22 or so. It should be below Level 25 but above Level 22.

If he reached Level 25 or higher, he would have to leave.

Lin Li had stayed at the academy primarily to take advantage of its convenience in obtaining his first two Soul Rings, while also observing what the characters from the novel would be like after appearing in reality and whether they could be befriended.

Now, both goals had been accomplished. There was no harm in leaving.

He had already studied until his head hurt in his previous life. There was no regret over failing to complete six years of schooling.

Having made up his mind, all that remained was to act.

The night passed quickly, and Lin Li once again asked Director Su to accompany him in obtaining his Soul Ring.

This time, however, Lin Li was not relying entirely on Director Su for help. He merely needed someone who could protect him and answer his questions.

That was because their destination this time was the Star Dou Forest.

At first, Lin Li had considered calling more people to help him, but Director Su refused.

"If your First Soul Ring could absorb eight hundred years, then your Second Soul Ring should be at least a thousand years old... Until you possess sufficient strength, the fewer people who know, the better."

Director Su said this again because he saw Lin Li's gaze fall upon the Mercenary Soul Hunting Team outside the Star Dou Forest.

"I understand. Thank you for keeping this secret for me, Director Su."

Lin Li knew that Director Su was doing this for his sake, so he did not resist.

In this Soul Ring hunt, Lin Li would serve as the primary combatant, while Director Su would help him identify Spirit Beasts, assess the safety of the surroundings, and protect him while he absorbed the Soul Ring.

The two entered the Star Dou Forest together. Lin Li was awed by the scenery of the primeval forest, but he also remained vigilant.

In a place like this, one careless mistake could lead to death.

The Spirit Beast did not need to be very strong. Even the bite of a tiny ten-year-old snake, if delivered unnoticed, could greatly increase the chances of dying in the forest.

Lin Li and Director Su carefully searched for their target Spirit Beast, not daring to venture too deep.

Fortunately, Lin Li's luck was fairly good. On the second day, he found a Spirit Beast suitable for him.

Lin Li summoned Mahoraga and entered Martial Soul Possession, charging straight toward the Three-Colored Deer drinking by the stream.

This was a gentle-tempered Spirit Beast. Before reaching a thousand years, its antlers only had a single green color. After reaching a thousand years, they became red, green, and blue.

Some Three-Colored Deer that lived for ten thousand years could even develop six-colored antlers.

However, although the Three-Colored Deer had a gentle temperament, it was different from Lin Li's first Martial Soul, the Earth Cave Beast. When faced with danger and unable to flee, the Three-Colored Deer would fight back fiercely.

Seeing Lin Li charging toward it with murderous intent, the Three-Colored Deer immediately lowered its antlers and charged.

The Three-Colored Deer's attacks were highly deceptive. They appeared to be purely physical attacks, but elemental power was actually hidden within its antlers. Each color represented a type of elemental power, and which elements it awakened depended entirely on fate.

Lin Li saw an Ice Spike condense and shoot toward him, so he immediately dodged to the side.

Bang!

The Ice Spike struck a tree behind Lin Li, piercing a hole rimmed with frost.

"As expected of a Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Even if its bloodline isn't top-tier, it's still powerful."

Lin Li moved again, raising his speed to the limit. After several flashes, he reached the Three-Colored Deer's side and slammed down with a heavy punch.

The punch did not heavily injure the Three-Colored Deer as Lin Li had expected. He saw a layer of earth-brown armor appear over its body!

"How crafty."

Although none of its elemental abilities were especially strong, its ability to flexibly use three elements was indeed somewhat excessive, wasn't it?

Based on Lin Li's perception, each of the Three-Colored Deer's elemental powers was at least five times weaker than the elemental powers used by other Spirit Beasts of the same level.

"If it grows to a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, could its bloodline evolve into a Nine-Colored Divine Deer?"

This thought surfaced in Lin Li's mind, but his hands did not slow. He continued raining down punch after punch.

The Three-Colored Deer tried to flee, but Lin Li hooked an arm around its neck, preventing it from breaking free.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound rang out. Lin Li saw that the earth-element armor covering the Three-Colored Deer had been shattered by his blows, and he immediately prepared to take its life.

Just then, a dazzling white light erupted from the Three-Colored Deer's body, nearly blinding Lin Li!