Wanjia Vine Spirit Ring!

Afterward, drawing on the Martial Soul theory in his mind, Fu Shiyan planned two more first Spirit Ring options most suitable for Tang San's current Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul development.

"Xiao San, the potential of your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul is far beyond what an ordinary control-type Martial Soul can constrain.

"I have selected three suitable types of Soul Beasts for you. Each has its own focus, so you may consider them yourself."

Fu Shiyan spoke calmly, leaving the choice to Tang San.

"Please enlighten me, Master," Tang San said respectfully.

"First, the Wanjia Vine.

"This Soul Beast possesses abundant vitality, formidable defense, and exceptional resilience.

"If you choose it as your first Spirit Ring, it can greatly enhance the toughness and vitality of your Blue Silver Grass, making it more resistant to attacks while greatly increasing its binding power."

"Second, the century-old Qingyun Bamboo.

"This Soul Beast is hollow within and grows taller with each joint. It is unyielding and also contains pure life energy.

"If you choose it as your first Spirit Ring, it can likewise make your Blue Silver Grass tougher while improving its affinity for life energy and its recovery speed."

"Third, the Ziyang Mushroom.

"This is a relatively rare Soul Beast. It contains gentle yet abundant life energy, as well as a special power of photosynthesis.

"If you choose it as your Spirit Ring, your Blue Silver Grass will gain powerful support and endurance abilities. It may even develop effects such as healing and restoring Soul Power, perhaps allowing you to follow the path of team support and prolonged battles."

Fu Shiyan clearly laid out the advantages and disadvantages of the three choices before Tang San, then quietly waited for his decision.

He did not force a choice upon him. He also wanted to see Tang San's own inclination.

Tang San barely hesitated before saying with a firm gaze,

"Master, I choose the Wanjia Vine."

He knew well that whether from his experiences in the simulation or the warnings within the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, personal strength and control over the battlefield were the foundation of everything.

A trace of approval flashed through Fu Shiyan's eyes. He nodded. "Good. Then we shall find it."

The master and disciple said no more and headed deeper into the Soul Hunting Forest.

With Fu Shiyan, a "humanoid radar," locating a specific Soul Beast was no difficult task.

His powerful spiritual power spread outward like spilled mercury, precisely capturing the life auras within the forest.

Less than half an hour later, Fu Shiyan halted and looked toward an area of dark green vines entwined around thick ancient trees.

There, a Wanjia Vine with a main body over half a meter in diameter, its bark covered in four woody patterns and radiating a dense aura of life, slowly wriggled.

"Found it."

Before Fu Shiyan's words had faded, an invisible pressure of Soul Power descended like a mountain, precisely enveloping the Wanjia Vine, which had roughly four hundred and thirty-five years of cultivation.

The Wanjia Vine had intended to struggle, but beneath Fu Shiyan's terrifying pressure, it instantly stiffened as though frozen. Even its leaves could not tremble in the slightest.

Fu Shiyan then signaled Tang San with a look.

Tang San understood at once. A fierce glint flashed through his eyes as the fine-steel dagger he had long prepared stabbed with perfect precision into the core where the Wanjia Vine's Soul Power converged!

"Pfft!"

Sap splattered slightly. The Wanjia Vine convulsed violently once, then completely lost its life.

A bright yellow Spirit Ring slowly condensed above its corpse, radiating gentle, stable fluctuations of Soul Power.

"Sit cross-legged and focus your mind on your Martial Soul!" Fu Shiyan's voice rang out in time.

Tang San immediately did as instructed, holding his breath and concentrating.

Drawn by an unseen force, the yellow Spirit Ring floated above his head, rapidly shrank to the size of a bracelet, and steadily slipped around the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul appearing in his palm.

A surge of pure, majestic energy instantly poured into his body, washing through his meridians.

Tang San kept Fu Shiyan's reminder to "stay awake" firmly in mind. He circulated the Mysterious Heaven Skill with all his strength, guiding the energy to merge with his Martial Soul.

As he absorbed the Spirit Ring, his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul underwent a wondrous transformation.

The originally pale-blue blades deepened into a more profound, mysterious dark blue, while the silver patterns that had already been present became increasingly distinct.

Though the energy impact brought swelling pain, there was no danger under the harmonization of the Mysterious Heaven Skill and Fu Shiyan's protection.

About an hour later, Tang San slowly opened his eyes. A sharp gleam flashed through them as he felt his entire body brimming with power.

"How does it feel?"

Fu Shiyan asked. After sensing him slightly, he said in some surprise,

"Hmm? Your Soul Power has risen directly to level fourteen?

"It seems this Wanjia Vine Spirit Ring is exceptionally compatible with your Blue Silver Grass. The feedback far exceeds the norm."

Tang San was both shocked and delighted.

"Level fourteen?"

He clearly remembered that in the simulation, he had reached level thirteen after obtaining his first Spirit Ring. This extra level was undoubtedly the benefit brought by the path his master had chosen for him and the perfect compatibility with his Martial Soul!

He could not wait to summon his Martial Soul again. With a thought, Blue Silver Grass instantly surged from his palm.

Compared to before, the changes were obvious.

The blades had shifted from pale blue to a deeper, restrained dark blue.

The original silver patterns had become clearer.

The most striking change was in its texture. If the previous Blue Silver Grass had been like hollow bamboo poles, then the current Blue Silver Grass was like solid tree trunks.

"Master, my Blue Silver Grass seems to have become several times tougher, and... its vitality has also grown much richer."

Tang San carefully sensed the changes and reported them to Fu Shiyan.

Fu Shiyan nodded. This was precisely what he had been focused on.

He casually picked up a hard rock from the ground and tossed it to Tang San.

"Use your Blue Silver Grass. Do not rely on any Spirit Skill—simply drive it with Soul Power and try binding it."

Tang San did as instructed, controlling the dark-blue Blue Silver Grass as it wound toward the rock.

Under his precise control, the Blue Silver Grass moved like a living spirit snake, easily binding the rock tightly.

He tried pulling on it with force. The rock did not budge, and the Blue Silver Grass showed no signs of snapping, displaying astonishing resilience.

"Do you feel it?"

Fu Shiyan said lightly, "What a Spirit Ring first grants you is an enhancement to the essence of your Martial Soul.

"Toughness and vitality—those are the foundation.

"As for specific changes in form and methods of attack..."

Before he finished speaking, no Spirit Ring flashed around him. He merely raised a fingertip, and a similarly dark-blue Blue Silver Grass vine—far more solid—appeared out of thin air. It shot forth like lightning and instantly coiled around another, larger rock nearby.

The next second, the massive rock shattered!

"This..."

Tang San's pupils contracted. He had seen it clearly: his master had not used any Spirit Skill. Relying solely on his control over his Martial Soul and his meticulous manipulation of Soul Power, he had achieved an attack faster and more powerful than Tang San's just now!

"A Spirit Skill is merely a method of using a Martial Soul that becomes fixed after the energy of a Spirit Ring merges with it."

Fu Shiyan slowly said as he looked at the thoughtful Tang San,

"But true control lies in understanding the essence of your Martial Soul, in wielding your own Soul Power as effortlessly as your limbs.

"Your Blue Silver Grass now has a greatly strengthened foundation. As long as your control of Soul Power is precise enough, basic Entanglement and binding like before—even more complex transformations—should naturally obey your will. You should not rely on a particular century-old Spirit Skill."