Douluo: So You're the Theory Master?

After taking everyone on a tour of the Extreme Research Institute and confirming that all one hundred students who had absorbed thousand-year soul rings were safe, Ning Fengzhi and his group did not remain at the Institute. After strengthening its security, they left.

With this display of soul rings, no one continued obstructing the Extreme Research Institute's research.

On the contrary, after the Great Elder returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, massive amounts of Gold Soul Coins flowed into the Extreme Research Institute, and the information within became even more confidential.

With the funding issue resolved, the Extreme Research Institute entered another period of focused seclusion and cultivation.

Unlike before, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect sent over quite a few talented youths with Innate Soul Power at ranks seven, eight, and nine.

Clearly, this battle had stirred their interest.

A dozen or so Soul Masters could rival ordinary Soul Elders.

Who wouldn't be tempted by that?

Ning Qinghe made proper arrangements for them.

Time passed swiftly.

In the blink of an eye, three years went by.

Over those three years, Ning Qinghe spent every day cultivating.

"Finally, Soul Power rank 10."

"Eleven years old, a rank 10 Soul Master. So slow."

Inside the Research Institute's Meditation Room, Ning Qinghe opened his eyes and let out a breath of stale air.

Soul Power spread through his body as he sensed the power within him break through its bottleneck and rise to a new level.

Ning Qinghe had changed considerably in height and now stood around 1.6 meters tall. With delicate features, well-developed limbs, and taut muscles, he already looked like a little adult.

After breaking through in Soul Power, Ning Qinghe left the Meditation Room and found the researchers outside.

"Get ready. Test me."

Five years had passed since his martial soul awakening. Even though his mind was mature, he was still extremely eager and expectant about obtaining his soul ring.

"Yes, Director."

The white-robed researchers quickly got to work.

Ning Qinghe cooperated with them as they tested his stamina, strength, speed, and Soul Power capacity.

He had undergone these tests countless times over the years.

With Whale Rubber and the Research Institute's newly developed Blood-Qi Replenishing Pills, his physical body had become terrifyingly strong. He had long surpassed his original target of absorbing a three-thousand-year soul ring.

Quite a few people in the Research Institute had already absorbed soul rings during the past three years. The lowest were thousand-year rings, while the highest exceeded two thousand years.

The Research Institute could now be said to be full of monsters. Some people, such as Ning Yishan, had already reached Soul Power rank 20. They had raised their Soul Power by five ranks in three years, and after obtaining their soul rings, their cultivation speed had clearly increased.

A Soul Master at that age was nothing special, but a twenty-three-year-old Soul Grandmaster with a thousand-year soul ring was somewhat eye-catching. However, Ning Yishan had yet to obtain his second soul ring.

The boost from his first soul ring had addicted him to the feeling. He had already applied for his second soul ring to be a four-thousand-year one.

Since he was in no rush, no one hurried him to absorb a soul ring. Second Elder had even specially found him a four-thousand-year Tiger Beast, taking care of this junior.

As time passed, Ning Qinghe's soul ring absorption limit was determined.

"3,866 years to 3,895 years."

"Director, it would be best to hunt a soul beast around 3,800 years old."

"If it is a non-aggressive soul beast, it can be slightly older, but it is best not to exceed 3,895 years."

The researchers presented a detailed report.

After so many years, the Extreme Research Institute's data had become extremely clear.

Anyone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect who needed a soul ring would come here to have their limits tested. Ordinary Soul Masters ranged from one or two hundred years to four or five hundred years.

"3,800 years?"

Clenching his fists and feeling the strength in his body, Ning Qinghe revealed a faint smile.

It seemed that his hard work over the years had not been in vain.

He was also confident that after obtaining his first soul ring, his cultivation speed would definitely increase significantly.

Under normal circumstances, the limit of the second soul ring was around twice that of the first. At this rate, if he continued tempering his body, could he push even further and make his second soul ring a ten-thousand-year one?

After getting his data, Ning Qinghe did not waste any time.

He immediately gathered people to bring out the soul beast he had prepared long ago.

"That brat is about to absorb his first soul ring?"

This news was not hidden from the people of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, and Bone Douluo Gu Rong quickly received the news and came directly to the Extreme Research Institute to inspect the situation.

Ning Qinghe had remained at the Extreme Research Institute throughout these years and rarely visited the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

This left his old father with quite a few grievances. He had already made it clear that Ning Qinghe should tell him when he was about to absorb his first soul ring.

The group arrived at the Extreme Research Institute.

Ning Fengzhi hurriedly found Ning Qinghe.

"Father, Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Gu."

"This is the soul beast I intend to absorb, a 3,825-year Mystic Earth Turtle."

"I think it suits me very well."

Ning Qinghe had already found a suitable soul beast.

After greeting them, he introduced his target.

Inside a cultivation chamber, everyone looked at the enormous turtle before them.

The Mystic Earth Turtle lay on the ground, listless and weak. It was a soul beast Chen Xin had specially captured earlier.

The gigantic earth-yellow turtle stood three meters tall even while lying down. It looked vicious, with a sharp mouth that seemed capable of piercing anything, while its thick shell was like a mountain.

It was locked inside a cage. Not only were its movements restricted, but drugs also prevented it from controlling its Soul Power. It was nothing more than livestock awaiting slaughter.

These soul beasts were not captured here to enjoy themselves. As long as their cultivation did not regress and they did not die, that was enough.

"3,825 years. Just be careful."

Chen Xin nodded and did not offer any guidance.

Ning Fengzhi, however, looked at the Mystic Earth Turtle with some hesitation.

"A Mystic Earth Turtle. This sort of soul beast should increase your defense afterward."

"Its compatibility with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is not very good. For the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's first soul ring, we should look for..."

According to his way of thinking, Ning Qinghe's martial soul was naturally still the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

It might evolve in the future, but would absorbing such a soul beast really be useful?

He did not want Ning Qinghe to go down the wrong path.

Before Ning Fengzhi could finish, Ning Qinghe directly refuted him.

He raised his head to look at his father, his gaze clear.

"Father, I have my own ideas. I never intended to become a support-type Soul Master..."

"Do you really think the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda can only produce support-type Soul Masters?"

"Can a tower-type martial soul not be developed into a defensive type, or even an assault or control type?"

"This is also part of developing a martial soul, an attempt."

"The Mystic Earth Turtle has extremely powerful vitality. Its earth attribute is also very suitable for tower-type martial souls to increase defensive power. Whether it is earth control or enhanced defense, it would greatly improve me."

He had also considered the development path of his martial soul.

Since it needed to evolve anyway, he was not determined to pursue the so-called Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

Otherwise, he would not have set his sights on the Mystic Earth Turtle so early.

He had some ideas for defense, offense, and even control.

Ning Fengzhi did not know what to say after hearing that.

Looking at his highly motivated younger son, he seemed even braver than Ning Fengzhi had been in his youth.

After all, Ning Fengzhi carried the burden of the sect. Since becoming Sect Master, he had maneuvered among various factions and had to remain extremely cautious when facing powerful forces.

"Enough. Children and grandchildren will have their own fortunes."

"Little Qinghe has his own ideas. He is far smarter than you think."

As Chen Xin added another jab from the side.

"Do what you want to do."