First Soul Ring!

Jiang Chen frowned slightly and rolled backward with the recoil, dodging the vines stabbing in from both sides.

Old Jack stood behind them, leaning on his cane and sweating anxiously. "You two, stop fighting! Run! It's a Soul Beast!"

"Can't run."

Jiang Chen landed on the ground, his golden eyes sweeping over the surroundings. "It's sealed off every escape route."

Sure enough, a wall of vines had risen around them at some point, completely trapping them inside.

There was no way this Soul Beast could have lurked in human territory for so long and let anyone who discovered it leave alive.

At that moment, the Soul Beast's flower core slowly turned toward Jiang Chen. It clearly considered this glittering golden fellow the greatest threat and wanted to deal with him first.

"So you picked the softest persimmon?"

Jiang Chen narrowed his golden eyes as Soul Power surged through his body and poured into his right fist.

Nine Heavens Stacking Waves Force—Second Layer, fourfold amplification!

The golden light on his chest grew even more dazzling, and his entire body seemed to be coated in a layer of golden radiance.

He stomped down, shattering the ground as he shot forward like an arrow!

The Soul Beast seemed to sense the danger. All its vines drew together before the flower core, forming a thick defensive barrier.

"Little San!"

Hearing Jiang Chen's call, Tang San immediately understood. He raised his faintly blue-glowing right hand, and several Blue Silver Grass stalks burst from the ground, stopping directly beneath Jiang Chen's feet.

Using the Blue Silver Grass as a foothold, Jiang Chen launched himself into the air like a golden arrow loosed from a bow, instantly clearing the layers upon layers of vine shields.

The plant Soul Beast below seemed to realize something was wrong. Its flower core frantically tried to close, but it was already too late.

"Take this—Fist of the Falling Heavens!"

Jiang Chen shouted as the golden light around him gathered into his right fist. Carrying the terrifying force of fourfold stacked power, he plummeted like a meteor!

"Splat!"

With a dull impact, his fist struck the fragile flower core lined with sharp teeth dead on.

Dark purple juice exploded like an overturned jar of dye, splashing all over Tang San's face just as he looked up.

"Pah, pah, pah!" Tang San hurriedly wiped his face. The juice was both fishy and bitter.

Having suffered a fatal blow, the plant Soul Beast's vines all froze. Then, as if their bones had been pulled out, they collapsed limply to the ground and no longer moved.

The vicious flower core had been punched through by Jiang Chen, instantly withering away. If its life force had not been strong enough, its Soul Ring would probably have appeared already.

After the battle ended, Old Jack finally shakily approached, still shaken. "Oh, that scared me half to death. Are you two all right?"

"We're fine."

Jiang Chen shook his head, then kicked Tang San, who was still standing there in a daze. "Little San, what are you waiting for? Finish it off."

Tang San froze. "For me?"

"This Soul Beast is too ugly. I don't want it."

"But you defeated it..."

"Enough nonsense."

Jiang Chen cut him off. "Absorb it already. We still have to travel. If we waste any more time, we won't reach Notting College before dark."

Tang San looked at Jiang Chen and said solemnly, "Brother Chen, I'll remember this kindness."

"Remember what?"

Jiang Chen turned and walked toward the roadside, casually pulling up another stalk of Blue Silver Grass and putting it in his mouth. "Hurry up. Once you're done absorbing it, we're leaving."

Since things had been put that way, Tang San no longer hesitated. He took out a dagger and drove it into the flower core for the final blow.

A moment later, a Soul Ring floated above the plant Soul Beast's corpse, radiating a dense dark yellow glow. It was clearly not low in age.

Tang San took a deep breath and sat cross-legged. As the Mysterious Heaven Skill circulated, he began drawing in the Soul Ring.

The ring of light slowly descended, enveloping him.

After all, it was a Soul Ring seven or eight hundred years old. The impact of its energy made Tang San's brows knit tightly, and his body trembled slightly, yet he still gritted his teeth and held on.

Tang San sat cross-legged and activated his Soul Power to draw in the Soul Ring.

With a stalk of Blue Silver Grass in his mouth, Jiang Chen watched from the side with great interest.

Old Jack, however, anxiously paced in circles. "Th-this can work? Absorbing such an old Soul Ring as his first one..."

Though he was not a Soul Master, he still knew some common knowledge.

Generally speaking, wasn't a Soul Master's first Soul Ring not supposed to exceed five hundred years?

"Don't worry. Tang San's a tough little brat."

Jiang Chen waved a hand, though he was already considering the reward that would be returned later.

Seven or eight hundred years... after the return, it should be at least two thousand four hundred years, right?

I wonder if I'll have to find a Soul Beast myself, or...

[ Ding! Detected that the bound target has absorbed its first Soul Ring: Soul-Devouring Demon Vine (approximately 780 years) ]

[ Triple Return activated. Host has obtained the first Soul Ring: Sun Moon Lotus (2,200 years) (directly granted; host can absorb it perfectly) ]

[ Absorb now? ]

"Grandpa Jack, I'm going to use the bathroom over there."

Jiang Chen found an excuse to walk into a patch of woods. After sitting cross-legged on the ground, he chose to absorb it.

In an instant, a vast force surged from his dantian and quickly circulated throughout his body.

Jiang Chen felt his Soul Power soar in an instant, almost immediately reaching level fifteen. His whole body felt so light that he seemed able to float.

[ Soul Ring absorbed successfully. Obtained first Soul Skill: Holy Radiance! ]

[ Effect: The Glazed Green Lotus releases pure Holy Radiance, enveloping the surrounding area. Within the range of Holy Radiance, allies receive a 40% all-around amplification; the radiance may also be concentrated to provide one target with a 100% all-around amplification! ]

"Damn, what a terrifying Soul Skill!"

After reading the effects of Holy Radiance, Jiang Chen could not help sucking in a cold breath.

The description was simple, but the numbers were outrageous.

The group amplification alone was already absurd, yet its Single-Target Amplification could actually reach one hundred percent.

With this one Soul Skill alone, Jiang Chen could become a prized catch for every major power.

"Little San really came through."

Jiang Chen suppressed the shock in his heart and lowered his head to inspect his changes.

He found that he seemed to have grown taller, his shoulders had broadened, and his skin had become fairer with a faint sheen.

"So this is the effect of absorbing a Soul Ring?"

It was said that absorbing Soul Rings could alter a Soul Master's physique to a certain extent. That was why twelve- or thirteen-year-old Soul Masters could look no different from adults.

The more Soul Rings one absorbed, the faster one's physique developed, and the more mature one naturally appeared.

How am I supposed to explain this later? I can't exactly say I grew several inches while taking a piss.

Meanwhile, Tang San's absorption of the Soul Ring was nearing its end.

As the dark yellow Soul Ring above his head gradually faded, Tang San opened his eyes, a flash of purple light passing through them.

Feeling the abundant Soul Power in his body, a smile rose to his lips.

He had succeeded. Tang San had finally become a true Soul Master!

When Old Jack saw Tang San open his eyes, he hurried over to inspect him curiously.

"Whoa, is this what happens after absorbing a Soul Ring?!"

"You seem a little taller, your body's gotten sturdier, and your skin looks a little fairer too."

Though he was already past fifty, this was the first time he had seen a Soul Master absorb a Soul Ring.

"Grandpa Jack, I'm a Soul Master now!" Tang San clenched his fist excitedly.

"Good, good, good. Our Holy Soul Village has finally produced another Soul Master." Old Jack was moved to tears as well.

"What are you two smiling about? So happy?"