Soul Hunting

Moreover, this child had only just awakened his Martial Soul, yet he already possessed level ten Soul Power. Didn't that mean he had Innate Full Soul Power?

Perhaps he could surpass Chrysanthemum Douluo in the future!

For a moment, everyone's gaze toward Lu Fan grew heated.

They all wanted to take Lu Fan as a disciple.

Seeing this, Flender naturally understood what his old brothers were thinking. He pushed up the glasses on his nose and smiled. "Don't even think about it. Xiao Fan has already acknowledged me as his master."

"Boss, you've already taken in Hong Jun. Let Xiao Fan go to us old brothers instead."

Zhao Wuji grinned as he stepped forward and hooked an arm around Flender's shoulders.

Flender merely adjusted his glasses and snorted. "Hmph. A Soul Master can only acknowledge one teacher in a lifetime. Too bad, Old Zhao—you came too late."

Lu Fan, standing nearby, did not expose Flender's lie. He simply watched quietly.

Hearing Flender say this, Zhao Wuji and the others said nothing more.

Not only did Flender possess the highest cultivation among them, but he was also the most talented.

When it came to teaching the most gifted child, Flender truly was the most qualified.

"Alright, Xiao Fan has Innate Full Soul Power, so I plan to take him directly to hunt his first Spirit Ring. I'll leave the academy to you."

As he spoke, Flender did not forget to glance at Ma Hongjun. "Hong Jun, while your teacher is away, listen to Teacher Zhao and the others at the academy. Also, if your Evil Fire is about to flare up, don't be embarrassed to say so. Just have Old Zhao take you into the city."

Hearing Flender say this, young Ma Hongjun's face reddened. "I understand, Teacher."

After giving his instructions, Flender set off with Lu Fan toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

Although they only needed a Hundred-Year Spirit Ring of less than five hundred years, and could have gone to Spirit Hall's Soul Hunting Forest.

The types of soul beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest were too ordinary.

Flender felt they were unworthy of a top genius like Lu Fan.

"Xiao Fan, what type of soul beast do you think your first Spirit Ring should come from?"

Flender asked Lu Fan midway through the journey.

This was also his first time seeing a Martial Soul like the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

Ordinarily, plant-type Martial Souls only needed to absorb plant-type Spirit Rings.

But he did not understand its attributes.

Lu Fan took out the Hundred Herbs Chart and looked through it.

Yet the result left him deeply disappointed.

As for the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, aside from a colored illustration, it only stated: The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Immortal Grade Flora among flowers, was colorless and odorless when smelled.

There were no further records beyond that.

Lu Fan checked the other Immortal Herbs as well, but the results were much the same as with the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

Unlike Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, and unlike the Immortal Herb Illustrated Manual passed down through Yue Guan's family, it did not record the effects of consuming Immortal Herbs.

"Of course. How could a small village like Hundred Flowers Village possibly know what effects Immortal Herbs have after being eaten?"

Though disappointed, he found the outcome reasonable upon further thought.

Since no written materials could offer him inspiration.

Lu Fan could only make his choice based on his own understanding.

"I think my Martial Soul should absorb a metal-attributed soul beast, preferably one from the plant category. As for other types of soul beasts, if their attributes suit me and their bloodline is strong enough to grant me a good soul skill, then they aren't out of consideration."

Flender nodded upon hearing that. He took out a book and handed it to Lu Fan. "This is a Soul Beast Compendium given to me by my brother, the Martial Soul Master. It may not record every soul beast, but it definitely contains more than you could find at Spirit Hall in Suotuo City. Take a look and see whether there's anything suitable. We still have some time on the road, so there's no rush."

Lu Fan nodded, accepted it, and began reading.

To make it easier for Lu Fan to choose a soul beast, Flender spent the enormous sum of one Gold Soul Coin to rent a carriage and take Lu Fan to the Star Dou Great Forest.

Not even Oscar before him, let alone the Shrek Seven Devils of the future, received such treatment.

That was only because Lu Fan had yet to become his disciple.

Flender had raised the treatment to coax him.

Once Lu Fan became his disciple in the future.

Heheh, then he would have no choice but to travel on foot.

"I remember Chrysanthemum Douluo saying in the original work that he had chosen the wrong path, so the assault-type route clearly doesn't suit me."

"The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum can forge an Indestructible Diamond Body, so it is clearly better suited for defense. As for insufficient attack power, that can be made up for in the future by absorbing Spirit Bones."

After looking over the soul beast types recorded in this Soul Beast Compendium.

Lu Fan felt there might not be any need to insist on plant-type soul beasts.

The main issue was that plant-type soul beasts with metal attributes were simply too rare.

And most of them were rather weak.

"My Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum is already a top-tier Martial Soul among plant types, so there's no need to absorb plant-type soul beasts to strengthen its foundation. Unless it's something like a Golden Leaf or Diamond Bamboo, animal-type soul beasts would be better."

One day later.

The two arrived at the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest by carriage.

At noon, after resting and eating dried provisions, they prepared to enter the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Well? Have you decided?"

Flender asked.

Lu Fan replied, "Plant types such as Golden Leaf, Diamond Bamboo, Mysterious Iron Vine, and Iron Thorn would all work. And if I choose an animal type, there's one called the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear that would also be good."

Flender raised his brows. "You plan to take the defense-type route?"

Lu Fan nodded. "That's right. My Martial Soul carries a trace of diamond energy. Training as an assault-type Soul Master might leave my attack power lacking, so I might as well focus on defense."

Flender nodded.

He did not understand such matters either, but since Lu Fan had his own ideas, he was naturally willing to support his student as his teacher.

Flender squeezed Lu Fan's arm, gauging his physical endurance.

"Although the limit for a Soul Master's first Spirit Ring is 423 years, judging by your physical strength, a 400-year one would probably be a little difficult. It would be best to choose one below 380 years, with around 350 years being the most suitable."

Lu Fan nodded.

His Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul was not a beast Martial Soul and had not granted him a powerful enhancement to his body.

Though it greatly increased his defense, defense and physical constitution were two different things.

After entering the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, Flender led Lu Fan through the woods.

The two followed a forest path deeper inside. After walking for roughly two hours, Flender suddenly stopped.

A heavy scent of rust filled the air.

"This is the place." Flender pointed at a patch of dark-red bushes ahead. "Look at those thorns."

Lu Fan looked in the indicated direction.

The bushes stood roughly two to three meters tall, entirely dark iron in color and covered in thumb-thick iron spikes. Under the sunlight, they even gave off a metallic sheen.

Iron Thorn.

And judging by the scale of it, it was at least an old thicket that had grown for two or three hundred years.

"Xiao Fan, are you sure you want to choose Iron Thorn?" Flender asked as they walked.

Lu Fan nodded. "It was one of the choices I had decided on beforehand. Since we encountered it first here, that proves we are fated. It will be this one."