Soul Hunt

Furthermore, this child has clearly just awakened his martial soul, yet he already possesses ten levels of soul power. Doesn't this mean the child has Innate Full Soul Power?

In the future, he might even surpass that Chrysanthemum Douluo!

For a moment, everyone's gaze toward Lu Fan turned fervent.

They all wanted to take Lu Fan as their disciple.

Seeing this, Flender naturally understood the thoughts of his old brothers. He pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose and smiled, "Don't even think about it; Xiao Fan has already taken me as his master."

"Boss, you've already taken in Ma Hongjun, so you should just leave Xiao Fan to us old brothers."

Zhao Wuji grinned, stepped forward, and hooked his arm around Flender's shoulder with a laugh.

Flender merely adjusted his glasses and snorted, "Hmph, a soul master can only take one master in their lifetime. It's a pity you came too late, Old Zhao."

Standing to the side, Lu Fan did not expose Flender's lie and simply watched quietly.

Hearing Flender say this, Zhao Wuji and the others did not say anything more.

Flender was not only the one with the highest cultivation among them but also the one with the best talent.

When it came to teaching a child with the best talent, Flender was indeed the most qualified.

"Alright, since Xiao Fan has Innate Full Soul Power, I plan to take him directly to hunt for his first soul ring. I'll leave the academy to you all."

As Flender spoke, he didn't forget to glance at Ma Hongjun, "Hongjun, while I'm away, you must listen to Teacher Zhao and the others at the academy. Also, if your Evil Fire flares up, don't be embarrassed to say so; just have Old Zhao take you to the city."

Hearing Flender say this, the young Ma Hongjun blushed, "I understand, Teacher."

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

Although they only needed a century-old soul ring of less than five hundred years—which could easily be found in the Martial Soul Hall's Soul Hunting Forest—the soul beasts there were of common variety.

Flender felt that they were not worthy of a top-tier genius like Lu Fan.

"Xiao Fan, what type of soul beast do you think you should absorb for your first soul ring?"

Halfway there, Flender asked Lu Fan.

This was his first time seeing a martial soul like the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

According to conventional wisdom, a plant-type martial soul should absorb a plant-type soul ring.

However, he was unclear about the specific attributes.

Lu Fan took out the Hundred Herbs Chart to check.

But the result left him deeply disappointed.

Regarding the entry for the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, aside from a colorful illustration, it only stated: "Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, a celestial herb among flowers; it is colorless and odorless."

There was no further information beyond that.

Lu Fan checked other celestial herbs, but the results were much the same as the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

It was not like Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, nor was it like the Immortal Herb Illustrated Manual passed down in Yue Guan's family, which recorded the effects after consuming the herbs.

"I suppose that's true. In a small village like Hundred Flowers Village, how could we possibly know the effects of consuming celestial herbs?"

Although disappointed, upon closer reflection, such a result was reasonable.

Since there were no books or materials to provide him with inspiration, Lu Fan could only choose based on his own understanding.

"I feel that my martial soul should absorb a metal-attribute soul beast; plant-types are best. As for other types, if the attributes are compatible and the bloodline is strong enough to grant me a good soul skill, then that is not out of the question."

Hearing this, Flender nodded. He took out a book and handed it to Lu Fan, "This is a Soul Beast Compendium given to me by my brother, a martial soul master. It might not record every single soul beast, but it definitely has more than what you could find at the Martial Soul Hall in Suotuo City. Take a look and see if there is anything suitable for you; we have plenty of time on this journey, so there's no rush."

Lu Fan nodded, took the book, and began to examine it.

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

This kind of treatment was something not even Oscar, let alone the future Seven Devils, had ever enjoyed.

This was only because Lu Fan had not yet officially become his disciple.

Flender was raising the stakes to entice him.

Once Lu Fan officially became his disciple later on...

Heh heh, he would have to run there on foot.

I remember in the original work, Chrysanthemum Douluo said he had taken the wrong path, so clearly, the assault-type is not suitable for me.

The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum can forge an indestructible body, so it is clearly better suited for defense. As for the lack of attack power, that can be compensated for in the future by absorbing soul bones.

After looking through the types of soul beasts recorded in the compendium, Lu Fan felt there was no absolute need to stick to plant-type soul beasts.

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

Moreover, most of them were quite weak.

"My Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum is already a top-tier martial soul among plants; there is no need to absorb a plant-type soul beast to enhance its foundation. Unless it's something like a Golden Leaf or Diamond Bamboo, it would be better to choose an animal-type soul beast."

One day later.

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

At noon, after resting and finishing their dry rations, the two prepared to set off and enter the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Well, have you made up your mind?"

Flender asked.

Lu Fan replied: "Plant-types like Golden Leaf, Diamond Bamboo, Mysterious Iron Vine, or Iron Thorn would all work. And if I were to choose an animal-type, there is one called the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear that is also quite good."

Flender raised an eyebrow: "Are you planning to go the path of a Defense System soul master?"

Lu Fan nodded: "That's right. My martial soul carries an aura of diamond-like hardness. If I focus on power attack, my offensive power might end up lacking, so it would be better to focus on defense."

Flender nodded.

He didn't know much about this, but since Lu Fan had his own ideas, he, as a teacher, was naturally willing to support his student.

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

"Although the limit for a soul master's first soul ring is 423 years, judging by your physical constitution, a 400-year-old one might be a bit of a struggle. It would be best to choose something under 380 years; around 350 years would be most appropriate."

Lu Fan nodded.

His Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul was not a beast-type, so it did not grant him a massive physical boost.

While it greatly increased his defensive capabilities, 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 traveled deep along a forest path for about two hours when Flender suddenly stopped in his tracks.

The air was filled with a heavy scent of rust.

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

Lu Fan looked in the direction indicated.

He saw that the thicket was about two or three meters tall, entirely dark iron in color, and covered in iron spikes as thick as a thumb. When the sunlight hit them, they actually shimmered with a metallic luster.

Iron Thorn.

And judging by the scale, this was at least an old patch that had been growing for two or three hundred years.

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

Lu Fan nodded: "It was one I had already pre-selected. Since we encountered it first here, it proves we are fated. I'll go with this one."