Because both Tang Yin and Tang San were aiming for Soul Rings over a hundred years old.
Director Su led Tang Yin and Tang San deeper into Soul Hunting Forest, heading for its innermost reaches.
As they drew closer to the heart of the forest, the trees grew taller and denser. The light dimmed, and the air filled with a primitive, dangerous atmosphere.
The roars of Soul Beasts mingled with the chirring of insects, setting their nerves on edge.
Noon on the third day.
As the three crossed a river valley, Tang Yin suddenly noticed something.
On a cliff face not far away, a plant Soul Beast seemed to be growing—the same one he had read about in Notting Academy's library. It excelled at life and recovery, could attack of its own accord, and was remarkably resilient.
"Director Su, San, look over there!"
Tang Yin pointed ahead and to the side, his face alight with excitement and surprise.
On a shady, damp rock face hung a vine as thick as a child's arm, its entire length seemingly carved from jade. It dangled from a crack in the stone.
Its body was crystal clear, with a faint green glow flowing through it. It radiated vigorous vitality that lifted the spirit.
Compared with the dark green moss and ferns around it, it stood out strikingly!
"It's an Evergreen Vine! Judging by its quality, it's definitely no ordinary specimen. It's probably close to four hundred years old!"
After examining it carefully, Director Su's eyes brightened. He turned and gave Tang Yin an approving nod.
"Good eye, Tang Yin!"
"The Evergreen Vine is a fine plant Soul Beast. With a cultivation close to four hundred years, its Soul Ring would suit San perfectly!"
In the Soul Master World, it was common knowledge that plant Martial Souls should absorb Soul Rings from plant Soul Beasts.
So Director Su wholeheartedly approved of Tang Yin's choice to have Tang San absorb the Soul Ring of this nearly four-hundred-year-old Evergreen Vine.
"San, how about making this Evergreen Vine's Soul Ring your First Soul Ring?"
After spotting the Evergreen Vine, Tang Yin asked.
Tang San looked at the plant swaying gently in the breeze, its air brimming with vitality. Without a moment's hesitation, he nodded firmly.
"I'll listen to you, Big Brother!"
Once they had chosen their target, Director Su motioned for the brothers to stand back. He released his sword Martial Soul, and three Soul Rings—one white, one yellow, and one purple—rose beneath his feet. Then he cautiously approached.
Sensing danger, the Evergreen Vine's emerald main stem shuddered. Several thinner vines shot out like snakes from their holes, whipping toward Director Su with a sharp whoosh. More vines burst from the cracks in the rock, lashing wildly as they tried to ensnare him.
Director Su was a thirty-eighth-level Soul Elder. Dealing with a four-hundred-year-old plant Soul Beast was well within his abilities.
As the Evergreen Vine's tendrils struck at him, Director Su gave a low shout and activated his Soul Skill, sharpening the sword in his hand. With a flurry of swings, he cut down every attacking vine and steadily closed in on the Evergreen Vine's main stem.
Yet green light flowed over the severed ends, and they quickly healed. Even more new vines sprouted in their place. Their toughness and astonishing vitality were truly remarkable.
As Director Su fought the Evergreen Vine, Tang Yin reached out and patted Tang San on the shoulder, speaking earnestly.
"San! Do you trust me?"
"Of course I trust you, Big Brother!"
Tang San nodded without hesitation.
"The path I've mapped out for your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul may be a little different from the one most other plant Martial Soul users follow."
"In my view, when cultivating a Martial Soul, you should naturally develop its greatest strengths!"
Tang Yin spoke with feeling.
"San, Blue Silver Grass is the weakest plant Soul Beast on the continent, but it can grow in all kinds of places—on sheer cliffs, in barren lands, across grasslands and deserts, even on frozen wastelands."
"That shows just how tenacious its life force is!"
"So in my view, your cultivation should strengthen that very trait. You should keep absorbing Soul Rings from top-tier plant Soul Beasts with powerful life force, an aptitude for growth and recovery, and exceptional healing abilities."
"That way, you can increase your Blue Silver Grass's growth and recovery speed, give it powerful healing abilities, and reduce the strain on your Soul Power."
"Besides, top-tier plant Soul Beasts are never lacking in toughness. Absorbing their Soul Rings will also make your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul more resilient!"
"Then, when you fight enemies in the future, even if they can cut through your Blue Silver Grass..."
"With Soul Skills that boost its growth and recovery..."
"Your Blue Silver Grass will be able to grow more in an instant. It can absorb all kinds of power and turn it into Soul Power, reducing the strain on your reserves until you wear your enemies down to death!"
"That's the path best suited to Blue Silver Grass—and where its greatest strength lies. I call it the Extreme Life Flow!"
"Extreme Life Flow..."
After hearing Tang Yin's words, Tang San felt a rush of excitement and anticipation.
Compared with Yu Xiaogang's "Snake-Spider Control Flow" theory, Big Brother's Extreme Life Flow not only matched the attributes of the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul far better, but would also make him much more troublesome and powerful once he mastered it.
At the thought of using Blue Silver Grass to restrain an enemy in the future, while Big Brother charged in and used the formidable close-combat abilities of the Tang Sect Secret Arts—Mysterious Jade Body and Purple Demon Eye—to beat the enemy to death with a flurry of punches, Tang San grew even more excited.
And if he restrained the enemy, wouldn't that make it even harder for them to dodge Hidden Weapons?
This would let him work better with Big Brother and fit perfectly with the way of Hidden Weapons.
This was truly the path best suited to him!
"Big Brother, I understand!"
"From now on, my Blue Silver Grass will handle control, support, and recovery, creating the perfect opening for your Mysterious Jade Hand!"
"Together, we'll be unstoppable—one controlling, the other attacking. As long as life endures, the battle will never stop!"
Tang San clenched his fist, his voice brimming with excitement.
By then, Director Su had finally reached the Evergreen Vine's main stem. When he thrust his sword into it, emerald sap splashed out.
The Evergreen Vine trembled violently. Its sheen quickly faded, and its life force began to ebb away.
"San! Hurry, finish it off!"
Director Su quickly retreated, urging him over in a loud, urgent voice.
When Tang San reached him, Director Su promptly handed him a sharp dagger and told him to deliver the final blow.
Tang San gripped the dagger, cut through the Evergreen Vine's main root, and pulled it free from the rock face.
At once, countless yellow specks of light drifted away, forming a Hundred-Year Soul Ring.
Following Director Su's instructions, Tang San sat cross-legged, released his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, and drew the Soul Ring toward him.
Soon, the Evergreen Vine's Soul Ring settled around his Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul. A vast surge of Soul Power burst forth and poured into Tang San's body.
Under Tang Yin and Director Su's watchful eyes, several hours passed.
At last, Tang San successfully absorbed the Evergreen Vine's Soul Ring, which was close to four hundred years old. His Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul had completely transformed into a blue-silver vine with a faintly crystalline surface. Its leaves spread wide, brimming with vitality.
A Hundred-Year Soul Ring circled around Tang San.
"San, congratulations!"
Seeing that Tang San had successfully absorbed his First Soul Ring, Director Su smiled and offered his congratulations.
"San, try out your First Soul Skill!"
Tang Yin was also a little nervous and eager to see whether Tang San's First Soul Skill would turn out as he had expected.
"Of course, Big Brother!"
Tang San was just as excited.
After absorbing the Evergreen Vine's Soul Ring, his Mysterious Heaven Skill had finally broken through to the second level!
Just as he had suspected, he had been stuck at the peak of the first level because he hadn't absorbed a Soul Ring.
Then, with Tang Yin and Director Su watching, Tang San focused his thoughts and activated his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.
His First Soul Ring suddenly lit up. Amid a surge of Soul Power, the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul in his hand glowed blue and silver, rapidly growing, splitting, and spreading.
After sensing the information his First Soul Ring had imparted, Tang San pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Big Brother, my First Soul Skill uses Soul Power to greatly increase my Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul's growth and recovery speed, while also making it tougher!"
"And after absorbing my First Soul Ring, I discovered I can control my Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul to attack!"
As he spoke, Tang San controlled his vine-like Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. It quickly wrapped around a sapling, then lashed against a large tree, scattering broken branches and splinters.
"Not bad!"
After learning what Tang San's First Soul Skill did, Tang Yin was very pleased. He smiled as he spoke.
"This Soul Skill fits the Extreme Life Flow path I planned for you perfectly!"
"Give it a name!"
"My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, and this Soul Ring came from an Evergreen Vine."
"I'll call it Blue Silver Evergreen!"
Tang San thought for a moment, then answered.
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