Three Years Later, Level Twenty (Revised)

Thanks to the improvements Whale Rubber had made to his body, Lu Yi's cultivation speed was now no weaker than that of someone with innate rank-five Soul Power. Becoming a Soul King was no longer a bottleneck for him. Flender, who truly could not recruit any more students, had already extended an invitation to him. As long as Lu Yi attended Shrek Academy, Flender could help him hunt every Soul Ring he needed before reaching five rings.

Moreover, to provide Lu Yi with a suitable cultivation environment, Flender had even dug a small lake within the academy, which could serve as Lu Yi's mimicry cultivation environment.

This made Lu Yi, who had originally disdained Shrek Academy, begin to feel tempted by it.

After all, just Flender's offer to help hunt his first five Soul Rings was something Lu Yi could never receive if he went to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Regardless of whether his second Soul Ring was a thousand-year one, the fact that his Martial Soul was a useless detached animal Martial Soul could not be changed. That prejudice was like a mountain, pressing down on Lu Yi without mercy.

But when he thought about how Shrek Academy had taken in more than forty talented students in the original story, yet ultimately only produced a dozen or so half-baked successes, Lu Yi decided against going there. Flender's teaching was simply too unreliable.

He still decided to try his luck at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. If he could not make it there either, then he could only apologize to his teacher and go seek out Liu Erlong.

Besides, there was no rush. He still had three years to think it over carefully.

Time passed slowly, and in the blink of an eye, three years went by.

"Senior Brother, how about absorbing a three-thousand-year Soul Ring for your second one instead? A three-thousand-year Soul Ring is already very difficult to absorb. I felt terrible pain when I absorbed mine!"

At the entrance to Nuoding Academy, Tang San once again tried to persuade Lu Yi and the other two as they prepared to leave.

Because absorbing a Blue Silver Grass Soul Ring as his first Soul Ring had enhanced his talent, Tang San had needed only two and a half years to break through to rank twenty, even while studying forging and cultivating. Half a year ago, he had successfully hunted a three-thousand-year Dragon Blood Vine for his Soul Ring.

It was precisely because he had that experience that Tang San was deeply worried when he heard that Lu Yi intended to absorb a four-thousand-five-hundred-year Dark Tide Ink Scale Turtle.

To him, Lu Yi's brain was a treasure. It was because of Lu Yi's wild ideas that Tang San had successfully developed a Thousand Forging method combining Soul Power and spiritual power over the past few years. Hidden Weapons forged from Thousand Forging materials were far stronger than the ones he had made before.

"Don't worry, Junior Brother. I'm confident about this. I'm older than you, and my body developed earlier, so my physical constitution is stronger than yours. A four-thousand-five-hundred-year Soul Ring is within the limits of what I can endure."

Lu Yi smiled and patted Tang San on the shoulder.

Lu Yi was very satisfied with his junior brother Tang San. Of course, it was not because he had obtained the Immortal Herb Catalogue and the cultivation method for Purple Demon Eyes from Tang San. Even setting those things aside, Lu Yi was still very pleased with Tang San as a junior brother who respected his teacher and valued proper conduct.

"All right, Little San. Stop trying to block your senior brother. Your senior brother's Martial Soul is unusual, and his physical constitution is stronger than yours. He won't have any accident absorbing a Soul Ring with a four-thousand-five-hundred-year lifespan."

Master spoke slowly from the side as he watched Tang San prepare to say more.

"But... all right. Senior Brother, I wish you a smooth journey!"

Tang San had been about to say something else after hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, but when he saw the firm expression on Lu Yi's face, he ultimately did not continue trying to persuade him.

"Hahaha! Lu Yi, you're finally leaving! From now on, Nuoding Academy will be my domain!"

Xiao Wu, who was already a Soul Grandmaster, danced about and shouted at Lu Yi from the side.

"Xiao Wu, don't speak to Senior Brother like that!"

Tang San reached out and tugged on Xiao Wu, speaking to her with a stern expression.

"Bleh, bleh, bleh~"

Xiao Wu said nothing more after hearing Tang San. She made a face at Lu Yi, then hid behind Tang San.

Lu Yi simply pretended not to see it. Xiao Wu had been beaten up by Wang Shu and him for three years. Now that he was finally leaving, it was understandable that she was a little excited.

Tang San had ultimately failed to escape this ill-fated bond with Xiao Wu and acknowledged her as his little sister. Lu Yi had merely shaken his head upon learning of it and stopped paying attention. After all, Xiao Wu had Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Douluo, watching over her. There was no chance Lu Yi could obtain her hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring or Soul Bone.

Since he had no designs on Xiao Wu, Lu Yi did not care much when he learned that Tang San had taken her in as his little sister.

"Sorry, Senior Brother. I've spoiled Xiao Wu too much!"

Tang San knocked Xiao Wu on the head when he saw her making faces, then apologized to Lu Yi.

"Your little sister is yours to manage. Just make sure she doesn't cause trouble for you someday."

Lu Yi spoke blandly as he looked at the little Xiao Wu hiding behind Tang San.

"Yes!"

Tang San gave a bitter smile and shook his head. He knew Xiao Wu's personality was not good, but whenever he saw her pitiful expression, he simply could not bring himself to discipline her.

"All right, this is far enough. Goodbye, Junior Brother!"

After waving to Master and Tang San at the gate, Lu Yi turned and followed Flender and Wang Shu toward a carriage company in Nuoding City. He had already applied for early graduation. Once he obtained his second Soul Ring, he planned to try his luck in Heaven Dou City. He had no idea how many years would pass before he saw Tang San again.

Master had purchased information on this Soul Beast for Lu Yi two months earlier. Top-tier Soul Beasts of this age were difficult to find in the Star Dou Great Forest, so to avoid wasting time, Master had spent some money to help Lu Yi search for one.

Even so, Lu Yi had waited a full two months before receiving news of this Soul Beast. Wang Shu had even broken through to rank twenty during that time.

Fortunately, the Soul Beast Wang Shu needed was easier to find than the one Lu Yi needed. Flender already knew the location of a two-thousand-year Golden Armored Flame Dragon.

"After you absorb this Soul Ring, you'll be entering an advanced Soul Master Academy, right? How about it? Interested in coming to my Shrek Academy?"

As they walked through the streets of Nuoding City, Flender spoke to Lu Yi.

"My brother here needs to attend the same academy as me too. What do you think, Uncle?"

Lu Yi hooked an arm around Wang Shu's shoulders and grinned mischievously at Flender.

"That's easy. He just needs to pass the entrance test!"

Flender answered Lu Yi readily as he watched him grin.

"Then forget it. My brother's talent isn't very good. He might really not pass your entrance test."

"Besides, this guy isn't too bright. I need to keep a close eye on him."

Lu Yi patted Wang Shu on the shoulder and politely declined Flender's invitation.