The Beginning of the Break

The most critical point is that because this soul ring lacks a spiritual attribute, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm cannot utilize the origin energy sealed within his own body to elevate the age of this ring.

In other words, he has effectively wasted a soul ring slot entirely.

"Brother doesn't care about anything else, but for the sake of your safety and mine, you must absolutely never reveal anything regarding Brother to him, or to anyone else for that matter."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm warned him solemnly.

"Don't worry, Sky Dream Brother, I will keep this secret."

Huo Yuhao might be naive, but he wasn't stupid to that extent. Even without Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's warning, he wouldn't have told anyone about receiving the sacrifice of a million-year soul beast.

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm wore an expression of "at least you're teachable." "That's right. Although your aptitude is a bit lacking and you absorbed a useless ten-year first ring, your Spirit Eye is a mutated body martial soul with decent potential. It's just limited by your physical condition; when there's an opportunity later, I'll find some heavenly treasures for you to consume."

"Sky Dream Brother, I know my first soul ring is terrible, but could you please stop bringing it up?"

Black lines appeared on Huo Yuhao's forehead. Originally, he didn't hold much of a grudge against Feng Piaoling, as it had been his own choice after all.

Now, with Sky Dream Ice Silkworm nagging him, he found that, unknowingly, a slight resentment toward Feng Piaoling had begun to take root in his heart.

"Hehe, Brother is just trying to make you wary of that cunning brat. Alright, it's time for you to go out. Those two humans outside, along with that cunning brat, have been guarding you the whole time."

As Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's words faded, Huo Yuhao felt himself being pulled into a massive vortex, plunging into darkness.

When he regained consciousness, the first thing that met his eyes was Tang Ya's near-perfect, delicate face.

"Little Yuhao, you're finally awake! You scared me to death. You have no idea—after you absorbed the Wind Baboon soul ring, another powerful soul beast appeared. It's all thanks to little Piaoling luring that beast away that you were able to remain unscathed."

Seeing Huo Yuhao open his eyes, Tang Ya was overjoyed and immediately shared the scenario she had imagined.

Luring away a powerful soul beast? Huo Yuhao looked at Feng Piaoling, who was still meditating nearby, a flash of displeasure crossing his eyes. According to what Sky Dream Brother said, Feng Piaoling had been chased away by it.

He could understand that; after all, facing a powerful soul beast, it was already commendable that he had stepped in to protect a friend he had only known for a few days.

It was normal to run away when outmatched.

But Feng Piaoling had told others that he had lured the beast away to save him.

This made Huo Yuhao, who already harbored resentment toward Feng Piaoling because of the ten-year Wind Baboon first ring, feel even more dissatisfied.

Sticking to his agreement with Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, Huo Yuhao didn't offer any explanation. He jumped up from the ground and channeled his soul power.

Instantly, two white soul rings rose from beneath his feet.

Confirming that he had truly received the sacrifice of the million-year soul beast Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and had truly advanced to a Soul Grand Master, Huo Yuhao jumped for joy. "I succeeded! I succeeded! I've finally become a soul master, and a Soul Grand Master at that..."

"A ten-year second ring." Tang Ya was instantly stunned. Being somewhat impulsive by nature, she couldn't help but complain to Feng Piaoling, "Little Piaoling, how could you do this? The first ring was one thing, but how could you let him absorb a ten-year ring for his second one too?"

Bei Bei also shook his head with a sigh. If a ten-year first ring was excusable, a ten-year second ring would inevitably have a massive impact on his future. If things went poorly, he might be stuck at level 29 for life, unable to break through to become a Soul Elder.

Feng Piaoling didn't bother to explain. Once he used Huo Yuhao, the Son of Luck, to find a suitable third soul ring for himself, he would leave anyway.

"Since the soul ring absorption is finished, let's go. I still need to obtain my third soul ring. If you are willing to help, come along; if not, I will go alone."

As he spoke, Feng Piaoling stood up and walked alone toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Teacher Xiao Ya, you've misunderstood Brother Feng Piaoling. I didn't tell him I was going to absorb a second soul ring, and this ring was one I chose to absorb myself."

By now, Huo Yuhao had recovered from the joy of becoming a Soul Grand Master.

But how to describe his demeanor? Perhaps it was to provide cover for Tian Meng's sacrifice, or perhaps it was out of dissatisfaction toward Feng Piaoling for letting him absorb the ten-year Wind Baboon ring.

When he said these words, he sounded rather manipulative.

Yet, Tang Ya and Bei Bei fell for it completely, looking at Feng Piaoling with a shared sense of indignation alongside Huo Yuhao.

They had completely forgotten the scenario they had imagined earlier, where Feng Piaoling had risked his life to lure away a powerful soul beast to protect Huo Yuhao.

Feng Piaoling continued walking forward, indifferent. It was just a bit of petty manipulation; he had endured far worse humiliations over the years.

He didn't mind waiting a little longer. Once he obtained his third soul ring, he would show them what a true master of words really was.

Seeing Feng Piaoling's attitude, the three of them became even more annoyed. Tang Ya walked in front, Bei Bei held Huo Yuhao's hand behind her, and the three of them accelerated, heading toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.

In an instant, they overtook Feng Piaoling, who was walking slowly ahead.

Feng Piaoling didn't care, maintaining a distance of one body length behind them, following at a steady, unhurried pace.

Perhaps to show off the so-called Tang Sect arts to Feng Piaoling and Huo Yuhao, Tang Ya would occasionally use those archaic hidden weapons to kill the Wind Baboons that attempted to ambush them along the way.

At the same time, Bei Bei began to lecture from time to time about how great the Tang Sect once was, how powerful their hidden weapons were, and so on...

Feng Piaoling was not so narrow-minded as to look down on the martial arts of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record just because he possessed the Green Lotus Sword Art, Heaven-Reaching Demon Eye, Nine Gale Swords, and Clone Shadow.

He simply observed Bei Bei and Tang Ya's movements and soul power circulation routes in secret, taking the essence and discarding the dross to improve himself.

Huo Yuhao, on the other hand, was listening with delight.

If he weren't worried that the Tang Sect wouldn't accept a Soul Grand Master with two white soul rings, he would have knelt down to apprentice on the spot.

Just like that, an hour passed quickly.

"Xiao Ya, watch out!" Bei Bei's expression suddenly changed. His right hand shot up, making a grasping motion toward Tang Ya.

Tang Ya and Bei Bei had long since developed a tacit understanding. Hearing this, she tapped her toes on the ground, her body floating up, and she was pulled toward Bei Bei just like that.

This was the so-called Tang Sect art, Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon.

The moment Tang Ya was pulled over, a long, dark shadow instantly landed on the ground with a soft 'pfft' sound.

A thick, sweet fragrance suddenly rushed toward his face.

Feng Piaoling recognized at a glance that this dark shadow was the thousand-year Datura Snake that Huo Yuhao and Bei Bei had helped Tang Ya hunt for her third soul ring in the original story.

He couldn't be bothered to waste any more time on them.

Whoosh!

The moment the Datura Snake landed, he had already vaulted into the air, his left hand pressing lightly against the scabbard to activate a lightning protective shield while his right hand drew the Thunder Tribulation Sword.

His figure lunged toward the Datura Snake like a phantom.

Seeing Feng Piaoling charge over single-handedly without even releasing his martial soul, the Datura Snake violently spat a cloud of pink poisonous mist toward him.