Obtaining the Second Soul Ring

Preparations gradually unfolded.

Rumors began spreading among the freshmen that this assessment would be different from previous years.

The academy neither refuted nor clarified them, since it had been the one to release the news.

And it had not released it just a few days ago, but more than a month in advance.

Ji Siyuan flopped onto his bed. "They're really stirring things up. Even the Freshman Assessment has changed."

Why did every kid seem to be holding a different script? Even this could change?

"Si Yuan, aren't you going to rest again?" After her bath, Huo Yuhao was already prepared to climb onto his bed and cultivate.

Yet she found Ji Siyuan already lying down.

Having experienced the unimaginable cultivation speed around Ji Siyuan, Huo Yuhao could no longer tolerate cultivating as slowly as a turtle.

On ordinary days, Ji Siyuan cultivated just as tirelessly as she did.

But Ji Siyuan always gave himself time off.

Not only did he skip physical training after stuffing himself at the cafeteria, but he even skipped meditation and went straight to bed.

In just over a month, Huo Yuhao had reached Level 17.

With such positive feedback, she wanted to cultivate even more.

Ji Siyuan said, "I'm Level 20."

"That's way too fast, isn't it?"

Why did the gap only grow bigger the harder she worked?

She had taken several pills and thought she could catch up, only to be left even farther behind.

"Right, you said you wanted to take a proper rest after making a breakthrough."

"In a couple of days, I might need to take leave to obtain a Soul Ring."

Only with a second Soul Ring could he ensure that nothing went wrong.

That night, he had a good sleep to restore his energy.

Early the next morning, he went to find Yan Shaozhe.

Obtaining a Soul Ring was still a matter of luck.

Fortunately, he was special enough that someone would help him search.

"You're Level 20? You really rose five levels in two months?" Even Yan Shaozhe could scarcely believe such progress. Even with spiritual treasures assisting him, that speed was difficult to comprehend.

"Come see me tomorrow. I'll give you your reward."

Ji Siyuan said, "Dean, can I ask someone to take me to obtain a Soul Ring?"

He had not said he did not want the reward. Obtaining his Soul Ring simply took priority.

"Yes. I'll arrange it for you tomorrow as well."

"Thank you, Dean Yan."

"Think nothing of it."

Watching the youth leave, Yan Shaozhe murmured, "What a promising seedling."

The person who would take him to obtain his Soul Ring had already been chosen as well.

"Junior, we meet again."

The black-haired beauty stood beside Yan Shaozhe.

"Senior Zhang Lexuan? Why are you the one coming? Shouldn't a teacher be accompanying me?"

Yan Shaozhe said, "And you're being picky? Your Senior Lexuan is a Soul Douluo. She's stronger than quite a few Outer Court teachers."

That was indeed true. At the very least, Zhang Lexuan had come instead of Ma Xiaotao.

If it had been Ma Xiaotao, he would have had to worry whether he would end up being the one cleaning up the mess.

Still, the difference was clear by comparison.

If Xuan Zi had been the one coming, he would have preferred Ma Xiaotao instead.

At least Ma Xiaotao could still act like a person. If Xuan Zi went out, no one knew what might happen.

He might even sell you off.

After comparing them like that, Ji Siyuan felt much better. "Then I'll have to trouble you along the way, Senior."

With Yan Shaozhe around, taking leave was easy to arrange.

Since he was the only one obtaining a Soul Ring, there was no need for equipment. They set off lightly.

"By the way, Senior, do we need to hurry this much? You're carrying me while flying so fast."

They were not flying normally toward the Star Dou Great Forest. Zhang Lexuan was carrying him as she flew.

"Because you're very special, Junior. I only just learned about this myself, and I haven't figured out what Soul Ring you should obtain. If we get to Star Dou earlier, we'll have more choices."

Zhang Lexuan was troubled by Ji Siyuan's uniqueness. For anyone else, an eight-hundred-year Soul Ring would be more than enough. But Ji Siyuan was different. His first Soul Ring had been a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, so his second had to be stronger than the first.

What age Soul Ring he should obtain required careful consideration, especially since it had not even been three months since he obtained his first one.

Tang San said, "Around four thousand years."

"Wow, Uncle, you finally decided to show up. Do you have any Soul Beasts to recommend? Or will any fire-attributed Soul Beast do?"

Tang San thought for a moment. "Normally, the best choice would be a Soul Beast with the same martial soul as yours, or one that can strengthen your flames. But no Soul Beast on the Douluo Continent can satisfy either condition. So it would be best to choose a fire-attributed Soul Beast."

His range of choices was still quite broad.

"You needn't focus too much on that. Although the Earth Fire Red Lotus is powerful, compatibility is all that matters. Your future will not be limited to this. With a Divine Examination, the quality of your Soul Rings will not be a problem."

"Then can I start the Divine Examination right now?"

"Do you want to start it?" Tang San did not particularly recommend that Ji Siyuan begin the Divine Examination.

Because he still had another possibility. The Divine Examination was merely a safeguard for him.

Tang San said, "Didn't your Uncle Zi and Aunt Green give you Divine Power Seeds? Don't you want to try them?"

"Uncle, aren't you arguing with yourself? If I'm going to try it, shouldn't I use the best thing possible to lay my foundation?"

Tang San said irritably, "What good can a four-thousand-year Soul Beast offer? Only dragon types are somewhat worthwhile. But where would you find a true dragon that's only four thousand years old? Subdragons like Earth Fire Dragons are no different from fire scorpions like the Earth King."

Ji Siyuan suddenly realized that, at this point in time, none of the strongest Soul Beasts possessed fire attributes.

"Find a Blue Silver Emperor with powerful vitality to temper your physique. Find something with strong spiritual power to improve your spiritual attributes."

"Easy for you to say, Uncle. Do you think I'm an idiot? A Blue Silver Emperor is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. How am I supposed to get one unless it sacrifices itself to me?"

"Who told you to find one now?"

After some discussion, Ji Siyuan confirmed his target.

He told Zhang Lexuan his limit.

"A four-thousand-year Soul Ring? Junior, don't overestimate yourself. Many people cannot even absorb a four-thousand-year Soul Ring as their fourth."

"Were their first Soul Rings Thousand-Year Soul Rings too?"

Zhang Lexuan could not refute that. "For a four-thousand-year Soul Beast, I recommend the Earth King. Ma Xiaotao, who nearly injured you last time, absorbed one of those. After so many years of matching Soul Rings, the academy has preparations for fire-attributed Soul Beasts. The strength of your Soul Ring might be able to follow your Senior Xiaotao's example."

His first Soul Ring corresponded to the age limit of a third Soul Ring, so his third Soul Ring could directly aim for ten thousand years.

"Ah, why are we speeding up again?"

"Because I know where an Earth King is."

The snow-white scorpion was still hunting, unaware that it had already become someone else's target.

Bright moonlight descended in broad daylight. Even with the sun high overhead, it could not conceal the moon's radiance.

The white scorpion had no ability to resist and was suppressed by Zhang Lexuan.

Streams of moonlight fell, and crescent moons like blades struck the Earth King with precise accuracy.

The Earth King was covered in wounds, but none were fatal.

One, two, three—her three Soul Rings all lit up. The crescent moon in the sky became a full moon, and even the sun was obscured.

"Your turn, Junior."

"Understood."

He had to kill the Soul Beast himself.

A Fire Demon Vortex struck the fatal opening Zhang Lexuan had left for him, killing the Earth King in a single blow.

He sat down cross-legged and guided the Soul Ring into his body.

Zhang Lexuan stood guard nearby, watching flames soar as the red lotus protected him.

Nine Lotus Seeds revolved around Ji Siyuan. His absorption proceeded incomparably smoothly, without encountering the slightest danger.

"Tsk, with the effect of the Lotus Seeds, it seems his absorption limit can be raised as well."

Tang San reached his conclusion and became even more confident that the third Soul Ring could be a ten-thousand-year one.