"Tea... Teacher, is my Soul Skill useless?"
Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened, and he nodded in agreement.
But then he seemed to think of something. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he shook his head again.
"Xiao San, this should be a growth-type Soul Ring. Once you complete your trials and receive your rewards, this Soul Ring will be able to grow stronger too."
"Now, we just need to see whether this Soul Skill is right for you."
At that, Tang San immediately understood.
"That's right. As long as I complete my trials, this Soul Ring's age can increase too."
The thought reignited Tang San's enthusiasm.
He wanted to see what kind of Soul Skill the Jinx had given him.
He wasted no time. Tang San immediately lit up his Third Soul Ring.
"Third Soul Skill: Blue Silver Bamboo Dragonfly!"
Several strands of Blue Silver Grass gathered in front of him. Their roots crossed and intertwined, quickly forming a small rotor, with Blue Silver Grass roots connecting to its base.
"Seriously, what is this thing even for?"
Yu Xiaogang, who had watched the whole thing, fell into deep thought again. With his keen eye, he couldn't figure out what use this thing had.
Under Gangzi's puzzled gaze, Tang San quietly stuck the Bamboo-Copter onto the crown of his head.
Then the rotor began to spin.
And before Gangzi's astonished eyes, Tang San slowly rose into the air.
"Flight! It's the ability to fly!"
The effect of a Ten-Year Soul Ring was simply too weak. Tang San flew for only a few dozen seconds before the Soul Power contained within it was completely spent.
Tang San reacted swiftly, turning a full 360 degrees in midair before landing smoothly.
Seeing this, Gangzi excitedly rushed over to Tang San.
"Xiao San, as expected of a God-Bestowed Soul Ring!"
"You should know that aside from flying Soul Masters, only Titled Douluo can fly through the air. In other words, the Soul Skill this Soul Ring gave you is comparable to the effect of a Soul Ring aged over eighty thousand years."
"R-really?"
"But Teacher, I flew so slowly, and only for a few dozen seconds. What good is that?"
"Xiao San, you're being foolish. The Soul Ring is only ten years old right now, so of course its effect is pathetic!"
"Once its age increases, both its duration and speed will grow explosively."
At that, Tang San's eyes suddenly blazed with light. He understood the significance of it too.
From this day on, he could call himself a flying Soul Master.
Combined with his Hidden Weapons, which could strike without warning, its power would be nothing to scoff at.
"I understand, Teacher. I'll work even harder to complete my trials when we get back."
After absorbing the Soul Ring, master and disciple set off for Nuoding City, filled with anticipation for the future.
Meanwhile, Ma Hongjun in Suotuo City and Dugu Yan in Heaven Dou City were still struggling to complete their trials.
Ma Hongjun needed no further explanation. Five times in a row, the trial he received had been "absolute calm."
Dai Mubai, meanwhile, had fallen into a cooldown period that had lasted nearly half a year.
Dai Mubai now hated Ma Hongjun even more than he hated Dai Weisi.
On the other side, Dugu Yan had rented a basement in Heaven Dou City.
She had also bought a thousand rats and released them into the basement.
Watching the rats scurry around the room, making a shrill racket, Dugu Yan's teeth chattered.
"G-Grandpa, maybe we should give up!"
"Yan Yan, you only have to live with the rats for a week. Grit your teeth, and it'll be over before you know it."
"Think of the reward you'll get after completing the trial. You'll surely surpass me one day."
Dugu Yan swallowed hard. Even now, her gaze toward the basement was still filled with terror.
It all started when she received her twelfth trial.
This time, she had received a trial called "Snake and Rat in One Nest."
It required her to eat and sleep alongside no fewer than a thousand rats for a week.
For this, she had even called Dugu Bo over to give her a pep talk.
With her grandfather looking at her expectantly, Dugu Yan had no choice but to steel herself and leap into the basement.
Watching his granddaughter's brave act, Dugu Bo closed the basement door with a satisfied smile.
"Yan Yan, hang in there! I'll be back in a week!"
"I-I... I know! A week, and if you're even one minute late, I'll beat your great-grandson to a pulp someday!"
"Good grief, that's brutal!"
Hearing his granddaughter's threat, Dugu Bo was dumbstruck. He silently mourned his future great-grandson, wherever he might be.
Time flew. One day, a month later.
After receiving several trial rewards, Lu Xian successfully broke through to level 50. Now, he only needed to bond with one more object—or a Soul Beast—to become a true Soul King.
A Soul King at just fifteen years old. Lu Xian had only one question: who could match him?
Across the entire Douluo Continent, only Qian Renxue could keep up. Everyone else here was trash.
Once he reached level 60, even Qian Renxue would have to sit with the rest of them.
Lu Xian had already given some thought to his fifth Soul Ring.
He planned to find a tiger-type Soul Beast for his fifth Soul Ring. If a Soul Beast couldn't become his Soul Ring, then he'd find an ordinary tiger instead.
As for a helper, there was already someone available at Shrek Academy.
Better to act than to daydream. After temporarily closing the Broom Shop once more, Lu Xian rode his broom straight toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
Thanks to Tang San's efforts, his First Soul Ring had also reached the fifteen-hundred-year level.
His flying speed had climbed another notch.
In just one day and one night, he safely reached Soul Hunting Town outside the Star Dou Great Forest.
After replenishing his food and fresh water, Lu Xian plunged into the primeval forest.
It was rather embarrassing to admit, but despite all his "diligent, painstaking" cultivation, he was still visiting this vast forest—an unavoidable destination for all high-level Soul Masters—for the first time, even as a Soul King.
When he first stepped into the Star Dou Great Forest, Lu Xian had assumed that with ancient trees blocking out the sky at every turn, it would be dark as night.
But what he saw instead was a flowing sea of stars—countless tiny points of light floating in the air, like a vast galaxy.
Since he had come here alone, Lu Xian naturally couldn't wander around like a headless fly.
Spirit Snake Sense quietly unfurled. Within a hundred meters, all living creatures appeared in his mind as thermal images.
Calling him a human radar wouldn't be an exaggeration.
But a hundred meters was still a small range, making it somewhat difficult to find a suitable Soul Beast.
Releasing his Fourth Soul Skill, Lu Xian summoned Xiao Qing.
Xiao Qing was now over three meters long, and both her strength and venom had improved by leaps and bounds.
Snakes were naturally gifted with keen senses, making her perfect for reconnaissance.
"Xiao Qing, go see if you can find any tiger-type Soul Beasts around a hundred to a thousand years old."
Xiao Qing flicked her tongue and gave a slight nod, then slithered into the forest.
Lu Xian could share Xiao Qing's field of vision completely. With her help, this trip would be much easier.
Several dozen minutes later, Lu Xian ventured deeper into the forest.
Perhaps because his cultivation had been too comfortable, Lu Xian didn't have a shred of bloodlust about him.
He was merely alert to the unfamiliar surroundings.
That quality quickly made him a target for some predators.
When a hundred-year Cloud Leopard appeared in front of him, Lu Xian couldn't help but laugh in anger.
"Do I really look like such an easy target?"
Before you continue