Advanced Soul Power Guidance Method

Early the next morning, before dawn had broken, Ma Hongjun was dragged out of bed by Flender.

"Starting today, you and Oscar will study the Advanced Soul Power Guidance Method with me."

Flender stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back. The morning breeze stirred the hem of his clothes, giving him a rare air of immortal poise.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar stood side by side before him, one bright-eyed and alert, the other still yawning.

"Teacher, what is the Advanced Soul Power Guidance Method?" Ma Hongjun asked, though he already knew the answer.

Flender glanced at him and began explaining.

"A Soul Power Guidance Method is the foundation of a Soul Master's cultivation. A Basic Guidance Method can cultivate someone to rank thirty, a Soul Elder. An Intermediate Guidance Method can cultivate someone to rank fifty, a Soul King. As for an Advanced Soul Power Guidance Method—"

He paused, a trace of pride in his voice.

"It can cultivate someone beyond rank seventy, to become a Soul Saint."

Ma Hongjun nodded and listened intently.

"Theoretically, it can still be used to cultivate further, but the speed will become slower and slower. You'll get half the results for twice the effort."

Flender continued, "To step into the realm of Soul Douluo and Title Douluo, you need a Top-Tier Soul Power Guidance Method. I don't have anything like that here."

He sighed, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.

"Spirit Hall has them. The Upper Three Sects have them. The Lower Four Sects have them. The Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire have them too. But those are not things ordinary people can get their hands on. Most people can barely obtain an Intermediate Guidance Method, much less an advanced one."

Ma Hongjun understood.

The distribution of resources in this world was simply that cruel.

No matter how gifted someone was, without a good cultivation method, their limits were fixed.

Countless talented youths had been unable to obtain an Advanced Guidance Method through any channel, leaving them stuck at the Soul King or Soul Emperor realm for their entire lives, unable to advance another step.

Of course, Martial Soul quality and Innate Soul Power were also enormous thresholds.

For Flender to bring out an Advanced Guidance Method and teach it to them already meant he had emptied his coffers.

"Still, you're both young. Learn the Advanced Guidance Method properly first. We'll deal with the future when it comes."

Flender set aside his reflections and returned to his usual cold demeanor. "Countless people can't even get an Advanced Guidance Method. You've already won at the starting line. Don't waste this opportunity."

"Yes, Teacher," Ma Hongjun and Oscar answered in unison.

Flender began teaching them the incantation and circulation route of the guidance method.

Ma Hongjun listened with great focus, committing every detail to memory.

Although he had read the original novel in his previous life and knew some cultivation theories, this was his first real encounter with a Soul Power Guidance Method.

Flender explained everything in great detail, from the route Soul Power took through the meridians to how it should be guided through a full circulation. He broke down every step thoroughly.

Though Oscar usually joked around, he was not careless at all when it came to cultivation.

He was two years older than Ma Hongjun and had a deeper understanding of guidance methods. From time to time, he even raised several crucial questions.

Flender answered them one by one, showing a patience unlike his usual self.

In the blink of an eye, three months passed.

In the courtyard of Shrek Academy, two figures sweated profusely beneath the morning light.

Ma Hongjun wore a gray training uniform. He had grown noticeably taller than he had been three months ago, and his shoulders had broadened as well.

Long-term training had made the lines of his body smoother. His muscles were not especially pronounced, but every inch of him brimmed with explosive power.

Oscar stood not far away, doing push-ups.

His progress was even more obvious than Ma Hongjun's.

The baby fat that had lingered on his face three months ago had faded, leaving sharper features behind.

The muscles in his arms bulged, completely unlike the soft, weak physique of an ordinary Food-Type Soul Master.

"One hundred ninety-eight... one hundred ninety-nine... two hundred!"

Oscar finished the last set, rolled over, and sat up, panting heavily.

"Little Oscar, test your Soul Power." Flender's voice came from the office doorway.

Oscar answered and walked over to the Testing Crystal, placing both hands against it.

Blue light lit up.

Twenty!

The glow within the crystal ball stopped at rank twenty, steady and bright.

"Rank twenty." Flender nodded, a hint of satisfaction in his tone. "Much faster than expected."

Oscar grinned and turned toward Ma Hongjun.

"Hongjun, you test yours too."

Ma Hongjun stepped forward and pressed both hands against the crystal ball.

Light flared, and the number rose.

Sixteen!

"Rank sixteen." A flicker of surprise passed through Flender's eyes. "Three months, from twelve to sixteen. Four ranks. The cultivation speed of Innate Full Soul Power truly is astonishing."

Ma Hongjun withdrew his hands, feeling somewhat moved as well.

With the Advanced Soul Power Guidance Method and Innate Full Soul Power combined, his cultivation speed was indeed ridiculously fast.

At this rate, he was confident he could break through rank twenty within a year. Even reaching for rank thirty was not impossible.

"You've reached rank twenty. It's time to hunt your second Soul Ring." Flender looked at Oscar. "Make your preparations. We leave for the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow."

Oscar's eyes immediately lit up.

"The Star Dou Great Forest? Really?"

"Really." Flender nodded. "Your second Soul Ring can't be settled by finding just any Soul Hunting Forest. The Star Dou Great Forest has many kinds of soul beasts, so there will be more options."

Ma Hongjun's heart stirred.

The Star Dou Great Forest, one of the most important locations in the original novel.

Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python were there, along with all manner of soul beasts and all manner of dangers.

But with their current lineup—Flender and Zhao Wuji, two Soul Saints, leading them, along with several Soul Emperor teachers—they would be safe enough as long as they did not venture deep into the core region.

"That's great!" Oscar was so excited that he nearly jumped up. "I can finally go to the Star Dou Great Forest!"

Ma Hongjun watched Oscar's excited expression, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

The second Soul Ring would be an important turning point for Oscar.

And that bold idea of his had finally reached the time when it could be put into practice.

Early the next morning, the group set out from Shrek Academy.

Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Shao Xin led the way. Together with Ma Hongjun and Oscar, the two students, the group of five headed toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

The Star Dou Great Forest lay southeast of the Balak Kingdom, roughly two days' travel from Suotuo City.

Flender rented a carriage, and the group traveled south along the main road.

Inside the carriage, Oscar was too excited to sit still. One moment he leaned against the window to look outside, and the next he pulled Ma Hongjun into conversation.

"Hongjun, what kind of soul beast do you think would be best for my second Soul Ring?"

Ma Hongjun thought for a moment but did not answer directly.

"We'll see when we get there. It depends on what we encounter."

Oscar curled his lips, clearly dissatisfied with the answer, but he did not press further.

Shao Xin sat nearby, smiling as he watched the two children.

He was a Food-Type Soul Emperor, and his Martial Soul was Candy Bean. He was considered a senior on the same path as Oscar.

He had come along partly to help Oscar evaluate his Soul Ring choices and partly to protect him.

Zhao Wuji leaned against the carriage wall with his eyes closed, his burly body completely blocking the carriage door.

Flender sat beside the coachman, guiding the way.

The two-day journey passed quickly amid laughter and conversation.