First Soul Ring

He turned around and looked smugly at Di Tian, wearing the triumphant expression of someone who had won a great victory.

The Silver Dragon King had suddenly decided to leave her hiding place and venture into the human world, without giving any specific reason. The Beast God had naturally opposed her fiercely.

You could even say that when he heard the news, his entire dragon brain short-circuited. His head buzzed, and his old ancestor had angered him so badly that smoke practically poured from his seven apertures.

He had reasoned with her earnestly, pretended to fly into a rage, and begged her again and again, but nothing he did could change her mind.

In the end, he could only get angry for a moment in a fit of pique, then fly into a brief rage.

At last, Gu Yue could straighten her back a little.

The latter also looked surprised.

Unlike the Silver Dragon King, who knew little about the outside world, he had always kept an eye on—or rather, monitored—the Soul Master World's movements.

For those sect prodigies, learning a top-tier Meditation Method one level below the Goddess of Life Meditation Method, one suited to their inherited Martial Soul, generally took two to three months.

Mastering a god-tier Visualization Method in five days showed that his comprehension, intelligence, and concentration were exceptionally high.

One important reason top-tier Meditation Methods took so long to learn was that children were easily distracted.

Huang Tian kept cultivating until he felt his meridians begin to swell, then exited his meditative state.

Gu Yue crouched down, her gaze suddenly filled with concern.

"Xiao Tian, you have Innate Full Soul Power, and you've already learned the Meditation Method. Normally, you should be attaching your First Soul Ring now.

"But your teacher has something that can greatly strengthen your body and spirit, allowing you to withstand a higher-ranked Soul Ring.

"The next month or so will be rather arduous, though. Do you want to absorb one now, or...?"

"Bring it on. A real man never fears a challenge."

Huang Tian immediately planted his hands on his hips and raised his chin, looking skyward as though he could hold up the heavens. Gu Yue couldn't help smiling at him.

But inwardly, he couldn't help feeling puzzled.

Wasn't Ah Yin supposed to be my First Soul Ring? What could be more suitable for the Blue Silver Saint Emperor than a century-old Blue Silver Emperor? Could the Silver Dragon King have some other plan?

Or does she have a way to temporarily increase Ah Yin's age?

Huang Tian had guessed correctly.

It had only been six years since the Seed of Life left behind after Ah Yin's sacrifice had been planted, and it had spent those years in a lightless environment. Even forming a Hundred-Year Soul Ring had been a good result.

But she wasn't truly a century-old Soul Beast. She had once cultivated for a hundred thousand years, and the foundation of her soul remained.

On top of that, her devouring attribute was special. As long as she had enough abundant, pure life energy, she could advance rapidly at any time without encountering any bottlenecks.

Gu Yue planned to give Ah Yin a little Gold of Life to absorb, restoring her to a thousand years and awakening her severely injured, dormant soul.

Then, by sacrificing herself willingly, Ah Yin could ensure that Huang Tian successfully gained his Soul Ring, avoiding any mishaps from the lack of an accurate Soul Ring Limit Formula to refer to.

Huang Tian, too, would use the Gold of Life during this period to strengthen his body and soul and bring himself into peak condition.

The mountain stood a hundred zhang tall. Scraping off just a little powder would be more than enough for the two of them to absorb.

The next morning, after breakfast, Gu Yue dissolved a pinhead-sized fleck of Gold of Life—almost invisible to the naked eye—with Soul Power, then slowly infused it into Huang Tian's body.

In an instant, Huang Tian felt an exceptionally surging wave of life energy flood into him. It struck his mind so hard that he grew dizzy and dazed.

His face flushed crimson, his fingers trembled uncontrollably, and his heart pounded as though it could barely bear the strain.

But as soon as he began circulating the Goddess of Life Meditation Method, every cell in his body and every bone greedily devoured the energy.

Like rain after a long drought, it felt so good as the energy flowed in that even the depths of his soul seemed ready to moan.

After two hours, when he felt he had absorbed his fill, he dashed out of the house and began sprinting through a complex, ever-changing course in the center of the courtyard. It resembled a four-hundred-meter obstacle course, but was far more elaborate.

A four-hundred-meter obstacle course was designed for ordinary people. Soul Masters—even unringed Soul Scholars at level ten—were far faster and stronger than ordinary people, with better reflexes and flexibility, and they could use Soul Power to enhance every movement. The course clearly needed to be on a whole other level.

Gu Yue had Na'er sit on her shoulder as she hovered in midair. Di Tian sat on the eaves, arms folded, legs dangling over the edge.

The three of them watched Huang Tian run, leap, climb, crawl, turn, double back, and even walk on his hands, hardly taking their eyes off him.

Gu Yue was full of admiration.

Di Tian said nothing, but his eyes showed his appreciation.

Na'er was even more excited and shouted, "Big brother is amazing!"

Martial Soul talent wasn't everything. To reach the peak, one also needed luck and opportunity, wisdom and insight, character and courage, as well as perseverance and endurance.

Huang Tian clearly had all four qualities—not only did he have them, but he had them in perfect measure.

Each set consisted of three laps and took twenty minutes. After resting for half an hour and meditating, he would start again.

For the entire day, Huang Tian kept up this cycle, rarely stopping except to eat.

The second day, the third, the fourth, and on and on, until the forty-fifth day—he never once complained of hardship or fatigue.

Compared with being confined to a tiny place, having his ambition ground down, and being forced to bow his head for a pittance, this little hardship didn't even count to someone who had lived another life. He even enjoyed it.

The feeling of growing stronger with every passing day, every passing moment, was downright exhilarating.

A month and a half later,

In an empty corner of the training ground, Gu Yue flicked a finger. Ah Yin suddenly appeared at her feet from who knew where.

Compared to when they had first met, she now stood over two meters tall, with lush foliage and a thick stem. A vibrant aura of life radiated from her.

Golden and silver patterns shimmered faintly across her, making her look breathtakingly beautiful.

"I'm afraid I'll have to put you through this for a while, Ah Yin. As we agreed, let's begin."

Gu Yue's voice held little emotion.

In her eyes, it was Ah Yin's good fortune to become Huang Tian's Soul Ring and Soul Spirit. Once he became a god, she would become a divine spirit alongside him, enjoying eternal life. Others could only dream of such treatment.

The Blue Silver Emperor's consciousness had clearly awakened. The leaves at her crown bent downward slightly in agreement.

Huang Tian took a cushion and sat cross-legged on it. He released his Martial Soul and said, "Sister Ah Yin, I've learned about your story. If I can, I'll find a way to bring you back to life someday."

The Blue Silver Emperor nodded again.

Then the entire plant withered abruptly and flopped to the ground. In its place, a gorgeous purple ring of light appeared around Huang Tian's Blue Silver Saint Emperor Martial Soul.

At the same time, life energy flowed into his body and Martial Soul. Compared to the Gold of Life, it was a drop in the ocean, and the energy soon settled.

That was how simple a thousand-year Soul Ring sacrifice was.

"What's the Soul Skill?"

Gu Yue asked, though she already knew.

Huang Tian focused his thoughts. His Soul Ring lit up, and a two-meter-long blue crystal spear appeared in his right palm, woven through with golden and silver patterns.

"A weapon—the Blue Silver Saint Emperor Spear. It can absorb an opponent's Soul Power and life force as it attacks."