Riding in the carriage, Lin Fan and Qian Xunji headed toward Star Dou Forest.
Along the way, Lin Fan told Qian Xunji about the Soul Beasts Long Yuan had recommended for him.
Lin Fan's physical strength was already comparable to that of some Soul Ancestors.
That was thanks not only to the Demon Element constantly transforming his body, but also to his training, medicinal baths, Whale Rubber, and more.
After considering various measurements, they had settled on a limit of around five thousand years for his Second Soul Ring!
A five-thousand-year Second Soul Ring was already more than enough to shock people!
If outsiders found out, they would surely do everything they could to uncover the reason behind it!
The carriage moved at an incredible speed, yet Lin Fan and Qian Xunji, seated inside, didn't feel the slightest discomfort.
After a full two days, the carriage finally reached the outskirts of Star Dou Forest.
"We've reached the outer perimeter of Star Dou Forest. Let's set out," Qian Xunji said.
Hearing this, Lin Fan awoke from his cultivation and nodded.
As soon as he entered Star Dou Forest, Lin Fan could feel that the Soul Power here was somewhat denser than in the outside world.
However, a Soul Master definitely couldn't cultivate here.
After all, Star Dou Forest was where Soul Beasts lived.
Thunder Canyon
"This is Thunder Canyon, Xiaofan. Stay close to me at all times," Qian Xunji said seriously.
Lin Fan nodded and looked toward the sky ahead, where dark clouds gathered and thunder and lightning flashed from time to time.
Thunder Canyon was vast. At its widest point, it stretched a full eighty or ninety meters across.
And that was only the outer region. It would get even wider farther inside.
Suddenly, a rustling sound rang out.
Qian Xunji turned to look and saw a huge Single-Horned Thunder Rhino charging toward them, its body covered in arcs of lightning.
Seeing it, Qian Xunji threw a punch, meeting the Thunder Rhino head-on!
"Let's go."
Qian Xunji spoke calmly. This Thunder Rhino was less than a thousand years old, so he didn't consider it a threat.
Lin Fan nodded and followed closely behind Qian Xunji.
The farther they went, the wider the canyon grew. Along the way, they encountered a few Thunder-attribute Soul Beasts, but unfortunately, they were all too young.
"A Purple Lightning Eagle, three thousand five hundred years old. Still a little short."
"A Thunder Sword Bird, with a four-meter wingspan, and four thousand years old. Still not enough."
"A Thunder-Patterned Demon Tiger, with three different-colored stripes, but only about three thousand years old."
No, still not good enough.
Qian Xunji led Lin Fan deeper into Thunder Canyon, but they couldn't find a single suitable Soul Beast.
"Roar!" A furious roar suddenly rang out, shaking the skies.
"What's going on? Are Soul Beasts fighting?" Qian Xunji frowned.
"Teacher, that sounds like a dragon," Lin Fan said, hearing the roar.
"Let's go take a look," Qian Xunji replied, then quickly led Lin Fan toward the source of the sound.
As they drew closer, the sounds of fighting grew clearer.
"It should be Soul Beasts fighting," Qian Xunji said calmly.
Before long, the two of them saw two Soul Beasts locked in battle.
In the distance stood a creature about fifteen meters long, its powerful body as imposing as a mountain and covered from head to tail in dark purple, almost black, dragon scales.
Its enormous wings blotted out the sky, and each casual flap sent thunder rolling.
Lightning constantly crackled around its body, a powerful aura of electricity clinging to it.
Its tail was about seven meters long, shaped like an iron whip. The tip split into three streaks of lightning, and every swing stirred up a storm of thunder.
Facing it was a Thunder Rhino, already on the brink of death. Yet this Thunder Rhino was more than four thousand years old!
"Teacher, that Mystic Thunder Dragon would be perfect for my Second Soul Ring!" Lin Fan said excitedly.
"Good!" Qian Xunji replied. After placing Lin Fan in a concealed spot, he headed toward the Mystic Thunder Dragon.
Seeing an intruder, the Mystic Thunder Dragon was displeased. It roared furiously as lightning crashed down from the sky.
Qian Xunji dodged with ease, the Angel Holy Sword in his hand as he slashed toward the Mystic Thunder Dragon's wing.
The Angel Holy Sword coalesced out of thin air. Its sacred golden blade shimmered with sacred golden Soul Power. Its sharp edge cleaved through the air, carrying an irresistible pressure as it cut straight at the Mystic Thunder Dragon's wing.
The Mystic Thunder Dragon roared in fury, and lightning around its body surged violently. A purple-black Lightning Pillar crashed down at Qian Xunji while its claws slashed through the air, trying to block the strike.
As a five-thousand-year-old dragon species, it dominated part of Thunder Canyon. Its body was powerful, and its lightning was savage; ordinary Soul Masters wouldn't dare face it head-on.
But Qian Xunji was the Saint Child of Spirit Hall, and his strength was unfathomable. He showed no change in expression as the Mystic Thunder Dragon fought back.
With a light swing of the holy sword, his divine Soul Power shattered the descending Lightning Pillar. The sword's radiance struck the dragon's wing without the slightest resistance.
The Mystic Thunder Dragon let out a shrill cry of pain. Its hard scales split apart in an instant, revealing a wound deep enough to expose bone. Blood gushed from it, and its wings faltered for a moment. The frenzy in its gaze faded at last, replaced by fear.
It could clearly sense that the human before it possessed overwhelming strength it had no hope of resisting.
Qian Xunji gave it no chance to recover. He stepped forward, and in an instant, appeared above the Mystic Thunder Dragon's head. He raised the Angel Holy Sword again, its blade now gathering even denser Soul Power, with an aura that seemed capable of suppressing everything.
The Mystic Thunder Dragon struggled desperately, lightning surging wildly around it as it tried to launch one last counterattack. But under the suppression of Qian Xunji's Soul Power, its whole body stiffened. Even moving became extremely difficult, and all it could do was watch as the holy sword fell.
Watching Qian Xunji display his might, Lin Fan looked on with eyes full of longing!
When would he be able to do the same as Qian Xunji, defeating such a powerful Soul Beast with nothing but his Martial Soul, without even needing a Soul Skill?
"Xiaofan, come over here," Qian Xunji called.
Lin Fan hurried over to Qian Xunji and delivered the final blow to the Mystic Thunder Dragon.
A purple Soul Ring appeared around the Mystic Thunder Dragon's body.
"Absorb the Soul Ring. I'll keep watch," Qian Xunji said.
Lin Fan nodded, sat cross-legged, and began guiding the Soul Ring into his body.
Not far away, the Thunder Rhino watched the Mystic Thunder Dragon get killed by Qian Xunji in just a few moves. The last breath it had been clinging to finally ran out.
With a crash, the Thunder Rhino's enormous body collapsed to the ground.
Qian Xunji glanced at it casually, then paid it no further attention.
Right now, the most important thing was Lin Fan's safety!
Even Bibi Dong, who also possessed Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power, paled in comparison to Lin Fan's terrifying rate of cultivation.
Moreover, everything Lin Fan had done at Martial Soul Academy convinced Qian Xunji that Lin Fan would surely lead Spirit Hall down a path toward even greater prosperity!
Time flew by.
Lin Fan awoke and felt the power coursing through his body. He smiled faintly.
"How did it go?" Qian Xunji asked.
Qian Xunji was looking at him with an expectant expression.
Lin Fan smiled. "Teacher, absorbing this five-thousand-three-hundred-year-old Mystic Thunder Dragon raised my Soul Power straight to level twenty-five!"
"Level twenty-five!" Qian Xunji's eyes lit up.
That was far more than the single level of Soul Power most Soul Masters gained from absorbing a Soul Ring.
Even a genius with Innate Full Soul Power would need two or three months to advance one level in the Soul Grandmaster realm.
Lin Fan had gained four levels at once, saving him more than half a year of cultivation.
"What about the Soul Skill?" Qian Xunji asked with concern.
He knew about the Soul Skill released by Lin Fan's Star Seed.
So Qian Xunji felt that following an attribute-based path was definitely the right choice for his disciple!
Before you continue