The Second Soul Ring

Seeing the soul battle conclude, Qian Renxue hurried to the side of the two.

Before he could even greet the little angel, he felt a sharp kick to his knee. Fortunately, protected by the Sacred Cloth, Lin Beiya felt no pain.

Yet, the confusion in his heart refused to dissipate, and he could only stare blankly at the fuming little angel before him.

"Hmph, you usually hold back when sparring with this young lady, don't you? Do you look down on me?"

"Huh?"

Though he inwardly called this woman unreasonable, he understood why the little angel was angry. His brain whirred, quickly concocting an excuse.

"Xiao Xue, I wasn't holding back. This state is something I only recently grasped; I couldn't have pulled it off before."

"Is that so?"

Qian Renxue stared suspiciously at Lin Beiya's smiling face for a moment, but regardless, her mood improved significantly following his explanation.

Seeing her little sister so easily hoodwinked by a few words, Lei Ying, standing to the side, covered her head in exasperation.

However, she chose not to expose Lin Beiya, merely shooting the guy a fierce glare.

Feeling guilty, Lin Beiya could only scratch his head with a sheepish laugh, flashing a look of gratitude toward Lei Ying.

The two had become friends through their fights, and over the following half-year, Lin Beiya frequently sparred with Lei Ying, significantly improving their practical combat abilities.

At the same time, they did not neglect their sensory training; both their soul power and their five senses were steadily improving.

That night, as Lin Beiya sat cross-legged in his Sacred Cloth for his usual cultivation, his 19th-level bottleneck quietly shattered, and he naturally stepped into the rank of a quasi-Soul Grand Master.

"Time to obtain my second soul ring. How truly exciting!"

Over the past year and a half, Lin Beiya had consumed that entire piece of ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber to help temper his body. He could feel that his physique was far superior to his peers, even several grades above soul masters of the same level. This time, his goal was a thousand-year soul ring.

Once he finished absorbing the thousand-year soul ring, he would inform Qian Daoliu of the Whale Rubber's effects.

He believed that once the old man knew of its miraculous benefits, he would have his own granddaughter consume it, and he would be able to reap some of the rewards himself.

Carrying his expectations into his dreams, Lin Beiya slept soundly until morning.

After breakfast, he met up with Qian Renxue and Lei Ying in the pavilion.

"What? You're already at level 20? Isn't that too fast?"

Both were nearly eight years old, and Qian Renxue had reached level 28 thanks to her talent, but it was undeniable that the gap between her and Lin Beiya was narrowing.

Lei Ying appeared even more shocked than Qian Renxue. With her innate level nine soul power, she was already considered a genius, but compared to the two in front of her, she felt her self-confidence suffering a brutal blow.

"What a monster."

"Exactly, exactly! Reaching level 20 so quickly, what a monster!"

Qian Renxue agreed with her sister's words and nodded impatiently, only to be met with a massive eye-roll from Lei Ying.

"I was talking about both of you, not just him!"

"Ah? I... this..."

The little angel was momentarily speechless. She wanted to retort, but remembering that her own soul power was even higher than Lin Beiya's, her face turned bright red.

The cute sight made both Lin Beiya and Lei Ying chuckle.

"Beiya, are you planning to go get your soul ring? The difference between a thousand-year soul ring and a hundred-year one is immense. Big sister advises you not to try it lightly."

"I know, Sister Yingying, but I still want to give it a try. The Sacred Cloth grants me a ten percent increase in physical strength."

"Sigh, then I wish you good luck."

Knowing she couldn't dissuade Lin Beiya, Lei Ying stopped nagging, though the concern in her eyes could not be wiped away.

This warmed the heart of Lin Beiya, an orphan in both lives. At the same time, he wanted to secure a brighter future for them; if he wanted Qian Daoliu to believe in the power of the Whale Rubber, a thousand-year soul ring was a necessity.

"I'm going to find the old man to see when he can arrange for me to hunt for a soul ring."

"Alright, I'll have someone ask for leave from the academy for you."

"Mm, thank you."

With a heart full of excitement, Lin Beiya walked slowly toward the Angel Temple.

Months ago, he had already selected his target for the hunt. A bovine-type soul beast was most suitable for his second soul ring, and he had happened to discover a very fitting beast in the archives.

The Golden Armored Rock Ox—a bovine soul beast with skin as golden as if it were clad in armor. If he didn't choose that, who would he choose?

Arriving before the statue of the Angel, Qian Daoliu, that devout believer, was still kneeling in prayer.

Sensing Lin Beiya's arrival, the old man slowly opened his eyes. After sensing the fluctuations of soul power within the boy, he revealed a satisfied smile.

"Oh? Has your cultivation reached level 20, and you need to hunt for a soul ring?"

"Yes, Grand Pontiff. I just broke through last night."

Nodding, Qian Daoliu slowly withdrew his smile, his expression turning serious.

"Beiya, I know your physique is far stronger than other soul masters of your level, but a thousand-year soul ring is still too risky. You must think this through carefully."

"I have already thought it through, Grand Pontiff. The 764-year limit is merely a result of our predecessors feeling their way through the dark. So why can't I redefine that limit?"

Without a second of hesitation, Lin Beiya spoke his thoughts immediately. This caused Qian Daoliu to look at him with renewed admiration, and he no longer tried to dissuade him from his decision.

"Very well, I shall have someone take you to hunt for a soul ring tomorrow. Go and prepare yourself."

"Many thanks, Grand Pontiff."

Watching Lin Beiya's departing figure, Qian Daoliu's eyes held both admiration and concern; the boy had become someone of great importance to his granddaughter, and should any accident befall him, he feared she would be heartbroken.

After some consideration, he decided not to send just anyone to accompany Lin Beiya for his soul ring hunt, choosing instead to summon the Seventh Pontiff, Falling Devil Douluo.

"Big Brother, is something the matter?"

"That boy Beiya is going to hunt for his second soul ring. I want you to take him yourself this time!"

"A second soul ring? Is that really necessary?"

Experts were plentiful within Douluo Hall, and sending a Soul Saint would be more than enough for a second soul ring; Falling Devil Douluo felt that Qian Daoliu was using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Understanding what Falling Devil Douluo meant, Qian Daoliu slowly shook his head.

"You don't understand, Seventh Brother. That boy intends to attach a thousand-year soul ring as his second."

"What? Is the boy courting death?"

"No. In terms of physique alone, he is already comparable to a Soul Elder. I am only sending you as a precaution."

"This..."

He did not see Lin Beiya often, having only caught glimpses of him while secretly protecting Qian Renxue, so he could not help but be shocked to hear that a mere Soul Grand Master-to-be possessed the physical standards of a Soul Elder.

After a long moment, Falling Devil Douluo calmed his mind and nodded solemnly toward Qian Daoliu.

"I understand, Big Brother. Leave it to me; I will ensure no harm comes to the boy."

He now understood the terrifying nature of the boy's talent; in time, he would undoubtedly become a pillar of support for Qian Renxue, and as such, he did not mind expending some effort to pave the way for him.

"Good, then I can rest easy. One more thing: listen to the boy's suggestions regarding the soul ring. His martial soul is unique, and it cannot be viewed through conventional standards."

"Understood."