The old man naturally knew who Lin Rui meant by "madman." Chuckling, he released Lin Rui's hand and asked again, "So, Little Ancestor, why did you come to the Sect Library in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"
"To look through Soul Beast records," Lin Rui answered as he flipped through the books.
"Little Ancestor, have you decided to absorb a Soul Ring?" the old man asked, surprised and incredulous. The sect master had wanted to take Little Ancestor to absorb his first Soul Ring on the second day after bringing him back, but Little Ancestor had insisted on waiting and carefully considering what he should absorb for his first Soul Ring.
Several days had passed like that, and even the sect master had grown impatient. That evening, he had discussed forcing Little Ancestor to absorb a Soul Ring the next day. Who would have thought that Little Ancestor would get up in the middle of the night to read up on what he should absorb for his first Soul Ring? The sun really had risen in the west.
The old man plopped down. As a Title Douluo of the Body Sect with a Brain Martial Soul, specifically assigned to guard the Sect Library, he knew a great deal about what Soul Rings Body Martial Souls should absorb. He asked, "Little Ancestor, what Soul Ring do you want for your first ring?"
"A thousand-year one."
"A thousand-year one is good, a thousand-year—" The old man quickly realized something was wrong. He stared at Lin Rui in disbelief. "Little Ancestor, what did you just say?"
"A Thousand-year Soul Ring. What's wrong? Why are you making such a fuss?" Lin Rui said disdainfully.
At that moment, the old man was completely dumbfounded. He immediately grabbed Lin Rui by the shoulders and looked at him. "Little Ancestor, it's best to absorb a Thousand-year Soul Ring as your second ring. How about we absorb one that's eight or nine hundred years old for your first ring?"
The sect had finally welcomed a perfect successor who could lead it to greater heights, yet this Little Ancestor wanted to absorb a Thousand-year Soul Ring as his first ring. How was that any different from courting death?
Lin Rui looked at the worried old man before him, who kept trying to persuade him. He understood that the old man was concerned for him, but he had no intention of giving up. "Old man, I've made up my mind. I'm absorbing a Thousand-year Soul Ring. Otherwise, I might as well not absorb my first Soul Ring at all."
"Little Ancestor, how about thinking it over some more?"
"No."
"Little Ancestor, how about this? In a few days, this old man will roast some Ten-thousand-year Soul Beast brain for you. Let's be a little more cautious."
"Is it tasty?" Lin Rui could not help asking.
The old man realized there was hope and immediately patted his chest. "This old man's roasted Soul Beast brain is the best on the continent. Of course it's tasty."
"Fine." Lin Rui nodded. "After I absorb my first Thousand-year Soul Ring, roast it for me."
"Fine..." Just as the old man was about to agree, he realized something was wrong again. Little Ancestor had no intention of giving up at all.
He immediately got up to find the sect master. He absolutely could not let Little Ancestor throw his life away. This was the future of the Body Sect!
Du Busi, who had been considering how to forcefully take Lin Rui to absorb a Soul Ring the next day, suddenly saw Old Lin rush in. "Old Lin, why aren't you asleep so late at night? What is it you need to report?"
"Sect Master, this is bad! Little Ancestor, he..."
"What happened to A-Rui?" Du Busi immediately rose to his feet. Lin Rui was his future successor—the future of the Body Sect!
"Little Ancestor says he wants to absorb a Thousand-year Soul Ring for his first ring," Old Lin said hurriedly. "He's in the library right now looking for a suitable Millennium Soul Beast. Sect Master, hurry over!"
Upon hearing that, Du Busi immediately said, "Take me there."
The two quickly arrived at the library. Lin Rui was quietly seated in Old Lin's usual spot, flipping through books containing Soul Beast records. A large pile of books was spread across the table as well.
Du Busi immediately walked over. "A-Rui, I heard you want to absorb a Thousand-year Soul Ring as your first ring?"
"Mm." Lin Rui nodded and turned to the next page, searching for a suitable Soul Ring. For a Life Attribute Soul Ring, it would be best to find a Soul Beast with tenacious vitality. Finding a Life Attribute Soul Beast would be even better.
Old Lin hurriedly said, "Little Ancestor, how about you reconsider?" Then he frantically signaled Du Busi with his eyes. This was the sect's future!
Du Busi naturally understood why Old Lin was so anxious, but he could also see that Lin Rui had made up his mind. Over the past few days, he had figured out the boy's temperament. He loved to eat and hated to work, but once he decided on something, he would never give up. He certainly would not abandon his plan to absorb a Thousand-year Soul Ring after just a few words.
So he asked, "You brat, are you confident?"
"Teacher, as a Body Self Martial Soul with a Life Attribute, I don't think there will be a problem with my first ring being a thousand-year one." Lin Rui gave his reasoning. A Body Martial Soul was not something those Beast Martial Souls and Tool Martial Souls could compare to. Coupled with his own special nature, absorbing a Thousand-year Soul Ring as his first ring was no challenge at all.
Du Busi looked at Lin Rui, who clearly had no intention of backing down, and understood that the boy had made up his mind. "You brat, you've got some nerve. Fine. I want to see what you're capable of tomorrow."
"Thank you for granting my request, Teacher!" Lin Rui understood that Du Busi had agreed.
Old Lin was already dumbfounded. He had not expected the sect master to agree to Little Ancestor's absurd idea. "Sect Master!"
"That's enough, Old Lin." Du Busi knew Old Lin was worried, but Lin Rui's Martial Soul was truly too special. Not only could he eat, but his physical strength was even comparable to that of a two-ring Soul Master. However, he had not revealed this, fearing that certain people might expose Lin Rui to the imperial family.
As long as Lin Rui grew properly, Du Busi would never allow any outside factors to interfere!
In the Sun Moon Empire, Lin Fan lived in the Worship Hall. He immediately left his room and went to the room where Kong Deming, his teacher, conducted his Soul Tool research.
Kong Deming, who had been studying Soul Tool blueprints, did not get angry when he saw Lin Fan barge in. Instead, he smiled and asked, "Xiao Fan, what is it?"
"I've decided what I want for my first Soul Ring."
"Oh?" The smile in Kong Deming's eyes instantly deepened. He immediately sat upright, completely setting aside his work as he pressed curiously, "What Soul Ring? Tell me."
"A Thousand-year Soul Ring."
The moment those words came out, even Kong Deming was dumbfounded. Despite being the continent's number one level-nine Soul Engineer, he had heard of people absorbing Ten-thousand-year Soul Rings as their fourth ring, but he had never seen anyone absorb a Thousand-year Soul Ring as their first. What, were you trying to fly to heaven?
"Xiao Fan, are you sure you're not joking with me?" Kong Deming looked uncertainly at Lin Fan, feeling that the boy had to be joking.
Absorbing a Thousand-year Soul Ring as one's first ring could be said to have never happened in ten thousand years. Not even the neighboring Shrek Academy had ever seen such a thing. Yet his newly accepted disciple wanted a Thousand-year Soul Ring as his first ring. This...
"Teacher, I'm not joking with you. I'm confident." Lin Fan could not explain it properly, so he could only say that he was confident.
"Then do you know the consequences if you fail?"
"Of course I do." Lin Fan nodded. "Teacher, it's enough for you to know that I'm a genius. Geniuses should always be somewhat different from ordinary people."
At that moment, Lin Fan's proud genius shone through completely before Kong Deming. Geniuses were inherently different from ordinary people. Coupled with his own special nature, a Thousand-year Soul Ring was his for the taking!
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