Teacher Guangling

A black Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring appeared, and Guangling Douluo retracted his ice wings, drifting slowly down to Zhang Yang's side.

"See that?" Guangling Douluo said with his hands behind his back. "This is the Fourth Soul Ring I specifically selected for you."

Zhang Yang first opened the system interface, navigated to the Soul Ring Age Enhancement Function page, and reconfirmed his current maximum absorbable soul ring age.

His third soul ring was 8,888 years, plus 2,108 years of enhancement capacity, totaling 10,996 years.

Zhang Yang could currently absorb a soul ring up to 10,996 years old.

And the soul ring of this Thousand-Needle Porcupine...

"When I discovered it, I already checked; there are 1,0023 needles on its back."

"In other words, this is a Thousand-Needle Porcupine that has just reached the ten-thousand-year level."

Guangling Douluo stood with his hands behind his back, looking at Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang swallowed hard. "But, can I really absorb this soul ring? After all, there is no precedent for a level 40 Soul Ancestor absorbing a ten-thousand-year soul ring..."

This was feigned ignorance.

"If you absorb it, won't there be a precedent?"

Guangling Douluo kept his hands behind his back. "The basic requirement for exceeding the limit to absorb a soul ring is that the soul master's physical constitution must meet the standard."

"Martial Soul Hall Academy also has physical training courses, and every year they purchase large amounts of expensive medicinal herbs for students to take medicinal baths. Why?"

"It is to increase the students' physical strength as much as possible, allowing them to absorb higher-age soul rings and become stronger."

"Since you have already passed the Grand Consecrated Elder's trial, it shows that your physical constitution has reached the average level of a level 50 soul master; you are fully capable of absorbing this ten-thousand-year soul ring."

"Of course, you could indeed absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring and safely become a four-ring Soul Ancestor."

"But if you do that, how are you any different from those ordinary soul masters?"

As he spoke, Guangling Douluo suddenly turned around, his ice-sealed left eye closed, while his right eye stared fixedly at Zhang Yang. "The path of cultivation is essentially survival of the fittest. If you want to become stronger, you must fight for it."

"Fight for status, fight for resources, fight for everything that can improve your strength."

"Compared to Hu Liena, you don't have a master who is the Pope, nor do you have the resources of the Pope's faction."

"Fortunately, you are now a member of the Elder Hall."

"However, the resources of the Elder Hall are not so easy to obtain; you need to let the elders see your value."

"Therefore, you need a stepping stone."

"A ten-thousand-year fourth ring is unprecedented and unique."

"It is perfectly suited to be used as a stepping stone."

"A genius soul master with a ten-thousand-year fourth ring is worth our Consecrated faction cultivating with all our might."

"The soul ring will dissipate in an hour; consider it yourself."

Having said that, just as Guangling Douluo was about to find a nice branch to wait for Zhang Yang to make up his mind, he saw Zhang Yang hesitate not even for a second, saying decisively: "Elder, Zhang Yang is willing to fight for it."

Seeing the firm look in Zhang Yang's eyes, Guangling Douluo nodded. "No more consideration? There is still plenty of time."

"No need," Zhang Yang said earnestly. "The Elder is right; if one wishes to reach level 100 and become a god, one must strive to be first at every step."

Zhang Yang's words were eloquent and his awareness was high.

But he had to have high awareness; if he missed this opportunity, where else would Zhang Yang find someone who would allow him to absorb a ten-thousand-year soul ring at level 40?

People, you know, have to play the part when it's time to play the part.

"Reach level 100 and become a god?" Hearing Zhang Yang say this, Guangling Douluo raised an eyebrow. "I didn't expect that, you're not very old, but you have quite the ambition."

Zhang Yang did not explain. "Elder, I am going to start absorbing the soul ring."

"No rush." Guangling Douluo waved a hand. "Before you absorb it, let me ask you: are you willing to take me as your master?"

Zhang Yang was stunned upon hearing this. "Take you as a master?"

"That's right."

Guangling Douluo stood with his hands behind his back, head held high with pride. "I am Li Jianfei, titled Guangling, a level 96 peak Title Douluo, with the Light Feather Bow as my martial soul, and I am the current Fifth Consecrated Elder of Martial Soul Hall."

As he spoke, Guangling Douluo extended his left hand, and a peculiar longbow that seemed to be condensed from ice crystals, adorned with cold-glinting feathers, appeared in his ice-condensed left hand.

At the same time, nine soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—emerged in sequence beneath Guangling Douluo's feet. As the soul power fluctuated, white frost covered the surrounding dozens of meters.

"My martial soul, the Light Feather Bow, is the only long-range attack-type tool martial soul among the seventeen Title Douluo of Martial Soul Hall, and I am the most suitable person to teach you combat and cultivation."

"Well? Can I be your teacher?"

After some thought, Zhang Yang nodded. "Naturally, you can."

Zhang Yang had considered many things before deciding to take Guangling Douluo as his master.

Zhang Yang's father was a Soul King cultivated by Martial Soul Hall; from the moment Zhang Yang was born, the brand of Martial Soul Hall was imprinted upon him.

Since he could not escape the system of Martial Soul Hall, Zhang Yang had to consider how to climb within this system.

Originally, Zhang Yang had intended to obtain resources from the Pope's faction through the Hu Liena-Bibi Dong line.

But he hadn't expected that Bibi Dong would cast him into the Elder Hall.

In the Elder Hall, he had no connections to speak of. Therefore, Zhang Yang needed a way to quickly break the deadlock.

Now that Guangling Douluo had approached him on his own initiative, it was exactly what he had hoped for.

With a well-connected teacher, Zhang Yang could quickly integrate into one of the factions and become one of their own.

And once he became one of their own, he would have the possibility of competing for the resources of the Consecrated Elder faction.

"That's good, let's proceed with the apprenticeship."

With that said, Guangling Douluo slung his martial soul behind his back and floated cross-legged in mid-air, his white-gold hair swaying in the wind like an immortal descended from the heavens.

Zhang Yang did not dawdle; he kept his hands pressed against the seams of his trousers and bowed respectfully to Guangling Douluo, saying, "Teacher."

According to the customs of Douluo Continent, the apprenticeship ceremony was complete once the disciple bowed at a 90-degree angle and addressed the master as "Teacher."

Guangling Douluo nodded and replied, "Mm, good."

The ceremony was complete.

The system interface popped up.

"Congratulations, friendship status-[Master and Disciple] has been unlocked."

Zhang Yang stood up, and Guangling Douluo floated to his side, reaching out to pat his shoulder: "First, absorb this soul ring to raise your level. I have prepared a great gift for you, which I will give you once we return to Martial Soul City."

"Many thanks, Teacher," Zhang Yang nodded.

Since he had already become a disciple, the way they addressed each other and their attitudes had to change accordingly.

"Mm," Guangling Douluo nodded, his figure drifting back into mid-air: "Go ahead, I will stand guard for you."

Zhang Yang nodded and sat cross-legged on the spot, laying M14 across his lap. With a wave of his hand, he drew the soul ring of the Thousand-Needle Porcupine from not far away.

The soul ring drifted over from the top of the Thousand-Needle Porcupine and settled onto the barrel of M14.

The next moment, Zhang Yang opened the system interface.

Absorbing a soul ring was different from absorbing a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone; there was no risk in absorbing a soul bone, and even a level one soul master could absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

However, soul rings were different.

Absorbing a soul ring beyond one's limit carried great risks.

At best, one's soul power would be crippled and they would suffer severe injuries; at worst, they would explode and die, leaving no corpse behind.

Among these, absorbing a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring beyond one's level was the most dangerous of all for a soul master.

This was because the soul ring of a ten-thousand-year soul beast contained residual soul shock, which would attack the soul master's spirit while they were absorbing the ring.

Only when a soul master reached adulthood and their physical fitness and mental strength reached a certain level could they safely survive this impact.

But if their mental strength did not meet the standard, the only outcome of forcibly absorbing a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring was becoming a vegetable.

Guangling Douluo did not know this, because he had only broken through to level 50 after reaching adulthood.

The other Consecrated Elders in the Elder Hall did not know this either, as they had also broken through to level 50 after reaching adulthood.

Of course, Zhang Yang did not know this either, because Zhang Yang had never absorbed a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring before.

However, although Zhang Yang did not know about "soul shock," he knew that absorbing a soul ring beyond one's level was dangerous.

Therefore, he did not choose to go head-to-head with the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, but instead opened the system directly.

Blabbering on about what? If you have something to say, go tell it to my system.