Teacher Guang Ling

A black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring appeared, and Guangling Douluo folded away his ice wings before slowly drifting down beside Zhang Yang.

"You saw that, didn't you?" Guangling Douluo clasped his hands behind his back. "This is the fourth Soul Ring I specially chose for you."

Zhang Yang first opened the system interface and entered the [Soul Ring Age Enhancement Function] page, checking once more the maximum Soul Ring age he could currently absorb.

His third Soul Ring was 8,888 years old. Add the 2,108 years he could enhance it by, and the total was 10,996 years.

Zhang Yang could currently absorb a Soul Ring up to 10,996 years old.

And this Thousand-Needle Porcupine's Soul Ring...

"When I found it, I'd already examined it. It had 10,023 spines on its back."

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

Guangling Douluo clasped his hands behind his back and looked at Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang swallowed. "But can I really absorb this Soul Ring? There's never been a case of a level-40 Soul Master absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring..."

He was just pretending to be modest.

"If you absorb it, won't that make you the first?"

Guangling Douluo kept his hands behind his back. "The basic requirement for absorbing a Soul Ring beyond the limit is that the Soul Master's physical constitution must be up to par."

"Spirit Hall Academy has physical training classes, too. Every year, they purchase large quantities of expensive medicinal herbs to give the students medicinal baths. Why?"

"To improve the students' physical strength as much as possible, so they can absorb higher-year Soul Rings and become stronger."

"Since you've already passed the Grand Consecrated Elder's test, your physical constitution has reached the average level of a level-50 Soul Master. You can absolutely absorb this Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring."

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

"But then, what would make you any different from those ordinary Soul Masters?"

As he spoke, Guangling Douluo suddenly turned around. His Ice Seal-closed left eye remained shut, while his right eye fixed intently on Zhang Yang. "The path of cultivation is, at its heart, the survival of the fittest. If you want to grow stronger, you have to fight for it."

"Fight for status, fight for resources, fight for anything that can increase your strength."

"Compared to Hu Liena, you don't have a father who's the Pope, nor the resources and attention of the Pope's faction."

"Fortunately, you're part of the Elder Hall now."

"But the Elder Hall's resources aren't so easy to get. You need to show the elders what you're worth."

"So you need a foot in the door."

"A ten-thousand-year fourth ring is unprecedented and unmatched. There's never been another like it, and there never will be."

"It's perfect as your foot in the door."

"A genius Soul Master with a ten-thousand-year fourth ring is worth our Consecrated Elders' faction going all out to cultivate."

"The Soul Ring will disappear in an hour. Think it over yourself."

Having finished speaking, Guangling Douluo was just about to find a pretty branch to perch on while Zhang Yang considered his offer when Zhang Yang spoke without the slightest hesitation, his voice resolute. "Elder, Zhang Yang is willing to fight for it."

Seeing the determination in Zhang Yang's eyes, Guangling Douluo nodded. "You're not going to think it over? There's still plenty of time."

"No need." Zhang Yang answered earnestly, "You're right, Elder. If I want to become a god at level one hundred, I have to fight to stay ahead at every step."

Zhang Yang's words were polished, and his resolve impressive.

But he had to sound resolved. If he missed this opportunity, where else could he find someone willing to let him absorb a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring at level forty?

When the time came to butter someone up, a man had to know how.

"Become a god at level one hundred?" Guangling Douluo raised an eyebrow at Zhang Yang's words. "You're young, but you've got quite the ambition."

Zhang Yang offered no explanation. "Elder, I'm going to absorb the Soul Ring now."

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

Zhang Yang was taken aback again. "Become your disciple?"

"That's right."

Guangling Douluo clasped his hands behind his back and raised his head proudly. "I am Li Jianfei, titled Guangling. I'm a level-96 Peak Douluo, my Martial Soul is the Light Feather Bow, and I currently serve as the Spirit Hall's Fifth Consecrated Elder."

As he spoke, Guangling Douluo extended his left hand. A strange longbow, seemingly forged from ice crystals and adorned with gleaming feathers, appeared in his hand, which was itself made of solid ice.

At the same time, nine Soul Rings rose in succession beneath Guangling Douluo's feet: two yellow, two purple, and five black. Even the faintest hint of Soul Power spilling from him left the ground within dozens of meters coated in white frost.

"Among the seventeen Titled Douluo in Spirit Hall, my Light Feather Bow is the only long-range weapon-type Martial Soul. I'm also the person best suited to teach you combat and cultivation."

"Well? Would I make a suitable teacher?"

After thinking it over, Zhang Yang nodded. "Of course."

Zhang Yang had given a lot of thought to becoming Guangling Douluo's disciple.

Zhang Yang's father was a Soul King cultivated by Spirit Hall. From the moment Zhang Yang was born, Spirit Hall's mark had been branded on him.

Since he couldn't leave Spirit Hall's system, he had to consider how to climb higher within it.

At first, Zhang Yang had planned to obtain resources through Hu Liena and Bibi Dong, joining the Pope's faction.

But unexpectedly, Bibi Dong had sent him to the Elder Hall.

He had no connections or standing in the Elder Hall, so Zhang Yang needed a way to establish himself quickly.

Now Guangling Douluo had approached him of his own accord. It was exactly what he wanted.

With a well-connected teacher, Zhang Yang could quickly make his way into one faction and become one of their own.

And once he was one of their own, he'd have a chance to compete for the resources of the Consecrated Elders' faction.

"Good. Then pay your respects."

Guangling Douluo put his Martial Soul behind his back and floated cross-legged in midair. His platinum hair drifted in the wind, making him look like an immortal descended from the heavens.

Zhang Yang didn't hesitate. He placed his hands close to the seams of his trousers, bowed respectfully to Guangling Douluo, and addressed him. "Teacher."

On Douluo Continent, the ceremony for accepting a master was simple: the disciple bowed at a ninety-degree angle and called out, "Teacher." That was enough.

Guangling Douluo nodded. "Mm. Good."

The ceremony was complete.

The system interface popped up.

"Congratulations, friend relationship—[Master and Disciple] unlocked."

Zhang Yang straightened up. Guangling Douluo drifted over and patted him on the shoulder. "Absorb this Soul Ring first and raise your level. I've prepared a great gift for you. I'll give it to you when we return to Spirit City."

"Thank you, Teacher." Zhang Yang nodded.

Now that they had become master and disciple, they had to change how they addressed and treated each other.

"Mm." Guangling Douluo nodded, then drifted back into the air. "Go ahead. I'll guard you."

Zhang Yang nodded, sat cross-legged on the spot, and laid M14 across his legs. He stretched out a hand and drew the Thousand-Needle Porcupine's Soul Ring toward him.

The Soul Ring floated over from above the Thousand-Needle Porcupine's head, then settled around M14's barrel.

The next moment, Zhang Yang opened the system interface.

Absorbing a Soul Ring was different from absorbing a Soul Bone. Absorbing a Soul Bone posed no danger; even a level-one Soul Scholar could absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

But Soul Rings were different.

Absorbing a Soul Ring beyond its age limit was extremely dangerous.

At best, one's Soul Power would be crippled and one would suffer severe injuries; at worst, one would explode and die, leaving no body behind.

For Soul Masters, absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring beyond their level was the most dangerous of all.

That was because the Soul Rings of Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts contained lingering Soul Shock, which attacked a Soul Master's mind while they absorbed the ring.

Only once a Soul Master reached adulthood and their physical constitution and mental strength had reached a certain level could they safely withstand the impact.

But if their mental strength fell short and they forcibly absorbed a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, the only outcome was becoming an idiot.

Guangling Douluo didn't know this, because he hadn't reached level fifty until he was an adult.

The other Consecrated Elders in the Elder Hall didn't know, either. They, too, had only reached level fifty after adulthood.

Of course, Zhang Yang didn't know, either, because he had never absorbed a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

Still, although Zhang Yang didn't know about "Soul Shock," he knew that absorbing a Soul Ring beyond his level was dangerous.

So he didn't choose to take on the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring head-on. Instead, he opened the system directly.

Blah, blah, blah. If you've got something to say, go tell my system.