Target: Ten Thousand Year Third Soul Ring!

After flipping through another yellowed leather-bound tome, Lin Ciyan gently closed the Star Dou Great Forest Rare Soul Beast Illustrated Guide: Light Attribute Edition.

He stretched lazily, his entire body's skeleton emitting a series of crisp pops, much like roasting beans.

"Decided. It's this one."

He whispered to himself, a smile of absolute certainty curling his lips.

In his mind, a golden, shimmering figure had already emerged—the Golden Hawksbill Turtle.

That's right, the very same top-tier meat shield that ranked at the top of the "Defense-type Soul Master Dream List" in the original work, the one Xu Sanshi would eventually possess.

This soul beast not only possessed extreme physical and energy defense but also contained a trace of the holy attribute, making it a match made in heaven for his Holy Radiance Qilin martial soul.

"Golden Hawksbill Turtle, the Methuselah among ten-thousand-year soul beasts, specializing in 'living a long time'," Lin Ciyan mused inwardly.

"This 'turtle-speed' cultivation and survival philosophy of being as steady as a defensive tower are a perfect match for my 'laid-back' vibe. It's a two-way street."

He had analyzed it carefully; absorbing the soul ring of a Golden Hawksbill Turtle was highly likely to grant a top-tier defensive or life-saving soul skill.

He even boldly speculated that the direction might be a simple and crude effect like [Holy Shield] or [Damage Reflection].

"If I get 'Thorns', I'll just stand there, and the opponent will lose half their health just by hitting me. The image is too beautiful... it's the textbook definition of 'basic operation, don't be surprised'."

With his thoughts clear, Lin Ciyan didn't delay, rising to go find his grandfather.

"Golden Hawksbill Turtle?" Upon hearing his grandson's choice, Lin Qingmo raised his graying eyebrows, then revealed a look of approval.

"Good lad, sharp eyes! The defensive power of this soul beast is top-notch, and its holy attribute complements your martial soul perfectly. It seems these two months of studying the classics haven't been in vain."

He paused, his tone becoming serious and proud: "Ciyan, since you have chosen your path, there is something Grandfather must tell you."

"Given your current physical fitness, we have decided to seek a thousand-year-level soul beast for your second soul ring."

Lin Ciyan recalled that so-called 'Soul Master Limit Soul Ring Theory'.

Heh, that theory proposed by the so-called 'Grandmaster' Yu Xiaogang, which some people ten thousand years ago held as gospel, had long since been swept into the dustbin of history.

The idea that the first ring limit was four hundred and twenty-three years was pure nonsense.

That theory was riddled with loopholes; it only reached the altar because of the love-struck Bibi Dong.

And the credit for cultivating a certain 'great, glorious, and correct' deity.

Otherwise, that hodgepodge of nonsense, the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul, would have long been nailed to the pillar of shame in the soul master world for future generations to mock.

Just two days ago, Lin Ciyan had seen that Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul in the innermost corner of the academy library; the cover was covered in dust, yet it hadn't been cleared away.

The librarian at Shrek really needed to clean up; keeping such academic trash was practically environmental pollution—even a cyber-pixiu couldn't swallow garbage like that.

Lin Qingmo explained earnestly: "After ten thousand years of development, we have long since clarified the limits of soul masters absorbing soul rings."

"It depends on the combination of individual physical fitness, mental strength, and martial soul quality. That rigid age theory from the past has long been replaced by the more scientific concept of 'optimal soul ring ratio'."

"Why can soul masters today generally absorb higher-year soul rings than those from a thousand years ago?" Lin Qingmo asked and answered himself.

"Because the times are progressing! Over the past ten thousand years, research into the essence of soul power, physical development, and martial soul mutation has deepened continuously."

"Various foundation-building and body-tempering methods, along with rare treasures, have been unearthed, making the basic physical quality of modern soul masters far exceed their peers from ten thousand years ago."

"Not to mention the monsters from the Body Sect who temper their physical bodies to the extreme. Their examples fully prove that the potential of the human body is infinite."

Lin Qingmo watched as Lin Ciyan, while he was speaking, pulled a Golden Tree recliner from his Soul Tool and lay down on it leisurely.

Lin Ciyan even covered his face with a Soul Beast Illustrated Guide, causing Lin Qingmo to shake his head helplessly and begin today's "lecture."

"Ciyan, stop lying down. Today, Grandfather will tell you about the classification system of soul masters." He cleared his throat, his tone carrying the rigor of an older generation of soul masters.

"On the continent, soul masters are usually divided into several major systems based on their combat style. For example, the Power Attack System, which aims to destroy enemies head-on with absolute strength, such as the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon."

"The Control System, which masters the rhythm of the battlefield and restricts opponents, such as many plant-type martial souls."

"The Agility Attack System, which pursues extreme speed, one-hit kills, or reconnaissance."

"The Defense System, which acts as the shield of the team, like a mountain fortress."

"And the Support System, which provides healing, amplification, and other forms of assistance, which is crucial..."

He spoke earnestly, only to see the book slide down, revealing Lin Ciyan's clear eyes, which were filled with "enlightenment."

"Grandfather," Lin Ciyan interrupted him lazily, his tone carrying a sense of having discovered the truth, "I understand."

"Oh? What do you understand?" Lin Qingmo was slightly startled, thinking his grandson had amazing comprehension and had instantly grasped the essence of the soul master system.

"According to what you said," Lin Ciyan changed to a more comfortable side-lying position, propping up his head.

"Isn't the strongest combat style to let the opponent be unable to hit you, unable to move you, and even if they do hit you, you can heal yourself back up?"

"Look, you need to be fast (to avoid entanglement), have thick defense (to avoid injury), and preferably be able to heal yourself (to avoid needing help from a Support-type soul master)..."

"To summarize, it's about exchanging the minimum consumption for the longest possible safety and comfort for oneself. Grandfather, this is the shortcut to immortality!"

He yawned and concluded: "Therefore, my goal is not to become a soul master of any one system, but to become a—'Energy-saving, Environmentally Friendly, Sustainable Development' soul master."

[Ding! In front of your Title Douluo grandfather, you successfully twisted serious soul master system knowledge into a "lying-flat development philosophy," Lying-Flat Value +99!]

Lin Qingmo listened, dumbfounded. He opened his mouth to retort, only to find that this twisted logic actually held some merit...

Looking at his grandson's nonchalant, matter-of-fact expression, all his intended lectures ultimately dissolved into a sigh of helpless amusement.

"You child... fine, as long as you're happy."

Sea God Pavilion, beside the Golden Tree.

Mu En listened quietly as Lin Qingmo finished his report regarding the planning of Lin Ciyan's second soul ring.

A flash of sharp light crossed his cloudy eyes as he spoke slowly: "Golden Hawksbill Turtle, a fine choice. As for the age... Qingmo, you are still too conservative."

Lin Qingmo was startled: "Pavilion Master, what do you mean?"

Mu En's voice was calm yet carried an unquestionable certainty: "Ciyan's first soul ring was limited because his body and martial soul had just awakened and were still in an adaptation period."

"After preliminary training, his physical constitution has reached the upper limit for someone who hasn't obtained a soul ring, which is why he absorbed the 700-year Dawn Spirit."

"Now, not only has he gained the enhancement from his first soul ring, but he has also fused with the External Soul Bone [Source of Dawn]."

"This growth-type soul bone is of the same origin as him. Over the year since his martial soul awakened, nourished by his soul power and the aura of the Holy Radiance Qilin, the soul bone has long since connected with his bloodline and fed back into his body."

"His physical strength far exceeds your estimates."

Mu En sat up slightly, his words shocking: "In this old man's view, given his current foundation, absorbing a Golden Hawksbill Turtle soul ring of around three thousand years would be effortless."

"If one also accounts for the continuous benefits the soul bone of the same origin provides to his body, as well as the gentle nature of the Golden Hawksbill Turtle soul ring itself, which makes it easy to absorb..."

He paused, throwing out a number that made even Lin Qingmo's heart skip a beat: "He can attempt anything under seven thousand years."

"Se... seven thousand years?!" Lin Qingmo gasped. A seven-thousand-year second soul ring? This was simply unheard of!

A look of anticipation appeared on Mu En's face: "This is not mere speculation. Martial soul, soul bone, temperament—Ciyan is top-tier in every regard."

"His very existence is a breaking of conventions. If his second soul ring can truly reach six or seven thousand years..."

The old man's gaze seemed to pierce through the walls of the secret chamber, looking into the distant future: "Then, his third soul ring will very likely be a ten-thousand-year soul ring!"