"How is that possible? My second uncle clearly stated in his theoretical work, Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul, that the absorption limit for a Soul Master's second Soul Ring is eight hundred and sixty-four years!"
Yu Tianheng murmured under his breath, but every person present was a Soul Master. The moment his words reached their ears, a chorus of mocking laughter rang out around him.
Yu Tianheng's second uncle? Wasn't that the Yu Xiaogang regarded as a fraud in the field of theory?
Among noble youths like them, the man's past was hardly a secret. His laughable exploits had even been held up by their elders as cautionary tales, warning them not to be armchair strategists.
As for that book, Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul, it was little more than a joke they shared over tea. Who would have thought Yu Tianheng actually believed it?
After all, according to Yu Xiaogang's theories, the Soul Ring Tang San had absorbed was already far beyond that so-called "safe limit." Forget successfully absorbing it—there was a good chance he would have exploded on the spot.
Yet the reality was that Tang San had not only safely accomplished the feat of absorbing a thousand-year second Soul Ring, but now that everyone had come to their senses, they realized his first Soul Ring's age was probably far from a mere three or four hundred years, too.
That question had suddenly become especially pointed.
Was Yu Xiaogang's theory wrong? Or was Tang San simply beyond the reach of any theory?
Before the shock in everyone's hearts had faded, an inappropriate yet utterly blunt voice suddenly rang out from the crowd. "Teacher Jiang, may I ask... how can someone absorb a Soul Ring beyond their level?"
The moment the words fell, the commotion died instantly. Almost everyone turned to look at the speaker in unison.
Yu Tianheng?
No, they wanted to know, too, but to just ask outright...?
Good heavens. Just, good heavens.
Yu Tianheng felt rather helpless about asking. Though his clan had promoted him as one of the "Blue Lightning Twin Stars" alongside Yu Tianxin of Thunder Academy, and his talent truly was a little better, the position of young sect master was far from guaranteed.
He had come to Heaven Dou Royal Academy in the first place to win over Dugu Yan, and thereby bring the Titled Douluo behind her, Dugu Bo, into his clan's fold.
But now, he had failed to win over Dugu Yan, and had no clue about the secret of her Martial Soul Evolution into a dragon, either. Discontent with him had long been stirring beneath the surface within the clan.
Now that a way to absorb a Soul Ring beyond one's level was right before his eyes, how could he possibly remain unmoved?
He wanted to improve so badly!!!
Meanwhile, when Tang San heard Yu Tianheng's question, a glimmer of purple light flashed in his eyes.
Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul?
Wasn't that the theory plagiarized by that useless Gangzi, the one who had tried to trick him into becoming his disciple in Nuoding City?
He had just been wondering why this young man gave off such a nauseating aura. So it turned out he was that useless Gangzi's clansman!
And the moment this evil man opened his mouth, he was asking about the secret to his master's strength. He was practically begging to die!
'Little San, don't worry. This bunch of losers want to know how to absorb a Soul Ring beyond their level? So what if I tell them?'
'Without that precious medicinal herb, if they dare try it recklessly, all that awaits them is an explosion of their bodies.'
'When people grow too greedy, all that awaits them is ruin.'
'I'll take care of where the Soul Rings come from for you. Then you can fulfill your talent without any scruples in the future.'
Tang San was deeply moved. His master really had considered everything for him. He knew that with his current thousand-year second Soul Ring, reaching a ten-thousand-year fourth Soul Ring was only a matter of time.
But inevitably, once his talent was exposed, it would bring countless troubles.
Now his great master could make this group of evil people put aside their ill intentions for the time being. At last, Tang San felt at ease.
"Sect Master Ning, I imagine you'd like to know, too?"
Caught off guard by being singled out, Ning Fengzhi gave an awkward smile. Wasn't that obvious?
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had never found a way to evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. If conventional methods weren't working, then what if they absorbed every Soul Ring beyond its limit and used the immense source energy within those Soul Rings as a stimulus?
What's more, a Soul Master's cultivation was all about gaining an early lead and staying ahead.
Who wouldn't want a secret method that could maximize their talent?
"Please enlighten us, Mr. Jiang Li."
After speaking, Ning Fengzhi respectfully bowed toward Jiang Li, making sure his courtesy was beyond reproach.
A look of compassion instantly appeared on Jiang Li's face. "Sect Master Ning, and everyone here, there's something I must make clear first. Absorbing a Soul Ring beyond one's level inevitably carries risks."
Qian Renxue and the others hurried to chime in, saying that if anything went wrong, it would simply mean those people had bad luck and had nothing to do with Jiang Li.
"Alas, so be it."
Jiang Li sighed with feigned resignation. "As everyone knows, a Soul Master's ability to absorb a Soul Ring depends on their physique. Thus, if you want to absorb one beyond your level, strengthening your body is the most important thing."
Everyone present nodded. There was nothing wrong with what Jiang Li had said, but why did it feel as if he hadn't said anything at all?
Jiang Li ignored the strange looks on their faces and continued, "I imagine you've already guessed that the most effective way to improve a Soul Master's physical strength is by absorbing a Soul Bone."
"It's a pity that I, as his master, lack the ability. Otherwise, Little San's first Soul Ring could certainly have been a thousand-year one."
Ning Fengzhi and the others hurried forward. "Mr. Jiang Li, you're mistaken. It's already remarkable that your disciple, Tang San, has reached such a level of cultivation at such a young age."
Jiang Li slowly shook his head, as if he didn't mind. Then he continued in an unhurried tone, "The fact that Little San absorbed two consecutive Soul Rings beyond their age limits—training his body from childhood and having a good physical foundation was only part of it. The most important factor was his choice of Soul Rings."
Hearing Jiang Li say this, Ning Fengzhi felt as though he had grasped something.
If this was all there was to it in the end, then he would undoubtedly be sorely disappointed.
"Little San's Martial Soul is the Blue Silver Emperor, just like mine. Naturally, his first two Soul Rings both came from Blue Silver Grass."
"Both were Soul Rings from four-hundred-year-old beasts, one from a true dragon-type Soul Beast and the other from a Blue Silver Grass Soul Beast. Yet they're not equally difficult for the same Soul Master to absorb. I imagine everyone here has already guessed as much."
Yu Tianheng was sorely disappointed by the method Jiang Li had described. It was obvious that it really wasn't suitable for him.
After all, he couldn't very well have his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul absorb a Blue Silver Grass Soul Ring, could he?
Gangzi: "A genius-level hypothesis!!!"
Before you continue