As Xiao Wu finished off the candied hawthorn skewers, Yu Yan recounted the general details of his trip to Sunset Forest.
Honestly, Yu Yan felt there was not much to tell about the journey. Everything had gone smoothly, with hardly any surprises.
Other than Ma Zhiyu's fierce Honey Badger Martial Soul and the fact that he possessed two skills from one ring, which were worth discussing separately, everything else could be glossed over.
"So, the first spirit ring you absorbed might have exceeded the 423 years mentioned in that Grandmaster's Soul Master theory?"
After hearing his account, Xiao Wu caught the important detail in Yu Yan's words.
"I just think it's possible."
Yu Yan took out the Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard horn he carried with him, showed it to Xiao Wu, and explained:
"The most accurate way to judge the age of an Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard is by the horn on its head. Every centimeter represents fifty years."
"This horn is over eight centimeters long, which means the Soul Ring I absorbed was more than four hundred years old. But without measuring tools, I can't determine the exact age. We can find somewhere to measure it later."
Yu Qingfeng and the others had not noticed this. However, Yu Yan, who knew a fair amount about Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizards, had spotted it as soon as he approached one.
"You dared absorb it without even confirming its exact age? Weren't you afraid you wouldn't be able to absorb it and would explode to death?"
After learning that Yu Yan had taken another risk, Xiao Wu could not help questioning him.
This guy was far too reckless. He did not know how to cherish his own life at all.
"I wouldn't really call it a risk. Um... when the Soul Ring rose, I could clearly feel that I could absorb it, and that turned out to be true. I didn't feel much pressure while absorbing it. Maybe the age limit for my first spirit ring could have been pushed a little higher, perhaps closer to five hundred years."
As he spoke of this, Yu Yan felt a little regretful. He had still been just a bit too cautious.
He secretly resolved that his Second Spirit Ring would have to reach for a thousand years.
Xiao Wu had wanted to persuade Yu Yan not to take risks, but who would have thought that he would instead lament that his Soul Ring's age was too low?
At this rate, he would probably take another risk with his Second Spirit Ring.
No, no. Next time, I have to go with him. I need to keep an eye on him and not let him take such foolish risks.
While Yu Yan was making up his mind, Xiao Wu made a resolution of her own. She absolutely could not let him recklessly risk his life.
"So, you got two spirit skills from one Soul Ring?"
Not wanting to continue this topic, and afraid that Yu Yan would think himself further and further into it before actually putting it into action, Xiao Wu used Yu Yan's usual method to change the subject.
"That's right. Frost Scale Armor and Scorching Breath are the Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard's signature abilities. Frost Scale Armor has very strong defenses. Next time we fight, I'll let you experience the despair of being unable to break through my defense."
Yu Yan, who had always suffered at Xiao Wu's hands, made a bold declaration. He wanted to recover some pride in this area.
"Hmph, that's not necessarily true. I'm not some easy target either."
Xiao Wu raised her delicate fist and pointed it at Yu Yan's head, displaying her strength.
"I'm a One-Ring Soul Master now. You'd better be more polite, or I'll beat you up."
Yu Yan clenched his fist and bumped it against Xiao Wu's delicate fist, counterattacking without the slightest courtesy.
"Tch—who isn't a One-Ring Soul Master?"
As she spoke, a pair of energy-formed Rabbit ears appeared atop Xiao Wu's head. Her pupils turned an even deeper red, and a yellow Soul Ring much darker than Yu Yan's floated around her body.
Seeing the color of that Soul Ring, Yu Yan knew Xiao Wu had definitely taken his words to heart. Her first spirit ring had surpassed 423 years.
"Where did you get that Soul Ring?"
Pretending to be frightened by Xiao Wu's Soul Ring, Yu Yan "calmed down" for a moment before asking. He wanted to see how Xiao Wu would make up this story.
"Well, that's a long story. After you left, I..."
In Xiao Wu's story, after Yu Yan left, she devoted herself to cultivation and successfully broke through to level ten within two days.
She had originally planned to wait for Yu Yan and the others to return, then have Big Brother Yu Qingfeng take her hunting for a Soul Ring.
But two mornings ago, while she was on a mountain outside the city trying to sense the Purple Qi within the morning sun, a massive eagle appeared in the sky.
As the great eagle flew over Xiao Wu, perhaps because it had been startled or for some other reason, it released its claws and dropped the prey it had caught below before speeding into the clouds overhead and vanishing.
The falling prey headed straight for her, the spectator standing below. It was the kind of situation she could not dodge even if she tried.
Seeing that she could not avoid it, she reacted immediately. A second before the eagle's prey struck her, she kicked backward and sent it flying away.
After sensing no danger, she went over to inspect the thing she had kicked away and discovered that it was actually a dead Rabbit Soul Beast.
Because she had delivered the final blow, a yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring that she could absorb condensed around the Rabbit Soul Beast.
After repeatedly examining the Rabbit Soul Beast and confirming that the Soul Ring was more than four hundred years old, she sat cross-legged on the ground and absorbed it, successfully becoming a One-Ring Soul Master.
"You actually ran into something this lucky? Your luck is a little too good, isn't it? Oh, right. What's your First Spirit Skill?"
Yu Yan was astonished. He had not expected Xiao Wu's ability to make up stories to improve so much after he had only been gone for a few days.
The stories she had made up before were basically obvious lies at a glance. Now, she could make one sound perfectly plausible. Her progress was astonishing!
Looks like reading more books really does have its benefits.
Yu Yan knew exactly what was going on with Xiao Wu's Soul Ring, so he did not press the matter.
"Of course. I'm the luckiest person around."
Very pleased with Yu Yan's attitude, Xiao Wu raised her head and puffed out her chest as she explained her First Spirit Skill. "Speaking of my First Spirit Skill, my luck was simply incredible. My First Spirit Skill is forty-five percent All-Attribute Amplification. It increases by one percent every time I level up. So, what do you think?"
"Your luck is so absurdly good that I admit I'm jealous."
Yu Yan meant that sincerely. He truly envied such a powerful spirit skill.
"Hehehe, I think so too."
Xiao Wu grinned broadly, laughing happily.
"Now that you've become a Soul Master too, Xiao Wu, you should go to Spirit Hall as soon as possible for your Soul Master rank advancement certification. As the Soul Master organization renowned across the continent, we'll need Spirit Hall's Soul Master certification for many things going forward."
The token issued by Spirit Hall was equivalent to a postgraduate diploma. Many jobs that earned Gold Soul Coins required a Spirit Hall token to be presented.
Yu Yan's future growth plans would require a considerable amount of money.
"Mm, I'll listen to you."
With Yu Yan serving as her external brain, Xiao Wu did not need to think too much. She only had to do as Yu Yan said, since he would never harm her.
Before you continue