Tang San's Second Soul Ring (Part 2)

"San, you've finally reached level twenty."

"Do you have any idea how I've spent these past three years?"

"I'm almost a Spirit King!"

Seeing Tang San reach level twenty, Duan Fan felt even happier than he had when he reached that milestone himself.

Finally, he could ruthlessly manipulate Tang San's destiny once again!

Duan Fan formulated a plan in his mind: "Tang San is about to obtain his second Spirit Ring. According to his original trajectory, his second ring is a Ghost Vine over six hundred years old."

"To change his fate, I absolutely cannot let him obtain the Ghost Vine as his second ring, and the age must be kept well below six hundred years."

"In fact, he needs to avoid all plant-type Spirit Beasts entirely, and I must keep the age as low as possible."

"Doesn't Yu Xiaogang always want to verify his hypothesis about plant-type spirits absorbing beast-type spirit rings? Then I'll satisfy him! I'll start with him!"

"This modification is bound to be a sure success!"

Duan Fan watched Tang San's current state for a while longer, but seeing that he was still in a meditative trance, he stopped watching.

"There's no need to rush right now. Once Tang San finishes his cultivation and tells Yu Xiaogang the good news about his breakthrough, that's when I'll start my operation."

"Yu Xiaogang's obsession is still very easy to exploit."

Duan Fan muttered to himself and stood up, leaving the cultivation area.

Walking along the small path through the mountain forest, Duan Fan soon exited the Mimicry Cultivation Area.

Fang Qingshan was waiting for Duan Fan by the roadside as usual.

Only today, there was someone else beside Fang Qingshan: a little girl, seven or eight years old.

"Brother, you're finally out! You're so amazing. Cultivation is so boring; how do you manage to stick with it for so long?"

The girl standing next to Fang Qingshan was none other than Fang Qian.

Fang Qian was one year younger than Duan Fan and had completed her Spirit Awakening two years ago.

Her spirit inherited the Butterfly from Ding Yutang, and she possessed Full Innate Soul Power of level six; she was now also attending the Spirit Hall Academy.

The admission requirements for the Spirit Hall Academy were not particularly high; one could enroll as long as their Innate Soul Power reached level six or higher.

Family members of Spirit Hall personnel were given priority.

Fang Qingshan was already a librarian at the Spirit Hall Academy, having joined Spirit Hall long before he took the position.

It was precisely because of this that Fang Qian's enrollment into the Spirit Hall Academy had been very smooth.

Now eight years old, Fang Qian had grown much taller and had become even more delicate and cute, with a tear mole at the corner of her eye that gave her an air of pitiful, ethereal charm.

"Cultivation isn't boring. When you cultivate, you can feel yourself slowly growing stronger. That feeling is very comfortable," Duan Fan said with a smile.

Fang Qian pouted. "You can feel yourself getting stronger during the process? Brother, how do you feel that?"

"I have to cultivate for several days just to increase my soul power by a tiny bit."

"The process is just too long and too torturous."

Duan Fan smiled. "That's because I have Full Innate Soul Power."

Fang Qian was slightly stunned. "That's right, Brother, you have Full Innate Soul Power. Here I am asking you for cultivation advice—it seems I've cultivated my brain into a mush."

Fang Qingshan started walking toward the cafeteria, laughing as he spoke, "Let's go eat. You two siblings can chat slowly once we get to the cafeteria."

Academy cafeteria.

Duan Fan and the other two carried their food to a less crowded spot and began to chat while they ate.

The conversation was nothing more than trivial family matters and topics regarding Duan Fan's cultivation.

Fang Qingshan asked with a smile, "Xiaofan, how has your cultivation been lately?"

Duan Fan replied, "My cultivation state has been quite good lately. My soul power is steadily advancing toward level forty-eight."

Fang Qian's large eyes seemed to sparkle with starlight. "Brother, you're too amazing. You're only a year older than me, yet you're already a Spirit Ancestor, and your soul power level is about to hit forty-eight."

"I'm still so far from level twenty. I don't even know if I have any hope of reaching the Spirit Ancestor level in this lifetime."

Fang Qingshan said mercilessly, "With your lazy habit of cultivating for three days and resting for two, don't even think about reaching the Spirit Ancestor level in this lifetime."

Fang Qian deflated like a punctured ball. "I know my talent is very average. Compared to Brother, it's like the difference between heaven and earth."

"But I'm working very hard, okay? I don't cultivate for three days and rest for two like you say, Dad. At most, I only rest for half a day."

Fang Qingshan was caught between laughter and tears. "Yes, yes, resting for half a day is 'very hard work.' If you kept up that level of effort, your mother and I would wake up laughing in our sleep."

Fang Qian: "..."

Duan Fan encouraged her, "Qianqian, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Keep a steady mindset and cultivate well; you will definitely be able to reach the Spirit Ancestor level in the future."

Fang Qian giggled. "Mm-hmm, I will definitely cultivate hard!"

Fang Qingshan put on a serious expression. "We'll talk about cultivating hard later. You focus on eating your meal now; I need to discuss serious business with your brother."

Fang Qian nodded, looking aggrieved. "Okay."

Duan Fan looked at Fang Qingshan and asked curiously, "Uncle, what is it?"

Fang Qingshan said, "The Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament is starting in a month. Are you interested in participating?"

Duan Fan was stunned upon hearing this: "The Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament?"

Fang Qingshan explained, "The full name is the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. It is the grandest soul master competition in the world, co-hosted by the royal families of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires, with the assistance of the Spirit Hall."

"It is held every five years, and this year happens to be the second edition."

"There are many benefits to participating. It will allow you to encounter all kinds of soul masters and help you grow through constant battle."

"Most importantly, it is said that the champions of the tournament are rewarded with a Soul Bone."

"I've mentioned Soul Bones to you before; they are extremely rare and vital to any soul master."

"If you can obtain a Soul Bone that suits you, it would be of immense benefit to your strength."

Duan Fan certainly knew about the Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, but he hadn't expected to be involved in it at only nine years old.

Still, it made sense; age did not dictate strength.

Duan Fan's current soul power was at level forty-seven, making him fully qualified to participate in the Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament.

Furthermore, his soul power level was among the highest of all potential contestants.

Duan Fan said, "I am quite interested in this tournament. Although I have seen many soul masters during my three years at the Spirit Hall Academy, I still want to see the world outside."

"However, I may not be able to make this decision on my own."

Fang Qingshan nodded, "That's true. Your status now is extraordinary; you are the disciple of a legendary Spirit Hall Elder. Many things are no longer for you to decide alone."

"With your current strength, you are fully qualified to participate in the Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament."

"If the higher-ups are willing to let you participate, they should inform you in advance."

"If they aren't, it likely won't matter even if you ask."