Is This What a Genius Is Like?

Just as Yue Guan was still basking in his joy, his face alight with excitement,

the next second—

Bang!

A pitch-black arm suddenly shot out, moving too fast to dodge, and slammed a fist into Yue Guan's shoulder.

"Ow!" Caught completely off guard, Yue Guan staggered. A bewildered look appeared on his face. "Old Ghost! What are you doing?!"

Gui Mei ignored his yells, black mist roiling around him. "Quit gloating! Get on guard, and don't let any clueless thing come near."

"If something barges in at this crucial moment and startles your precious disciple, interrupting his absorption, you know how much damage that could do to him."

At that, Yue Guan came to his senses at once. The elation on his face quickly faded, replaced by a solemn expression.

He slapped his forehead and muttered, "Damn it, I nearly forgot."

"Old Ghost's right!" Yue Guan said gravely. "Old Ghost, guard the northeast. I'll take the southwest. Don't let anything come near at this critical moment."

Time flowed quietly through the peaceful forest like a babbling stream.

In the blink of an eye, the night had passed.

Morning light filtered through gaps in the dense canopy, falling upon Lin Ze'an's small figure as he sat cross-legged and casting a soft golden glow over his face.

Though he was exceptionally gifted, he was still limited by the strength of his young, not-yet-fully-developed body.

Absorbing a Thousand-Year Soul Ring was still a struggle for Lin Ze'an.

Cracks kept appearing in his meridians, only to be repaired and healed soon after, again and again.

All night long, Yue Guan and Gui Mei had stood watch nearby, not daring to slack off for even a moment as they stayed alert to every sound around them.

At the same time, they kept a close eye on Lin Ze'an's condition.

Seeing that, though he was struggling, he pressed on steadily at every step, the two of them felt both relieved and a little heartbroken.

At last—

As the final trace of Soul Ring energy was completely refined and merged into Lin Ze'an's meridians, a relieved expression finally appeared on his little face, and he slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were as clear as water, yet faintly shimmering with a verdant glow.

At the same time, Mo Ruier and that invisible domain began to draw inward, returning to Lin Ze'an's body and no longer manifesting outwardly.

He slowly rose to his feet. Though still a little tired, his eyes brimmed with joy.

"Master, Uncle Ghost, I did it."

As soon as he finished speaking, he bowed slightly to Yue Guan and Gui Mei, then offered them a deep bow. "Thank you for all your effort. You've been watching over me all night."

Yue Guan was still immersed in the joy of his disciple successfully absorbing a Soul Ring. At those words, he first froze, then his eyes grew slightly warm.

He strode forward and pulled Lin Ze'an into his arms. "Silly boy, what do you mean, all our effort? As long as you're safe and sound, that's the greatest comfort your master could ask for."

Gui Mei, standing nearby, wasn't as visibly moved as Yue Guan, but for the first time, his hoarse voice didn't sound so cold. "Mm. Well done."

Suddenly, Yue Guan belatedly asked, "Good disciple, what does your First Soul Ring do?"

After all, this was the first Soul Ring of his disciple's life.

Lin Ze'an slowly raised his small hand. A verdant light rose from within him, and then his purple First Soul Ring gradually appeared beneath his feet.

He took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and began to sense his Soul Skill.

"My First Soul Skill is called Everlasting Fragrance. Its effect is..."

"Huh?!"

Lin Ze'an suddenly opened his eyes wide, a look of surprise appearing on his face.

"What's wrong?" Seeing this, Yue Guan asked with concern. "Good disciple, what happened? Is there something wrong with your Soul Skill?"

At that moment, he had no idea that what his disciple said next would strike him and Gui Mei like a bolt of lightning, leaving them both stunned.

"My First Soul Skill... can increase all my attributes by 30% and greatly speed up the recovery of my injuries."

"If I'm attacked, I can also absorb some of my attacker's attributes to heal my injuries."

As soon as he finished speaking, the air seemed to freeze.

The expectant smile on Yue Guan's face stiffened at once. He opened his mouth, but for a long moment, no words came out. His mind had completely crashed.

This isn't what they had in mind at all, is it?

How is that a healing Soul Skill? It's clearly an outrageously powerful hybrid Soul Skill that combines buffs and recovery!

Lin Ze'an blinked his clear, bright green eyes, confusion written all over his face.

Looking at Yue Guan and Gui Mei, who had suddenly fallen silent, he tilted his head. "What's wrong, Master? Uncle Ghost? Is something not right?"

Looking into Lin Ze'an's puzzled eyes, the complicated feelings in Yue Guan's heart gradually became overwhelming pride.

Was he envious? Of course. He'd worked hard all his life, yet he'd nearly been outshone by someone else's starting point.

But then again, this was his own disciple, not some stranger.

He scooped up Lin Ze'an's small body in his arms.

"Your master was just marveling... My good disciple is truly so exceptionally gifted, so unlike anyone else!"

"The abilities of your Soul Skill are beyond what even some Soul Douluo and Titled Douluo possess."

"And how old are you? Six! Your master believes you'll go farther than I ever could—farther than anyone!"

Over the next few days, the two continued searching for Lin Ze'an's Second Soul Ring with him in the Star Dou Forest.

At last—

Near the core area of the Star Dou Forest, the three were incredibly lucky to find a three-thousand-year-old Begonia Flower.

And so, Lin Ze'an successfully obtained his Second Soul Skill—River of Life.

When used, it could dispel and grant immunity to all negative effects.

It could also absorb some of an opponent's Soul Power within a certain range.

But the most outrageous thing about this Soul Skill was that as long as an opponent was within its range, all of their buff-type Soul Skills would be nullified—even those from the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda.

"What?!" Yue Guan's eyes widened at once. "It grants immunity to all negative effects? It can absorb an opponent's Soul Power? It can even suppress their buff Soul Skills?"

It wasn't just him. Even Gui Mei was stunned, staring blankly at Lin Ze'an.

How could anyone be like this? Could a person like him really exist in the world?

Not only did the Soul Skill have nothing to do with the Soul Ring he'd absorbed, its effects were ridiculously powerful, too.

But this time, after his brief shock, Yue Guan's eyes filled with relief and pride, though beneath those feelings lay a trace of worry.

He knew all too well how cruel this world could be. Someone like his disciple was destined to shine like a dazzling pearl.

But that would inevitably draw countless covetous eyes—and bring danger.

He sighed and slowly crouched in front of Lin Ze'an. "Good disciple, we've been out here for quite a few days. It's time to return to Spirit City."