Setting Out

After they got home.

Lin Gang brought Lin Ze'an to a brick in the back room.

He pried up the brick and dug down a short distance.

Then he took out an iron box.

Inside, after he opened it, were a yellowed book and a jade pendant.

A mighty Golden Crocodile was carved into the pendant.

Lin Gang handed both items to Lin Ze'an. "Xiao An, these were left to you by your mother."

He pointed to the book. "This is the meditation method your mother used to cultivate. Try to see if you can cultivate with it. If you can't, we'll think of something else."

The meditation method he used was too low-grade. He definitely couldn't give it to his son, or he would waste such a fine talent.

Lin Ze'an nodded and opened the somewhat worn book.

As time passed, the book's title had long since become illegible.

Fortunately, its contents were still intact.

"Your mother said that the Soul Power cultivated with this meditation method would be much better than that produced by ordinary meditation methods."

Then Lin Gang pointed to the jade pendant.

"This was something your mother always wore. If you meet her family someday, perhaps you can fulfill her final wish."

At the thought, Lin Gang felt a pang of pain. Jin Ling had died without ever seeing her father again.

How could there be a grudge between father and daughter that lasted overnight? Jin Ling had planned to take the child home after giving birth to Lin Ze'an.

Unfortunately...

Knowing he had no face to show them, he hoped Lin Ze'an could go back in his place.

As Lin Gang watched his son getting ready to put the things away, he seemed to remember something.

He handed over a ring. "Xiao An, this is your mother's storage Soul Tool Ring. Take it and use it."

Lin Ze'an took the ring and scanned it with his Soul Power.

He froze after just one glance.

There was a space the size of a soccer field inside the ring. Even in the Douluo Continent of later generations, it must have been worth a fortune.

Lin Ze'an put the ring on and stored some belongings in it.

Looking at the book in his hands, he thought that his father had promised to take him to obtain a Soul Ring tomorrow. He might as well head back to his room now and study the meditation method.

After returning to his room.

Lin Ze'an took the meditation method out of the storage ring.

Then, following its instructions, he began to circulate his Soul Power.

Although he hadn't obtained a Soul Ring yet, if this meditation method really was as miraculous as his father said, he should be able to use it to purify his Soul Power, right?

It would also let him get used to it ahead of time. After all, before transmigrating, he had been an ordinary person.

As he meditated, Soul Power began to flow into every part of his body, strand by strand.

It felt as if he were enveloped in a dense vitality.

Lin Ze'an was like someone who had discovered a whole new world, repeating the process over and over.

Several hours passed. It was deep into the night before Lin Ze'an finally ended his meditation.

He opened his eyes and breathed out a faint stream of stale air.

He held out his right hand. With a thought, a leaf, emerald green and brimming with vitality, appeared in his palm.

He gently tossed it to the ground.

The moment it landed, a tender green vine burst through the soil, radiating pure, vigorous life.

"What's this..." A flicker of surprise crossed Lin Ze'an's eyes. Then, as if he had thought of something, he hurried into the courtyard.

Night had fallen, and stars dotted the sky.

Lin Ze'an stood in the courtyard, took a deep breath, and summoned his Martial Soul, Mo Ruier.

In an instant, a warm and powerful surge of life energy spread out from him. Pale green light rippled like waves.

He stared in astonishment at the ground beneath his feet.

The withered grass turned green again, and the cracked soil grew moist and fertile.

Even more astonishingly, the yellowing branches and leaves of the old locust tree in the courtyard came back to life before his eyes, sprouting tender shoots and fresh greenery.

Immersed in the wondrous transformation, Lin Ze'an unconsciously spread his arms.

Life energy surged like a tide, reviving everything in its path.

But he didn't notice the thick vines silently winding around the beams behind him, creeping up the walls...

"Is this the power of the Grass Spirit King?" Feeling the warm Soul Power coursing through him, he was overcome with excitement.

Just then, his father's startled voice came from inside the house. "Ze'an, what's going on with all these vines?"

Lin Ze'an turned around in confusion. Only then did he realize that their house was completely wrapped in lush vines.

He quickly recalled his Martial Soul and said in a bit of a panic, "Father, I was just testing my Martial Soul's abilities."

"Once I recall my Martial Soul, these vines should go back to normal."

He focused his thoughts and drew all his Soul Power back in.

Yet as the seconds ticked by, the vines in the courtyard showed no sign of retreating. They remained lush and thick, wrapped around the house.

A perplexed look appeared on Lin Ze'an's face. He tried several more times, but the vines were firmly rooted, as if they had been growing there for decades.

Under the moonlight, their emerald leaves looked even more vibrant. Some tiny buds could even be seen slowly opening.

Seeing this, Lin Ze'an thought, This is bad.

He'd forgotten that Mo Ruier's power wasn't limited to vitality; it also included control over life.

So... there was really no going back inside his house...

Seeing his son's helpless expression, Lin Gang immediately understood what had happened.

After all, he was his own son. How could he not know him? The boy probably hadn't fully mastered the power of his Martial Soul yet.

But then he thought about how powerful his son's Martial Soul was, and a wave of comfort rose in his heart.

He stepped forward, patted Lin Ze'an on the shoulder, and said gently, "It's fine. It'll be dawn soon anyway."

"The house is in no condition to cook now. I'll go buy some breakfast from the street. You cultivated all night, so get some rest first."

Looking at the house wrapped in vines, Lin Ze'an nodded guiltily.

With his talent, making money wouldn't be difficult. He could only wait until he earned some and then build his father a new house.

He climbed onto the roof of his house and lay down on the vines, admiring the moon.

After what had just happened, Lin Ze'an wasn't sleepy at all.

So he simply lay on the roof, watching the stars twinkle overhead. His thoughts gradually drifted far away.

"Who was my mother's father, my maternal grandfather?"

The next morning.

As the first rays of dawn fell over the earth.

Lin Ze'an's slight figure was already in the village.

He pushed a cart loaded with goods the villagers had ordered, delivering them door to door.

After all, he was about to leave the village and go out to obtain a Soul Ring. He had to deliver the villagers' orders first.

"Uncle Wang, here's the kitchen knife you asked for."

"Thanks, Xiao An. Stay and have breakfast. Uncle Wang made some porridge."

Faced with the villager's warm invitation, Lin Ze'an hurriedly shook his head.

"Thanks, Uncle Wang. I've already eaten. I have to deliver the next order."

"All right. Be careful on the road, and don't cut yourself on a knife or anything."

After saying goodbye to the friendly Uncle Wang, Lin Ze'an continued delivering to the next household.

Almost everyone in the village knew Lin Ze'an.

Whenever he showed up at their door, they greeted him with a smile.

Some asked if he'd eaten breakfast, while others wanted to give him vegetables they'd grown themselves.

It was past midmorning before he finally returned home.

Lin Gang hadn't cleared away the vines in the house. He was sitting there, waiting for Lin Ze'an.

When his son came back, he pointed to the flatbread on the table.

"Eat up. Once you're done, we'll set out and get you your First Soul Ring."

Hearing that he could finally obtain a Soul Ring, Lin Ze'an ate faster than ever before.

He wolfed it down, swallowing a whole flatbread in two or three bites, then signaled that he was done.

Watching Lin Ze'an's impatient display, Lin Gang shook his head helplessly.

It was understandable. This was the first Soul Ring of his life, so of course he was excited. He'd been the same way back then.

After packing up, father and son set off for the Soul Hunting Forest.