"Thousand-year Soul Ring... Do you know the upper limit for a Soul Master's first Soul Ring?"
"According to Yu Xiaogang, who once proposed the Ten Core Martial Soul Theories."
"The upper limit for the first Soul Ring is 423 years."
"The upper limit for the second Soul Ring is 764 years. Being able to absorb an eight-hundred-year Soul Ring now."
"Is already the result of your unusual Martial Soul, combined with your constant body training."
"A thousand-year first ring is simply impossible."
Qin Ming looked at Qin Qi, his eyes filled with seriousness.
"But reality has proven that Yu Xiaogang's theory is wrong."
"Different Soul Masters have different Martial Souls and different physical constitutions."
"Different willpower, different types of Soul Beasts absorbed."
"The age limit of a Soul Ring can change. For example, the Soul Ring age limits of attack-type tool Martial Souls and beast Martial Souls are different."
Qin Qi had not spent this time merely training his body. He had not neglected Soul Master theory in the slightest.
"That 423 years may seem accurate, but in reality, it is nothing more than a speculative guess."
"Because of such errors, Yu Xiaogang was mocked as the clown master of the Soul Master world."
Qin Qi looked at his older brother and continued.
Qin Ming looked at his younger brother, surprise appearing in his eyes.
He had not expected Qin Qi to spot the flaw in his words so quickly.
And rebut it with sound reasoning and evidence.
"Brother, with my current physical condition, I can theoretically handle a thousand-year Soul Ring."
"Tell me, if you were in my position, would you choose a hundred-year Soul Ring or a thousand-year Soul Ring?"
Qin Qi looked at Qin Ming and pressed the question.
Qin Ming fell silent for a while, seemingly at a loss for words.
But a moment later, he pushed up his glasses.
"If it were me, I would risk my life to try."
"When I was young, I had nothing. If I wanted to succeed, I had to risk my life."
"Otherwise, I would have had no way to survive. Before me, it was advance or die."
"But you are different. You still have me. You do not need to risk your life."
"As your brother, I absolutely cannot let you risk your life to absorb a thousand-year Soul Ring."
"Compared to becoming a genius, I would rather my brother be safe and sound."
Qin Ming looked at Qin Qi. His tone was calm, but his gaze was sincere.
"Brother, that... was a killing blow."
Qin Qi could not help but laugh. When debating, you brought out genuine feelings.
What else could I say?
"Brother, I have nothing more to say, but I truly want to try."
"Will you support me?"
Qin Qi stopped arguing. No debate would be of any use now.
"..."
"I will."
Qin Ming sighed helplessly. He saw the light in Qin Qi's eyes that refused to accept an ordinary life.
He knew that if he kept stopping him, Qin Qi might listen.
But it would surely become Qin Qi's lifelong regret.
"Thanks, brother."
Qin Qi smiled, reached out, and lightly punched Qin Ming as he spoke.
After that, Qin Ming asked the instructor for leave and brought Qin Qi to the Star Dou Great Forest.
After three days of searching, they found a Soul Beast that looked like a ball, yet also somewhat like a pig.
"This Soul Beast has rather ordinary attack power and defense."
"But its digestive ability is extremely powerful."
"That is useless to most Soul Masters, but for you, it is the best choice."
"Judging by this Soul Beast's physical condition, it should be around a thousand years old."
"At most, no more than 1,100 years. It perfectly meets your requirements."
Qin Ming could not directly determine a Soul Beast's age, but through observing its physical characteristics.
He could roughly infer how many years a Soul Beast had lived.
But that required a deep foundation of knowledge about Soul Beasts.
"Then I'll trouble you to wear down that Soul Beast's stamina, brother."
"I'll build up some force over here."
Qin Qi held a Fangtian Halberd in his hand, gripping the end of its shaft as he began to gather strength.
"Good luck."
Qin Ming encouraged Qin Qi before stepping forward to wear down the Soul Beast's stamina.
Once it was sufficiently exhausted, he drove it toward Qin Qi.
"It's coming!"
Qin Ming called out a warning, ready to rescue him at any moment.
"Hah."
Qin Qi watched the Soul Beast charge toward him and took a deep breath.
Then he dragged the Fangtian Halberd forward and charged. When the Soul Beast entered his attack range—
"Watch my ultimate move, Thunder Half-Moon Slash!"
Qin Qi shouted and swung with all his might, using the force of his charge to smash the Fangtian Halberd into the Soul Beast before him.
"Bang!"
In an instant, the massive Soul Beast stopped moving.
Countless spiderweb-like cracks spread across the ground.
A purple Soul Ring slowly rose from the Soul Beast's body.
"What Soul Skill was that? Why have I never seen you practice it?"
Qin Ming revealed a surprised expression. Judging from the destruction caused by that single strike.
Even a Soul Master in their twenties using a Soul Skill would probably only be able to do that much.
"Brother, I'm only level ten. What the hell Soul Skill could I possibly have?"
"I just swung it with all my strength and smashed downward."
"Simply put, I'm just ridiculously strong."
Qin Qi smiled. He had no special mechanics, only raw stats.
"Then what was that thing you shouted just now...?"
Qin Ming had clearly heard Qin Qi shout something about an ultimate move, Thunder Half-Moon Slash.
"I just shouted it to boost my courage, gather momentum, and help exert force."
"Like how other people shout 'hup' and 'ha.'"
Qin Qi said.
"..."
"Fine. I'll guard you while you absorb the Soul Ring."
Qin Ming could not quite understand his younger brother's lively and strange way of thinking.
But he felt that his younger brother was incredibly strong.
"Alright."
Qin Qi sat down and began drawing in the Soul Ring. When it enveloped his body.
A vast surge of power poured into him, feeling as though he were facing a burst river head-on.
But in the next moment, that bursting river split into two streams.
One surged into Qin Qi's body, while the other surged into the Strength-Eating Immortal Gu.
After being buffered by the Strength-Eating Immortal Gu, it then flowed steadily into Qin Qi's body.
"Diversion!"
"The Detached Beast Martial Soul shares its senses with the main body."
"If the Martial Soul is injured, the main body is injured as well. But when absorbing a Soul Ring."
"The main body can absorb one portion, while the Detached Beast Martial Soul can absorb another portion before transferring it to the main body."
"Though it is only a small change, it is enough to halve the pressure and impact of the Soul Ring!"
"This... perhaps a Detached Beast Martial Soul can withstand greater pressure than ordinary Martial Souls when absorbing Soul Rings."
Even as Qin Ming was shocked, his mind rapidly organized the information.
Detached Beast Martial Souls were simply too rare, and people knew nothing about them.
The only Detached Beast Martial Soul on record had belonged to a useless person.
As a result, no one had studied them at all.
While Qin Ming was still astonished, Qin Qi had already finished absorbing his first Soul Ring.
He stood up from the ground, the purple Soul Ring behind him radiating light.
"A thousand-year first Soul Ring. You really did it."
"What Soul Skill did this Soul Ring grant you?"
Qin Ming immediately stepped forward to examine Qin Qi's condition.
After confirming that Qin Qi was unharmed, he showed relief and pride as he asked.
Before you continue