"Raise a Soul Ring's age by 500 years?"
"And there's no upper limit!?"
Ao Yin was overjoyed. Normally, once a Soul Master obtained a Soul Ring, its age was fixed and would never change.
But that restriction did not apply to him. He could increase a Soul Ring's age without limit. It defied the heavens.
"So even if my first Soul Ring is only ten years old, I can keep checking in until it reaches ten thousand years, a hundred thousand years, or even a million!"
The more Ao Yin thought about it, the more excited he became. He had Twin Martial Souls and Innate Level 20 Soul Power, yet he did not have a single Soul Ring, and his cultivation had hit a bottleneck.
"A Soul Ring! I'll leave for the Soul Hunting Forest tomorrow and get my First Soul Ring," Ao Yin said to himself.
Then he looked back at the system notification.
[Remaining check-ins: 1.] [Check in?]
Ao Yin did not hesitate. He silently gave the command again.
"Check in!"
[Ding! Check-in at Notting Academy's Cafeteria successful. Congratulations, host, you have received a level-one reward: a clue to the Soul Beast known as the Fire Glass Vine Serpent!]
Ao Yin froze. Not only was it not a reward that increased a Soul Ring's age, it was not even a complete reward. It was a clue... to a Soul Beast?
The name Fire Glass Vine Serpent alone carried an air of fire fierce enough to scorch the heavens. He immediately opened the clue and read it carefully.
[Fire Glass Vine Serpent: A Ferocious Beast of the Sub-Dragon Species. A trace of pure Dragon Clan blood runs through its veins. It has nine heads and crimson scales and feathers like molten lava. Violent and bloodthirsty by nature, it is born with command over innate Southern Bright Lihuo. In the ancient days of Yao, it appeared and wreaked havoc, its flames burning mountains, rivers, and villages and bringing disaster to the land. The human emperor sent Da Yi with a divine bow to slay them, devastating the species. Few remain today.] [Habitat clue: Soul Hunting Forest, within the Heaven Dou Empire.]
"A Sub-Dragon Species Soul Beast, born with Southern Bright Lihuo, whose kind was devastated by Da Yi in ancient times?"
Hiss—
Ao Yin sucked in a sharp breath. So this was a clue to an ancient Soul Beast?
"System! Why give me a clue to a Ferocious Beast like that?"
Ao Yin could have wept. Did the system think he could slay an ancient Ferocious Beast with his Innate Level 20 Soul Power and take its Soul Ring?
A Sub-Dragon Species Soul Ring would certainly suit his Coiling Dragon Staff Martial Soul, but jokes were jokes—his life was not something to gamble with!
The fact that an ancient human emperor had sent Da Yi himself, divine bow in hand, to eliminate the Fire Glass Vine Serpent spoke volumes about how terrifying it was.
Da Yi was a mighty figure from the ancient history of Douluo Continent. He had once shot down nine Golden Crow Demons.
Ao Yin knew his own strength. Even with Innate Level 20 Soul Power, he could not slay a Ferocious Beast like that without the support of a Soul Ring.
So Ao Yin concluded that this clue, a level-two reward, was essentially useless to him.
He sighed. "What a shame. Looks like I can't get a reward that increases a Soul Ring's age every time I check in."
There was nothing he could do. Back in Holy Soul Village, Ao Yin had learned that check-in rewards came in all sorts of forms.
To gain ten thousand, a hundred thousand, or even a million years of Soul Ring age through check-ins, he would need not only persistence but luck. It might take a year, or even several.
"Whatever happens, I need to get my First Soul Ring," Ao Yin murmured to himself.
After dinner, Ao Yin headed back with Xiao Wu and Wang Sheng. On the way, he asked Wang Sheng to help him request a few days off from the academy.
Even Wang Sheng was taken aback. Ao Yin's earlier display of strength had given him the impression that Ao Yin already had a Soul Ring. Only when he heard that Ao Yin was going to obtain his First Soul Ring did he realize Ao Yin did not have one at all!
Ao Yin's strength seemed even more unfathomable to him now.
Early the next morning.
Ao Yin peeled Xiao Wu off him, still fast asleep, and set out for the Soul Hunting Forest alone.
The Soul Hunting Forest was not particularly close to Notting Academy, but it was not too far away either.
About half a day later, an ancient forest came into view.
Iron fencing over ten meters high surrounded the forest. Its steel posts were thick, barbs lined both sides, and armored guards stood watch at the entrance.
"Stop!"
Ao Yin had barely approached when a guard halted him with a grunt. "Show your permit!"
"Permit?"
"Hahahaha, if it isn't young Ao!"
Just as the guard stopped Ao Yin, a familiar voice sounded behind him.
He turned to see Yu Xiaogang walking slowly toward him, with Tang San following behind.
Tang San sneered. "Ignorant fool. You think you can enter the Soul Hunting Forest without a token from a great clan or major sect? Keep dreaming!"
On the way there, Tang San had learned from Grandmaster that although the Soul Hunting Forest had formed naturally, its Soul Beasts would have died out long ago if people had been allowed to hunt them without restraint.
The forest still existed because humans deliberately bred Soul Beasts there. That also meant it was treated as a resource, not something available for free. Without connections, no one could enter!
So when Tang San saw Ao Yin arrive alone, he was certain Ao Yin would not even get through the gate.
"Little San!"
Yu Xiaogang rebuked Tang San softly, displeased by his arrogance. Only yesterday, he had warned Tang San that failing to endure a small slight could ruin a great plan. Yet today, his words had gone in one ear and out the other.
He smiled at Ao Yin. "Young Ao, you're here to get a Soul Ring too, aren't you? If you want to go in, your teacher can help!"
"Teacher!"
Behind him, Tang San frowned. Ao Yin had never shown his teacher the slightest respect, yet his teacher seemed to have a soft spot for Ao Yin.
"Help me?"
Ao Yin sneered. He knew there was no such thing as a free feast.
Yu Xiaogang was used to Ao Yin's cold attitude and did not mind. Instead, he took out a token.
On closer inspection, it bore three emblems: a sharp sword, a small hammer, and a dragon beast!
"This is my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's token. With it, you can enter and leave the Soul Hunting Forest at will!"
"I can take you inside and help you obtain the Soul Ring best suited to you. All you have to do is agree to become my student!"
Yu Xiaogang narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone coaxing.
After all, Ao Yin possessed Innate Full Soul Power, a rarity seen perhaps once in a thousand years, and his Martial Soul was top-tier. He and Tang San, who had Twin Martial Souls, each had their strengths. If Yu Xiaogang could take both under his wing, it would go a long way toward proving his Martial Soul Theory!
"Teacher! You..."
Only then did Tang San realize Grandmaster had not given up on Ao Yin.
Seeing that Tang San was about to lose his composure, Ao Yin suddenly raised his voice several pitches. "Become your student? I suppose I could..."
"But you can only choose one of us: me or Tang San!"
Buzz—
Tang San's head rang. He immediately cursed, "Ao Yin, you motherless bastard! Don't think you can drive a wedge between my teacher and me!"
"Teacher, you can't trust a word this brat says. Don't let him fool you!"
Before you continue