Thousand-Year Second Soul Ring

"What?!"

Upon hearing Xiao Wu's introduction, everyone present was stunned.

Meng Shenji even vaulted straight over his desk and strode toward Xiao Wu.

"Little girl, are you certain every word you said is true?"

"Of course! Sister Xiao Wu never lies!"

Xiao Wu planted her hands on her hips and lifted her chin.

"Very well, little girl. Hold out your hand so I can check your bone age."

"My hand?"

Xiao Wu warily glanced at the unfamiliar old man before her, then turned to Xu Linjiu behind her.

"Don't worry. It's just a routine examination."

Only after receiving Xu Linjiu's assurance did Xiao Wu extend her arm.

Meng Shenji placed two fingers on Xiao Wu's wrist and gave it a light squeeze.

"Good, good, good! She really is eight!"

Meng Shenji nodded repeatedly and looked up at Xu Linjiu. "Where did you find such an exceptional seedling?"

"Just luck, Councilor Meng Shenji."

Xu Linjiu pulled Tang San forward. "And there's another one here."

"Oh, could it be?"

Meng Shenji looked at Tang San, a flicker of delight appearing in his eyes.

Tang San gave a slight nod and took two steps forward. A blue vine rose from his palm.

"Tang San. Martial Soul: Blue-Phosphor Silver-Veined Grass. Level twenty-four Soul Grandmaster. I'm also eight this year."

The entire council fell silent. None of them had expected there to be someone even more monstrous.

What was even more outrageous was that the two Soul Rings shining beneath Tang San's feet were yellow and purple.

That was right. Tang San's second Soul Ring had already broken the common sense of Douluo Continent and reached the thousand-year level.

The hall instantly fell dead silent.

Bai Baoshan's hand froze in midair. The inkstone on his desk had long since been knocked over, and ink splattered all over him without him even noticing.

Zhi Lin rose directly to his feet, his gaze fixed firmly on the purple Soul Ring slowly rotating beneath Tang San's feet.

"Second Soul Ring... thousand years..."

Zhi Lin muttered, his voice trembling with disbelief. "An eight-year-old child whose second Soul Ring has reached a thousand years?"

Ye Lingling was rendered completely speechless.

Standing behind Xu Linjiu, she covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes wide open. It took her a long while to find her voice again. "Th-This isn't a genius at all. He's clearly a monster!"

Meng Shenji said nothing.

He merely stared fixedly at Tang San. After a long while, he slowly let out a breath. "Linjiu, how did you do it?"

Meng Shenji finally voiced the question that had lingered in everyone's minds. "How could an eight-year-old child possibly withstand the impact of a thousand-year Soul Ring?"

Tang San did not answer directly. Instead, he turned to Xu Linjiu.

Understanding his meaning, Xu Linjiu smiled slightly and took out a pitch-black gelatinous lump from his storage Soul Tool, casually tossing it in his palm. "Councilor, do you recognize this?"

Meng Shenji narrowed his eyes and examined it for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "This is... Whale Rubber?"

"You are indeed well-informed, Councilor." Xu Linjiu nodded.

"I do recognize Whale Rubber."

Meng Shenji stroked his beard. "It is a gelatinous substance condensed within the brains of giant deep-sea whales. What does this nourishing tonic, used to invigorate yin and strengthen yang, have to do with this child's thousand-year second Soul Ring?"

"There is something you may not know, Councilor."

Xu Linjiu weighed the Whale Rubber in his hand and slowly spoke. "After leaving the academy, I traveled across the continent. In an ancient text, I learned that aside from being used by nobles as an aphrodisiac, Whale Rubber has another use."

"It can improve a Soul Master's physical constitution, allowing them to withstand Soul Ring power far beyond what their level should be able to contain."

"What?!"

Bai Baoshan slammed a hand onto the desk and sprang to his feet, his voice rising several degrees. "You mean Tang San absorbed that thousand-year Soul Ring by relying on this Whale Rubber?"

"Precisely."

Xu Linjiu nodded. "After being refined, Whale Rubber's aphrodisiac and virility-enhancing effects are greatly weakened. In their place comes its miraculous ability to improve a Soul Master's physical constitution."

"The reason Soul Masters cannot absorb Soul Rings beyond their level is entirely because their physical constitution and spiritual strength are insufficient. Whale Rubber can make up for the lack of physical constitution."

"One step ahead of others means every step in the future will be ahead of others. This Whale Rubber is the finest foundation-laying substance for a Soul Master."

Meng Shenji frowned deeply as he listened. "This Whale Rubber... truly has such miraculous effects?"

"If you do not believe me, Councilor."

Xu Linjiu put away the Whale Rubber and glanced back at Tang San. "My student's second Soul Ring is the best proof."

Meng Shenji fell silent for a long time.

Naturally, he had heard of Whale Rubber, but he had never imagined it possessed such heaven-defying uses.

If Xu Linjiu was right, and Whale Rubber could raise the limit of the Soul Rings a Soul Master could absorb, then the value of this seemingly unremarkable tonic would be enough to drive the entire Soul Master world mad.

At that thought, Meng Shenji's expression suddenly turned grave.

He slowly swept his gaze over everyone present and spoke in a deep voice. "Regarding Whale Rubber, all of you must keep today's matter strictly confidential. Not a single word may be revealed to anyone!"

As soon as he said this, the atmosphere in the hall tightened.

Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin exchanged a glance. "Rest assured, we understand the stakes."

Ye Lingling also hurriedly nodded solemnly. "Rest assured, Chief. I, Ye Lingling, will not reveal a single word of today's events."

Meng Shenji then turned his gaze toward Xu Linjiu, his tone serious.

"Xu Linjiu, what you just said is of enormous consequence. If this information spreads, let alone the Whale Rubber, even Tang San and Xiao Wu, these two children, may become targets coveted by every major power."

Xu Linjiu nodded slightly. "Rest assured, Councilor. I know where to draw the line. If it were not you, I would not be foolish enough to reveal this information so easily."

"Very good."

Meng Shenji nodded in satisfaction.

With the matter of Whale Rubber settled, Meng Shenji's gaze returned to Tang San and Xiao Wu.

As he looked at the two children before him, his eyes grew increasingly fervent.

"Xu Linjiu, these two students of yours must join Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"

"Rest assured, Councilor. I brought them here precisely to enroll in the academy. Otherwise, I would not have written ahead to contact you."

"Good!"

Meng Shenji was overjoyed and turned to give orders. "Then I shall have someone arrange their enrollment procedures at once."

"Wait."

Xu Linjiu suddenly raised a hand, cutting him off. "Councilor, I can agree to let Tang San and Xiao Wu join your academy, but I have one condition."

Meng Shenji froze, slowly lowering his hand. "What condition?"

Xu Linjiu's gaze fell on Tang San and Xiao Wu as he slowly spoke. "I want the two of them to join the academy's team."

"The team?"

Meng Shenji's brow furrowed slightly. His gaze moved back and forth between Tang San and Xiao Wu, and his tone carried a hint of difficulty.

"Linjiu, it is not that I wish to discourage you. These two students of yours are indeed rare geniuses. Eight-year-old Soul Grand Masters are extraordinarily rare across the entire continent. But when it comes to strength..."

He paused, choosing his words carefully.

"They are still far too young. The Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team is meant to represent the academy in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. The opponents they face are young powerhouses painstakingly nurtured by every major force."

"Although your two students possess astonishing talent, they likely still fall short in practical combat experience and battle strength."

His words were very tactful, but his meaning was equally clear.

Xu Linjiu did not get angry. He merely said calmly, "You misunderstand, Councilor."

"Misunderstand?"

"I never said I wanted them to join the team now."

"I mean the reserve team for the next tournament."