I Want It All!

After walking for a while, Xu Linjiu noticed Tang San carefully observing the traces of soul beasts along the way, so he took the opportunity to explain.

"Xiao San, while we're traveling, let me tell you about the five major classifications of soul masters."

Tang San immediately focused and listened attentively.

"Based on the characteristics of their martial souls, soul masters can be divided into five types: assault, agility, control, support, and defense."

"Assault-type soul masters focus on explosive strength, charging head-on and confronting their opponents directly."

"Agility-type soul masters rely on speed and movement techniques, hiding in the shadows to launch ambushes and finish off their targets. Their path is swift, precise, and ruthless."

"Support-type soul masters are not particularly strong in combat themselves, but they can enhance and heal their teammates. They are the backbone of a team."

"Control-type soul masters specialize in restraining and limiting opponents, controlling the rhythm of the battlefield. They are the hub of the entire team."

"Defense-type soul masters specialize in taking hits, using their bodies or martial souls to block attacks and protect their companions."

As Tang San listened to Xu Linjiu's explanation, he fell into thought.

He immediately summoned his martial soul. A small blue blade of grass appeared in his hand, swaying gently.

After thinking for a moment, he found the answer. "So, Teacher, my Blue Silver Grass should follow the path of a control-type soul master?"

"A plant-type martial soul like Blue Silver Grass is naturally weak in attack. Its defense and support abilities are also ordinary, but the innate control abilities of plants are quite outstanding. For ordinary soul masters, the control path is indeed a good choice. However—"

Halfway through, Xu Linjiu suddenly changed his tone.

"My answer for you is: take them all!"

"Take them all!"

Tang San spun around sharply, his eyes filled with astonishment.

Seeing his stunned expression, Xu Linjiu could not help laughing. He raised a hand and patted Tang San on the shoulder.

"Why can ordinary soul masters only stick to a single path? Because they can have at most nine soul rings in their lives, and every ring must precisely suit their chosen path. Spreading themselves too thin will only leave them mediocre at everything, and they will ultimately become mediocrities. But you are different."

Xu Linjiu pointed at himself. "You have me as your teacher."

Tang San was first stunned, then suddenly understood.

"That's right, Teacher can also impart soul skills!"

With his teacher's help, becoming an all-round soul master might truly not be an impossible dream!

Xu Linjiu's target this time was an Evergreen Tree with roughly six hundred years of cultivation.

If they followed the usual path and waited for the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline to awaken, Tang San's first soul ring should have come from a life-attribute grass- or vine-type soul beast. That would have been the safest and most compatible choice, but Xu Linjiu had no intention of taking that route.

After all, twenty thousand years later, one of Tang San's descendants had spent his entire life proving one thing: Blue Silver Grass truly was a useless martial soul.

The potential of a naturally awakened Blue Silver Grass martial soul was ultimately limited. What Xu Linjiu wanted was to use the power of evolution from the Pokémon system to let Tang San's Blue Silver Grass embark on an entirely new evolutionary path.

Among plant-type soul beasts, tree-type soul beasts possessed the most vigorous and profound life essence, and their potential far surpassed that of grasses and vines. That was why he had specifically chosen a tree-type soul ring for Tang San.

If possible in the future, finding a Golden Ancient Tree that had yet to mature would make the possibilities even more unimaginable.

The two passed through a dense thicket, and a lake suddenly opened up before them.

On the shore stood a large tree over six meters tall, its trunk so thick that it would take two people to wrap their arms around it.

Its bluish-brown bark was dense and heavy, while its evergreen branches and leaves faintly emitted a gentle life aura. Even the wild grass around it grew more luxuriantly than elsewhere.

Xu Linjiu had spent several months in this Hunting Soul Forest to find this Evergreen Tree.

Evergreen Trees were already rare, and they usually disguised themselves as ordinary trees. If Xu Linjiu had not possessed the scanning ability of the Pokédex Martial Soul, even he would have found it difficult to locate one.

"Xiao San, this is the target I selected for you: an Evergreen Tree with six hundred years of cultivation."

"Six hundred years!"

Tang San cried out in surprise. Yu Xiaogang had mentioned yesterday that the maximum age for a soul master's first soul ring was four hundred and twenty-three years, yet the cultivation of this tree had long surpassed that limit.

Perhaps seeing the doubt in Tang San's heart, Xu Linjiu rubbed his head and said with a smile, "Nothing is absolute. Four hundred and twenty-three years is only the limit for ordinary people, not for you."

"Soul ring absorption depends on a soul master's physical condition and mental strength. After being nourished by the Miracle Seed yesterday, your physical condition has already improved."

"On top of that, plant-type soul beasts have weaker resistance. Absorbing this six-hundred-year soul ring will be more than manageable for you."

"I understand, Teacher!"

Xu Linjiu wasted no more time. He raised his hand and summoned the Pokédex Martial Soul. His eyes lit up as pink psychic power swiftly enveloped the Evergreen Tree.

Sensing the deadly threat, the Evergreen Tree, which had been standing quietly, suddenly began to thrash.

The ground trembled and split apart as countless tangled roots burst from the cracks, charging madly toward Xu Linjiu and Tang San.

But it was all futile.

Psychic power rapidly spread through the ground. Before those writhing roots could get close, they were frozen in midair by an invisible force.

Xu Linjiu took out a short sword from his storage soul tool and tossed it to Tang San beside him.

"Xiao San, go cut open its heartwood. There's a green core inside—that is its life essence. Sever its connection to the tree, and you can kill this Evergreen Tree."

"Understood, Teacher!"

Tang San caught the short sword and stepped forward with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. With a flicker of his body, he was already before the tree.

The Mysterious Heaven Skill circulated, and soul power coated the short sword.

Tang San flicked his wrist, driving the blade along the grain of the trunk. In an instant, he cut open a gash half a meter long, revealing a green core the size of a pigeon egg inside.

Several emerald-green veins, like blood vessels, crisscrossed and wrapped around it, firmly securing the core within the tree's heartwood.

"Xiao San, that's it!"

Light flared in Xu Linjiu's eyes as his psychic power abruptly tightened, further intensifying his suppression of the Evergreen Tree.

Having received the instruction, Tang San hesitated no longer. Cold light flashed repeatedly from the short sword in his hand, and within a few strokes, he severed all those veins.

When the final vein was cut, the Evergreen Tree's trunk finally stopped trembling.

Its leaves yellowed and fell, while its roots drooped weakly. All struggle came to an abrupt halt.

A yellow soul ring slowly rose from the roots, floating quietly in midair.

"So this is a soul ring?"

Tang San stared at the yellow halo before him and muttered to himself.

Xu Linjiu stepped past Tang San and reached into the heartwood, taking out the Evergreen Tree's life core.

Even after being removed from the heartwood, the core still glowed green, and a rich life aura washed over them.

Turning around, he handed the life core to Tang San. "Take it. Then bring out the Miracle Seed I gave you yesterday. When you absorb the soul ring later, refine the power of both of these into your martial soul as well."

Tang San was startled. "Teacher, can one absorb the power of external objects while absorbing a soul ring?"

Xu Linjiu placed the life core into Tang San's hand. "Ordinary soul masters naturally cannot, but don't forget the soul skill I imparted to you yesterday."

A soul skill?

Tang San's heart stirred, and he instantly thought of the answer.

"Super Absorption!"

Having figured it out, Tang San no longer hesitated. He immediately sat cross-legged, and three Blue Silver Grass blades extended from his right palm, winding respectively around the life core, the Miracle Seed, and the Evergreen Tree's soul ring.

The next second, Super Absorption activated. The Blue Silver Grass wrapped around the three objects suddenly shone with green light.

Three entirely different streams of energy flowed into his body through the grass blades. The tremendous torrent of energy violently battered his meridians, and fine beads of sweat instantly appeared on Tang San's forehead.

"Steady your mind and circulate your meditation technique to guide the energy!"

Xu Linjiu's voice reached Tang San's ears, prompting him to instinctively circulate the Mysterious Heaven Skill within his body.

Soul power began flowing through his meridians, carrying the three streams of energy around his body in cycles. Tang San immediately felt a wave of comfort, and his tense nerves gradually relaxed.

Half an incense stick's worth of time quietly passed.

The disturbance from Tang San's soul ring absorption gradually subsided. The power of the Miracle Seed and the life core had been completely absorbed, leaving only specks of light to dissipate into the air.

As the soul ring was fully absorbed, Tang San slowly opened his eyes, a faint glimmer flashing through them.

He stood up and felt the vigorous vitality emanating from his martial soul, as well as the further advancement of the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Unable to conceal his joy, he said, "Teacher, I succeeded!"