Persuasion!

Li Long did not rush to argue back. He stood where he was, waiting for Qian Shengyuan to take a moment to process the shock of those words before answering. "I know it's a risk, but Master, after half a year of piling on high-grade resources, my physical strength has already far surpassed the normal level of a three-ring Soul Elder. The resilience of my meridian walls is even half a step above that of a four-ring Soul Ancestor, while my bone density and muscle fiber strength are also close to the four-ring threshold. You know this better than I do."

Qian Shengyuan did not deny it.

He truly did know. After every batch of resources was delivered, he had kept an ear on the activity in the East Courtyard's training room, and he had records of Li Long's approximate progress each month.

This boy's rate of growth had exceeded his expectations, especially the progress of his physical body.

"I can withstand the impact of a ten-thousand-year soul ring on my body," Li Long continued. "As for spiritual attacks, I admit that's a field I've never experienced before. But you'll be there, Master. You're a Super Douluo. A ten-thousand-year soul beast's spiritual assault is nothing to you. If there are any signs of a mental collapse during absorption, you can interrupt it at any time."

Qian Shengyuan leaned back in his chair without speaking.

Li Long had made himself very clear. His chain of reasoning was complete, without overlooking a single link.

"If I fail," Li Long said evenly, "and damage my foundation, then at worst, I'll recover and absorb a thousand-year soul ring afterward. I'm only ten years old. Time is what I lack least. As long as I'm alive, I can try again. But if I succeed, I'll become the first Soul Master in history to absorb a ten-thousand-year soul ring as my third ring. That record won't belong to me alone—it will belong to Spirit Hall as well. You've made me the face of the Hall, Master. The stronger that face is, the brighter Spirit Hall's reputation will shine."

After saying that, he fell silent and watched Qian Shengyuan, waiting for his reply.

Qian Shengyuan silently studied the boy before him.

The light in those eyes was deeper and steadier than it had been half a year ago.

Half a year of closed-door training had not worn down his edge. Instead, it had settled everything within him into a hard, unyielding foundation.

Ten and a half years old, level thirty, proficient in stacking two soul skills, physical strength nearing the four-ring level—and now he wanted to absorb a ten-thousand-year third ring.

"You've been taking risks all these years," Qian Shengyuan finally said, his voice several degrees lower than before. "A five-hundred-year first ring was a risk. A thousand-year second ring was a risk. Now, a ten-thousand-year third ring is still a risk. Every step you've taken has crossed a line others wouldn't dare touch."

He paused, and that complicated curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. "But every time, you've crossed it."

Li Long waited quietly.

Qian Shengyuan looked at him for a long time before finally saying, "Fine. I agree."

The tightness in Li Long's chest eased slightly, though his expression did not change.

Qian Shengyuan rose from behind the long desk and walked over to the giant map of the continent hanging on the wall.

He traced a path between the Star Dou Great Forest and Sunset Forest, then stopped at a certain point. "There are few recorded habitats on the continent for ten-thousand-year soul beasts of the pure strength type. Deep in the Star Dou Great Forest, there is a subspecies of the Titan Giant Ape known for its sheer power. It is roughly twelve thousand to fifteen thousand years old, which meets your requirements. But that area is part of the core region. Even Soul Douluos rarely venture that deep."

He turned back to Li Long. "This time, I'll take you there personally. I'll protect you throughout the journey, and I'll handle the hunt. You will only be responsible for the final blow and the absorption. We leave in three days. Use those three days to adjust your condition and bring your body to its peak."

Li Long bowed. "Yes, Master."

Qian Shengyuan called out to him again. "There is one more thing."

Li Long stopped and looked back.

"If you successfully absorb a ten-thousand-year third soul ring," Qian Shengyuan said in a deep, steady tone, without any unnecessary emotion, yet every word landing like a heavy hammer on stone, "I will immediately name you the Holy Son of Spirit Hall."

The study fell silent for a moment.

Li Long's expression barely changed, but the fist at his side tightened slightly.

The Holy Son—within Spirit Hall's hierarchy, a position second only to the Pope.

It came with the highest level of authority over resource allocation, the right to participate in decisions, and nominal succession rights.

Every Holy Son of Spirit Hall throughout history had been a peerless genius with top-tier innate soul power and a powerful Martial Soul. Even the weakest among them had begun with innate soul power at level eight.

If a commoner Soul Master with innate soul power of level three and an Iron Rod Martial Soul took the seat of Holy Son...

"I'll do it," Li Long said.

Qian Shengyuan nodded, and his gaze softened for an instant. "Go prepare."

Li Long turned and left the study, the door closing behind him.

He stood in the corridor and took a deep breath, forcing down the surging heat in his chest before heading toward the East Courtyard.

He had three days to bring himself to the absolute peak.

Qian Shengyuan unleashed his Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul.

The instant Qian Shengyuan's six wings spread behind him, Li Long felt a crushing pressure wash over him.

It was the unique aura of a Martial Soul being fully released. Golden light burst from Qian Shengyuan's back as six wings slowly unfurled. Each was nearly translucent, with pale golden soul power patterns flowing along its edges, as if they had been carved from glass soaked in sunlight.

The pressure of the Angel Martial Soul made the air within a hundred meters noticeably heavier, and every bird and beast in the forest fell silent.

"Hold tight," Qian Shengyuan said without looking back.

Li Long stepped forward and gripped the fabric at Qian Shengyuan's shoulder.

The moment he touched it, a gentle stream of soul power spread from the point of contact and wrapped around his body.

Then Qian Shengyuan beat his wings. The ground abruptly fell away as he shot into the sky with Li Long in tow.

Wind howled past Li Long's ears, and the treetops below rapidly shrank into a vast green carpet.

Li Long looked down. The outline of the Star Dou Great Forest spread across his field of vision, its endless mountains and valleys laid out beneath them like an enormous map—an even more breathtaking sight than what he had seen from the soul-guided airship.

The rushing air at their incredible speed nearly forced his eyes shut, but Qian Shengyuan's soul power barrier blocked most of the wind pressure. Li Long felt only a slight sense of weightlessness and the sharp whistle of the wind in his ears.

Qian Shengyuan maintained an extraordinarily high speed at low altitude, each beat of his six wings leaving behind a streak of golden afterimage.

The terrain below sped past, changing from dense forest to hills, then from hills to deeper ravines.

Li Long estimated that they were traveling at more than ten times the speed of a soul-guided carriage.

At this rate, a journey that would normally take two days might take only a little over an hour.

After flying for roughly half an hour, Qian Shengyuan began to descend.

The vegetation below grew taller and more massive, while the gaps between the canopies became denser. From time to time, the huge shadows of soul beasts could be seen moving across the ground, but upon sensing the Title Douluo-level pressure in the sky, every one of them swiftly retreated into the shadows.

Qian Shengyuan landed on the summit of a mountain. Once his wings folded away, the golden light gradually faded.

After touching down, he glanced at Li Long. "How do you feel?"

"Not bad." Li Long moved his arms. The sensation of weightlessness from flying so fast at high altitude had made his stomach somewhat uncomfortable, but it was nothing serious.

Qian Shengyuan nodded and looked toward the vast valley below. "That Titan Giant Ape subspecies is active in this area. We'll first observe its exact location and confirm its movement patterns before making a move. There's no need to rush straight in."

Li Long followed his gaze. From deep within the valley came a faint series of dull impacts, as though some enormous creature were repeatedly hammering the ground. The rhythmic tremors traveled through the mountain beneath their feet, carrying a sense of power that seemed to rise from the depths of the earth.