Speaking of cultivation, over the past year, Zhao Ming had devoted most of his attention to alchemy, causing his Soul Power cultivation progress to slow somewhat compared to before.
It was not until today that his Soul Power Level had finally broken through level forty.
Although a nine-year-old level-forty Quasi-Soul Ancestor was already an unprecedented achievement on the continent, Zhao Ming still felt that his cultivation speed was too slow.
"Looks like I put too much energy into alchemy." Zhao Ming sat cross-legged within the Mustard Seed Space, feeling the ceaselessly surging Soul Power in his body as he murmured to himself. "Alchemy may be important, but it is ultimately only an auxiliary method. Soul Power is the foundation of everything. Without sufficient Soul Power to support it, even the finest pills cannot display their proper effects. From now on, I should focus mainly on cultivating Soul Power and slow down my alchemy a little."
He rose to his feet and stretched his limbs, gazing toward the rolling mountain range in the distance as a trace of anticipation flashed through his eyes.
"But no matter what, my Soul Power has now broken through level forty. It is time to prepare to hunt for my fourth Soul Ring."
The fourth Soul Ring was an extremely important milestone for any soul master.
According to the common understanding on Douluo Continent, a fourth Soul Ring generally ranged from three thousand to five thousand years. In the original story, Tang San had only reached the ten-thousand-year level for his fourth ring after consuming three Immortal Herbs.
Under the dual tempering of Nine-Breath Qi Absorption and the Body-Strengthening Pill, Zhao Ming's physical body had reached an extraordinarily terrifying level, while his spiritual power had long since reached the level of a Soul Emperor.
With his current condition, absorbing a fourth Soul Ring between twenty-five thousand and thirty thousand years old should not pose much pressure.
As for the choice of Soul Ring, Zhao Ming decided to go big this time and let the Treasure-Dropping Coin decide for him.
When he had hunted for his third Soul Ring last time, he had made a wish to the Treasure-Dropping Coin. As a result, a sixty-thousand-year Firefeather Eagle had directly delivered his third Soul Ring right to him.
This time, Zhao Ming likewise intended to use the Treasure-Dropping Coin's power to find the fourth Soul Ring best suited to him. Moreover, he did not intend to limit the choice of soul skill this time. He would leave it entirely to the Treasure-Dropping Coin and see what kind of fourth Soul Ring it would bring him.
Before that, however, he needed to discuss it with Qian Renxue.
After all, absorbing a thirty-thousand-year third Soul Ring was no small matter. He would certainly have to go to Star Dou Forest, and a Title Douluo-level expert would be needed to protect him.
After all, the greatest danger in hunting Soul Rings was not Soul Beasts, but people.
Zhao Ming emerged from the Mustard Seed Space and headed straight for the study in the Crown Prince's Palace.
Qian Renxue was still reviewing memorials at her desk. Seeing Zhao Ming enter, she set down her vermilion brush and asked with a smile, "Xiaoming, did you break through?"
Zhao Ming nodded and walked up to Qian Renxue. "That's right, Sister Xue'er. My Soul Power has broken through level forty."
Qian Renxue's hand paused slightly at his words, then a delighted smile bloomed across her face. "So you really did break through. I saw the Soul Power aura around you surging and had a feeling you had made a breakthrough. It has only been half a month since your ninth birthday, yet you are already a level-forty Quasi-Soul Ancestor. Xiaoming, you've impressed your sister once again."
Yet Zhao Ming did not wear his usual proud smile. Instead, he said seriously, "Sister Xue'er, I want to go to Star Dou Forest to hunt for my fourth Soul Ring."
Qian Renxue's smile faded somewhat. She looked into Zhao Ming's determined eyes, fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "All right. I'll arrange for Uncle Snake Lance to accompany you. Do you have any thoughts about your fourth Soul Ring?"
Zhao Ming pondered briefly. "I want to try absorbing a Soul Ring around thirty thousand years old."
Qian Renxue's brows furrowed slightly, but soon relaxed again.
She knew Zhao Ming never did anything without confidence. Since he dared make this request, he certainly had his reasons.
Moreover, his third Soul Ring had already been at the ten-thousand-year level. Absorbing a thirty-thousand-year Soul Ring for his fourth one did not seem entirely impossible for him.
"All right. Your sister believes in you." Qian Renxue stood and walked over to Zhao Ming, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "But you must promise me that if anything goes wrong during the absorption process, you must give up immediately. Do not force yourself. Your life is more important than anything else, understand?"
Warmth rose in Zhao Ming's heart, and he nodded firmly. "Don't worry, Sister Xue'er. I won't joke around with my own life."
As usual, Zhao Ming was accompanied by Snake Lance Douluo when hunting for a Soul Ring.
This Title Douluo expert from Spirit Hall had developed a rather peculiar tacit understanding with Zhao Ming.
The experiences of hunting his first three Soul Rings had taught him one thing: this kid Zhao Ming was downright uncanny. When others hunted Soul Rings, they selected with painstaking care, proceeding cautiously for fear of choosing the wrong Soul Beast and wasting an opportunity to absorb a Soul Ring.
But Zhao Ming was different. Every time he entered a Soul Beast forest, a suitable Soul Beast would deliver itself right to his door, as if some unseen power were arranging everything for him.
It had been like that the first time, the second time, and the third time as well. Snake Lance Douluo had lived for so many years and seen countless genius soul masters hunt Soul Rings, yet he had never seen anyone as worry-free as Zhao Ming.
Therefore, on this journey to Star Dou Forest, Snake Lance Douluo did not even ask Zhao Ming about his requirements for the Soul Ring.
Why ask? Asking would be pointless anyway. A suitable Soul Beast would crash into them on its own when the time came. He only needed to stand guard while Zhao Ming absorbed the Soul Ring.
Zhao Ming was now already a Quasi-Soul Ancestor. A nine-year-old level-forty Quasi-Soul Ancestor—just thinking about it made Snake Lance Douluo's scalp tingle.
What had he been doing when he was nine? He seemed to have still been struggling bitterly to break through level twenty.
Yet this kid had already touched the threshold of Soul Ancestor at nine, and his physical constitution was absurdly powerful. In terms of physical strength alone, he likely did not lose to some Soul Emperors.
Because of this, Snake Lance Douluo did not choose to take a carriage this time. Instead, he directly carried Zhao Ming through the air, speeding toward Star Dou Forest.
A Title Douluo's flight speed was extremely fast. After Snake Lance Douluo unleashed his Martial Soul Avatar, his entire body transformed into a streak of black light that darted swiftly above the clouds.
Zhao Ming was protected at his side by Soul Power and did not feel much turbulence. Only the wind howled past his ears like a stampede of ten thousand horses.
After flying for a day and a night, the two finally arrived at a small town outside Star Dou Forest.
This town was the final supply point before entering Star Dou Forest. Large numbers of soul masters gathered here year-round—some came to hunt Soul Rings, some to collect medicinal herbs, while others came to kill Soul Beasts for soul bones and pelts.
The town was small but well equipped. Inns, taverns, blacksmith shops, and herbal stores were all present. The streets bustled with people and were quite lively.
Snake Lance Douluo brought Zhao Ming to an inn that looked reasonably clean and settled in.
The two rested for a while, mainly so Snake Lance Douluo could recover the Soul Power expended during a day and night of flight.
Although a Title Douluo recovered Soul Power extremely quickly, they might encounter powerful Soul Beasts at any time after entering Star Dou Forest. Snake Lance Douluo had to remain in peak condition to ensure Zhao Ming's safety.
Zhao Ming used this time to make his own preparations in the inn room.
He sat cross-legged on the bed. With a thought, the Treasure-Dropping Coin flew out from the Mustard Seed Space and hovered above his palm. After more than a year of accumulation, the fortune stored within the Fortune-Gathering Domain had reached a considerable amount.
Zhao Ming pressed his hands together, sandwiching the Treasure-Dropping Coin between his palms. Closing his eyes, he focused all his attention and made his wish to it. "My fourth Soul Ring should be between twenty-five thousand and thirty thousand years old. As for the soul skill, you decide. Make it the one best suited for me."
The instant his voice fell, a faint golden glow lit up across the Treasure-Dropping Coin's surface.
The light was not dazzling, yet it carried an unfathomable aura, as though some invisible thread of karma had been stirred in the unseen.
Zhao Ming clearly felt that more than half the fortune gathered within the Fortune-Gathering Domain had been consumed in that instant, pouring forth like floodwaters released from a dam toward some unknown direction.
Clearly, his wish had succeeded.
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