Star Dou Forest, outer region.
Led by Sword Douluo, Jiang Xuan and Ning Rongrong arrived without incident.
The last time Ning Rongrong had come here was three years ago. The moment she hopped down from Chen Xin's flying sword, she eagerly began darting around in curiosity.
Seeing this, Chen Xin shook his head helplessly and said with an indulgent smile:
"You little girl, watch your safety and don't run too far! Otherwise, if you run into trouble, I'm afraid your father will keep an even tighter leash on you in the future!"
"Got it, Grandpa Sword! I know what I'm doing, so don't worry~"
Though Ning Rongrong's promise reassured Chen Xin somewhat, he still attached a portion of his spiritual power to her so he could respond promptly if anything unexpected happened.
Only after taking this precaution did he turn to Jiang Xuan.
"Have you decided what kind of soul beast you need to hunt for your second Soul Ring? If you can't make up your mind, follow what the sect's ancient texts say and find a soul beast with a matching attribute. It may not perfectly suit your Martial Soul, but at least the compatibility won't be too poor."
Chen Xin had asked because, three years ago, he had brought Jiang Xuan to the Star Dou Forest for the first time to hunt for a Soul Ring.
At first, he had planned to play it safe and hunt a metal-attributed soul beast. Yet Jiang Xuan had suddenly felt something at the time, as though guided by his Martial Soul, and asked Chen Xin to help him hunt a plant-type soul beast with the trait of rapid growth.
Plant-type soul beasts were rare, but fortunately, the Star Dou Forest was vast. Chen Xin only needed to put in a little effort before finding a century-old soul beast that met Jiang Xuan's requirements.
Chen Xin had not thought highly of Jiang Xuan's choice at first. But after Jiang Xuan successfully absorbed and refined the Soul Ring, gaining the ability to freely enlarge and shrink the Eight Trigrams Furnace, he fell silent.
So there really was such a thing as the guidance of fate in this world!
Now, under Chen Xin's expectant gaze, Jiang Xuan decided to give it a try and attempted to communicate with his Eight Trigrams Furnace Martial Soul.
During the three years he had cultivated at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, it was not as though he had never tried before. Yet throughout that time, his Martial Soul had shown no reaction at all, as if the guidance the Eight Trigrams Furnace had once given him had merely been an illusion.
But at this moment, the long-silent Eight Trigrams Furnace actually gave him guidance once again!
"Grandpa Sword, my Martial Soul says that my second Soul Ring needs a soul beast that possesses fire abilities, preferably one around a thousand years old."
The moment those words were spoken, Chen Xin was startled.
He could barely understand choosing a fire-type soul beast for a second Soul Ring.
But a thousand-year Soul Ring as the second ring—was that even right?
Could any Soul Master in the world truly absorb a thousand-year Soul Ring with only two rings?
That was clearly beyond Chen Xin's understanding.
Yet just as he was about to say something, a series of approaching footsteps suddenly sounded from the bushes behind Jiang Xuan, accompanied by a voice dripping with disdain.
"Only level 20, yet you want to absorb a thousand-year Soul Ring?"
The instant he heard the movement, Chen Xin became alert. But when his spiritual power detected that the newcomer's Soul Power was only level 29, he relaxed again.
He had thought it was someone impressive. Who would have expected it to be nothing more than an ant he could swat to death with a wave of his hand...
Soon, the man who had spoken walked up before Jiang Xuan and Chen Xin.
He had a square face, a stern expression, and eyes filled with arrogance. Beside him stood a child in blue clothing who appeared to be about Jiang Xuan's age.
However, the child's gaze was remarkably complex. By all reason, it was not a look someone his age should possess.
That classic face, those familiar clothes, and that indescribable air of unfounded confidence...
There was no mistake. Jiang Xuan was certain that the two before him were "Theory Master" Yu Xiaogang and his disciple, Tang San!
But why were these two idiots here at this point in time?
Before Jiang Xuan could figure that out, Yu Xiaogang once again spoke with confidence, rebuking him.
"Sigh! Young people these days may not have much ability, but each is more ambitious than the last, with no sense of awe! I'll say this right here: if this boy truly absorbs a thousand-year Soul Ring, not even immortals will be able to save him. He will surely die!"
After saying that, Yu Xiaogang confidently curled his lips upward slightly and waited for Chen Xin to thank him.
His words might have been harsh, but he truly had spoken for the sake of this youngster who did not know his own limits!
He had brought Tang San out of Nuoding Academy today to the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest, intending to train his direct disciple's practical combat abilities.
Yet while searching for a suitable soul beast, they had happened to pass near Jiang Xuan's location and overheard him say that he wanted his second Soul Ring to be a thousand-year one.
As the continent's finest Martial Soul theory master—at least in his own opinion—the moment Yu Xiaogang heard this, his urge to lecture flared up. That was how the scene just now had come about.
In his view, this "guidance" would not only display his "authority" in Martial Soul theory before outsiders and satisfy his little hobby of showing off, but could also save a young man's life. It was killing two birds with one stone, and a boundless merit besides!
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's utterly certain expression, Chen Xin wavered for a moment. After all, the notion that only a three-ring Soul Master could attempt to absorb a thousand-year Soul Ring was already common knowledge in the Soul Master world.
But before he could speak, Jiang Xuan sneered disdainfully.
"Old man, did you eat your breakfast in the latrine? Otherwise, why does your mouth make me smell such a stench the moment you open it?"
Yu Xiaogang froze at first, clearly not understanding what those words meant right away.
A few seconds later, once Yu Xiaogang understood, his face instantly reddened with rage. He panted like a bull, while Tang San quickly reacted beside him, pointing at Jiang Xuan and glaring furiously.
"My teacher was kindly thinking of your wellbeing. It would be one thing if you were an ungrateful cur, but how dare you answer with such vile words? Did your family never teach you what manners are? Apologize to my teacher immediately! Otherwise, I will not let you off lightly!"
With Tang San acting like this, anyone unaware of the situation might have thought Yu Xiaogang, the one being insulted, was his biological father.
Still, it warmed Yu Xiaogang's heart. He secretly sighed that he had not misjudged the man or accepted the wrong disciple. At crucial moments, Tang San truly could be relied upon!
"Manners? I naturally treat people with manners politely. But when it comes to certain unmannered old beasts, hehe, I only have two words... Pah!"
Tang San completely lost his temper at that.
Disrespecting his teacher was the same as disrespecting him. By Tang Sect rules, this arrogant brat before him had earned the right to die!
Tang San instinctively reached for the hidden weapons at his waist, but before his hand could touch them, an intense sense of danger forced him to stop.
The elder beside this brat had remained silent all along, but his strength was surely not to be underestimated.
In that case, he could not make his move too openly.
He had to outwit them!
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