Teacher, I Want a First Millennium Soul Ring

After consuming the Whale Glue, Ye An could feel that his physical constitution had improved considerably once again.

But... his current physical condition still seemed to fall a little short of being able to withstand a First Millennium Soul Ring.

However, Ye An wasn't in a hurry, nor was Du Busi in any rush to take him to obtain a Soul Ring. Instead, he had Ye An drag a massive millstone around for training every day—the reason he didn't use weighted training was that Ye An was still too young. Recklessly adding weight to his body could very well stunt his growth.

Besides his daily training, Ye An also had to study all kinds of Martial Soul theory, as well as knowledge on how a Body Martial Soul should fight against different types of Soul Masters.

It was grueling, but fulfilling.

In this era of the Peerless Tang Clan, watched over by Tang God-King, all Ye An could do was rely on unparalleled talent and unparalleled effort.

Not long after, Ye An underwent his second medicinal bath.

Compared to the first medicinal bath, the second was far less painful. Correspondingly, however, it also offered much less improvement to his physical condition.

Ye An lowered his head and looked at the bathwater, which had once again turned into a pool of clear water, and immediately made up his mind.

Ye An rose from the tub, quickly rinsed himself off, and changed into a clean, dry robe. He didn't rest. Instead, he walked straight out of his room and headed along the stone steps toward the Sect Master's Hall.

Du Busi was seated on a stone chair in the center of the hall, holding an ancient book as though he were looking through some information.

Noticing Ye An's footsteps, he raised his head. When his gaze fell upon Ye An's skin, a satisfied look immediately appeared in his eyes.

"Teacher."

Ye An stopped in the hall. After giving a slight bow, he got straight to the point. "This disciple wishes to experience Hurricane Cave."

At those words, Du Busi instantly frowned.

Hurricane Cave was a forbidden ground where Body Sect disciples tempered their bodies. Astral Winds sharp enough to flay flesh from bone blew within it year-round, powerful enough to make ordinary Soul Masters miserable. In its core region, they could even strip a Soul Master's flesh and blood directly from their bones.

Body Sect disciples had to undergo at least three medicinal baths and meet the required physical standard before they were permitted to enter the outer reaches of Hurricane Cave to temper their bodies, gradually attempting to venture deeper inside.

"No."

Du Busi's voice was calm, yet it carried unquestionable authority. "I told you that only after obtaining your first Soul Ring and completing your third medicinal bath will your physical condition meet the standard required to cultivate in Hurricane Cave."

"For now, you only need to keep training every day and strengthen your body. In a few days, I will take you to hunt your first Soul Ring."

Du Busi had thought those words would make Ye An back down, but unexpectedly, Ye An remained completely still. His face was calm yet resolute as he looked at him.

"Teacher, I don't want to wait until after I've obtained my first Soul Ring before going to Hurricane Cave."

"The reason this disciple wants to cultivate in Hurricane Cave now is to further improve my physical condition and train my body until it can withstand a Thousand-Year Soul Ring."

Du Busi's expression tightened slightly at those words.

Du Busi had long since formed a complete plan for Ye An's Soul Rings.

The first Soul Ring would be at least eight hundred years old. For the second, he would directly challenge a Thousand-Year Soul Ring. The third would be over six thousand years old, while the fourth would follow Tang San's example from ten thousand years ago and achieve a ten-thousand-year fourth Soul Ring.

The fifth and sixth rings would both be around twenty to thirty thousand years old. By then, he would begin adding Soul Rings to the Heart Martial Soul, with its first two Soul Rings approaching fifty thousand years. Once Ye An reached Soul Saint cultivation, he could, like Du Busi himself, attempt to obtain a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring as his seventh Soul Ring. The eighth and ninth Soul Rings would be the same.

That way, Ye An's White Bone Martial Soul could have a Soul Ring configuration of one yellow, two purple, three black, and three red, while his Heart Martial Soul might even achieve two black and seven red!

If Ye An could also complete Golden-Grade Awakening for both Martial Souls... no one in this world could possibly be his match!

Du Busi had thought his own ambition was already great enough, but he never expected... Ye An's ambition to be even greater!

A First Millennium Soul Ring...

"Do you know what a first Millennium Soul Ring means?" Du Busi's voice was low and solemn. It wasn't so much a question as a confirmation. "In ten thousand years, not a single Soul Master on the continent has accomplished it. Even Tang San, who attained Sea Godhood ten thousand years ago, had only Century Soul Rings for his first two rings."

"Even though you've already undergone a medicinal bath and consumed Millennium Whale Glue, obtaining a First Millennium Soul Ring would still mean enduring unimaginable pain."

"This disciple understands." Ye An answered without the slightest hesitation. "That's precisely why I need to go to Hurricane Cave."

The hall fell silent once more.

Looking at the determination in Ye An's eyes, Du Busi did not refuse again.

He merely stared silently at Ye An's face.

After a long while, Du Busi finally spoke slowly. "Seven days. I'll give you seven days. During those seven days, your training volume will double, and your studies of Martial Soul theory will be suspended for now."

"Seven days from now, I'll take you to Hurricane Cave. But... you must be prepared. Even the Astral Winds at the very outer edge of Hurricane Cave may be more than you can endure. That pain may even surpass what you felt during your first medicinal bath."

"Once you can no longer endure it, I'll take you away immediately."

At those words, Ye An's eyes suddenly lit up.

He solemnly bowed to Du Busi. "Thank you, Teacher."

"Don't thank me yet." Du Busi waved his hand, rose from the stone chair, and walked over to Ye An. Looking down at him, he studied him closely. "Since you dared to speak of a First Millennium Soul Ring before your master, you'd better be prepared to fail. No one has succeeded in ten thousand years not because no geniuses have tried, but because those who tried either died or were crippled."

"But I am still willing to let you attempt this seemingly impossible feat. My, Du Busi's, disciple should possess this kind of all-or-nothing drive!"

Meanwhile, in another room, the medicinal liquid in the bathtub had also turned completely clear and transparent.

Zhang Lexuan rose from the bathtub, her long legs stepping over its edge as several droplets of water slid down her smooth skin. She picked up the prepared towel beside her, dried herself, changed into a clean robe, and stood before a bronze mirror to examine herself.

The woman in the mirror had jade-like skin, smooth and toned lines, and proportions that had already been outstanding but now appeared even more slender and upright after the medicinal bath's tempering. Yet Zhang Lexuan paid no attention to those changes in her appearance. She merely clenched her fists, feeling the sense of power welling up from deep within her bones.