Ten-Year-Old Soul Elder

Bei Bei and Zhang Lexuan rested at the Lin Family for two days before continuing on to Thunder Grand Canyon.

Although Thunder Grand Canyon was farther away than the Star Dou Great Forest, the lightning-attributed dragon-type Soul Beasts living there were highly suitable for Bei Bei's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. That was why they were willing to brave the long journey and endure the hardship of traveling there.

After considering it again and again, Lin Yan decided not to go with them.

The journey was too long. A round trip would take more than twenty days. Rather than waste that time, he might as well use it to cultivate. Besides, he did not need Spirit Rings.

In a world where the strong preyed on the weak, increasing his own strength was what mattered most.

His mother's disappearance surely concealed many secrets and hidden truths.

He needed sufficient strength to investigate the circumstances and uncover the truth.

That was one of the reasons he cultivated so frantically!

Just like that, another year and a half passed.

Nine Treasure City, Lin Estate, rear garden.

It was the season when a hundred flowers bloomed.

The spring breeze drifted by like a mother's hand, gently brushing over the flowers and carrying away their fragrance.

At the center of the garden stood a large tree over ten meters tall.

Beneath the tree, a handsome young man dressed in white sat cross-legged and motionless on the grass beneath the canopy. His eyes were lightly closed, making him look as though he were asleep.

A breeze sent down a fallen leaf, which landed on the young man's shoulder. At that moment, he opened his eyes.

As his eyelids lifted, a faint glint flashed through his black, pearl-like eyes. A powerful surge of Soul Power suddenly erupted from his body, instantly crushing the fallen leaf on his shoulder into dust without leaving the slightest trace.

"Success!"

The corners of Lin Yan's lips rose.

Four years after awakening his Martial Soul, he had finally become a Soul Elder at the age of ten.

A ten-year-old Soul Elder!

He had reached Soul Elder two full years ahead of his original plan of doing so at twelve.

Within the Soul Master world of the Douluo Continent, this was undoubtedly an astonishing achievement.

Even among Soul Master sects with long histories and powerful foundations, it would be difficult to find such a genius!

Lin Yan had achieved this partly through talent, but also through his diligence in cultivation!

Ever since awakening his Martial Soul four years ago, he had cultivated every day, with virtually no recreational activities.

How many six-year-old children in this world could persist like him for four years?

Just as Lin Yan was thinking about his third Spirit Ring, an elderly figure approached from afar.

It was the old butler.

"Young Master, this is a letter Young Master Bei Bei had someone deliver to you from Shrek City!"

The old butler handed Lin Yan a yellow envelope.

Lin Yan took it and gave it a glance. He immediately saw six conspicuous black characters written on the envelope: "For Cousin Lin Yan."

When Lin Yan opened it, he discovered that Shrek Academy, the continent's number one Soul Master Academy, would begin its admissions season in one month. Bei Bei intended to enter Shrek Academy for a more comprehensive Soul Master education and invited Lin Yan to join him.

"Shrek Academy?"

Lin Yan's gaze flickered, and he hesitated for a moment.

At that moment, the old butler noticed something unusual about Lin Yan's aura and asked in astonishment, "Young Master, y-you broke through?"

The old butler's eyes widened, his aged face filled with surprise.

Lin Yan folded the letter and slipped it into his pocket, then nodded. "Yes, I just broke through."

Hearing this, the old butler sharply inhaled and exclaimed in amazement, "A ten-year-old Soul Elder, Young Master... your cultivation speed may well break the cultivation records of the Soul Master world. This old man has lived for more than seventy years, yet I have never heard of anyone becoming a Soul Elder at the age of ten!"

Lin Yan could not help revealing a proud smile at those words.

Inside the main hall.

Lin Yan stood before Lin Yuhuan.

At ten years old, Lin Yan had already grown to one meter sixty-five, tall and well-proportioned.

If an ordinary person trained every day as he did, their body would have long become broad-backed and brawny. Yet perhaps due to his physique, Lin Yan had none of that bulky, power-filled appearance. His figure was exceptionally lean and balanced.

Who would have thought that such a body contained strength powerful enough to astonish others?

Combined with his outstanding looks, if appearance were rated out of ten, he could score a nine.

And with his cultivation of thirty levels of Soul Power at the age of ten—

Even Lin Yuhuan, a Titled Douluo, found it difficult to pick out any flaw in him.

"What do you think?" Lin Yuhuan asked.

"I haven't decided yet." Lin Yan shook his head.

Naturally, the topic between grandmother and grandson was Bei Bei's invitation for Lin Yan to attend Shrek Academy.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Yuhuan said, "Go. As the number one Soul Master Academy in the world, Shrek Academy naturally has qualities worthy of praise. Furthering your studies there will bring you considerable benefits."

"Besides, you should learn some theoretical knowledge about Soul Masters. You cannot keep burying your head in cultivation all day, only to end up unable to recognize any Soul Beasts or understand the strengths and weaknesses of different Martial Souls."

Shrek Academy's reputation was only one reason Lin Yuhuan wanted Lin Yan to go there.

Another reason was that she wanted to change Lin Yan's way of life.

His method of cultivating day and night without regard for anything else was far too abnormal and strange for a child who had only just turned ten. It had always been a thorn in Lin Yuhuan's heart.

She feared that cultivation would give Lin Yan psychological problems.

If he truly developed inner demons and became a pervert, it would be far too late for regret.

"Alright, then I'll go!"

Lin Yan nodded.

As the number one Soul Master Academy in the world, Shrek Academy gathered countless geniuses. Setting aside everything else, he wanted to see it for himself just because of its title as the best in the world.

"Grandmother, how about this? I need to obtain my third Spirit Ring anyway. Once I have it, I'll head straight to Shrek Academy instead," Lin Yan suggested.

"Mm." Lin Yuhuan nodded slightly. "Tian'er's birthday is in two days. Go say goodbye to her, then we'll set off."

"Alright!"

Lin Yan nodded.

That afternoon, Ning Tian and Wu Feng arrived together as usual to train with Lin Yan. Over the past two years, it had become a habit.

As they spent more time together, the three of them had become very close.

Not only Ning Tian—even Wu Feng's same-sex inclinations had been successfully nipped in the bud by Lin Yan. She followed behind him every day, calling him Brother Lin Yan, and had practically become his little fangirl.

However, Lin Yan was preparing to leave to obtain his Spirit Ring and head for Shrek City, so he did not train that day.

Seeing this, the two girls found it rather strange.

Lin Yan immediately explained the reason.

When they learned that Lin Yan was about to leave to obtain his third Spirit Ring and would then head to Shrek Academy, the two little girls were initially surprised, followed by deep reluctance.

Ning Tian's fair, adorable little face scrunched up as she said miserably, "Brother Lin Yan, why are you going to Shrek Academy? Isn't it good enough to stay in Nine Treasure City?"

Wu Feng, standing beside her, nodded as well. "Ning Tian is right. Our Nine Treasure City isn't inferior to Shrek Academy."

Lin Yan affectionately rubbed their heads and said with a smile, "Shrek Academy has many geniuses. I want to spar with them. Don't worry, the academy has holidays every year. I'll come back to see you."

"Mm, then Brother Lin Yan, you have to remember to come back and see us!" Ning Tian and Wu Feng said together.