A Century-Old Rock Armor Turtle? Yu Xiaogang Has No Shame!

The next day.

The sky had only just begun to brighten.

Gu Ling had already packed his things and arrived at the gates of Notting Academy.

Director Su had clearly arrived even earlier. He had changed out of his usual academy clothes and into a fitted outfit suitable for movement, with a few simple wilderness supplies hanging from his waist.

When he saw Gu Ling approach, Director Su nodded in satisfaction and said,

"You came quite early."

Gu Ling smiled and said,

"It's my first time obtaining a Soul Ring. Naturally, I didn't want to be late."

"Haha, good." Director Su nodded approvingly, then said with a smile, "Let's go. We'll try to find a suitable soul beast for you today."

With that, the two prepared to leave the academy.

But at that moment, two figures happened to walk out from inside the academy. One wore plain black clothes and had a somewhat thin build. It was Yu Xiaogang.

Walking beside Yu Xiaogang was Tang San.

Tang San carried a simple bundle on his back, clearly preparing to head out as well.

The two groups happened to meet at the academy gates.

When Gu Ling saw Yu Xiaogang, he merely gave him a casual glance before withdrawing his gaze.

Yu Xiaogang naturally saw Gu Ling as well.

Thinking of what had happened yesterday, his expression immediately became somewhat unnatural. Especially after noticing Director Su beside Gu Ling, his brows involuntarily furrowed slightly.

However, neither side took the initiative to speak.

Director Su was the one who was surprised, asking,

"Master?"

"This early in the morning, where are you taking Tang San?"

Upon hearing Director Su's question, Yu Xiaogang's expression finally returned to normal. He said evenly,

"Little San has Innate Full Soul Power. I'm taking him to Soul Hunting Forest to find a suitable soul beast and obtain his first Soul Ring."

Director Su immediately smiled upon hearing this.

"So that's it."

"What a coincidence. Gu Ling also has Innate Full Soul Power."

"I'm taking him to Soul Hunting Forest today as well, to help him obtain his first Soul Ring."

As he spoke, Director Su looked at Yu Xiaogang, then at Tang San.

"Since we're all heading to the same place, why not go together?"

"We can look after one another on the road."

Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang subconsciously glanced at Gu Ling.

Gu Ling paid him no attention at all, merely standing calmly beside Director Su.

Though Yu Xiaogang was still somewhat displeased over yesterday's events, Soul Hunting Forest was still a dangerous place for him. Director Su was, after all, a teacher at Notting Academy. Having another soul master along naturally meant an extra measure of safety.

Besides, he also wanted to see what kind of first Soul Ring Gu Ling intended to attach to his Bone Dragon Martial Soul.

With that in mind, Yu Xiaogang nodded and said,

"Fine. If we encounter danger, I can look after you as well."

Director Su smiled.

"Then we'll go together."

Tang San, meanwhile, looked at Gu Ling with curiosity in his eyes. After Yu Xiaogang's explanation yesterday, he trusted his teacher's judgment even more.

In Tang San's eyes, although Gu Ling possessed a top-tier martial soul like the Bone Dragon, he was only six years old. Much of what he had said yesterday had merely been his own speculation about martial souls.

Actually obtaining a Soul Ring would not be so simple.

Once a Soul Ring was absorbed, it was almost impossible to replace.

If the first Soul Ring was chosen incorrectly, it would affect a soul master's future path of cultivation.

Thinking of this, Tang San also wanted to know what kind of soul beast Gu Ling would choose for the first Soul Ring of his so-called "Ultimate Uncanny Offense."

Soon.

The four rented a carriage and left Notting Academy.

Soul Hunting Forest was not particularly far from Notting City.

Along the way, Yu Xiaogang constantly explained all kinds of knowledge about soul beasts to Tang San.

"A soul beast's cultivation can be judged through many aspects, such as its size, physical characteristics, and certain special changes on its body."

"Little San, your martial soul is Blue Silver Grass."

"Blue Silver Grass itself is too weak, so it needs Soul Rings to grant it stronger abilities."

"The path I have planned for you is the control type."

"Therefore, it would be best for your first Soul Ring to come from a snake-type soul beast. Snake-type soul beasts possess traits such as entanglement, toughness, and venom. Those abilities are all highly suitable for Blue Silver Grass."

Tang San listened very attentively, nodding from time to time.

Director Su sat to one side and did not interrupt.

Gu Ling had even less interest in joining the conversation. His mind was filled only with his first Soul Ring. What kind of soul beast could truly allow the Bone Dragon Martial Soul to take its first step toward ultimate offense?

Simply increasing strength was obviously too ordinary.

Simply increasing sharpness was not what Gu Ling wanted most, either.

What he pursued was—uncanniness.

He wanted his enemies to never be able to judge where his attacks would emerge from. If he merely swung bone claws and bone blades head-on, then how would he differ from ordinary assault-type soul masters?

That simply did not live up to the vision he held for the Bone Dragon Martial Soul.

The group continued onward, and after traveling for some time, an enormous forest gradually appeared in their sight.

Towering ancient trees stretched on without end.

Their lofty canopies intertwined, almost completely blocking the sunlight within. Around the forest's perimeter stood tall iron fences, while large numbers of fully armed soldiers guarded the entrance.

This was the soul masters' hunting ground near Notting City.

After entering Soul Hunting Forest, the surroundings grew much dimmer. Towering ancient trees rose from the ground, their dense branches and leaves interwoven overhead, blocking most of the sunlight.

Director Su walked at the front, occasionally observing the movements around them. Yu Xiaogang led Tang San beside him, continuing to explain various facts about soul beasts along the way.

The four continued deeper into the forest.

About half an hour later, a rustling sound suddenly came from ahead.

Director Su immediately stopped, raising a hand to signal everyone not to proceed. He said gravely,

"A soul beast. Everyone, be careful!"

Gu Ling and Tang San both looked over at once.

A patch of low shrubs ahead slowly parted, and then a grayish-brown giant turtle the size of a millstone crawled out at an unhurried pace.

The turtle shell on its back was exceptionally thick, its surface covered in uneven gray rock that made it look as though it truly carried an enormous boulder on its back.

Its limbs were thick and powerful, its claws deeply embedded in the soil.

Every step it crawled forward produced a faint scraping sound.

Yu Xiaogang's eyes immediately lit up when he saw the soul beast.

"Rock Armor Turtle."

He spoke almost without hesitation.

"Judging from the patterns on its rocky shell and its size, its cultivation should be between one hundred and thirty and one hundred and fifty years."

"Although this kind of soul beast has average offensive ability, its defense is exceptionally outstanding. It also possesses the ability to strengthen bones and armor."

As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang seemed to suddenly think of something and turned to Director Su.

"Director Su."

"Gu Ling is quite fortunate."

"This Rock Armor Turtle is perfectly suited to be his first Soul Ring."

Gu Ling's brows immediately lifted slightly at those words.

Director Su was also stunned for a moment and asked doubtfully,

"Suitable for Gu Ling?"

"That's right." Yu Xiaogang nodded. The confidence of a theoretical master reappeared on his face as he continued, "Gu Ling's martial soul is the Bone Dragon. The Bone Dragon Martial Soul's most outstanding traits are its hard bones and powerful defense, while the Rock Armor Turtle is likewise a soul beast famed for its defense."

"If he absorbs its Soul Ring, it is highly likely to further strengthen Gu Ling's bones, perhaps even allowing the Bone Dragon Martial Soul to gain defensive abilities similar to rock armor."

"In that way, he can thoroughly establish the foundation for becoming a defense-type soul master starting from his very first Soul Ring."

As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang deliberately glanced at Gu Ling.

"It isn't a bad thing for young people to have ideas of their own."

"But once a Soul Ring has been absorbed, there is no chance for regret."

"Yesterday, you said you wanted to follow some path of Ultimate Uncanny Offense. I already told you that path has no mature theory to support it whatsoever. Now that a soul beast so suitable for you has appeared before you, it would be a terrible pity to miss it."

Hearing this, Director Su did not make an immediate decision. Instead, he turned to Gu Ling and asked,

"Gu Ling, what do you think?"

Gu Ling glanced at the Rock Armor Turtle in the distance, then shifted his gaze to Yu Xiaogang.

"What do I think? Naturally, I'm not absorbing it."

Yu Xiaogang frowned and said somewhat displeasedly,

"Gu Ling, how long are you going to remain this stubborn?"

Gu Ling could not help laughing.

"Stubborn?"

"Master, have you already forgotten what I said yesterday?"

"My Bone Dragon Martial Soul already possesses extremely powerful defensive capabilities. And now you want me to absorb a Rock Armor Turtle and add even more defense to myself?"

"I want to ask one thing. Then what?"

Yu Xiaogang was stunned.

Gu Ling continued,

"My first Soul Ring increases defense, my second Soul Ring keeps increasing defense, and my third Soul Ring still increases defense. In the end, should I cultivate myself into a turtle that takes hits without striking back?"