One Ring, 1,830 Years!

"I've already decided on my Soul Rings. The first five rings will all grant enhancement-type Soul Skills." After a brief moment of thought, Yu Xiaogang had already mapped out the development path for his martial soul.

His starting point had changed from Luo Sanpao to the Golden Sacred Dragon, so his previous Soul Ring configuration and Soul Beast choices were naturally no longer suitable.

"All enhancement-type Soul Skills?!" Yu Yuanzhen looked as though he had heard something earth-shattering and asked again uncertainly.

"Xiao Gang, you don't want even a single offensive or defensive Soul Skill?"

Yu Xiaogang patiently explained to his old father, "For ordinary Soul Masters, balanced development with offense, defense, and enhancements is naturally better. But my circumstances are an exception."

"The further one progresses, the more limited the effects of the first few Soul Rings become, unless they are percentage-based enhancement Soul Skills or certain special Soul Skills."

"And my Golden Sacred Dragon is a rare martial soul with dual ultimate attributes."

"Every Soul Ring slot is extremely precious. Adding ordinary offensive or defensive Soul Skills would instead be a waste."

According to his plan, the first five rings would all grant percentage-based enhancement Soul Skills, while also incorporating special effects such as an unyielding body and purification.

The sixth ring would preferably grant an additional domain.

There was nothing much to say about the seventh ring: Golden Sacred Dragon Avatar. With the quality of his martial soul, there was a high chance it would grant him a second domain.

As for the eighth and ninth rings... he had preliminary targets in mind. It would depend on whether he could encounter them in the future.

"So that's how it is." Following Yu Xiaogang's train of thought, Yu Yuanzhen understood his intentions.

Once this Soul Ring path took shape, it would be terrifying.

The longer he fought, the stronger he would become, with enhancements that seemed to have no end in sight.

The seventh ring would inevitably be the Golden Sacred Dragon Avatar. Once he activated the Sacred Dragon Avatar, the effects of his earlier Soul Skills would experience explosive growth as well.

Yu Yuanzhen did not even dare imagine how powerful Yu Xiaogang would become by then.

However, the drawback was that his offensive methods would be limited, and he would have to make up for that through Soul Bone skills.

"Your offensive methods will be severely lacking in the early stages. Even later on, that will still be a weakness." Yu Yuanzhen's way of thinking remained rooted in relying on Soul Skills for offense.

Yu Xiaogang smiled faintly. "Father, I have quite a few Self-Created Soul Skills as well. That isn't a weakness of mine. On the contrary, it's my advantage."

It was equivalent to having several more Soul Rings than his opponents from the start.

Moreover, in this life, he did not need to waste time creating Soul Skills. He had never forgotten them to begin with.

"Looks like I worried for nothing." Yu Yuanzhen froze for a moment, then recalled his son's origins and laughed soundlessly.

His son had been a Rank-99 Peerless Douluo in his previous life, and he had cultivated from only half a level of innate Soul Power. That alone showed how gifted and insightful he was. How could he possibly lack a few incredible Self-Created Soul Skills?

"Then do you have a precise target for your first ring?"

Yu Xiaogang nodded. "Aureate Earth Dragon, Radiant-Winged Sub-Dragon, Sacred Armored Light Dragon, Feather-Radiant Flood Dragon, and Sacred Armored Sturdy Dragon would all suit my first four Soul Rings."

"It depends on which one we encounter."

"Among them, I favor the Sacred Armored Sturdy Dragon the most. This dragon-type Soul Beast is covered in thick golden scales. It is not skilled in wide-range attacks and specializes in self-enhancement, so there is a high chance it can provide an enhancement-type Soul Skill."

Upon hearing the name Yu Xiaogang mentioned, Yu Yuanzhen said, "There are records of it in the clan. Its attributes do match, but doesn't it seem to be a defensive dragon-type Soul Beast?"

Yu Xiaogang picked up the thread. "It may be called a defensive Soul Beast, but its Soul Ring enhances both strength and defense, and it has a chance of granting additional effects, such as increased resistance to negative statuses."

Yu Yuanzhen suddenly understood. "So that's how it is."

If the Soul Skill's effects were truly as Yu Xiaogang described, then it really was an exceptionally rare choice.

"Then get some rest early today. We'll set out at dawn tomorrow."

"Yes, Father." Naturally, Yu Xiaogang had no reason to refuse.

As for the target age... he would tell his father tomorrow.

Otherwise, he feared Yu Yuanzhen would be shocked again.

After seeing Yu Yuanzhen off, Yu Xiaogang returned to his room and sat cross-legged on the bed.

He had clearly entered a cultivation state.

Sleep? There was no need. Meditation could replace sleep.

Now that he had talent, he should work even harder. Otherwise, would he not be letting down this second chance at life?

Early the next morning, Yu Xiaogang arrived at the clan entrance to meet Yu Yuanzhen. "Father, I'm ready."

Yu Yuanzhen stood with his hands behind his back. "Mm. Let's go."

On the way to their destination, Yu Yuanzhen extended his right hand toward Yu Xiaogang. "Xiao Gang, let me see your hand."

Yu Xiaogang extended his right hand.

He knew Yu Yuanzhen most likely wanted to examine the current strength of his body.

"How is this possible?!" The moment Yu Yuanzhen touched him, he cried out in shock. "You haven't even obtained your first Soul Ring, yet your physical strength already rivals that of a high-level Soul Elder?!!!"

Just as expected.

If he had used so many resources and possessed such outstanding talent yet still failed to reach this level, that would have been the real failure.

"That is why my target age for my first Soul Ring is between fifteen hundred and two thousand years." Yu Xiaogang took the opportunity to reveal his goal.

"..." Yu Yuanzhen no longer knew what to say.

A first Soul Ring between fifteen hundred and two thousand years old—was that even reasonable?

Generally speaking, a first Soul Ring was only around three or four hundred years old.

"Are you confident?" Yu Yuanzhen asked only that.

Yu Xiaogang possessed Divine Power and had awakened the Golden Sacred Dragon martial soul. He should not have been judged by ordinary standards in the first place.

"Of course."

While father and son spoke, they arrived at the Sacred Armored Sturdy Dragon's habitat.

They soon found a suitable one.

Yu Xiaogang examined it from afar and determined its age from the color of its scales and its size—1,830 years.

"That one, Father."

"Are you sure?" Yu Yuanzhen confirmed once more.

"Yes. Its age is just right. I'll use it as my first Soul Ring."

"Wait here. I'll be back shortly." Yu Yuanzhen did not waste any more words.

His figure flashed like lightning, dragon claws appearing as he struck once and gravely wounded the beast, leaving it unable to move but still clinging to life.

"Xiao Gang, now!"

Yu Xiaogang moved quickly as well, gathering sacred light in his hand.

A javelin condensed out of thin air and was hurled fiercely toward the Sacred Armored Sturdy Dragon.

The javelin pierced through its eyeball and killed it in a single strike.

A purple Soul Ring rose from the Sacred Armored Sturdy Dragon's corpse.

Yu Xiaogang immediately sat cross-legged and began absorbing the Soul Ring.

Seeing that Yu Xiaogang had begun absorbing the Soul Ring, Yu Yuanzhen simply stood guard beside him.

He protected him while remaining ready to interrupt the absorption at any moment.

Half an hour later.

Yu Xiaogang slowly opened his eyes, a trace of delight flashing through them. "Just as expected, my deduction was correct!"

Yu Yuanzhen's heart leaped with joy. It had really... succeeded!

Our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has produced a monster whose first ring is 1,830 years old!

Unable to wait any longer, he asked, "Xiao Gang, what effect does your first Soul Ring have?"

Yu Xiaogang curled his lips into a smile. "First Soul Skill: Radiant Saint Body. Strength and defense are each enhanced by fifty percent, with no level restriction."

"Resistance to all negative effects is greatly increased, and it comes with one purification effect that can remove negative effects afflicting me."

"The enhancement has no time limit and depends on my total Soul Power. The purification has a three-minute cooldown."

"Furthermore, after absorbing this Soul Ring, my Soul Power Level has reached level fourteen. It won't be long before I break through to level fifteen."