Did You Really Think the Grandmaster Hadn't Broken Through?

Yu Xiaogang nodded to Flender.

"Take Ye Lin to hunt for his Spirit Ring. He knows what kind he needs. I'll be back soon."

Flender stood before him and said only, "Be careful."

A few steps away, Ye Lin added, "Be careful, Teacher."

Yu Xiaogang nodded to him, then turned and walked toward Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran.

Chao Tianxiang's expression eased a little as he approached. She said nothing more, merely stepped aside. "This way, Grandmaster."

"I scouted the woods to the east a few days ago. I found signs of soul beasts in several places. One of them might suit Yiran."

Yu Xiaogang gave a brief nod and followed them.

The three took another fork deeper into the forest. Their figures soon faded among the trees, leaving only the last rustle of branches behind.

Tang San stood where he was, watching Yu Xiaogang vanish into the shadows. His lip curled, and he sneered inwardly.

Look at Gangzi, acting like such a big shot. A Soul Elder who hasn't even reached level thirty, with a Martial Soul that's just a farting pig, and he dares to go off with them?

He just offended them, too, and now he's going with them on his own. Isn't he afraid they'll kill him to vent their anger?

Does he really think they're scared of someone from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect? Hah. I don't buy it.

In my last life, I never got a single benefit from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect while I was his disciple. Now, in this life, he's suddenly claiming to be one of them? What a joke.

I'll be impressed if you make it back alive.

Flender stood a few steps away, yet he heard every word of Tang San's thoughts.

A grin spread across his face.

Oh, Tang San. You just keep being arrogant all by yourself.

You think what you learned in your last life still holds true in this one?

Who told you Xiaogang hasn't broken through level thirty?

And who told you the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's name carries no weight?

Xiaogang must have been cursed eight lifetimes over to have you as his disciple in your last life.

You've lived two lives and still don't understand what powerful connections are worth. And you became a god?

You can't have been much of one.

Probably a worthless one, at that.

He waved to the others.

"All right, enough standing around. Oscar, hurry up and absorb your third Spirit Ring."

Oscar nodded and sat down cross-legged.

Shao Xin gave him a few pointers before letting him begin absorbing the Spirit Ring.

"We'll wait here and keep watch over Oscar."

Flender turned to Ye Lin.

"Ye Lin, what did the Grandmaster tell you? What kind of Spirit Ring do you need? Tell us."

"We have time while we're waiting."

Ye Lin was still considering how to answer when Tang San stepped forward first.

He folded his arms across his chest.

"If I had to guess, he wants Ye Lin to find a Strength-type soul beast. As for its age, 1,760 years would be ideal. No older. Am I right?"

When he finished, he lifted his chin slightly, as though waiting for everyone's approval.

No one answered.

The forest fell quiet for a moment.

Wind passed through the treetops and blew a few fallen leaves into the middle of the group. They spun down to the ground.

Why isn't anyone saying anything?

Tang San received no reply, but his thoughts rolled on regardless.

As if I don't know Gangzi. He has no real grasp of theory. He's just chasing a reputation he doesn't deserve.

He has no idea what actually determines which Spirit Ring ages a person can absorb. All he does is parrot conclusions straight out of books.

Everyone's expressions shifted as they heard Tang San's thoughts.

Could the Grandmaster really not know how to absorb a better Spirit Ring?

That's hard to believe.

This is the Grandmaster!

Ye Lin stood among the group and felt their gazes turn toward him one by one.

"Teacher did tell me to find a Strength-type soul beast. The stronger, the better." He paused.

"But not one that's 1,760 years old."

"Then how old?" Dai Mubai asked, unable to hold back.

"At least five thousand years."

The forest went silent for a heartbeat. Then everyone erupted.

Cries of "What the hell?" rang through the trees.

Dai Mubai's eyes widened. "How is that possible? A five-thousand-year Spirit Ring? Are you sure you can withstand it?"

"Five thousand years? You're only level thirty! Wouldn't absorbing that make your body explode?"

Xiao Wu rushed to Ye Lin and grabbed his arm.

"No, absolutely not! A five-thousand-year Spirit Ring is too dangerous! You can't absorb it! You'll die!"

Even Zhu Zhuqing, usually so composed, frowned slightly.

At the front of the group, Flender coughed loudly to quiet them.

"Let him finish."

Ye Lin nodded to Flender, then turned to the others.

"Teacher told me that before you reach Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings, only two factors determine whether you can absorb a Spirit Ring."

He raised two fingers. "First is physical strength. The stronger your body, the older the Spirit Ring you can withstand."

"Second is the quality of your Martial Soul. If it's of higher quality than the soul beast whose ring you're absorbing, the process is much easier. If it's lower, the difficulty multiplies."

He paused. "Once you reach Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings, there's a third factor: Spiritual Power."

"A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring brings a clash of Spiritual Power. If yours isn't strong enough, even if you somehow absorb the ring, you'll lose your mind."

Ma Hongjun scratched the back of his head.

"So you're saying your body and Martial Soul are both strong enough?"

Ye Lin nodded. "That's what Teacher told me."

The others were still reeling from the shock.

Ma Hongjun scratched the back of his head again.

"Five thousand years... Are you sure you don't want to think it over?"

Xiao Wu stood before Ye Lin, still clutching his arm with both hands.

She looked straight into his eyes. "Listen to me. You don't have to choose one that old..."

Ye Lin looked down at her and gently patted the back of her hand.

"I wouldn't be where I am without Teacher. I'll listen to him."

Xiao Wu's lips parted. She wanted to say more, but no words came.

Ye Lin looked away from her and up at the sky.

He thought to himself,

Five thousand years is already a conservative estimate.

Teacher originally planned for me to absorb a Spirit Ring just under ten thousand years old.

After all, I absorbed a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone. My physique is on a completely different level from an ordinary Soul Master's.

My Martial Soul is my own body, so my physical strength and ability to withstand a Spirit Ring should be even greater.

My second Spirit Ring was over nine hundred years old, more than three hundred years older than Tang San's second ring in his last life.

The Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone also improved my recovery, so I can endure the damage a Spirit Ring does to my body for longer.

If Teacher weren't worried about my Spiritual Power, he'd have had me go straight for a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.