Xue Qinghe's admiration, Qian Renxue's admiration

Time flew by, and more than a year quietly passed.

"Teacher, I've broken through!"

With that delighted cry, the door to Ling Han's office swung open.

Tang San's face shone with joy.

When he saw Xue Qinghe in Ling Han's office as well, he still bowed respectfully.

"Tang San greets Your Highness!"

Over the past year and more, Xue Qinghe had often visited Ling Han to discuss various questions.

Xue Qinghe discovered that Ling Han had unique insights into many subjects, and he benefited greatly from them.

More importantly, word had arrived from the Worship Hall that Ling Han was a Super Douluo, at least rank ninety-seven.

Although Xue Qinghe had never asked Ling Han his exact age, he was certain that Ling Han had not yet reached middle age.

A Super Douluo so young was simply unheard of!

Someone like him was no longer a genius who could be snuffed out in the cradle, but a truly formidable powerhouse.

The Worship Hall's advice, therefore, was to win him over and avoid offending him.

Xue Qinghe agreed with that advice. He had no desire to offend Ling Han either.

Besides, Xue Qinghe genuinely admired Ling Han.

That admiration came not only from his perspective as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, but also from her perspective as Qian Renxue, a woman.

It was this double admiration that brought Xue Qinghe to Ling Han's office every few days.

At Tang San's greeting, Xue Qinghe smiled and waved a hand. "No need for formalities, Xiao San. Your teacher and I are good friends. From now on, just call me Brother Qinghe."

"You said you'd broken through. What rank have you reached?"

Tang San's face filled with pride. "Brother Qinghe, I've reached rank forty!"

The smile froze on Xue Qinghe's face, replaced by shock.

"Rank forty? How old are you this year?"

"Brother Qinghe, I've just turned eleven."

Eleven years old and rank forty—talent like that stood at the very pinnacle in Douluo I.

The twenty-year-old geniuses who competed in the tournament were generally only Soul Ancestors.

Yet Tang San, standing before him, had already reached rank forty at just eleven.

His talent was terrifying!

Like teacher, like student. Both master and disciple are monsters!

Xue Qinghe marveled inwardly.

"Well, Brother Ling, I won't interrupt you and your student any longer. I'll visit again next time."

That "next time" probably would not be far off.

After Xue Qinghe left, only Ling Han and Tang San remained in the office.

Ling Han looked at Tang San, his eyes full of approval. "Excellent. Reaching rank forty at eleven—your future is limitless!"

Tang San smiled and rubbed his head sheepishly. "It's all thanks to your guidance, Teacher. Without that pill you gave me, I couldn't have reached rank forty so quickly either."

"All right, enough of that. Come on, gather your teammates. We're setting out to hunt for a soul ring."

"The captain broke through? That's great!"

Everyone on the Imperial Fighting Team was delighted to hear of Tang San's breakthrough.

Once Tang San obtained his fourth soul ring, their team's overall strength would undoubtedly rise to another level.

Apart from Xiao Wu, every member of the Imperial Fighting Team had now reached at least rank thirty.

Dugu Yan had also broken through to rank forty recently and was now a rank forty-two control-type Soul Ancestor.

The other members were generally between ranks thirty-two and thirty-four.

Xiao Wu was now rank twenty-eight, not far from rank thirty.

That was already considerably faster than in the original story, where she would only reach rank twenty-nine a year later.

Obtaining a suitable soul ring for Tang San would also be an excellent training opportunity for the Imperial Fighting Team.

"Xiao San, for your fourth soul ring, I recommend absorbing a ten thousand year soul ring."

A ten thousand year soul ring.

Those words shocked not only Tang San, but every other member of the Imperial Fighting Team.

"Teacher, aren't ten thousand year soul rings only safe to absorb as a fifth soul ring? There's a risk of Soul Shock," Dugu Yan said.

Naturally, Heaven Dou Royal Academy taught this sort of standard Soul Master knowledge.

A certain Grandmaster had never absorbed a ten thousand year soul ring in his life. Whether he even knew about Soul Shock was debatable.

Tang San said nothing, but his eyes were also full of confusion.

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

Ling Han smiled, his pupils turning purple as he looked at Tang San.

Tang San understood at once.

Ling Han was reminding him that his Purple Demon Eye had already reached the mustard seed realm, giving him spiritual power far beyond that of ordinary people.

Moreover, the Tenfold Tonic Pill he had taken also boosted spiritual power, so absorbing a ten thousand year soul ring would not be particularly difficult for Tang San.

"All right. I'll follow your arrangements, Teacher."

Since Tang San himself had agreed, the other members of the Imperial Fighting Team naturally had no objections.

After packing their things, they set out for Star Dou Great Forest.

This time, Ling Han led them straight into the Mixed Zone.

Their target was a ten-thousand-year soul beast, after all, making the Mixed Zone the best choice.

"I've seen how well you work together now. A ten-thousand-year soul beast may still be a challenge for you, but you're certainly not without a chance. So this time, I won't intervene at the start. Give it everything you have and see just how far you can push a ten-thousand-year soul beast. Understood?"

"Understood!" they answered in unison.

When they heard that they would be facing a ten-thousand-year soul beast, there was not a trace of fear in their eyes. Instead, they were filled with excitement.

Although the strongest among them was only a Soul Ancestor, their coordination was exceptionally seamless.

That coordination allowed the seven of them to achieve far more together than they could individually.

Ling Han nodded, then led them through the Mixed Zone in search of a suitable ten-thousand-year soul beast.

With Tang San's current physique, he could even attempt to absorb the ring of a fifteen-thousand-year soul beast without any real risk.

Therefore, Ling Han did his best to find a soul beast close to fifteen thousand years old.

Three days passed in a flash, and they found nothing.

Finding a suitable ten-thousand-year plant soul beast was no easy task.

At last, their persistence paid off.

On the afternoon of the fifth day, Ling Han finally discovered a ten-thousand-year plant soul beast suitable for Tang San.

Parting the brush before him, Ling Han spotted a plant a short distance away.

It was an enormous blade of grass with seven leaves, each shaped like a sword.

Ten-Thousand-Year Seven-Leaf Swordgrass!

Ling Han's heart leaped with delight.

Ten-Thousand-Year Seven-Leaf Swordgrass was an exceedingly rare plant soul beast.

"Xiao San, this is the one. Be careful. Seven-Leaf Sword Grass has powerful attacks, so handle him cautiously!"

After Ling Han gave them a few instructions, the Imperial Fighting Team charged forward.

The Ten-Thousand-Year Seven-Leaf Swordgrass had already developed intelligence. Upon sensing danger, he immediately entered a battle-ready state.

His seven leaves transformed into seven longswords, detached from his body, and flew toward the members of the Imperial Fighting Team.

An attack from a ten-thousand-year soul beast was no laughing matter.

Tang San immediately activated his first soul skill, weaving his enhanced blue silver grass into a large net to block the seven longswords.

But the instant the seven longswords struck the net, Tang San's expression changed drastically. The blue silver grass was connected to his soul power, and he could feel it draining rapidly.