Fish Must Fry Slowly; Rush and You'll Get a Muddy Elbow

The next morning, Ling Han arrived at Dorm Seven early. Sure enough, he spotted Tang San practicing the Purple Demon Eye nearby.

"Xiao San, you're up early."

Ling Han walked over as he spoke.

Tang San had just finished practicing the Purple Demon Eye. Hearing Ling Han's voice, he rose in delight. "Teacher, you're here?"

Ling Han nodded. "I'm taking you to get your First Soul Ring today. We can't waste valuable training time."

Tang San nodded eagerly. "Yes, Teacher! Let's go!"

At last, he was going to have his First Soul Ring!

Tang San's heart brimmed with anticipation and excitement.

The world of Soul Masters still held so many mysteries for him.

Now he was about to step into that world and become a true Soul Master. How could he not be excited?

Ling Han took Tang San straight to the Soul Hunting Forest where Yu Xiaogang had taken him in the original story.

Once they left the academy, Ling Han unfurled his Ice Wings and carried Tang San into the sky.

As the two passed through the academy gates, someone else quietly slipped out behind them.

"I will prove my theory!" Yu Xiaogang said angrily, staring in the direction they had gone.

With that, Gangzi set off toward the Soul Hunting Forest as well.

Ling Han flew fast. Before long, they reached the forest entrance.

Entry required a Token, and Ling Han had already prepared one.

After showing his Token to the guards, Ling Han led Tang San into the Soul Hunting Forest.

Once inside, Ling Han seemed completely at ease.

He wasn't a useless fool like Gangzi. In a little forest where the strongest Soul Beast might not even be ten thousand years old, there was nothing he needed to guard against.

With him there, Tang San was perfectly safe.

Soon, the two reached a stream.

Looking at the clear water, Ling Han had an idea. "Xiao San, are you hungry? You haven't had breakfast, have you?"

Tang San was about to shake his head when his stomach betrayed him with a growl.

He smiled awkwardly. "Sorry, Teacher. I am a little hungry. I forgot to eat breakfast."

Ling Han patted Tang San's head and smiled. "No need to apologize. You haven't done anything wrong. I happen to be in the mood for it, so let's catch some fish to eat."

Tang San's eyes lit up. "Okay! Thank you, Teacher!"

Ling Han then walked to the stream.

He summoned his Martial Soul.

It was the first time Ling Han had summoned his Martial Soul in front of Tang San.

The phantom of the Ice Dragon King appeared behind him.

Then seven Soul Rings appeared beneath his feet: yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, and red.

Tang San's eyes widened in shock.

He knew something about the ages represented by Soul Ring colors.

Yellow meant a Hundred-Year Soul Ring, purple meant a thousand-year ring, and black meant a ten-thousand-year ring.

That final blood-red ring was a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.

A Soul Saint with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring—it was almost unbelievable. From what Tang San knew, hardly anyone on the continent possessed one, yet his teacher was among them.

Teacher is incredible!

Tang San felt more certain than ever that he had found a wonderful teacher.

With a casual wave, Ling Han sent a surge of Ultimate Ice Soul Power into the stream.

The terrifying cold froze the entire stream in an instant, fish and all.

Then Ling Han used his Soul Power to draw several fish out of the ice.

"Xiao San, how would you like these fish cooked?"

"However you like, Teacher."

Ling Han smiled. "All right. Watch how I do it!"

Tang San then watched Ling Han pull a huge iron wok from who knew where.

"Xiao San, go gather some firewood."

Tang San agreed and gathered branches from the nearby forest.

Ling Han built a stand, set the wok on it, then lit the firewood beneath it to heat the pan.

Next, he pulled out a large bucket of oil from who knew where and poured the whole thing into the wok.

"Today I'll show you what I can do. We're making fried fish!"

With the oil heating, it was time to prepare the fish he had caught.

After removing the scales and innards, he brushed the fish with oil and coated them in flour he had taken from his ever-useful Soul Tool.

He had already mixed the right amount of seasoning into the flour, so there was no need to season the fish again.

Once coated in flour, the fish could go straight into the wok to fry.

Within minutes, the aroma of fried fish filled the air.

Tang San's mouth watered at the smell.

He picked up the chopsticks Ling Han had set aside and reached for a fish to taste.

Ling Han stopped him.

"Hey, Xiao San, don't rush. Fish must fry slowly; rush and you'll get a muddy elbow. Got it?"

Tang San nodded, though he only half understood.

"Teacher, what does 'muddy elbow' mean?"

The question caught Ling Han off guard. He cleared his throat twice and put on a stern expression. "Just remember what I said. Don't ask questions you don't need to ask. You're still a child—why do you need to know so much?"

Tang San nodded meekly and committed the saying to memory.

If Teacher said it, there must be a good reason!

Once the fish had cooked through, Ling Han lifted them from the oil and gave one to Tang San.

Tang San took it, blowing on it as he ate.

Fried in Ling Han's secret blend of seasoning and flour, the fish was crisp outside and tender inside. It tasted wonderful, and Tang San savored every bite.

To him, it was the second most delicious thing he had ever eaten.

The most delicious was still the chicken leg Ling Han had given him before.

When they had nearly finished eating, Ling Han cleaned the wok with Extreme Cold Ice and put it away again.

Now it was time to find Tang San's First Soul Ring.

Ling Han wasn't about to use his disciple to test a theory like Yu Xiaogang.

All they needed was a suitable hundred-year-old Plant-type Soul Beast.

Lone Bamboo seemed like a good choice.

With that in mind, Ling Han began using his mental power to watch for Plant-type Soul Beasts around them.

Just then, Gangzi finally arrived after racing there with everything he had.

"I will make my theory known far and wide."

He used his Token to enter the Soul Hunting Forest, then began searching frantically for Ling Han and Tang San.

Ling Han noticed Gangzi approaching.

He was a Soul Saint, after all. His mental power covered a vast area, and he spotted Gangzi at once.

He had no idea what that clown intended, but in a place like this, nothing Gangzi tried could threaten him.

In this life, Ling Han was Tang San's teacher. Gangzi had never even had the chance to learn who Tang San's father was, let alone ask Tang Hao for help.

So Ling Han ignored the clown and continued leading Tang San in search of a suitable Soul Ring.

Up ahead, Ling Han spotted a Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo.