Tang San and Xiao Wu's Second Soul Rings

Empire Soul Beast Forest

Night had fallen. With nothing urgent to deal with, they had not rushed their journey and had already pitched their tents. Now, beside the campfire...

"Xiao San, do you trust me? If you do, take the Martial Strength Pill now. At every ten-level bottleneck, your soul power can still increase without absorbing a Soul Ring. I want you to take it now so it increases your soul power while strengthening your body. You've seen my red Soul Ring configuration. I want your second Soul Ring to be a Thousand-Year Soul Ring."

"Brother Yang Xiu, I trust you wouldn't hurt me," Tang San said earnestly. Then he took the Martial Strength Pill out of Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges, sat cross-legged, and swallowed it without any hesitation. In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, he had finished absorbing it.

"Detection Technique," Yang Xiu silently recited.

He saw Tang San's soul power level and Defense Level. Soul power: level 20/25

Defense: level 29

As expected of a child of destiny. He actually gained five whole levels. Of course, without a Soul Ring, Tang San doesn't know what level he is. He doesn't have a system, after all—he only feels that he's become much stronger. His defense also increased by six levels. Looks like it prompted him to strengthen himself by another level, too.

"Hahaha..."

Seeing this, Yang Xiu laughed. His guess had been right.

Ten minutes later, Dragon Ten appeared, carrying two Ghost Vine Soul Beasts that Yang Xiu had specifically instructed him to find.

"Mm, not bad."

Using the Detection Technique, Yang Xiu saw their exact ages.

1,187 years, 1,436 years

In the end, he brought them before Tang San and let him choose for himself.

"Xiao San, one of these two Soul Beasts is over eleven hundred years old, nearly twelve hundred. The other is over fourteen hundred. With your current physical strength, absorbing the fourteen-hundred-year-old one would be a bit of a stretch, but I think you should be able to manage it. Of course, the final decision is yours."

"I understand, Brother Yang Xiu."

Tang San considered it for a while. Ever since starting school, he had not seen his father again. Even though his father had left him a letter a year ago, he understood that there were still many things he did not know. Perhaps his father had not told him because he was too weak. He had never seen his mother, not even as a child, and his father had never spoken of her. He wanted answers, so he wanted to become stronger as quickly as possible.

"Brother Yang Xiu, I choose the fourteen-hundred-year-old one."

Yang Xiu studied him seriously. Looks like he already has plenty of questions. But it's not time to tell him everything yet.

"With that temperament of yours, kid, I believe you can do it. Once you're strong enough, I'll naturally give you some of the answers you're looking for."

Yang Xiu patted his shoulder, then spoke to Dragon Ten beside him.

"Keep an eye on Xiao San. Nothing should be able to get through here, but it's better to be safe."

Having said that, Yang Xiu went to Xiao Wu's tent.

"Xiao Wu, it's Yang Xiu. May I come in?"

Xiao Wu opened the tent.

"Brother Xiu, come on in."

"Brother Xiu, did you need something?"

"While Xiao San is absorbing his Soul Ring, you should start condensing yours, too. Give it everything you have. Your current body can withstand a thousand-year Soul Ring. Besides, there's no danger when you condense it yourself. It'll just take a little more time."

"Can I really do that, Brother Xiu?" Xiao Wu asked excitedly.

He stroked Xiao Wu's head.

"Of course you can."

"Brother Xiu, don't pat my head. I won't grow tall if you do." Although Xiao Wu told him not to, her face showed how much she enjoyed it.

Yang Xiu lightly tapped her head.

"You little rabbit, saying one thing and meaning another. Be good and condense your Soul Ring. Xiao San will finish absorbing his soon."

With a smile, Yang Xiu left the tent.

"Hehe."

Xiao Wu laughed happily.

Finally, she sat down cross-legged.

She began condensing her Soul Ring. Over an hour later...

The Soul Rings beside the cross-legged Tang San slowly faded away. Soon, he opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

"Phew, I never thought it would really work. Could Teacher's theory actually be wrong? Isn't the limit at level twenty a little over seven hundred years? Or is it because I'm not actually level twenty at all?" Unable to figure it out, Tang San stopped dwelling on it.

"Brother Yang Xiu, I succeeded. Thank you."

As he spoke, Tang San released his Martial Soul, Blue Silver Grass, along with one yellow and one purple Soul Ring.

"And my soul power actually reached level twenty-seven. Brother Yang Xiu, that Elixir you had me take increased my level so much. It must have given me four or five levels of soul power."

Yang Xiu smiled. "What, kid? Not satisfied? You got your Thousand-Year Soul Ring, too. I didn't lie to you, did I?"

"Hehe, I'm not dissatisfied. Just a little surprised."

"Right, what's your second Soul Skill?"

Although Yang Xiu had a rough idea of what it was, there was bound to be a difference between a ring over a thousand years old and a seven-hundred-year one. He had not checked it himself, either, which was why he asked.

"Brother Yang Xiu, watch closely. Blue Silver Grass, Entanglement! Shatter! Blue Silver Grass, Parasitism!"

Tang San unleashed his skills at a large tree in the distance, badly damaging it.

Hmm, still the same?

"Is there anything else that wasn't demonstrated?"

"Brother, you're amazing. Parasitism has a special trait, but it only shows when used on a living being. It draws out the fears of whoever it infects and traps them in an illusion realm of their own making. Those with weak willpower can end up killing themselves. Of course, with my current strength, it has no effect on anyone too powerful, and it doesn't work on people who have no fear in their hearts."

"What more do you want, kid? That skill is already very powerful. Besides, what living being doesn't have a little fear in their heart? Quit showing off."

"Hehe." Tang San chuckled sheepishly.

"Where's Xiao Wu? Why haven't I seen her?"

"While you were absorbing your Soul Ring, Elder Zhang Liao found a suitable Soul Beast for Xiao Wu, too. She's absorbing it now, but she should be done soon."

On the way here, Tang San and Xiao Wu had already learned who Zhang Liao, Zhao Yun, and the others were. Tang San had been excited for a long time.

(A note here: all Titled Douluo are elders, while Dragon One and the others are guardians. In the future, those at level eighty to below ninety will be stewards, and those below them will all be disciples.)

As they spoke, Xiao Wu came skipping out, and the system sounded at the same time.

"Congratulations, host, on completing the mission. Xiao Wu's strength has also improved beyond her original level, earning a hidden reward.

Soul Power Pill ×1, Beginner Summoning Card ×1, Soul Power Pill ×2."

There are benefits like that, too? Yang Xiu did not rush to deal with the rewards.

"Brother Xiu, I really did it! Eleven hundred years! I broke through to level twenty-two, and I'm almost level twenty-three. Aren't I amazing? Xiao San, what level are you? Are you as strong as your Sister Xiao Wu?" Xiao Wu spoke happily, winking at Tang San as her two rabbit ears bobbed.

How could a blockhead like Tang San understand any of that? He answered very earnestly, selling Yang Xiu out in the process.

"Xiao Wu, I'm level twenty-seven. I absorbed a fourteen-hundred-year ring. Of course, it's mostly thanks to the Elixir Brother gave me. Otherwise, I should be about the same as you."

Hearing this, Xiao Wu became unhappy.

"Hmph."

Then she looked at Yang Xiu pitifully. Xiao Wu knew about the Elixirs; she just had not expected them to be so powerful.

Yang Xiu smiled.

"I don't have any left right now. When I get more, I'll give you one, all right?" Xiao Wu would not accept that.

She blinked her large eyes at Yang Xiu, clutching his arm as she wheedled.

"Brother Xiu, you're the best."

Yang Xiu felt a little helpless. He seriously considered whether he could reach level fifty within a year. He truly did regard Xiao Wu as his little sister. Finally, he shot Tang San a fierce look and took out one of the extra Soul Power Pills he had just received because of Xiao Wu.

"I really don't have any like Xiao San's left. Do you want this one? It can raise your level by one or two." (This type of Soul Power Pill had no effect above level eighty. Only the kind rewarded by the level-fifty mission would work.)

"Yes, yes!" Xiao Wu snatched it at once.

"Hehe, thank you, Brother Xiu. You're the best!"

"At least you have a little conscience."

Yang Xiu glared at Tang San again.

Tang San looked utterly bewildered. He had no idea what he had done.

"Xiao Wu, absorb it now."

Xiao Wu smiled, then swallowed the Soul Power Pill and began absorbing it. One or two minutes later, she finished and reached level twenty-four.

Xiao Wu stood up and said happily,

"I've reached level twenty-four!"

“Xiao Wu, what's your Soul Skill?” Xiao Wu did not answer. She simply used her Soul Skill, Charm, on Tang San. The blockhead stared at her with hearts in his eyes, suddenly feeling that Xiao Wu was so beautiful. Even after quite a while, Tang San had still not come back to his senses. Yang Xiu knew it was not that Xiao Wu's skill had become stronger, but that Tang San genuinely liked her. No, that was not quite right either. Although Xiao Wu's skill was a mental skill, how could a hundred-year ring compare to a thousand-year one? It really had become stronger. The daze following Charm had grown more powerful.

He patted Tang San, and only then did Tang San snap out of it.

"All right, get some rest early. We'll head back tomorrow."

They were practically on vacation. That was the benefit of having powerful backing: they did not even have to work for their own Soul Rings.

With that, Yang Xiu returned to his tent to cultivate.

He took out a Soul Power Pill. Originally, Yang Xiu had not intended to take it, fearing he might not be able to keep Xiao Wu safe.

He swallowed it without hesitation. Soon, he finished absorbing it, and his soul power increased by three levels. He was now level forty-six.

"System, use the summoning card."

"Summoning successful. Congratulations, host, on summoning..."