First Soul Ring: A Seven-Hundred-Year-Old Holy Light Earth Dragon!

At those words, Yu Xiaogang immediately stood up.

"Teacher, can I absorb my First Soul Ring now?"

These past few days, he had followed Li Qingshan's instructions and put off obtaining a Soul Ring, but he was still full of anticipation for his first one.

"After taking Whale Rubber, your physique has improved. Now Sanpao has changed too. It's time to decide on your First Soul Ring."

Li Qingshan paused, then asked:

"You said your father had already prepared a Soul Beast for you. What is it?"

"A Thunder Dragon Lizard, around three hundred and fifty years old," Yu Xiaogang replied. "Father had it brought back to the clan. It's being kept in the beast pens under someone's care."

A Thunder Dragon Lizard?

Li Qingshan searched through the memories of this body's original owner and soon recalled the Soul Beast.

It was a lightning-attribute Soul Beast with dragon blood in its veins. Hard scales covered its body, and the single horn atop its head could store lightning.

Both its attribute and its physical strength were somewhat compatible with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul.

"Father said that although Sanpao has mutated, its roots still lie in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon."

Yu Xiaogang continued:

"If its Soul Ring could give Sanpao some lightning abilities, it might make up for its lack of attack power."

"Father had people search for a long time before they found this Soul Beast."

When he finished, he looked at Li Qingshan uneasily.

"Teacher, do you think it's suitable?"

Li Qingshan did not dismiss it outright. He nodded slowly and said seriously, "Lightning attribute, dragon blood, and an age chosen with your circumstances in mind."

"Your father put real thought into this."

Yu Xiaogang's expression relaxed a little at those words.

But Li Qingshan went on:

"Most Soul Masters with dragon-type Martial Souls would consider this kind of Soul Beast first for their First Soul Ring. Sanpao, though, isn't like an ordinary dragon-type Martial Soul."

Yu Xiaogang listened closely, sensing there was more to his teacher's words. Confusion showed on his face.

Li Qingshan glanced at him and said seriously:

"What you need to consider now is how to keep Sanpao's transformation going."

"If the power of your First Soul Ring can help it grow, or even change further, it will have a better chance of evolving fully into a dragon one day."

As he spoke, he lowered his gaze to Luo Sanpao.

"It has only just grown a few scales. It's still far from becoming a true dragon Martial Soul. We need to keep that in mind when choosing its Soul Ring."

Yu Xiaogang fell into thought.

Over these past few days, he had seen his own physique change and watched Luo Sanpao grow scales. He trusted Li Qingshan's guidance more than ever.

"Then, Teacher, what Soul Beast do you plan to choose for me?"

Li Qingshan looked at him with a faint smile.

"Your father prepared a choice suited to an ordinary Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Soul Master. But I... will give my disciple something better."

Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"When have I ever lied to you?" Li Qingshan said it quite naturally, then silently added:

The matter of my cultivation doesn't count.

Yu Xiaogang had no idea what he was thinking. He simply nodded in earnest.

"I'll follow your guidance, Teacher!"

Li Qingshan glanced up at the sky, picked up the booklet resting on the bluestone, and handed it back to Yu Xiaogang.

"Go home for today. Keep recording Sanpao's changes over the next few days, and don't neglect your cultivation."

Yu Xiaogang took the booklet. Before he could answer, Li Qingshan added, "Come here and wait for me at this time in three days. I have the matter of your First Soul Ring in hand."

Yu Xiaogang clutched the booklet and bowed solemnly.

"Yes, Teacher! I'll be here on time in three days!"

Three days later.

Below the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's mountain.

Yu Xiaogang entered the woods with his booklet in his arms. He had just spotted Li Qingshan and had not yet opened his mouth to greet him when the man flicked his hand, throwing a golden Soul Beast down in front of him.

Thud!

A dull impact rang out.

Fallen leaves scattered across the ground.

Yu Xiaogang instinctively stepped back half a pace. When he looked closely, surprise filled his eyes.

The Soul Beast was nearly two meters long.

It had thick limbs and a long tail stretched out behind it. Fine golden scales covered its body, and several short bony ridges rose along its spine.

Sunlight fell across its body.

A faint golden halo seemed to shine from it.

But many of its scales were broken. Its limbs lay limp against the ground, and its chest and belly rose and fell faintly. It was at death's door.

Even so, when it struggled to raise its head, Yu Xiaogang felt an aura that made his heart tighten.

"Teacher, this is..."

"Your First Soul Ring," Li Qingshan said calmly, dusting off his hands.

Yu Xiaogang froze, then hurriedly looked it over again.

Its form was clearly dragon-related, but the faint golden light over its scales was nothing like the lightning-attribute Dragon-Type Soul Beasts he knew.

Luo Sanpao, at his feet, poked its head out too.

"Luo-luo!"

The little golden dog stared at the Soul Beast on the ground, its ears pricking up slightly. As though it had sensed something, it took two steps forward on its own.

Li Qingshan noticed its reaction, and a trace of a smile appeared on his face. "This is a Holy Light Earth Dragon, around seven hundred and sixty years old."

"It's a Light Attribute lesser dragon."

He tapped the scales on the Holy Light Earth Dragon's back and said slowly, "More importantly, it carries the bloodline of the Golden Sacred Dragon."

"The Golden Sacred Dragon?" Yu Xiaogang's head shot up. He had heard that name before.

Li Qingshan nodded. "There isn't much of that bloodline in it, but it gives the beast traits ordinary Dragon-Type Soul Beasts don't have. This Holy Light Earth Dragon's Soul Ring is well suited to Sanpao as it is now."

Yu Xiaogang looked down at his Martial Soul.

Luo Sanpao was circling the Holy Light Earth Dragon, its little nose twitching. It looked eager to come closer, yet hesitant.

Li Qingshan continued:

"By feeding Sanpao Dragon Meat and Dragon Blood, you've already brought about changes in it."

"Now the power of a Soul Ring can carry those changes further."

"If you absorb this Holy Light Earth Dragon's Soul Ring, it should advance Sanpao's evolution and grant you a Soul Skill that suits it exceptionally well."

Yu Xiaogang's eyes brightened. "Teacher, you mean that trace of Golden Sacred Dragon blood in it can help Sanpao keep evolving?"

"Of course," Li Qingshan answered without hesitation. "The power of a Soul Ring merges with your Martial Soul. Choose the right one, and it can aid your Martial Soul's future evolution."

"Since Sanpao has begun to show dragon traits, the Soul Ring I choose for you must follow that path."

As he spoke, he glanced at the few pale-gold scales hidden in the fur on Luo Sanpao's back.

As someone who had crossed over into this world, Li Qingshan knew what that little golden dog would look like once it completed its evolution.

The Radiant Sacred Dragon.

Also known as the Golden Sacred Dragon!

This Holy Light Earth Dragon carried a trace of the same bloodline and was a Light Attribute lesser dragon. It could hardly be more suitable as Luo Sanpao's First Soul Ring.

As for a pure-blooded dragon, Li Qingshan had considered that too. He could, for instance, catch a six- or seven-hundred-year-old Radiant Sacred Dragon for Yu Xiaogang to absorb. The problem was, he had no idea where to find one...