The First Soul Ring's Limit-Who Said It Couldn't Be Broken?

But Li Qingshan could not say any of that outright just yet.

Luo Sanpao had only just grown a few scales. If Li Qingshan declared that he would eventually become the Golden Sacred Dragon, he would have some explaining to do when Yu Xiaogang asked why.

Besides, he had already brought the Soul Beast here.

Once Yu Xiaogang absorbed the Soul Ring and saw the changes with his own eyes, that would do more than anything Li Qingshan could say.

As Li Qingshan pondered this, he noticed the boy's excitement gradually give way to hesitation.

Yu Xiaogang glanced at the Holy Light Earth Dragon. His lips moved before he finally asked, "But Teacher, you said just now... it's seven hundred and sixty years old?"

Li Qingshan gave a slight nod.

"That's right."

Yu Xiaogang lowered his voice.

"Isn't the limit for a Soul Master's First Soul Ring only a little over four hundred years?"

"This Holy Light Earth Dragon is already more than seven hundred years old. I'm only at level ten Soul Power. Can I really withstand it?"

Over the years, his elders had taught him, and the books said the same thing: a Soul Ring's age had to match what a Soul Master could endure.

If someone coveted a stronger Soul Ring and forced himself to absorb one beyond his limits, the consequences would be far worse than simply failing to cultivate.

The Soul Beast before him exceeded the First Soul Ring's upper age limit as he knew it by so much. Though he trusted Li Qingshan deeply now, Yu Xiaogang could not help feeling uneasy.

Li Qingshan was not surprised to hear this.

He looked at the boy and asked slowly,

"Why did I have you take Whale Rubber?"

"To improve my constitution."

Yu Xiaogang answered without thinking.

The moment the words left his mouth, something seemed to occur to him, and his eyes stirred.

"Teacher, could it be..."

Li Qingshan nodded, his expression solemn.

"The power within a Soul Ring strikes a Soul Master's body during absorption."

"The stronger your body is, the more force your meridians can withstand. Naturally, that gives you a chance to absorb an older Soul Ring."

"The so-called four-hundred-year limit for a First Soul Ring is a judgment based on ordinary Soul Masters. But is your constitution still what it used to be?"

Yu Xiaogang looked down at his hands. Of course he knew better than anyone how he had changed these past days.

Exercises that had once been difficult were now easy, and he recovered much faster after running back and forth along the mountain path.

He had felt every change recorded in that booklet for himself, little by little.

"It isn't."

Yu Xiaogang answered earnestly.

Li Qingshan held out his hand.

"Give me your hand."

Yu Xiaogang hurried to comply.

Li Qingshan placed two fingers on his wrist. A thin thread of Soul Power slipped inside and slowly circulated through his meridians.

Yu Xiaogang felt a faint warmth at his wrist. He stood still and refrained from moving his own Soul Power.

After a moment, Li Qingshan withdrew his hand, his expression as composed as ever.

"The Whale Rubber you've taken these past days has gradually been absorbed into your body. Add to that your daily training, and what your body can withstand has long since surpassed an ordinary Soul Master's."

"I had you delay obtaining a Soul Ring to give you a better start."

"If we were just going to pick any Soul Beast as we would have before, why would I have made you prepare for so long?"

Yu Xiaogang listened more intently with every word.

Only now did he piece together Li Qingshan's arrangements. First, Whale Rubber had improved his constitution; then Dragon Meat and Dragon Blood had nourished Luo Sanpao.

Only after both he and his Martial Soul had changed

had Li Qingshan truly settled on his First Soul Ring.

So Teacher had already thought this far ahead for me. He's done even more for me than Father has. One day, I must serve him well and repay him.

Watching the boy's brow gradually smooth, Li Qingshan continued,

"I chose this Holy Light Earth Dragon based on your current condition. At around seven hundred and sixty years old, it's well within what you can withstand."

"But... being able to withstand it doesn't mean absorbing it will be painless. When the time comes, steady your mind and circulate your Soul Power as you do in your usual training. Don't lose your composure."

Yu Xiaogang looked at Li Qingshan and nodded solemnly.

"I understand."

"You've prepared for me for so long, Teacher. Of course I trust you!"

Li Qingshan smiled faintly.

"Then let's begin."

As he spoke, he drew a short sword from his waist and offered it to Yu Xiaogang. "It's still alive. You'll need to take the final step yourself."

Yu Xiaogang took the short sword and looked down at the Holy Light Earth Dragon on the ground.

The Soul Beast no longer had the strength to struggle. Its golden eyes were half-open, and only the occasional rise and fall of its chest and belly showed that a last trace of life remained.

Yu Xiaogang tightened his grip on the hilt and took a deep breath.

Then, following Li Qingshan's instructions, he moved to the Holy Light Earth Dragon's side, found a weak point in its scales, channeled Soul Power into the short sword, and drove it into a vital spot.

The Holy Light Earth Dragon gave a faint shudder.

Soon, it stopped breathing altogether.

Wisps of pale yellow light slowly emerged from its body and gathered above it.

Before Yu Xiaogang's eyes, a bright Yellow Soul Ring finally took shape.

The Soul Ring hovered above the Holy Light Earth Dragon, light flowing slowly across it. The power it held made Yu Xiaogang, standing so close, hold his breath.

This was his First Soul Ring.

A Soul Ring more than seven hundred years old!

Li Qingshan took back the short sword and gestured toward a flat patch of ground nearby. "Xiaogang, sit down quickly. Release your Martial Soul and absorb the Soul Ring."

Yu Xiaogang sat cross-legged as instructed, set the booklet beside him, and rested his hands lightly on his knees.

As if sensing something, Luo Sanpao stopped circling the Holy Light Earth Dragon. He ran back to Yu Xiaogang and crouched quietly before him, his yellow eyes fixed on the Soul Ring in midair.

"Draw it toward you with your Soul Power."

Li Qingshan stood to one side, his voice steady.

"Remember, don't let your mind wander."

Yu Xiaogang nodded and slowly closed his eyes.

As his Soul Power began to circulate, a faint glow appeared around him.

The Yellow Soul Ring trembled lightly in midair. Then, as though pulled by an unseen force, it drifted away from the Holy Light Earth Dragon's corpse and toward Yu Xiaogang.

Li Qingshan's gaze sharpened.

The Soul Ring reached the space above Yu Xiaogang's head. After hovering there briefly, it began to descend. The next instant, its rich yellow light suddenly drew inward.

Yu Xiaogang's shoulders jolted. His steady breathing turned ragged, and his hands tightened involuntarily on his knees.

The power of the seven-hundred-and-sixty-year-old Holy Light Earth Dragon began pouring into his body.

Crouched before him, Luo Sanpao gave a low cry. The three pale-gold scales on his shoulders and back gradually lit up beneath the Soul Ring's glow.