Soul Grandmaster

He signaled for Liuli to unleash the soul skill granted by its second soul ring.

With a subtle stir of intent, Liuli's eyes brightened slightly. An exceedingly faint blue-green halo wreathed its snow-white fur, and the sparse wood-aspect spiritual energy in the surrounding forest quietly gathered, swirling docilely around it.

Its fox tail swept lightly, and several emerald leaf blades, thin as cicada wings, condensed between its pink paws. Translucent and light, the blades looked unremarkable, yet concealed concentrated penetrating power. With a faint whisper through the air, they darted out soundlessly and embedded themselves precisely in the thick trunk of an ancient tree nearby. They bit deep into the wood, leaving clean, even cuts that clearly demonstrated this wood-aspect skill's precision and sharpness.

Even so, Lin Tianyu, Li Su, and Tieshan, who watched from the side, remained filled with emotion and relief.

They had personally witnessed Lin Chen smoothly absorb a soul ring of an exceptionally high age without injury or backlash. His soul power had steadily advanced, his martial soul had successfully transformed into a two-tailed form, and the spirituality of its bloodline had greatly increased.

Such a steady yet frightening rate of growth, along with a capacity to withstand strain far beyond that of soul masters his age, was enough to prove Lin Chen's outstanding talent. It also completely soothed their earlier worries, leaving only heartfelt admiration and reassurance.

Once they confirmed that the soul hunt had concluded successfully, they lingered in the forest no longer. After briefly gathering their things, they followed the path they had taken in and steadily made their way out of the Soul Hunting Forest.

The return journey went smoothly, without any attacks from high-level soul beasts. They traveled swiftly by carriage and soon returned to bustling Nuoding City, then headed straight to the Spirit Hall within the city to update his soul master rank and register his information.

They once again entered the familiar second-floor laboratory of the Spirit Hall. Its furnishings were simple, traditional, and neatly arranged, and the surroundings remained just as they had always been. Ma Xiunuo was still stationed there, with full responsibility for assessing the ranks of Nuoding City's soul masters, testing their soul power, and entering their records.

Upon learning that Lin Chen had successfully obtained his second soul ring and broken through to the Soul Grandmaster realm, Ma Xiunuo brought out a standard soul power crystal ball and meticulously conducted a comprehensive examination.

As the crystal ball slowly lit up, clear soul power readings and attribute conditions appeared one after another. Ma Xiunuo's previously calm expression shifted slightly.

The instrument showed precisely that Lin Chen's soul power level had firmly reached twenty-three, far beyond that of an ordinary newly advanced Soul Grandmaster. His foundation was deep and solid, without the slightest trace of instability.

Lin Chen publicly reported the age of his second soul ring as seven hundred years. For a second soul ring, this was already an excellent age, sufficient to reveal a cultivation foundation and physical tolerance far beyond those of his peers.

Most ordinary soul masters stopped at five or six hundred years for their second soul ring. Young soul masters who dared to absorb a seven-hundred-year soul ring were rare to begin with, and they were highly prone to unstable absorption and disrupted soul power.

Yet Lin Chen's soul power was flawless, and his martial soul's aura was concentrated and stable. The absorption had been exceptionally successful and had even nourished his foundation in return. Such a performance already made him stand out among the city's young soul masters.

Holding the crystal ball, Ma Xiunuo inwardly nodded in approval.

He had been stationed at the Notting Spirit Hall for decades and had witnessed the growth of countless young soul masters. He knew well that cultivating at a young age tested one's temperament and foundation above all else.

In little more than a year, Lin Chen had steadily climbed from a level-ten novice Soul Master to a level-twenty-three Soul Grandmaster. His cultivation had proceeded at a steady, orderly pace, without haste or impatience.

With considerable approval for Lin Chen, Ma Xiunuo carefully retrieved his official soul master file and accurately entered all his latest information, including his soul power level, seven-hundred-year second soul ring, and martial soul transformation. He fully updated Lin Chen's personal soul master record and also replaced his badge with a brand-new one reserved for Soul Grandmasters.

After completing the basic registration, he followed the Spirit Hall's hierarchical management procedures and prepared a standardized talent report. He faithfully recorded Lin Chen's excellent rate of growth, solid cultivation foundation, and composed temperament, then compiled and submitted everything to the higher-level Spirit Hall branch, completing the tiered filing of regional talent information.

This was a routine procedure for local Spirit Halls, allowing the higher-level branch to coordinate the young soul masters across the entire region under its jurisdiction and identify promising seedlings in each locality.

In his view, Lin Chen was a particularly bright young talent among Nuoding City's rising generation. He deserved to be recorded by the higher-level branch, placed on its routine watch list for young soul masters, and given the usual attention and cultivation support.

From that point onward, only the higher-level Spirit Hall branch knew that Nuoding City had produced a young talent with both an excellent temperament and considerable aptitude. He received no priority designation or special classification, much less drew the attention of the senior powers at Spirit Hall headquarters. Everything remained within the region's routine watch list for the younger generation.

While waiting for the higher-level branch's routine approval and filing, Lin Chen took the initiative to adjust his cultivation habits. He completely abandoned his former regimen of relentless, tightly wound training day and night, and worked out a steady rhythm of his own, alternating tension with relaxation and balancing effort with rest.

After an entire year of grueling cultivation, along with the tempering baptism of two exceptionally old soul rings, Lin Chen had long since grasped the true essence of a soul master's cultivation.

On the path of cultivation, what was too rigid would snap, and what was stretched too taut would break. The true road to strength was never one of blindly exhausting body and mind, stubbornly grinding on through hardship. Rather, it meant advancing step by step, relaxing in proper measure, accumulating strength through consolidation, and refining it through rest.

A prolonged state of tightly wound cultivation could indeed raise one's level quickly, but it could also leave the foundation rigid and the mind restless. Only a proper balance of tension and relaxation could bring soul power, physique, and state of mind to completion together, leaving no hidden dangers.

After making these adjustments, his daily cultivation became regular and efficient.

During the day, he sat cross-legged in quiet meditation, steadily honing his soul power and familiarizing himself with his martial soul's new state and the rhythm of his soul power circulation. He simulated various combat situations to master his abilities, firmly consolidating his level-twenty-three foundation and eliminating every trace of instability or weakness.

In his spare time, he quietly read the ancient soul master texts, soul beast illustrated guides, and accounts of practical combat gifted by the Spirit Hall and treasured by his family. Little by little, he filled the gaps in his theoretical knowledge and broadened his horizons and experience, advancing in both practice and theory while steadily consolidating his growth.

At night, he no longer stayed up forcing himself through grueling cultivation. He set his training aside at appropriate times, relaxed his taut nerves, nourished his spirit, and spent time with his family, allowing his weary body and mind ample rest.

Liuli remained by his side day and night. Even while resting, the soul power within its body continued to circulate slowly, refining its soul power as quietly as rain nourishing all things, gently nourishing the walls of its meridians and stabilizing its cultivation foundation.

Even while he relaxed and recuperated, his cultivation continued to accumulate steadily and improve little by little through imperceptible changes, never stagnating in the slightest.

This measured balance of effort and relaxation made Lin Chen's state of mind increasingly clear and peaceful. He completely shed the restless, brash edge of youth and gained some of the composure and serenity unique to the truly strong.

The water- and wood-aspect soul power within him grew increasingly pure and concentrated, and the two attributes blended with ever greater harmony and ease. The unified foundation of his body, soul power, and martial soul became deeper and more complete.

Compared with the grueling path of ordinary soul masters who did nothing but stubbornly grind away, his cultivation followed a steadier course with greater long-term promise. Step by step, he forged an extraordinary path that belonged to him alone, laying an incomparably solid, flawless foundation for his future ascent to higher realms.