Soul Ring Selection

Han Tao's eyes lit up.

Principal Su's words had been a point of guidance for him.

Teacher Li's leave meant that Han Tao would not be under his supervision during that period, so there was no need to consider the school rules.

His family member was sick, which meant he desperately needed money. Han Tao could use the payment as leverage to ask Teacher Li for help.

Using payment to ask Teacher Li for help meant that the two of them had an employer-employee relationship rather than a teacher-student relationship. Even if word got out, it would not violate the school's rules.

This also meant that once Han Tao and Teacher Li reached an agreement, it would have no negative impact on Notting Junior Soul Master Academy.

Actually, the last time Yu Xiaogang took Tang San to hunt for a Soul Ring, it had been an exception. As far as the school rules were concerned, that was a violation.

But because Yu Xiaogang had Pope's Decree, Principal Su could do nothing about him.

Privilege itself was a form of destruction of the rules.

Teacher Li was named Li Gang. He was a Level 34 Soul Elder, and his Martial Soul was a Huge Axe. Even from a distance, its might looked extremely ferocious.

When Han Tao found him, he was packing his luggage in the office. His movements were somewhat hurried, and a trace of worry showed between his brows.

"Teacher Li!"

Han Tao called out before asking, "Could you help me with something?"

Seeing Han Tao come over, Li Gang tried to force a smile, but his bitter state of mind made his expression somewhat awkward.

"What is it?"

"Could you help me hunt for a Soul Ring?"

Upon hearing Han Tao's words, Li Gang's brows furrowed tightly. Clearly, he did not want to agree to Han Tao's request.

Just as Li Gang was preparing to refuse, Han Tao's urgent voice rang out.

"Teacher Li, Teacher Li, I know that your family member is sick."

"So I want you to help me hunt for a Soul Ring with a Healing Effect. That way, I can treat your family member's illness."

When asking someone else for help, the best method was to align that person's interests with one's own. Han Tao was very poor and could not afford the Gold Soul Coins needed to hire Teacher Li to hunt for a Soul Ring.

Li Gang did not agree immediately. Instead, he stared at Han Tao's face with utmost seriousness.

"Are you planning to choose a healing Soul Ring as your first Soul Ring?"

"Do you know that this means you will have no combat ability at all during the Soul Master stage?"

Han Tao nodded with absolute solemnity. Choosing a healing Soul Ring was itself his strategy.

But he was still afraid that Li Gang would refuse, so he continued to add, "Teacher Li, if the Soul Skill I obtain can't heal your family member, I'm willing to give you the Gold Soul Coins subsidized by the Spirit Hall as payment."

The Spirit Hall gave Soul Masters a monthly subsidy of one Gold Soul Coin. For someone like Li Gang, a Soul Elder, this was an utterly insignificant amount. As long as he had even a shred of conscience, he definitely would not take Han Tao's money.

But even if he did not want it, Han Tao could not refuse to offer it. This was a matter of attitude.

"No need. Just use that subsidy as your tuition!"

Seeing Han Tao's stance, Li Gang fell silent for a moment before agreeing.

This deal itself was beneficial to him. Notting City was a small city, and the medical resources in small places were extremely scarce. If Li Gang wanted to treat his family member, he had to go to Heaven Dou City to find a Medical Soul Master.

That would clearly be a considerable expense. If helping Han Tao obtain a Soul Ring could accomplish the same goal, then naturally, it would be ideal.

"Han Tao, have you thought about what kind of Soul Beast's Soul Ring you want?"

Under Li Gang's guidance, Han Tao followed him into the Soul Hunting Forest. As they walked, Li Gang asked him this question.

"Begonia Flower, Fluorescent Grass, and, if possible, Sunshine Sunflower as well."

Han Tao had only seen descriptions of these Plant Soul Beasts in books and written records. He could not be certain what specific Healing Effects they could produce.

"When we find a Soul Beast, we'll need to test its Healing Effect. I'll have to trouble you with that, Teacher Li."

These Plant Soul Beasts, especially the healing-type Plant Soul Beasts, usually had little combat strength. Even with Han Tao's current ability, he was more than capable of hunting one alone.

But matters could not be viewed from only one side. Besides one's target, there were other dangers in the Soul Hunting Forest.

Li Gang nodded. He summoned his Martial Soul and casually cleaved a Black Wolf in two.

A strange Soul Power Aura rose from the Black Wolf's corpse, gradually condensing into a White Soul Ring.

What a beautiful bracelet. If this were modern times, it could probably sell for quite a bit.

As he thought this, he took out a dagger, cut the wolf's thigh meat into several pieces, wrapped them in specially prepared Zong Leaf, and stored them in his Backpack.

After reorganizing his Backpack, Han Tao caught up with Li Gang and continued deeper into the Soul Hunting Forest.

In the central region of the Soul Hunting Forest, the trees gradually grew taller, and layer upon layer of leaves blocked out the sunlight.

A ray of golden light shone through the gaps between the leaves and fell onto the ground, casting colorful shadows.

In the place where the sunlight reached, a Small Flower stood proudly. Seeing it, Han Tao could not help exclaiming.

"Begonia Flower, Three-Leaf Begonia!"

The Begonia Flower was a common healing-type Martial Soul on Douluo Continent. There were also corresponding Soul Beasts, and because of their excellent Cure effect, they were highly praised throughout the Soul Master World.

When the Begonia Flower reached a hundred years, its third leaf would emerge. According to unofficial historical records, if a Begonia Flower reached a Hundred Thousand Year, it would possess nine leaves. This was also the origin of the name Nine Heart Begonia.

Seeing Han Tao's excited appearance, Li Gang asked with a smile, "What do you think? Will this Soul Beast do?"

To his surprise, Han Tao did not agree immediately. Instead, he replied, "Don't rush. Let's look at its Healing Effect first."

At Han Tao's request, Li Gang caught a ten-year-old Gray Wolf.

Han Tao did not rush. He first cut away the Gray Wolf's fur and carefully examined its bodily structure. After considering it for a while, he suddenly swung his dagger and made a shallow cut across the Gray Wolf's thigh.

Although the wound was not large, the dagger had sliced through its tendon with incredible precision.

Blood began to flow from the Gray Wolf's wound. Han Tao bandaged it with Zong Leaf, then placed it beside the Begonia Flower.

Sensing the Soul Beast nearby, the Begonia Flower began releasing its Soul Power. Waves of healing energy flowed into the Gray Wolf's body, and the cuts on its skin healed at a visible speed.

"That should be enough."

After a long while, Han Tao pulled the Gray Wolf over and cut through its fur again.

"What a pity."

The Begonia Flower had not reconnected the Gray Wolf's tendon. In fact, the place where the tendon had been severed had not grown at all.

Han Tao tested it several more times before reluctantly giving up on this Soul Beast.

The Begonia Flower's Cure effect was good and took effect quickly, but its treatment lacked depth and did not reach the microscopic level.

For Han Tao, this was undoubtedly a disappointment.

"I'm not very satisfied with this one. Let's look for another target. If the next one doesn't satisfy me either, we'll choose this Begonia Flower."

Li Gang glanced at the Begonia Flower, then at the Gray Wolf. In his eyes, he could not really understand why Han Tao was dissatisfied with it.

"All right. There's no need to rush. If you're not satisfied, we can keep looking!"

"Thanks!"