Morning mist wreathed Qinglan Mountain. Dew clung to the leaves and branches, refracting tiny glimmers of light, while rich Life Spiritual Energy drifted on the morning breeze. A single breath left one feeling refreshed and clearheaded.
With the opening ceremony for new students over, Qinglan Academy officially began its lessons. All the newcomers were assigned to different classes according to their martial soul attributes and talents, beginning their systematic training as soul masters.
Thanks to their heaven-defying talents, Lin Chen, Su Qingyuan, and Yue Huaxi were all assigned to the academy's Special-Class Plant Martial Soul Class. Taught personally by the vice dean, it received the greatest share of resources and offered the finest instruction in all of Qinglan Academy.
The special class held its lessons not in an ordinary classroom, but in the Life Spirit Valley on the rear slopes of Qinglan Mountain.
This was where life spiritual energy was richest on the entire mountain. Countless rare spirit herbs and immortal plants grew within the valley, and a Life Spirit Spring lay at its center. Its bubbling waters radiated pure life force. Cultivating here over long periods could multiply a plant-type soul master's cultivation speed several times over, while providing tremendous nourishment for their martial soul.
When Lin Chen and the two women reached the Life Spirit Valley, several instructors and five other exceptionally gifted newcomers were already waiting. Including the three of them, the entire special class had only eight students—the elite among elites.
Their instructor was a gentle, graceful woman in a long blue-green dress named Qinghe. A direct disciple of True Person Qinglan, she had reached the Soul King rank and specialized in cultivating Life Soul Power and nurturing plant martial souls. She was also a renowned powerhouse among the continent's plant-type soul masters.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Instructor Qinghe swept a warm gaze over the group before finally resting it on Lin Chen. A trace of approval flashed in her eyes. Clearly, she paid special attention to this genius whom the dean himself held in such high regard.
"Welcome to the special class. From today onward, I will be your instructor. Our lessons will contain no tedious theory. They will focus entirely on actual combat, soul power control, and martial soul nourishment. Everything will revolve around increasing your strength."
Instructor Qinghe's voice was warm and pleasant. Simply hearing it seemed to make the soul power within their bodies flow more smoothly. She paused, then continued, "Our first lesson today will be sensing Life Spiritual Energy and controlling your own soul power, allowing your martial souls to resonate fully with the Life Force of heaven and earth and laying a solid foundation for cultivation."
"Everyone, sit cross-legged around the spring. Relax your bodies and minds, activate your plant martial souls, and sense the Life Spiritual Energy around you. Try drawing it into your bodies and merging it with your martial souls and soul power. In an hour, I will check each of your results."
At her words, all the new students sat cross-legged around the Life Spirit Spring, closed their eyes, and activated their martial souls to begin sensing the Life Spiritual Energy.
Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi each found a place and settled down cross-legged. The former released her Ice Spirit Flower Martial Soul, its crystalline blossoms glowing pale blue as they cautiously absorbed the surrounding Life Spiritual Energy. The latter awakened her Moonlight Spirit Grass, weaving its cool moonlight power together with the Life Spiritual Energy and slowly drawing it into her body.
Both women possessed extraordinary talent. As soon as they began cultivating, faint halos of spiritual energy formed around them, and their progress was swift.
Lin Chen chose a spot at the very center of the spring and sat cross-legged. Without the slightest delay, he slowly closed his eyes and activated the Mystic-Rhythm Life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul within him.
The pale green life martial soul emerged from his palm, its leaves swaying gently. In an instant, the rich Life Spiritual Energy around him seemed to encounter an irresistible attraction. It surged wildly toward Lin Chen, forming a visible green vortex that completely enveloped him.
This was the terrifying power of perfect life affinity. The Life Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth offered him no resistance whatsoever. Instead, it approached him willingly, allowing him to absorb and refine it at will.
Instructor Qinghe watched from nearby, her eyes filled with shock. Although she had already heard about Lin Chen's perfect life affinity, witnessing it firsthand still shook her deeply.
The other newcomers were even more envious, yet there was nothing they could do. No amount of envy could give them such talent.
Immersed in cultivation, Lin Chen followed the circulation method of the Life Soul Power Cultivation Manual, rapidly refining the vast quantities of Life Spiritual Energy into his own pure Life Soul Power. At the same time, that energy continually nourished his Life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, gradually improving its quality and making the golden patterns along its stems increasingly distinct.
His cultivation had already stabilized at rank eleven. Now, bolstered by the Life Spirit Spring and the immense spiritual energy, his soul power surged like a rising tide, bringing him ever closer to rank twelve.
What delighted Lin Chen even more was that, as he absorbed the Life Spiritual Energy, he could clearly sense the life network of the entire Qinglan Mountain resonating with his martial soul. Every blade of grass, every tree, every insect, and every beast on the mountain felt like an extension of his own limbs, their conditions clearly perceptible to him.
This feeling of holding sway over all living things deepened his understanding of the mysteries of Life Profundity. The power of his first soul skills, Life Healing and Life Binding, was also quietly increasing.
An hour passed in the blink of an eye.
Instructor Qinghe rose and checked the students' results one by one.
Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi gave truly stunning performances. Both could skillfully absorb Life Spiritual Energy, their martial souls had received tremendous nourishment, and their soul power had increased slightly. Instructor Qinghe nodded repeatedly, full of praise for them both.
The other newcomers also performed well. But when she reached Lin Chen, even the experienced Instructor Qinghe could not suppress a cry of astonishment.
The spiritual energy vortex around Lin Chen still had not dispersed. His Life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul shone with brilliant green light, its quality having already broken through to the supreme-grade plant martial soul level. The Life Soul Power within him was as condensed as liquid, far surpassing that of soul masters at the same rank. He was only a single step away from rank twelve!
"A supreme-grade martial soul! In just one hour, you actually raised your martial soul's quality and reached the threshold of rank twelve. Lin Chen, your talent truly defies the heavens!"
Instructor Qinghe's face was filled with shock, her words steeped in disbelief. In decades of teaching, she had never seen such a terrifying cultivation speed. It completely shattered the established norms of soul master cultivation.
The surrounding students were even more awestruck. Only admiration remained in their gazes as they looked at Lin Chen; they could not even summon the slightest desire to compete with him.
Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes, two sharp gleams flashing through them before vanishing. The spiritual energy vortex around him gradually dispersed. Feeling the surging soul power within him and his transformed martial soul, he understood that the Life Spirit Valley truly was a sacred ground for cultivation.
"You flatter me, Instructor. I merely took advantage of the valley's favorable conditions." Lin Chen remained calm, without a trace of arrogance.
Instructor Qinghe shook her head and was just about to speak when an academy disciple hurried into the Life Spirit Valley, came to her side, and whispered a few words in her ear.
Her expression shifted slightly. Then she looked at Lin Chen, her gaze turning especially solemn. "Lin Chen, the dean wants you to go to his residence immediately. He says there is an important matter to discuss concerning an opportunity for your second soul ring."
An opportunity for my second soul ring!
A keen light flashed in Lin Chen's eyes, and he understood at once.
He was now a rank-eleven Soul Master, only one step away from becoming a rank-twelve Soul Grandmaster. It was time to begin preparing for his second soul ring.
For ordinary soul masters, the limit for a second soul ring was a thousand years. Yet his first soul ring had come from a three-thousand-eight-hundred-year-old Life Ancient Tree Soul. For his second, he would have to choose an older soul ring that suited his Life Blue Silver Grass even better, lest he hinder his martial soul's growth.
He had not expected the dean to have already prepared an opportunity for him. Anticipation stirred in Lin Chen's heart.
Without any delay, he bowed slightly to Instructor Qinghe. "I will go at once."
Then Lin Chen turned toward Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi and said softly, "Stay here and focus on your cultivation. I'll be back soon."
"All right. Stay safe," Su Qingyuan urged, her eyes full of reluctance to see him leave.
Yue Huaxi also nodded lightly, concern filling her cool eyes. "Be careful in everything you do."
The worried looks of the two beauties warmed Lin Chen's heart. He turned and left the Life Spirit Valley, heading straight for True Person Qinglan's residence.
Along the way, Lin Chen silently considered just what sort of soul ring opportunity the dean had prepared for him.
His Life Blue Silver Grass could only absorb soul rings from pure life-type plant soul beasts. They could not contain even the slightest hostility or impurity, or they would damage his martial soul's Life Origin. Finding a compatible soul ring of great age was exceedingly difficult. Surely, the dean had prepared a rare, supreme-grade life-type soul beast.
Before long, Lin Chen reached the dean's residence and pushed open the courtyard gate. True Person Qinglan was already waiting inside, a trace of gravity on his face, though he could not conceal his excitement.
"Dean, you wanted to see me?" Lin Chen bowed in greeting.
True Person Qinglan turned toward him, his gaze solemn, and spoke slowly. "Lin Chen, both your talent and temperament are sufficient to bear greater power. Even your three-thousand-eight-hundred-year first soul ring was not your limit. For your second soul ring, I have found an immense opportunity. However, it comes with a measure of risk."
"Please tell me, Dean. I am not afraid." Lin Chen's tone was firm. He already walked a path that defied the heavens; risk and opportunity had always gone hand in hand.
True Person Qinglan raised a hand and pointed into the depths of Qinglan Mountain, speaking gravely. "Deep within our Qinglan Mountain lies an Ancient Life Secret Realm. Sealed inside it is a five-thousand-year-old Life Illusion Mist Lotus Soul, a supreme specimen among lotus soul beasts. Its entire body is formed from condensed Life Spiritual Energy, without ferocity or hostility. It is perfectly suited for your Life Blue Silver Grass to absorb."
"Five thousand years!"
Lin Chen's heart jolted. Even though he had anticipated something extraordinary, that age still stunned him.
Absorbing a five-thousand-year soul beast for his second soul ring—if word of this spread, the entire Douluo Continent would go wild. It would completely overturn the understanding of the soul master world!
"This Life Illusion Mist Lotus Soul was born from the Secret Realm's origin. She is not particularly powerful, but she excels at life illusions, which can stir the deepest obsessions in a person's heart. Once you fall into her illusion, you will be devoured by life force and trapped within the Secret Realm forever. That is the only risk," True Person Qinglan said gravely, warning Lin Chen.
Lin Chen pondered for a moment, then quickly made his decision.
The Life Illusion Mist Lotus Soul perfectly matched his martial soul. Her five-thousand-year age could transform his Life Blue Silver Grass once more, dramatically increase his strength, and leave Tang San far behind. As for the danger of her illusions, his steadfast mind as a transmigrator, reinforced by his Life Soul Power, would be enough to handle it.
"I am willing to enter the Secret Realm and absorb the Life Illusion Mist Lotus Soul!"
Seeing Lin Chen's resolute gaze, True Person Qinglan nodded in satisfaction. He took a blue-green jade talisman from his robes and handed it to Lin Chen. "This is the Secret Realm Opening Jade Talisman. It can briefly protect your soul and resist the illusions' encroachment. Rest and prepare today. Early tomorrow morning, I will personally escort you into the Secret Realm and help you absorb your second soul ring!"
"Thank you, Dean!" Lin Chen accepted the talisman with both hands, his heart full of gratitude.
This opportunity would allow his strength to make another tremendous leap. Once he absorbed his five-thousand-year second soul ring and became a Soul Grandmaster, he would have the strength to fight even a Soul Elder!
After returning to his dormitory, Lin Chen set the matter of the Secret Realm aside for the moment and devoted himself to cultivation, stabilizing his strength and making thorough preparations for tomorrow's journey.
Meanwhile, in the Life Spirit Valley, Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi learned from Instructor Qinghe that Lin Chen would soon enter the Secret Realm to absorb a five-thousand-year soul ring. Both were happy for him, yet filled with worry.
The night passed in the blink of an eye.
Early the next morning, just as dawn began to break, Lin Chen finished his preparations and arrived at the dean's residence.
True Person Qinglan was already waiting there. Taking Lin Chen with him, he headed straight into the depths of Qinglan Mountain.
After passing through dense forest and avoiding several hundred-year and thousand-year soul beasts, they finally arrived before a valley sealed by a green curtain of light. This was the entrance to Qinglan Mountain's Life Secret Realm.
"Are you ready? The Secret Realm will remain open for only six hours. You must subdue the Life Illusion Mist Lotus Soul and absorb her soul ring within that time. Otherwise, once the Secret Realm closes, you will never be able to leave," True Person Qinglan warned solemnly.
Lin Chen nodded, his gaze utterly resolute. "I'm ready. Rest assured, Dean."
At those words, True Person Qinglan activated his soul power and opened the Secret Realm's entrance. A gap slowly appeared in the green curtain of light.
Lin Chen drew a deep breath and tightened his grip on the Secret Realm jade talisman. Without the slightest hesitation, he turned and stepped into the Secret Realm.
Once he entered the Secret Realm, the curtain of light slowly closed. True Person Qinglan stood at the Secret Realm's entrance, quietly keeping watch and guarding him.
Inside the Secret Realm lay a world of its own. Life Spiritual Energy was so thick it seemed impossible to disperse, and strange flowers and exotic herbs covered the ground. At its center, an emerald-green lotus wreathed in a faint halo bloomed quietly, radiating an endless aura of life.
It was the five-thousand-year-old Life Illusion Mist Lotus Soul!
Lin Chen's gaze sharpened as he slowly approached the Life Illusion Mist Lotus Soul at the center. He knew that his journey to absorb his second soul ring had begun—and a trial of illusions that would test his very soul was about to descend.
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