A year quickly passed, and Tang San grew a great deal during that time.
He learned a wealth of theoretical knowledge, and his cultivation reached an astonishing level ten.
Ordinarily, level ten was hardly worth mentioning in the soul master world, but Tang San had only possessed level-three innate soul power. He had risen a full seven levels in a single year!
Tang San himself saw nothing strange about it. After all, he had the Dharma Sutra, a wondrous book that could astound the world, as well as the Blue Silver Creation Dao to cultivate.
Such progress was only natural.
During this time, his understanding of the Dharma Sutra reached a bottleneck. His perspective and experience were not enough to support a higher state of mind.
But now, Tang San had gradually come to understand just how difficult the path he intended to walk would be.
To travel smoothly along this rightful path, he would need strength.
Thus, once he reached the threshold of level ten, Grandmaster took advantage of the year-end holiday to bring Tang San to the nearby Soul Hunting Forest to hunt for a soul ring.
"Little San, do you know the most troublesome thing about being a soul master?"
Seated in the carriage, Grandmaster suddenly asked this question, then answered it himself.
"It lies in soul rings. Soul rings come from soul beasts, and the stronger a soul master becomes, the more they crave powerful soul beasts suited to them."
"As the population of the Douluo Continent grows, the number of soul masters will increase too. But soul beasts do not multiply as quickly as humans."
"More goes out than comes in, so sooner or later, soul beasts will face extinction."
"And among soul beasts, there will always be powerful ones that reach the hundred-thousand-year level. They possess intelligence equal to humans. If one soul beast gathered all the others together, that would hardly be good news for humanity."
"But Teacher, isn't what you're talking about far too distant for us right now?" Tang San pointed out.
"Yes. I once published this argument, and they all mocked me: 'This man really has nothing better to do, worrying about something ten thousand years from now.'"
Seeing Grandmaster's bitter smile, Tang San felt uncomfortable too, but he still spoke frankly. "Perhaps it's because you didn't offer a solution, Teacher. If there were a better path, they would change their minds."
"Quite right, but that's an empty remark. There are limits to what I can do alone. I raised this issue hoping more people would recognize it and pool their wisdom."
"But I was still too naive. Soul masters care only about enjoying the benefits their strength brings, while commoners have no room to rise and can only become manpower supporting the soul masters."
Grandmaster spoke these heretical words. He had always wanted to bring some small change to this world.
Unfortunately, the entire world was full of fools.
And his own strength was far too meager. No one would listen to him or give his words any thought.
Selfish, petty, shortsighted, greedy-these were the faces humanity showed most often...
At that thought, Grandmaster glanced at Tang San and finally found a little comfort.
It was not the old who would create a new era. Children were the future.
He had to do everything he could to help Tang San grow, so the boy could do what he believed was right.
Tang San began to ponder Grandmaster's words, but he was still young and lacked experience. He could make neither head nor tail of the matter.
For now, I should focus on my first soul ring.
What will my first soul skill be?
But if I kill that soul beast, what if someone else needs it too?
Besides, Teacher said cultivation isn't easy for soul beasts. Unless they're born with powerful bloodlines, they can only grow stronger by enduring the long years.
That means some ten-thousand-year soul beasts have truly lived for ten thousand years.
I need at least a hundred-year soul beast now. That means a life that has lasted a hundred years will end at my hands.
Killed simply because I need to break through. How pitiful.
But if I don't kill soul beasts and obtain soul rings to grow stronger, I won't be able to do anything when natural disasters or human calamities strike.
What a dilemma...
A hundred conflicting emotions filled Tang San's heart, and the melancholy on his face lingered for a long time.
"Teacher, is there really no way to obtain soul rings other than hunting soul beasts?"
"There is, but none of those methods are within our reach right now."
At Grandmaster's words, the light that had risen in Tang San's eyes dimmed again.
"At present, I know of only three. One is to undergo a divine trial, but gods have not appeared on the Douluo Continent for a very long time. And obtaining a god's inheritance is no simple matter."
"What about another method?"
"The second is self-condensation, but only those who have undergone soul beast transformation can do it. I read that in a book, so I'm not certain whether it's true."
At this point, Grandmaster glanced at Tang San as a few ideas occurred to him. But his theory was still incomplete, so he set them aside for now.
"There is also a third: a soul beast's sacrifice. The soul beast willingly gives up its life, so you need not dirty your own hands. But only hundred-thousand-year soul beasts can do this, because only beings with hearts and minds can give themselves to others without reservation."
Grandmaster brought their exchange to a close with this rather romantic description.
Tang San quietly committed the three methods to memory. But none were possible for him right now, so hunting a soul beast was his only choice.
Tang San was no saint, nor was he unwilling to kill. He was merely a little over-sentimental.
The carriage reached its destination, and master and student rested briefly in the nearby town.
Then, led by two Soul Elders, the party of four entered the Soul Hunting Forest.
After introductions, Tang San learned that the two belonged to Spirit Hall. Grandmaster had met them when he came here to help with patrols.
This time, they had been hired to help Tang San obtain his first soul ring.
This deepened Tang San's respect and affection for Grandmaster. His teacher truly was doing everything he could for him.
With the help of the two experienced Soul Elders, they safely reached the spot Grandmaster had scouted earlier.
A stone wall rose from the ground, emerald-green vines winding over it. Their leaves gleamed in the sunlight like glazed glass.
Tang San caught a fresh scent here, seemingly carrying a faint hint of peach blossoms that soothed the heart and refreshed the mind.
The Glazed Jade Vine was a nonaggressive soul beast. Its glasslike leaves held concentrated vitality, and injured soul beasts would chew them to recover.
Some powerful soul beasts would occupy the places where Glazed Jade Vines grew, securing a source of healing for themselves.
The Glazed Jade Vines received protection in return. Moreover, soul beasts that ate their leaves carried their seeds within their bodies, allowing them to continue reproducing and spreading.
"Although Glazed Jade Vines have tenacious vitality, their weaknesses are obvious. First, they will not fight back before reaching ten thousand years. Second, like most plant-type soul beasts, they die without their roots."
"We're in luck. No other soul beast has occupied this place during this time."
"Little San, just go up and pull these green vines down, as though you were clearing away climbing ivy."
Tang San nodded, stepped forward, and grasped the Glazed Jade Vine. A cool sensation spread through his hand.
Sorry.
Tang San silently apologized, then released his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. It climbed along the vines to the Glazed Jade Vine's roots, which lay inside the stone wall.
"Hm?"
Tang San frowned. He sensed an intense vitality.
He then told Grandmaster about it.
Grandmaster showed no particular reaction. He merely rubbed his mouth and said, "Glazed Jade Vines are soul beasts brimming with vitality, after all. Their roots contain a great deal of energy. That's perfectly normal."
Hearing this, Tang San hesitated no further. With his Blue Silver Grass entwining the vines, he easily tore the entire wall of Glazed Jade Vines down.
A yellow soul ring appeared before Tang San.