Level 10

"Of course. From now on, spend your mornings studying in the Library. I'll inform the teachers."

Marde looked excited. After taking a breath, he sighed. "I'd originally considered taking you as my disciple, but it seems I was right not to bring it up. Your world doesn't belong in a basic Soul Master Academy like mine."

Shi Quan replied with a smile, "Thank you for recognizing me, Dean."

Marde kindly patted Shi Quan on the head. "Good child, don't worry. I'll keep everything between us today a secret."

"Thank you, Dean."

Marde shook his head. "It's what I should do. Good child, I should thank you as well for being willing to tell me all this. From now on, I'll be your teacher at the academy. If there's anything you don't understand or need help with, you can come to me. Understand?"

Shi Quan immediately changed the way he addressed him. "Understood, Teacher Marde."

Marde said with a smile, "Good, good, good. These old bones of mine have been idle for far too long. It's time to get moving. You don't need to take the books back with you. I'll prepare lessons specifically for you. Just come directly for class tomorrow morning."

After leaving the Library and eating lunch, Shi Quan headed toward the Back Mountain. His training plan there had also changed because of this. The time he spent cultivating Martial Arts was further compressed and reduced, while most of it became training for his Blue Silver Grass Spirit Soul. He had now entered certain people's field of vision. Since he was putting on an act, he had to see it through. Only then would people believe it.

From that day onward, Shi Quan no longer did morning training at the Sports Field. After breakfast each morning, he would go to the Library to cultivate and wait for Marde to arrive. After morning classes, he would remain in the Library until noon. Once he had eaten lunch at the Cafeteria, he would immediately head to the Back Mountain to continue cultivating. The cycle repeated day after day.

"Marde, did you ask about Shi Quan's matter?"

Having received no news from Marde for so long, Yu Xiaogang finally could not sit still any longer. He took the initiative to come to the Library and ask about it.

Hearing the voice, Marde finally raised his head from the sea of books and looked at Yu Xiaogang.

"Xiaogang, sorry. I've been busy teaching that kid these past few days and forgot to tell you."

"You took Shi Quan as your disciple?" Yu Xiaogang's expression stiffened somewhat.

Marde smiled and shook his head. "I may be the academy dean, but I'm also a teacher here. Isn't it perfectly normal for me to teach the academy's students?"

Yu Xiaogang asked skeptically, "So Shi Quan has no problems?"

Marde nodded. "Xiaogang, Shi Quan really is a prodigy. I've investigated thoroughly. There's nothing wrong with him."

"Then his soul power..."

"Xiaogang." Before Yu Xiaogang could finish, Marde interrupted him directly. "That child does indeed have some secrets, that is true. But I promised to keep them for him. You only need to know that there's nothing wrong with him. He is my student now, and I hope you won't continue to suspect him."

Yu Xiaogang was left speechless. Only after a while did he nod. "I understand."

Marde knew his tone had been somewhat harsh just now, so he stood and comforted him. "Xiaogang, it isn't that I deliberately wanted to hide it from you. It's just that I promised that child, and I can't betray the trust he placed in me, right?"

"Yes, I understand." After saying a few simple words, Yu Xiaogang did not stay any longer. He casually found an excuse and left first.

Watching Yu Xiaogang's departing figure, Marde could not help shaking his head slightly. Compared to Yu Xiaogang, who could only rely on others to prove his theories, Shi Quan was clearly stronger. He would personally verify his own theories.

It was not that Marde did not trust Grandmaster, but having Tang San help him verify his theories did not sound good to the few theory scholars among them. Put bluntly, Grandmaster was using Tang San as an experiment. If it succeeded, that was one thing, but if it failed, Tang San would be the one ruined.

With Marde around, Shi Quan's life settled into a simple routine of three points and one line.

Four months later.

Early in the morning, Shi Quan, who normally would have gotten out of bed, tidied himself up, and left by now, still maintained a Five Hearts Facing Heaven cultivation posture.

Only when the first rays of the rising sun appeared did Shi Quan slowly open his eyes, his face filled with delight.

He had made a Breakthrough!

Feeling the abundant, full soul power within his body, he seemed to have touched some kind of bottleneck.

Without question, his soul power had finally reached Level 10!

By his calculations, it had taken him roughly ten months to break through from Level 6 to Level 10, averaging one level every two months. If part of his Inner Force had not continually nourished his Spirit Soul during cultivation, the speed would probably have been even faster!

"Finally, I can obtain a spirit ring."

Shi Quan calmed his excited emotions and quickly got out of bed to wash up and get ready.

After leaving the Dormitory and finishing breakfast, he hurried without pause toward the Library.

Library.

Marde was also somewhat puzzled as he looked at the empty Library. Normally, Shi Quan would already be waiting for him there early in the morning. Not seeing him today naturally left Marde confused.

Fortunately, before long, Marde heard familiar footsteps outside the Library.

"Teacher, I've reached Level 10." Marde had just been about to ask Shi Quan whether something had happened when he heard Shi Quan's excited voice.

"Level 10?" Marde sprang to his feet and strode toward Shi Quan, hurriedly checking the situation inside his body.

"A year and a half." Marde was so excited that he could barely speak. "In just a year and a half, you cultivated from Level 1 to Level 10."

"No wonder you've been asking me about Plant Spirit Beasts lately." Marde slapped his forehead, wearing a look of sudden realization. "It seems you've already made your preparations?"

Shi Quan smiled and nodded. "That's right."

After thinking for a moment, Marde reminded him, "Xiao Quan, it has already been proven that plant-type Spirit Souls can absorb the spirit rings of Beast Spirit Beasts. Have you not considered absorbing a Beast Spirit Beast's spirit ring?"

Shi Quan shook his head. "I believe that plant-type Spirit Souls are still best suited to absorbing Plant Spirit Beasts. Spirit ring absorption has a certain degree of compatibility. The more similar the categories of the spirit beasts, the greater that compatibility. Take Tang San's Mandala Snake spirit ring, for example. Blue Silver Grass could not inherit the Mandala Snake's hard scales, sharp fangs, or agile body. Its only gains were the Mandala Snake's venom and the attribute enhancement brought by the spirit ring. But if he had acquired the spirit rings of Plant Spirit Beasts such as Ghost Vine or Blood Vine, both of which also possess powerful toxins, then while gaining poison, Blue Silver Grass might also have obtained Ghost Vine's thorns or Blood Vine's serrated vine leaves."

After hearing Shi Quan's explanation, Marde immediately felt enlightened. Though he was the teacher, Shi Quan's unique and insightful ideas often benefited him greatly as well.

"What are your thoughts on your First Spirit Ring?"

Shi Quan calmly flipped through his notebook and handed it to Marde.

"Lanxin Vine, Qingxin Grass..." Marde looked at the names of Plant Spirit Beasts marked in Shi Quan's notes, and soon frowned. "Xiao Quan, aren't the spirit beasts you chose..."

Seeing Marde's hesitant expression, Shi Quan understood why he reacted that way. The spirit beasts he had marked were all ordinary ones without any powerful abilities. If they had any distinguishing trait, it was merely their relatively strong vitality. But aside from a few special cases, which Plant Spirit Beast had weak life force?

Shi Quan unhurriedly took out another notebook. "Teacher, look at this first."

Marde knew Shi Quan must have had a reason for making such choices. He accepted the notebook Shi Quan handed him and began flipping through it.

Several large words were written at the beginning of the first page: Spirit Ring Absorption Age Theory!

"This is?!" Marde's eyes widened. The more he read the contents, the more shocked he became. After a long time, he finally asked with an extremely solemn expression, "Xiao Quan, do you want to absorb a spirit ring beyond the limit?"

"That's right!"

"This is too dangerous." Marde hurriedly shook his head. "You must understand that if your body cannot withstand the energy, you will die. The current maximum age data is already the optimal choice summarized by who knows how many predecessors."

Shi Quan spoke just as calmly. "Teacher, the current limit theory is inaccurate. In my view, this limit theory is wrong. It cannot possibly apply to everyone.

"The absorption limit for a spirit ring's age should be assessed comprehensively according to factors such as a Soul Master's Spirit Soul Quality, Physical Fitness, soul power, Soul Strength, and more. There cannot possibly be a universal standard for spirit ring age.

"To give a simple example, Teacher, do you think a Weapon Spirit Soul wielder can compare with a Beast Spirit Soul wielder in terms of physical endurance? Can a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit Soul and a lizard Spirit Soul of the same level be the same?"

"They truly... truly aren't the same." Marde felt as though his entire worldview had been shaken. Combined with the detailed records and descriptions in Shi Quan's notebook, he was unable to find any words to refute him.

The Spirit Ring Absorption Age Theory Shi Quan had written was based on his accumulated studies thus far, together with his analysis of the original work.

Just as Shi Quan had said, the limit of a spirit ring was not restricted solely to physical endurance. Spirit Soul Quality, Soul Strength, soul power, and even the environment all affected the age limit of a spirit ring.

Take the Third Spirit Ring Tang San absorbed from the Man Faced Demon Spider, for instance. This was the first time he had absorbed a spirit ring beyond his limit. At the time, Tang San had not yet been transformed by Immortal Herbs, yet he had endured it by force. Aside from his so-called unyielding Willpower, Tang San's most special trait was the soul power within his body. The Inner Force of the Mysterious Heaven Skill was flexible and powerful, endlessly renewing itself.

In Shi Quan's view, the Mysterious Heaven Skill had also contributed greatly to Tang San's ability to absorb his Third Spirit Ring over-level.

The assistance provided by energy and soul power in spirit ring absorption became even more obvious when Tang San absorbed his Fourth Spirit Ring.

"Teacher, you understand my circumstances. Due to my cultivation, my Spirit Soul Quality is no longer that of ordinary Blue Silver Grass. Nourished by Blue Silver Grass's vitality, my soul power is purer than that of normal Soul Masters, and my body is much stronger than an ordinary person's."

Shi Quan paused before continuing, "I am confident that I can endure more energy. Moreover, to guard against any accidents, the spirit beasts I selected are all relatively weak in attack, so the pressure of absorbing them will be much lower."

He knew his own circumstances well. Externally, he had the Indestructible Divine Skill; internally, he had the Yi Jing Cleansing Marrow Method; and his Inner Force came from the Nine Yin and Nine Yang Divine Art. Inner Force possessing yin and yang attributes could even transform his Spirit Soul, and it also possessed the special ability to grow stronger the longer one fought. Over-Level Absorption of a spirit ring was absolutely feasible.

"But..." Marde naturally sensed Shi Quan's determination. As a scholar of theory, how could he fail to understand the risks involved?

Shi Quan wore a fearless expression as he said, "Teacher, as scholars, shouldn't we possess the courage to try?"

Silence fell. After spending so much time together, Marde understood Shi Quan's character as well. After pondering for a moment, he asked again with a grave expression, "Xiao Quan, are you sure you have thought this through? If you do this..."

"...people really can die!"

Shi Quan said solemnly, "Teacher, rest assured. I've thought it through. I believe in myself. Nothing will happen to me!"

"Oh, right, Teacher, if possible..." Shi Quan paused slightly before adding, "...I would like to trouble you to call someone from Spirit Hall."

"Why?"

Shi Quan immediately explained, "The fact that my Innate Soul Power is only Level 1 is no secret. Although you helped me conceal my Soul Power Level, once I obtain a spirit ring, the fact that I broke through to Level 10 will eventually be exposed. Rather than let others discover it, investigate me in secret, and keep an eye on me, I think it would be better to report it proactively. Besides, I don't want my theory to be buried."

"That's true." Marde nodded. "I was the one who failed to consider things thoroughly."

"Xiao Quan, don't blame me for nagging, but I still have to remind you: don't casually join any faction, especially Spirit Hall." Because of Grandmaster, Marde did not have a favorable impression of Spirit Hall.

Shi Quan said with a smile, "Don't worry, Teacher. I don't want to lose my freedom."

Though that was what he said, Shi Quan did not truly think that way. Given his current situation, he had to find someone to rely on. Otherwise, his circumstances would be extremely dangerous.

"Good that you understand." Marde nodded slightly and stood up. "Then study by yourself for the time being today. I'll go to Spirit Hall first and speak properly with Dawson Hall Master about your situation. Your strength has reached a bottleneck, so there's no need for cultivation. Wait here for news from me."

"Alright." Shi Quan immediately nodded.

To make his Level 1 Innate Soul Power talent seem reasonable, the plan he had laid out for so long was finally nearing its conclusion. So long as Spirit Hall did not discover anything unusual, even if other factions came to investigate, there would be no flaws.

If his Innate Soul Power had been any higher, he would not have needed to go to such lengths to establish this persona for himself.

"Grandmaster?" Shi Quan gave a faint smile, leaned back in his chair, and murmured softly to himself, "From now on, there will only be one grandmaster of Spirit Soul Theory: me, Shi Quan. As for Yu Xiaogang, let him become a joke."

Suddenly thinking of something, Shi Quan abruptly sat upright. "If I ruin Yu Xiaogang's reputation, will that madwoman Bibi Dong target me? I need to consider this matter carefully. If I offend Bibi Dong, the loss would be far too great..."