This time, it was my turn to go Soul Hunting

The days passed like that, and in the blink of an eye, another half year had gone by.

Chen An's life had not changed much. He cooked and cultivated every day, played with Rongrong when he had time, and occasionally went out for a stroll with his two grandpas. His days were quite comfortable.

The people in the Kitchen were still the same, but they had grown increasingly skilled at their work.

Now, without Uncle Zhou even saying a word, everyone could divide up who would fetch water, split firewood, and tidy the tables and chairs. Even Zhao Hai, who used to leave a mess whenever he took apart crabs, could now neatly pick out a plate of crabmeat.

There was no helping it. If they wanted to eat, they had to be more diligent.

The hundred positive reviews for Crab Roe Lion's Head had long since been collected, and a few new dishes had been added afterward. Chen An did not make them all at once. Instead, he changed things up every few days, depending on the ingredients and time available.

After all, some dishes took a lot of effort. He could hardly spend all day revolving around the stove.

Even with the system, he could not slack off himself. He could not skip his morning and evening cultivation, no matter what. Besides, with his two grandpas watching him now, being lazy was not so easy.

Ning Rongrong's Soul Power had improved as well.

The little girl often complained that her father had made her cultivate longer again, but when it actually came time to cultivate, she was more serious than before. Once she finished, however, she still ran to the Kitchen just as quickly. Whenever Uncle Zhou spotted her entering the courtyard from afar, he knew it was time to set out a bowl.

Xue Qinghe had visited twice more, and naturally, Chen An had not forgotten the new dishes he had promised to treat him to.

Once they became familiar with one another, they were much more relaxed together. Whenever he came, Rongrong would always go over and ask whether there was anything new and interesting in the city, while Chen An was more concerned with the shops selling ingredients.

Still, Chen An had never confirmed exactly who that Brother Xue was.

He would not go around talking carelessly about something he was unsure of. For now, living his own life well and raising his Soul Power were what mattered.

Early one morning, Chen An sat cross-legged on his bed to cultivate as usual.

His Soul Power circulated along its familiar route. Compared with half a year ago, both its density and the smoothness of its circulation had changed noticeably.

Rank seventeen, rank eighteen, rank nineteen.

With the rewards from daily positive reviews, along with his own cultivation, he had crossed each of these thresholds one step at a time. After reaching rank nineteen in particular, he had spent more effort than before. He had thought he would need to wait a few more days, yet today, not long after he began cultivating, the Soul Power within him changed.

Chen An did not hurry to open his eyes. He circulated his Soul Power several more times, then let out a long breath only once that sensation had completely stabilized.

He had reached rank twenty.

Although he had known he was close, he still could not help smiling when the moment truly arrived.

At last, he could look for his second Soul Ring.

He had thought about it plenty during this time. He had used the popcorn from his first Soul Skill for so long, and it was well suited both to restoring Rongrong's Soul Power and giving everyone extra food. He was very eager to see what his second Soul Skill would bring.

Rather than remain seated, Chen An got out of bed, put on his shoes, washed up, and went outside.

Chen Xin was already waiting in the courtyard. Seeing him come out early today, he had been about to ask about it, but Chen An had already hurried over.

"Grandpa Sword, I've reached rank twenty."

At that, the smile on Chen Xin's face deepened, and he beckoned him closer.

"Come, let Grandpa take a look."

He rested a hand on Chen An's shoulder, sending a strand of gentle Soul Power inside. Chen An offered no resistance, standing quietly while Chen Xin examined him.

Chen Xin had been keeping an eye on his progress all this time and knew he was close to rank twenty. He simply had not expected it to happen today.

His Soul Power was abundant and circulated steadily, and there was nothing wrong with his body.

Only after examining him carefully did Chen Xin withdraw his hand and nod in satisfaction.

"Good. Your foundation is very solid."

Hearing that reassured Chen An, and he took the opportunity to bring up something he had been thinking about for a long time.

"Grandpa, for my second Soul Ring this time, could we find one close to a thousand years old?"

Chen Xin glanced at him but did not immediately agree.

The second Soul Ring was different from the first. The older it was, the greater the demands on the body during absorption. Ordinary Soul Masters already had to weigh things carefully when considering a second Soul Ring over seven hundred years old, yet this boy had aimed straight for a thousand years the moment he opened his mouth.

Still, Xiao An's current physique really could not be judged by the standards of other children at his rank.

"Let's test you first. There's no hurry to decide."

Chen Xin led him to an open space in the courtyard and signaled for him to stand firmly before slowly releasing pressure.

There was no sharp Sword Intent, but that pressure settled over him bit by bit. Chen An circulated his Soul Power, finding it quite easy at first. As the pressure gradually increased, his legs slowly tensed, and his breathing grew somewhat heavier.

Chen Xin watched him the entire time. After noticing the change, he maintained it for a little longer before withdrawing his Soul Power.

The weight lifted from his body. Chen An rolled his shoulders, feeling no discomfort.

He had a clear sense of his own condition. He had received plenty of positive reviews over the past half year, and besides his Soul Power, his constitution had also been improving steadily. Cooking and cultivating every day, he felt it most clearly.

But feeling capable and actually being able to absorb a Soul Ring were two different things. Since Grandpa Sword was here, naturally, following his advice was the safer choice.

Chen Xin asked him how he felt, then considered it briefly before speaking.

"We can consider one close to a thousand years old. But we need to find a suitable Soul Beast first. Grandpa will assess it then. We can't focus only on its age."

"All right. I'll listen to you, Grandpa."

Chen An answered readily.

He only wanted a better second Soul Ring, not to gamble with his body at all costs. Being able to absorb it would naturally be best, but if it really was unsuitable, there was no need to force it.

Seeing this, Chen Xin reached out and ruffled his hair.

This child had ideas of his own but could also listen to advice. He certainly spared him worry.

After breakfast, grandfather and grandson went together to see Ning Fengzhi.

Ning Fengzhi was naturally delighted to hear that Chen An had reached rank twenty. After carefully listening to Chen Xin describe the examination earlier, he turned to Chen An with a smile.

"Since your Soul Power has reached the required rank, it's time to prepare your Soul Ring. Xiao An, are you still adding it to the Dragon-Transforming Pot?"

"Yes. I'll find one for the Dragon-Transforming Pot first."

The Eternal Spirit Knife was already sufficient for chopping vegetables and processing ingredients, so there was no urgent need to add a Soul Ring to it for now. The Dragon-Transforming Pot was different. One more Soul Ring meant another new Soul Skill dish.

For Chen An, the choice was not difficult.

Chen Xin picked up the conversation beside him.

"I'll take him out tomorrow. We'll have Old Bone keep an extra eye on the sect for a few days."

Ning Fengzhi nodded in agreement and had someone prepare supplies for the journey.

Hunting for a Soul Ring was naturally quick if they encountered a suitable one. If not, searching for several more days was common.

Ning Rongrong, however, slowed her steps as she ran in through the doorway and heard that Chen An was leaving.

She had come to find him, never expecting to hear this the moment she entered.

"You're going tomorrow?"

Chen An nodded, then smiled.

"I'll go out and play with you when I get back. I have to get my Soul Ring first this time."

Ning Rongrong looked at him, then at Chen Xin, and finally agreed.

When she had searched for her own first Soul Ring, she had also spent several days away. There was no rushing this sort of thing. It was just that she had grown used to spending time with Chen An, so knowing he was going away made her somewhat reluctant to part.

Ning Fengzhi called his daughter over and reminded her to cultivate as usual over the next few days, so Xiao An could see her progress when he returned.

Only then did the little girl perk up a little.

Listening beside them, Chen An found it amusing. Uncle Ning really never forgot to coax Rongrong into cultivating, no matter the occasion.

At lunch, Chen An told everyone that he would be leaving the next day.

Fang Ming and the others had just picked up their bowls. Hearing that he was going to hunt for his second Soul Ring stirred a wave of emotion in them.

Watching Xiao An cook every day, they had not felt time passing particularly quickly, yet now he was already about to get his second Soul Ring.

They had been making progress themselves lately, but compared with him, there really was no comparison.

Han Cheng first asked who would be accompanying him. Learning that Senior Sword Douluo was going along put him at ease, and naturally, there was no need for the words he had originally intended to say.

With that man there, what was there for them to worry about?

But immediately afterward, everyone thought of something else.

If Xiao An was going Soul Hunting, did that mean they would once again miss out on this food for the next few days?

Looking at the large amount of meat still left in their bowls, they all suddenly felt that they had to eat more at this meal, no matter what.

Chen An found it funny, but he made no promise about when he would return. He only agreed with Uncle Zhou that meals should be prepared as usual while he was away.

Uncle Zhou naturally agreed and told him not to worry about things here. Once he was out there, he should follow all of Senior Sword Douluo's arrangements.

That afternoon, supplies for the journey began arriving one after another.

Dry rations, clean water, and changes of clothes-Chen An packed them all away, then added a few packets of the seasonings he regularly used. Fang Ming and the others helped fill up the water needed for the next day and even prepared extra firewood.

Knowing he would leave early the next morning, no one crowded around him to talk about food again.

Once everything was packed, Chen An paid another visit to Gu Rong.

The old man had already heard that he had reached rank twenty. Seeing him enter, he called him over with a smile, asked a few questions, and finally reminded him as well to stay close to Chen Xin and not wander around the forest on his own.

Chen An agreed to each reminder, then returned to attend to his own affairs. Toward evening, he fetched some freshly prepared food from the Kitchen and delivered it to Gu Rong.

He did not know how many days this trip would take. Before leaving, he had to make sure Grandpa Bone enjoyed a good meal too.

With everything arranged, Chen An cultivated for two hours that night as usual before going to bed.

This time, however, he did not fall asleep as quickly as usual.

The Dragon-Transforming Pot's second Soul Ring.

After thinking about it for so long, he could finally set out to find it tomorrow.