"Hahahaha!"
A deep, hearty burst of laughter suddenly echoed through the vast, imposing hall.
Qian Daoliu, the Peerless Douluo who usually remained serene and free of worldly desires, as though he had seen through the mortal world-
At this moment, he threw back his head and laughed without restraint.
He had not been this happy in a long time.
The last time had been when Qian Renxue awakened her Martial Soul.
Even Qian Daoliu himself had never expected that, in his long life, he would encounter an unparalleled prodigy like Lu Xuan, who had no background whatsoever.
His disciple, Lu Xuan, had the potential to become a god!
Spirit Hall already possessed the Angel God's inheritance and protection.
If Lu Xuan, a genius with twin God-level Martial Souls, could also win a deity's favor and become a god through nine trials-
Then Spirit Hall would have two gods under one roof!
It would surely continue the glory Spirit Hall had maintained for ten thousand years!
Once his wild joy subsided, Qian Daoliu quickly composed himself and began instructing Lu Xuan.
First came the circulation route for Soul Power, which governed a Soul Master's advancement in Soul Power.
Lu Xuan sat cross-legged on the floor.
Qian Daoliu personally guided the circulation of Soul Power within Lu Xuan's body.
Seeing this, Azure Luan quietly left without disturbing them.
Once Lu Xuan had memorized the circulation route, Qian Daoliu stopped guiding him.
He left the hall first.
Then...
Accompanied by footsteps as heavy as mountains-
A burly old man with white hair and beard, yet muscles knotted all over his body, strode into the hall.
Qian Daoliu followed behind him.
He had invited the Second Worship-Golden Crocodile Douluo.
As the possessor of the Golden Crocodile Martial Soul, Golden Crocodile Douluo's greatest expertise lay in sustaining the body's blood and vitality and increasing its physical strength.
Qian Daoliu had invited him over precisely to devise a plan for Lu Xuan's future physical development.
Lu Xuan immediately awakened from his cultivation; Golden Crocodile's footsteps were simply rather terrifying.
The moment Golden Crocodile Douluo approached, he unceremoniously squeezed Lu Xuan's shoulders and limbs with his huge, palm-leaf-fan-like hands.
"Hmm?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo's initially casual gaze instantly sharpened. Astonished, he increased the pressure of his hands, carefully examining Lu Xuan's bones and meridians.
"This boy has abundant blood and vitality, a powerful body, and rich life energy nourishing his flesh! Clearly, he exercises and regularly replenishes his energy."
Golden Crocodile Douluo gave his assessment.
That was indeed the case. The meals Lu Xuan had received from households throughout Sword Dao Village had nourished him extremely well.
Moreover, Golden Crocodile Douluo also said that life energy was continuously nourishing his body.
Presumably, it was his Life Scepter Martial Soul, coupled with the support of his innate level-twenty Soul Power, that had made his body stronger than those of his peers by who knew how many times.
The vigor of his blood and vitality far exceeded what ordinary people could imagine.
He was nothing like Tang San next door, who looked malnourished and could usually only drink thin porridge.
Hearing Golden Crocodile Douluo's extremely high appraisal, ambition flashed in Lu Xuan's eyes.
He raised his head and said something startling. "Since my body is strong enough, then, Master, Second Worship... could I directly absorb a thousand-year ring as my first Soul Ring?"
At those words, the air in the hall seemed to freeze instantly.
The smile on Qian Daoliu's face abruptly stiffened, while Golden Crocodile Douluo's eyes widened as though he had heard some fantastical tale.
No one had ever attempted a thousand-year first Soul Ring, nor had anyone dared to try.
"Nonsense!" Qian Daoliu knitted his brows and rebuked him sternly.
"The maximum age an ordinary Soul Master can withstand for their first Soul Ring is only a few hundred years! The violent energy of a Thousand-Year Soul Ring would burst your meridians in an instant!"
"Steady progress with two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red is the safest, most perfect configuration in the Soul Master World!"
Although Qian Daoliu vehemently opposed it, Lu Xuan met his and Golden Crocodile's gazes without yielding.
He knew perfectly well that Qian Daoliu and the others were far too cautious.
In the original story, Qian Renxue had also possessed innate level-twenty Soul Power and had been carefully nurtured since childhood.
Yet these old men had treated her like a flower in a greenhouse, raising her to be far too ordinary, with even her first Soul Ring being a hundred-year ring.
He, Lu Xuan, had no intention of squandering the immense physical advantages his innate level-twenty Soul Power and Martial Souls had given him!
"Master, I'm not an ordinary Soul Master. Can an ordinary Soul Master's awakening produce phenomena in heaven and earth? Does an ordinary Soul Master have innate level-twenty Soul Power?" Lu Xuan argued forcefully without backing down.
Golden Crocodile Douluo folded his arms, looked between master and disciple, and could not help speaking:
"Big Brother, I agree with this child. The life attribute within his body is extraordinarily potent."
"With his current physical strength and recovery ability, forcibly absorbing a Thousand-Year Soul Ring... really should pose no problem in theory."
"It's just that the pain of having his meridians repeatedly torn apart and restored would be torture even an adult would find unbearable!"
"I can endure it!" Lu Xuan answered with ironclad resolve.
Qian Daoliu fell silent, gazing deeply into Lu Xuan's ambition-filled eyes.
It was as though he saw his younger self, who had also been full of ambition for his future and his strength.
After a long while, he abruptly swept his sleeve, resolve and commanding force flashing in his eyes. "Very well. Since you possess such courage, I shall agree to your request."
Then he looked at Golden Crocodile Douluo. "Second Brother, sorry for the trouble, but take this boy to rest. Arrange his room beside Xiao Xue's, so the youngsters can grow closer in the future."
"All right!" Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded and left with Lu Xuan.
Watching Lu Xuan's departing figure, Qian Daoliu stood with his hands behind his back.
His mind began racing as he considered Lu Xuan's Soul Ring configuration.
First, the first Soul Ring had to provide an offensive Soul Skill to improve his current combat ability.
Since he would absorb a thousand-year first Soul Ring, an enhancement Soul Skill could be considered for his second Soul Skill.
As for Soul Beasts that met these two conditions...
Qian Daoliu narrowed his eyes slightly, having already settled on his targets.
Early the next morning, the rising sun had just appeared.
Without bringing any attendants, Qian Daoliu personally took Lu Xuan soaring into the sky, heading straight for Star Dou Great Forest.
Fierce winds howled, and a sacred barrier of light enveloped Qian Daoliu, keeping Lu Xuan perfectly protected within it.
The two hovered in midair like descending gods.
They looked down upon the boundless green sea of trees below, which exuded an ancient, primordial aura.
With his hands behind his back, Qian Daoliu swept his piercing gaze across Star Dou Great Forest below and explained their targets to Lu Xuan beside him in a deep voice:
"This time, our targets are the Armor-Breaking Tiger and the Bloodthirsty Demon Wolf!"
"Barring any surprises, the Armor-Breaking Tiger's extreme penetrating power will give your Asura God Sword an explosive offensive Soul Skill with an 'armor-breaking' effect. It will be enough for you to ignore defenses at your level and pierce a throat with one thrust!"
"As for the Bloodthirsty Demon Wolf, it will give you a Soul Skill that enhances all attributes. Of course, there's also a chance it could develop into the Bloodthirsty Demon Wolf's strange ranged blood-blade attack."
"Either way, both of these Soul Beasts can give your Asura God Sword a good Soul Skill."
As his words fell, Qian Daoliu snorted coldly. A terrifying spiritual force, vast as an abyss, erupted from him and swept down over Star Dou Great Forest below.
It searched for prey with utter dominance.
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