As he watched, the deep yellow soul ring stabilized completely, floating quietly around Lin En.
An incredulous look immediately appeared on Niu Dazhuang's face.
"He really... succeeded?"
He swallowed. Had Lin En really withstood the impact of a soul ring nearly eight hundred years old through his physical constitution alone?
The sight completely surpassed his understanding.
"Isn't the proof right before your eyes, Teacher Niu?" Lin En smiled faintly.
"Haha... true enough!"
Niu Dazhuang laughed awkwardly. "Since you've obtained your soul ring, let's leave as soon as possible. The Soul Hunting Forest is still very dangerous."
"Yes. Thank you so much for this, Teacher Niu!"
Lin En nodded slightly, then followed Niu Dazhuang toward the outskirts of the Soul Hunting Forest.
The two had set out that morning and only returned at noon.
Niu Dazhuang went to have his wounds treated, while Lin En returned to Dorm Seven. However,
though the others were in the dormitory, Tang San and Xiao Wu were both gone.
According to Wang Sheng, shortly after lunch, Tang San had set out with Grandmaster for the Soul Hunting Forest to obtain his first soul ring.
They had left only half an hour before the two returned. Had they come back a little earlier, they might even have met at the academy gates.
Xiao Wu, meanwhile, had asked the academy for leave and would not return until tomorrow.
Lin En was not surprised.
Grandmaster had taken Tang San to obtain a soul ring. As for Xiao Wu...
She had probably also taken leave so she could find some safe spot outside the academy to generate her first soul ring.
After eating at the academy, he slipped out to find a deserted corner to test his first soul skill.
Lin En arrived at an empty clearing and first summoned Sageross. A deep yellow soul ring appeared beneath his feet.
Immediately afterward, he withdrew Sageross and released Ingkaros instead. This time, his soul ring disappeared, leaving him without one.
Delight appeared on Lin En's face at the sight.
It seemed his guess had been right.
Sageross and Ingkaros did not share soul ring slots. The two sets were not connected.
With that conclusion, he finally put his mind completely at ease. Then he summoned Sageross and began testing his newly acquired soul skill.
"Sageross, use Shadow Clone!"
"Saa-"
Sageross swung his scythe blades. The next instant, the blades split into four, and four clones leaped out of his body.
Five Sageross stood in the clearing, their movements and expressions identical. There was no telling the real one from the fakes.
Only when struck would a clone dissipate completely.
"That's enough. Come back, Sageross!"
Lin En smiled faintly, his expression exceptionally satisfied. This skill originated from the Ghost Tiger's Shadow Clone soul skill.
Now that Sageross was using it, it did not look out of place at all. On the contrary, it suited him perfectly.
Moreover, the Ghost Tiger could only produce two clones when using it, but Sageross could now produce four.
This meant the number of clones produced by the Shadow Clone soul skill would keep increasing as Sageross grew stronger.
When the time came, having a dozen or more clones on the field would thoroughly confuse the enemy. It was an extremely crucial soul skill.
"Beautifully done!"
With a quiet smile, Lin En withdrew Sageross into his body.
After absorbing the eight-hundred-year Ghost Tiger's soul ring, his soul power level had risen to level thirteen, and he had gained a more comprehensive array of offensive options. It could be called an epic upgrade.
Absorbing an eight-hundred-year soul ring beyond the age limit should originally have increased his soul power by more, but Sageross might have absorbed a portion of it, leaving that portion unreflected in him.
Not only that, Lin En noticed that his growth and Sageross's were directly proportional.
When he improved, Sageross would improve too. When Sageross improved, he would feed that growth back to him as well.
The relationship between the two was entirely proportional and mutually reinforcing. Whichever of them improved, the other would make a breakthrough alongside him.
At that thought, Lin En could not help growing excited.
Holy shit, stepping on my right foot with my left to spiral into the sky?
Once I head to the Yuan Yang Pot and get a few Immortal Herbs for Sageross to eat, won't my soul power level take off like a rocket?
He might even strengthen his own origin and evolve straight into King Sa.
How strong was King Sa?
No one understood King Sa better than Lin En!
Demon God Descends plus Demon King Wave Slash-with a full stomach, he could even arm-wrestle Puni.
Elsewhere.
After a bumpy journey with Tang San, Yu Xiaogang finally arrived at the Soul Hunting Forest.
The two walked along the outskirts of the Soul Hunting Forest for a while before Yu Xiaogang suddenly stopped beside a bamboo stalk.
"Teacher, have you found something?" Tang San asked.
With one hand behind his back and the other hanging at his side, Yu Xiaogang walked over to a bamboo stalk with an air of unfathomable wisdom and patted it.
"This is ten-year solitary bamboo. Its defining trait is toughness. Although its attack power is weak, its defense is decent. It's very suitable for your martial soul."
"Teacher, are we going to hunt this lone bamboo, then?"
At Tang San's words, the branches and leaves in a nearby treetop trembled several times, as though terrified that Yu Xiaogang might agree in a moment of rashness.
Yu Xiaogang shook his head. "Not for now. If there's no better choice, we'll have to settle for it in the end!"
"Oh."
Tang San nodded slightly, then followed Yu Xiaogang onward.
Hidden in the shadows, Tang Hao's figure emerged in the treetop. With his cultivation as a Titled Douluo, he had heard their conversation perfectly clearly.
In particular, when Yu Xiaogang said a lone bamboo soul ring suited Blue Silver Grass, the corners of his mouth could not help twitching.
Ten-year solitary bamboo suited Blue Silver Grass? Wasn't that utter bullshit?
If San really absorbed ten-year solitary bamboo, he truly would be ruined. It seemed there was a reason this useless fool's martial soul theory had failed to gain the world's recognition.
Generalizing from fragments and tearing words out of context-he'd have a ghost of a chance of winning anyone's recognition. He could train a living, breathing genius into worthless trash!
At that thought, Tang Hao could not help shaking his head before turning to leave.
To be safe, he had better catch a soul beast for San himself. Otherwise, that useless Yu Xiaogang might actually get his son a Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo Soul Ring.
What use could ten-year solitary bamboo possibly be?
Was he supposed to whip out some Blue Silver for a pole vault during battle and make his opponent die laughing?
Tang Hao had let San take Yu Xiaogang as his teacher precisely to obtain the method of cultivating twin martial souls.
On the Douluo Continent, Bibi Dong was the only one who had successfully cultivated twin martial souls.
And this useless fool was probably the only person who could get the secret of cultivating twin martial souls out of her.
Otherwise, without that connection,
the moment Yu Xiaogang had hoodwinked San at the gates of Nuoding Academy, he would already have given Tang Hao reason to kill him!
Not long after the teacher and disciple entered the Soul Hunting Forest, they encountered a gravely wounded hundred-year Mandala Snake.
"It's a Mandala Snake! San, your soul ring is here. Quick, deal it a fatal blow!"
"Oh."
Looking utterly bewildered, Tang San threw a dagger. The next instant, the dagger pierced straight through the Mandala Snake's mouth, killing it instantly.
A light yellow soul ring drifted out, hovering above the snake's corpse.
"San, we really are lucky this time. To think we'd happen upon a gravely wounded Mandala Snake."
"If it had still been at full strength, we would have had to put in some effort."
Yu Xiaogang coughed twice as he spoke.
"You're right, Teacher. We really were incredibly lucky this time."
Tang San nodded emphatically. Over these past few days, he had learned through constant exposure at Yu Xiaogang's side just how troublesome hundred-year soul beasts were.
For them to be fortunate enough to encounter a gravely wounded Mandala Snake now was truly lucky.
"There's no time to lose. San, hurry and absorb it!"
"Yes, Teacher!"
Tang San nodded slightly, then sat cross-legged on the ground and began drawing the light yellow soul ring into his body.
A long while later, Tang San opened his eyes.
A light yellow soul ring hovered beneath his feet, and faint soul power fluctuations radiated around him.
"You succeeded?"
Yu Xiaogang immediately leaned closer, a look of delighted surprise appearing on his face.
"San, what soul skill did you obtain?"
Tang San smiled faintly. "Teacher, watch closely. First soul skill, Blue Silver Entanglement!"
Before he finished speaking, Tang San raised his right hand. A faint white glow appeared on the surface of his skin, and a pale yellow ring of light rose from beneath his feet.
Dozens of strands of Blue Silver Grass rapidly spread outward in every direction. Their blade tips rose like slithering snakes, emitting a peculiar fragrance.
This was no floral or even grassy fragrance, but a poisonous scent containing toxins.
"Good, good, good!"
"My guess was right after all! Your Blue Silver Grass carries toxins now, making its control capabilities even stronger!"
Excitement gleamed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes as he spoke, barely holding it back.
"Yes, it's all thanks to you, Teacher!"
Tang San smiled faintly, his face breaking into a happy smile as well.
In the shadows, Tang Hao, who knew everything, twitched his lips, his expression instantly darkening.
This useless fool really had no shame. If it weren't for me, this Mandala Snake's venom alone would have sent you scurrying like a whipped grandson.
Tang Hao gave a quiet snort. I'll put up with you for a few more days, you useless fool. If you dare lead San astray, I'll be the first to hammer you to death!
Before you continue