The Choice of a Second Spirit Ring

A semester passed quietly, and before they knew it, vacation had arrived.

On the Nuoding Academy campus, the grass and trees remained lush and green. The boys packed their luggage in groups of two or three, preparing to return home.

In the dormitory, Xiao Wu lounged lazily on her bed, biting a lollipop as she gazed out the window with a slightly lonely expression.

Tang San walked over and sat on the edge of her bed. In a soft voice, he said, "Xiao Wu, an entire semester has passed. Aren't you planning to go home and take a look?"

Xiao Wu's expression dimmed slightly when she heard him. Then she pouted and said unhappily, "I'm not going back. I'm staying at the Academy."

Tang San froze for a moment before continuing, "Don't you miss home?"

Xiao Wu shook her head, a trace of unconcealable loneliness flashing in her eyes. "I don't have a home, so there's nowhere for me to return to."

Hearing this, Tang San opened his mouth, about to offer some words of comfort, but Xiao Wu's eyes suddenly lit up. She grinned and said, "Xiao San, isn't your home not far from the Academy? How about I go back with you and play there?"

Tang San was caught off guard by Xiao Wu's sudden change, then smiled and nodded. "Sure. We'll go back together."

With that, he suddenly remembered something and immediately turned toward Tang Chuan, who was cultivating on the other side of the room.

Tang Chuan was sitting cross-legged at that moment, Soul Power slowly circulating around him. A quiet, steady aura lingered between his brows.

"Brother." Tang San called out softly.

Tang Chuan slowly opened his eyes. A flash of blue-gold light flickered across them and vanished. "What is it?"

Tang San smiled. "It's vacation. I'm planning to return to Holy Spirit Village with Xiao Wu. Do you want to come with us? We haven't seen Father in a long time."

Tang Chuan paused slightly before gently shaking his head. "No. My Soul Power just broke through to Level Ten, and the Academy's teacher said he would take me to the Soul Hunting Forest to obtain my First Spirit Ring. I'm afraid I'll miss the opportunity."

His tone was calm, and not the slightest emotion could be seen on his face. Yet inwardly, he thought, Return to Holy Spirit Village? Tang Hao left the village long ago. Besides, even if he were there, why would I need to see him?

When Tang San heard that his brother's Soul Power had already reached Level Ten, he froze. Disbelief surfaced in his eyes.

"Brother, what did you say? Your Soul Power... has reached Level Ten?"

Tang Chuan nodded lightly.

Tang San's brows furrowed slightly, his face full of doubt and surprise. "But Master said your Innate Soul Power was only Level One. Even after cultivating for three to five years, you might not necessarily reach Level Ten. How could you possibly have reached this level in just one semester?"

Tang Chuan smiled faintly, his tone neither warm nor cold. "Perhaps I'm simply luckier. The environment in the Back Mountain is suitable for cultivating Blue Silver Grass. I only followed the Academy's teachers' instructions and meditated diligently."

"Sometimes, caring too much about talent causes people to overlook the importance of hard work."

After hearing this, Tang San fell silent, his expression somewhat complicated.

Although he was unwilling to doubt his brother, Tang Chuan's changes were indeed astonishing. In particular, during this period, whether it was his temperament, build, or even his gaze, there was a steadiness and sharpness that made him difficult to understand.

"Brother..." Tang San still wanted to ask something, but in the end, he closed his mouth and only said in a low voice, "Then be careful. The Soul Hunting Forest is filled with danger. Even with an Academy teacher accompanying you, you can't afford to be careless."

"I know." Tang Chuan nodded, his eyes turning toward the distance. He said calmly, "You should be careful too. Take care on the road back to Holy Spirit Village."

Tang San drew a deep breath and nodded firmly.

Half a day later, the entrance to Nuoding Academy had become deserted. Most of the students had already embarked on their journeys home.

Within the enormous campus, only some teachers and remaining staff were left.

Tang Chuan did not linger. He quickly shouldered his pack and quietly left the Academy without telling anyone where he was going.

He still headed toward the familiar marketplace. Just as he had the first time he left, he stopped in front of an old carriage shop, skillfully rented an ordinary carriage, and hired an elderly Coachman. Everything was just like an ordinary person's actions, without the slightest thing to attract attention.

Sitting in the carriage and watching the forests and fields rush backward outside the window, Tang Chuan's heart was already seething beneath the surface.

"My Soul Power reached Level Twenty long ago. As soon as I absorb a Soul Ring, I'll be able to complete the breakthrough instantly." Tang Chuan gazed deeply into the distance as he spoke.

He was not worried that the Soul Power he had cultivated through meditation during this period would go to waste. Meditation was a way of accumulating Soul Power. He only needed to obtain his Second Spirit Ring; the Soul Power accumulated through his previous cultivation would then be fully released and used to increase his Soul Power level.

The only problem was the choice of his Second Spirit Ring.

During this period, Tang Chuan had secretly ventured to the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest twice during the Academy's brief holidays to search for Soul Beasts. However, he had failed to find a suitable target either time.

That was because his target for his Second Spirit Ring was a Thousand-Year Jade Swan.

"This time, I can't return empty-handed again," Tang Chuan thought inwardly.

This was an extremely rare Soul Beast. Even in the vast, boundless Star Dou Great Forest, it was one in ten thousand. The Jade Swan was not a Plant-Type Spirit Beast, but it possessed exactly what Tang Chuan needed most—vitality.

Not only that, this Soul Beast was also the most powerful Life Attribute healing-type Soul Beast in nature, with the purest vitality in the natural world condensed within its body.

If he could hunt one and absorb its Soul Ring, he would not only further strengthen Blue Silver Grass's vitality, but also greatly improve its Healing Ability, toughness, regeneration, and other aspects.

"Although the Jade Swan isn't a plant, Blue Silver Grass has never rejected Soul Rings from any plants or animals." Tang Chuan narrowed his eyes slightly. "As long as it belongs to the Life System, it can be used by me."

However, the Jade Swan was far rarer than the Illusionary Hidden Flower. It was also extremely sensitive. Once it sensed killing intent, it would instantly flee deep into the forest. Approaching it afterward would be even more difficult.

At this thought, the corners of Tang Chuan's lips slowly curled into a cold smile.

"Fortunately, my First Spirit Skill can do more than just simulate appearances. It can also distort space through mental fluctuations, conceal aura, and disguise Martial Souls. It has already given me an almost perfect ability to sneak around. If I disguise myself as one of its kind, approach the Jade Swan's habitat, and then launch a fatal strike without warning..."

"In that case, my chances of victory may be much higher than imagined."

At the same time, Nuoding Junior Spirit Master Academy.

Master was reading in his room. Tang San had gone home, and he felt inexplicably empty inside. Even when Tang San had left that morning, he had still been hesitating over whether he should visit his home.

Just then.

"Knock, knock, knock."

A deep knock suddenly sounded. The noise was not loud, but it carried a rhythmic sense of pressure. Master's brows moved slightly. He set down his book and muttered, "Xiao San has already gone home. Who could it be at a time like this?"

He slowly rose and walked to the door. In an even voice, he said, "Come in."

"Creak."

The door was gently pushed open, and a tall figure quietly appeared in the doorway.

The person wore a gray robe, with the hood hanging low and concealing his entire face in shadow. His build was burly, but his aura was extremely restrained.

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