Cross-Level Soul Ring Absorption

A little over half a day later, Lonely Grass Village.

"What?! Xiao Hai, you're level 10 already?"

Hearing Yang Yunhai say that his soul power had reached level 10, the Village Chief was stunned.

With Innate Soul Power of just level 0.5 and a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, reaching level 10 after two and a half years of cultivation was something he had never even heard of.

Yang Yunhai had never mentioned it when he returned to the village during previous New Year holidays. So he had been preparing this huge surprise for him!

As if thinking of something, he hurriedly asked again, "Was it because of your lightning-drawing cultivation?"

"Mm." Yang Yunhai nodded. "Drawing lightning can stimulate my body's vitality, slightly increasing my soul power cultivation speed for a short period afterward. It can also slightly strengthen my body and Martial Soul. In addition, when the lightning passes through my body, it leaves behind a trace of weak Thunder Attribute energy, directly giving my soul power a slight boost."

He had absolute trust in the old man who had cared for him since childhood.

Besides, his method of cultivating by drawing lightning had many limitations and could not be replicated, so there was no harm in saying it.

"However, after drawing lightning, my body and Martial Soul also become stiff and need a long time to recover," Yang Yunhai continued. "So I don't have many chances to draw lightning each year, and I can only withstand two bolts at a time."

"I only kept it from you these past two years because I was afraid you'd worry."

After hearing this, a pained expression immediately appeared on the Village Chief's face. He reached out and patted Yang Yunhai on the shoulder, saying with heartache, "Child, it must have hurt terribly, right?"

"It was alright. I'm used to it already." Yang Yunhai smiled, speaking in a slightly cheerful tone. "Besides, now it seems that all of it was worth it, wasn't it?"

Only then did the Village Chief smile. He nodded and reminded him, "Even so, you still need to stay safe. Never force yourself."

"Mm, I know." Yang Yunhai nodded hurriedly, then continued, "Grandpa Tai, I came back this time because I wanted to—"

"You want to obtain a soul ring at the optimal age limit, right?" the Village Chief cut in with a faint smile.

"Mm." Yang Yunhai scratched his head. "Grandpa Tai, there's someone at our academy called Grandmaster. I heard that his Innate Soul Power was also level 0.5, but his first two soul rings were both at the optimal age limit. Yet his soul power has been stuck at level 29 for many years."

"Grandpa, I'm worried that I might encounter the same situation in the future." Although Yu Xiaogang's Innate Soul Power was only level 0.5, his bloodline contained the pure direct lineage of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and it was of exceptionally high quality.

This could be seen from the fact that when Yu Xiaogang used a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Flender and Liu Erlong, whose cultivation far surpassed his own, Yu Xiaogang's Martial Soul was still the core.

The final result was Luo San Pao evolving into the Golden Sacred Dragon. That alone was enough to reveal many things.

Even Yu Xiaogang, with such a high-quality bloodline, had been stuck at level 29. How could he, someone from a commoner background, fare any better?

A bloodline truly could limit one's upper ceiling.

Lightning-drawing cultivation could indeed strengthen his body and Martial Soul. It might even temper his bloodline, but it could never bring about a qualitative transformation.

No matter how much a piece of scrap iron was hammered and forged, it could at most become refined iron. It could never become steel.

Unless carbon was added to the iron, followed by quenching and annealing. Or better yet, the pig iron was directly replaced with steel.

And that was precisely what he intended to do afterward.

But before that, it was extremely necessary to think of every possible way to increase his strength as much as possible.

Cultivation was fundamentally about accumulation; every step mattered.

With that thought, Yang Yunhai stated the true purpose of his visit. "So, I want to undergo Cross-Level Soul Ring Absorption!"

"Cross-Level Soul Ring Absorption?!" The Village Chief, who had been thinking about the theories of Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, froze.

"It means increasing the age limit beyond the optimal range," Yang Yunhai quickly explained.

"No!" The Village Chief's expression immediately changed.

He hurriedly shook his head. "That's too dangerous. If your body can't withstand the energy, you'll die. Spirit Hall has records of such cases. The current optimal age-limit figures are already the best choices concluded so far."

The choice that would never get anyone killed, right? Yang Yunhai sighed inwardly and shook his head.

"Grandpa, those figures may indeed suit most people, but they can never be the optimal choice for everyone."

"Think about it, Grandpa Tai," Yang Yunhai continued.

"Is the physical strength of a Beast Martial Soul wielder the same as that of a Tool Martial Soul wielder? Among the same type of Martial Soul, would someone with high Innate Soul Power have the same physical strength as someone with low Innate Soul Power? Could a dragon Martial Soul and an earthworm Martial Soul at the same level possibly be the same?"

The Village Chief was immediately dumbfounded. Then he said uncertainly, "They probably aren't the same, right?"

"Then how could the soul ring age limits they can withstand be the same?" Yang Yunhai asked in return.

"This..." It seemed rather reasonable. The Village Chief's worldview was instantly shaken, and he could not find the words to refute him.

"And over these years, not only have I been tempering my body by drawing lightning, I've also exercised through physical activity almost every day," Yang Yunhai continued. "So I have absolute confidence that my physical strength is definitely greater than that of most people my age. Naturally, I can withstand more energy as well."

At this point, he bit down lightly and his tone turned solemn.

"Grandpa, perhaps this is the only way for me to break through the level 30 bottleneck in the future!"

"But..." Feeling Yang Yunhai's persistence and longing, the Village Chief could not help recalling his earlier words.

For two and a half years, he had trained hard every day. He had even risked his life to endure the unbearable pain of heavenly lightning pouring into his body. What had it all been for? Wasn't it so he could break through his own limitations and pursue a higher realm?

Such determination... If he did not let him try, this child would probably regret it for the rest of his life. The Village Chief sighed inwardly, hesitation appearing on his face.

"Grandpa, it doesn't need to be much. Five hundred years—five hundred years will be enough." Seeing the hesitation on the Village Chief's face, Yang Yunhai hurriedly said.

To be honest, he had no clear idea of his current physical strength either. It was better to play it safe.

Silence. The Village Chief fell silent.

After a while, the Village Chief finally spoke. "Xiao Hai, hold out your hand and let Grandpa feel your bones."

Yang Yunhai did not hesitate and immediately held out his hand.

They really were stronger than my son's and grandson's. After carefully kneading and examining it for a while, the Village Chief sighed inwardly.

Back when his son and grandson were still studying at the academy, they had returned home every year for the New Year. As both a father and grandfather, he naturally held their hands often. Therefore, he had a rough understanding of their bone strength when their Soul Power had reached level 10.

That was the benefit of having many descendants. With more people, there was something to compare.

Letting go of his hand, the Village Chief pondered for a while longer before speaking with a grave expression. "Xiao Hai, you must think this through."

"You could really die!"

"Grandpa Tai, I thought it through long ago." Yang Yunhai nodded solemnly.

"Also, Grandpa." He withdrew his hand and continued, "Whether I succeed or not, I hope you can keep what happened today a secret. Cross-Level Soul Ring Absorption is only my first attempt. Different people and different martial souls—what age of Soul Ring is suitable for each, and how should it be determined? Even if I truly succeed this time, I'll probably need further attempts and practical testing."

"I don't want my still-incomplete so-called Soul Master theory to spread and cause many people to die from reckless attempts."

"If possible, Grandpa, let me be the pioneer for now." Yang Yunhai put on a timely show of bravado.

"Grandpa, my plan is to wait until after I attempt to break through to Soul Elder before seeing what happens."

"If I succeed and have three attempts' worth of experience, I think I should be able to figure out a rough pattern."

"And if I fail, that means I'll already be dead. At that point, Grandpa can have Uncle Di report this matter, so those who come after can continue trying."

"Xiao Hai, Grandpa underestimated you." The Village Chief's eyes reddened as he reached out and patted Yang Yunhai on the shoulder.

"Grandpa also believes that even if you cannot become a powerful Soul Master in the future, you will still become a great pioneer."

"Hehe, I have selfish motives too, actually." Yang Yunhai grinned. "To be honest, I really want to participate in the All-Continent Soul Master Competition. If not the next one, then the one after that. If this theory gets out and everyone grows stronger, what if I can't beat them?"

"You brat!" The Village Chief's face twitched at once.

Having lived for more than half his life, he naturally knew Yang Yunhai was trying to lighten the mood so this old man would not worry too much.

Smiling, he said, "Grandpa understands!"

"I'll write a letter in a moment. Take it with you to the Soul Hunting Forest. Once you're inside, go to the Enforcement Team station on the right side of the wall and find your Uncle Ao. He'll personally take you to hunt a suitable soul beast."

At this point, he suddenly paused before asking.

"Xiao Hai, have you decided? What type of soul beast do you want to hunt for your First Soul Ring?"

"Azure Vine." Yang Yunhai answered without hesitation.

Azure Vine was the martial soul of Zhi Lin, an 83rd-level Control System Soul Douluo and member of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Education Committee in the original work. It was renowned for its exceptional toughness and elasticity. The fact that it could support its owner's cultivation all the way to Soul Douluo was enough to show that it was an extraordinarily high-quality plant-type soul beast.

Most importantly, being known for elasticity meant that this plant-type soul beast had both an impressive growth rate and impressive maximum length.

And when it came to plants, fast growth and great length were often linked to vigorous vitality.

And indeed, that was the case.

The Soul Beast Illustration Book for the Beginner Soul Hunting Forest that he had read before contained a clear description of this.

Therefore, the Life Attribute contained within Azure Vine should not be weak. Its Soul Ring was highly suitable for his current stage.

Moreover, toughness and elasticity were precisely what his Blue Silver Grass martial soul lacked the most at this stage.

Solitary Bamboo? Venomous snakes? To hell with them!

"Azure Vine really is a good choice." The Village Chief nodded slightly.

"There are some in the Beginner Soul Hunting Forest too. It's just hard to say whether there are any of a suitable age left."

At this, he looked Yang Yunhai directly in the eye and said solemnly, "Xiao Hai, if you can't find one at exactly 500 years of cultivation, choose one with a lower age. Never recklessly absorb one with a higher age. For your safety, I'll make this clear to your Uncle Ao in the letter."

I'm just a little shrimp. How could I refuse? Yang Yunhai nodded. "Grandpa Tai, I understand."

Only then did the Village Chief smile.

"Good. Wait here. I'll go write the letter."

After sitting at his desk, he wrote as he spoke. "Go to Spirit Hall first and ask Supervisor Ma Xiunuo for a writ. It's not too late yet. Once you've obtained it, return to the village and stay the night. I'll have your grandmother cook something delicious to celebrate your reaching level 10. You can leave for the Beginner Soul Hunting Forest tomorrow."

"Alright, Grandpa Tai." Yang Yunhai nodded at once.

Before long, the letter was finished. Yang Yunhai took it and left, borrowing a Little Yellow Horse from the village before heading straight for Notting City.

After arriving at Spirit Hall, he went directly to find Ma Xiunuo.

Following a Soul Power test, Ma Xiunuo was somewhat surprised to see that Yang Yunhai had indeed broken through to level 10. Even Chang Gongdi, who had come along to watch, was taken aback and praised him repeatedly, saying they would celebrate with dinner at home that night.

Afterward, Yang Yunhai successfully obtained a beginner-level writ.

He returned to the village, ate and drank his fill, then slept briefly for the night.

The next morning, he rose early, bade the Village Chief farewell, and rode out alone along the Official Road toward the Beginner Soul Hunting Forest.

P.S. Thanks to "Hope Authors Update One Hundred Thousand Words Daily" for the 1,500 Qidian Coin reward, and thanks as well to the other readers who sent rewards. This chapter was written overnight.