The breeze on the rooftop seemed to carry a lingering trace of his earlier alarm at being seen through.
Ling Feng walked slowly downstairs, his wariness toward Tang San rising a few notches further.
That fellow's spiritual perception far surpassed that of his peers.
Still, this little interlude did not affect his plans. The exhilaration of raising his Soul Power to rank twelve, along with the excitement of his new insight into movement techniques, drove him toward his next destination.
The academy's rear mountain.
It was relatively secluded, with lush vegetation and a slightly denser presence of Soul Power than the front grounds, making it a place many students chose for private cultivation.
Of course, it was also a good place to check in.
He followed the gravel path uphill. The farther he went, the fewer voices he heard.
The dense canopy cut the sunlight into tiny patches that scattered across the leaf-covered ground, while the fresh scent of earth and plants filled the air.
Finding an empty clearing in the woods with no one around, Ling Feng stopped.
"System, check in at the rear mountain."
[Ding! Host detected at a new location: Nuoding Academy Rear Mountain Cultivation Area. Check in?]
"Yes."
[Ding! Check-in successful! Congratulations to the host on receiving the reward: "First Soul Ring Limit Absorption Theory and Techniques (Knowledge Infusion)"!]
Buzzz-!
A vast, complex stream of information surged into his mind in an instant!
Unlike the sensation of energy that came with a Soul Power increase, this was a pure infusion of knowledge and experience!
Countless details, taboos, and techniques concerning Soul Ring absorption flooded forth!
How could one guide a Soul Ring's energy to scour the meridians without damaging their foundations?
How could one use Soul Power as a net to filter out a Soul Beast's lingering savage thoughts and purify the soul's power?
How could one determine the thresholds of one's physical strength and soul resilience, and thus estimate the maximum age of a Soul Ring one could withstand?
How could one, at the very edge of that limit, use special Soul Power circulation techniques and a contest of wills to thoroughly tame and absorb that seemingly unbearable energy, strand by strand, wisp by wisp, and make it one's own!
In particular, it emphasized the possibility of surpassing the theoretical limit!
Rather than merely providing a number of years, it dissected the principles behind it-physical strength, spiritual power, Martial Soul quality, and even willpower. Together, these four determined that unique limit!
The stream of information surged on without pause.
Ling Feng closed his eyes and focused, devoting himself fully to absorbing and understanding this sudden treasure trove of knowledge.
A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes, a gleam of understanding flashing through them.
"So that's it... Soul Ring absorption actually involves so many tricks and dangers. The body is the boat, and spiritual power is the rudder. Neither can be missing. Surpassing the limit isn't a mere fantasy..."
He murmured to himself, gaining an entirely new understanding of First Soul Ring absorption, one that far surpassed the common knowledge of this era.
Just as he was immersed in digesting this knowledge, faint voices drifted over from nearby.
"...Therefore, according to Spirit Hall's many years of research, the theoretical age limit for a Soul Master's First Soul Ring is four hundred and twenty-three years. Once that age is exceeded, the energy within the Soul Ring will batter or even tear apart the Soul Master's meridians, and the soul will also suffer a backlash from the Soul Beast's lingering thoughts. At best, severe injury; at worst..."
The voice was solemn and earnest, carrying a scholar's certainty.
Ling Feng looked toward the voice.
In another clearing not far away, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang stood with his back to him, explaining something to Tang San before him. Tang San listened with rapt attention, nodding from time to time.
What a coincidence.
A thought stirred in Ling Feng's mind. He softened his footsteps and silently moved a little closer, leaning behind a large tree as though he had merely happened to pass by.
Grandmaster noticed nothing and continued expounding his theory. "...Thus, you must exercise caution when seeking your First Soul Ring. Ideally, choose one close to four hundred years old, but under no circumstances exceed the limit of four hundred and twenty-three years. This is experience countless predecessors paid for in blood."
His tone brooked no doubt.
"I understand, Teacher," Tang San said earnestly. "I won't recklessly rush ahead in pursuit of quick gains."
Grandmaster nodded in satisfaction, very pleased with this disciple of his.
Just then, a slightly puzzled voice, seemingly prompted by simple curiosity, interjected from the side.
"In theory... is that really the case?"
The voice was quiet, yet it was like a pebble dropped into a tranquil lake.
Grandmaster and Tang San both froze, then turned to look.
At some point, Ling Feng had appeared a short distance away, his face bearing just the right touch of puzzlement and inquiry, as though he were merely an eager student who dared to question.
Grandmaster's brows furrowed slightly. Having his lesson interrupted and his core theory questioned displeased him somewhat. But when he saw that it was Ling Feng, he suppressed that displeasure. There was always something unusual about this student.
"Ling Feng? Do you have a different view?" Grandmaster adjusted his glasses, his gaze appraising behind the lenses. He wanted to hear just what this boy with innate full Soul Power could say.
Ling Feng stepped forward a few paces, his tone still that of a student seeking guidance, but the words he spoke shattered stone and startled the heavens:
"Grandmaster, your theory is based on general circumstances, and of course I agree with it. But I was just wondering: this numerical limit must have been derived from the physical strength and mental resilience of an 'ordinary Soul Master' and the quality of an 'ordinary Martial Soul,' right?"
He tilted his head slightly, as though engaged in a purely academic discussion. "Then, in theory, what if a Soul Master's physical strength far exceeds that of ordinary people-for example... someone born with divine strength? Or someone whose spiritual power is exceptionally resilient, who can easily withstand attacks on the soul? Or perhaps his Martial Soul is of extremely high quality, with a naturally powerful affinity for energy and capacity to contain it..."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Grandmaster's and Tang San's suddenly grave expressions, then slowly delivered his final question:
"...If he meets one or more of these conditions, then, in theory, might the maximum age of the First Soul Ring he can withstand... exceed that figure of four hundred and twenty-three years?"
Silence!
Deathly silence!
There was only the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Grandmaster went rigid, his eyes suddenly widening behind his glasses and his mouth falling slightly open, as though he had heard something inconceivable.
His body even leaned forward slightly as he stared fixedly at Ling Feng.
Surpass the limit?
The body? The mind? Martial Soul quality?
It was not as though he had never considered these factors!
But all this time, he had classified them as extremely rare exceptions that could not be incorporated into a broadly applicable theoretical framework!
Yet now, a mere six-year-old child had laid them bare so clearly and methodically! He had even pointed out specific avenues for breakthroughs!
This... this was simply...
Tang San's face was also filled with shock as he looked at Ling Feng, his eyes full of astonishment and contemplation.
The theories his teacher imparted had always held an authoritative place in his heart.
Yet Ling Feng's words sounded... perhaps more reasonable? More... expansive?
"You... you..." Grandmaster opened his mouth, his voice somewhat dry and trembling. "How did you think of all this?"
Ling Feng wore an innocent expression that seemed to say, "Isn't this obvious?" and spread his hands. "I was just... thinking idly. I feel that the world of Soul Masters shouldn't be boxed in entirely by a fixed number. After all, people differ from one another, and so do Martial Souls."
He spoke casually, as though he had merely said, "The weather's nice today."
Yet those words struck Grandmaster's heart like a heavy hammer!
It shouldn't be boxed in...
People differed from one another...
Martial Souls differed from one another...
Yes!
In pursuing theories all his life, striving to distill universally applicable laws, had he... also created a new kind of shackle to some extent?
Had he pursued universal applicability too single-mindedly, overlooking the... miracles that true geniuses at the pinnacle of the pyramid could create?
Grandmaster sank completely into thought, his brows tightly knitted and his gaze flickering uncertainly, as though a new theoretical edifice was struggling to rebuild its foundations in his mind.
Watching Grandmaster's reaction, Ling Feng knew he had achieved his aim.
He said nothing more, gave the still-dazed Tang San a slight nod, then turned and left at an unhurried pace along the way he had come.
His steps were composed, his retreating figure disappearing at the end of the shaded path.
Only after Ling Feng had gone far away did Grandmaster abruptly come to his senses. He stared fixedly in the direction Ling Feng had vanished, his gaze incomparably complex, filled with shock, bewilderment, and an indescribable... fervor.
This child...
Just how many more revolutionary things did he have in his head?
Tang San looked at his teacher's loss of composure, then glanced toward the direction Ling Feng had left. In silence, he etched the terms "physical strength," "spiritual power," and "Martial Soul quality" deep into his mind.
He vaguely sensed that Ling Feng's seemingly casual remark today might... point toward an even more powerful path.