Half a year later.
At that moment, Gui Yuan sat cross-legged on the bed in his room. He raised his right hand and released his Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul, and three Soul Rings slowly emerged beneath him.
Today marked exactly one year since his Martial Soul Awakening.
And now, the effect of [Hedge Fund] began to activate.
[Hedge Fund: Immediately increases the first Soul Ring's age by five hundred years. Every year thereafter, all Soul Rings gain five hundred years + interest. Interest: for every tier of Soul Power gained, Soul Ring ages increase by an additional thousand years.]
Gui Yuan was currently at the peak of level thirty-six, which meant three tiers of Soul Power.
With this, each Soul Ring gained three thousand five hundred years.
First Soul Ring: 1,100 years -> 4,600 years. Second Soul Ring: 5,000 years -> 8,500 years. Third Soul Ring: 11,000 years -> 14,500 years.
And one benefit of increasing his Soul Rings' ages was that creating food consumed less Soul Power.
Previously, making a single Singular Velvet Dark Gold Chrysanthemum consumed a great deal of Soul Power. Now, it would be considerably easier.
Once the second year came and his second Soul Ring reached ten thousand years, the enhancement provided by the food he created might rise another notch.
After all, going from a thousand-year Soul Ring to a ten thousand year Soul Ring was a qualitative transformation.
Fortunately, over the past half year, Bibi Dong had not said she wanted to search him, Yue Guan, or Gui Mei.
After all, obtaining even one immortal-grade herb was already no easy feat. Could they possibly have obtained two?
Besides, actually doing that would chill their hearts far too much. Bibi Dong still had use for Yue Guan and Gui Mei.
She had not yet gone mad enough to do something like that.
Moreover, their outing half a year ago had yielded not only an immortal herb, but also an External Soul Bone. That alone was enough to indirectly prove that Gui Yuan really was lucky.
Lucky was one thing, but his luck could not possibly be outrageously good.
Elsewhere.
The Pope's Palace.
Yue Guan had gone out on a mission some time ago and had only now returned, a month later.
The moment he stepped into the great hall, Bibi Dong immediately sensed the change in his presence.
"You broke through?" Bibi Dong asked.
Yue Guan nodded. "Yes, Your Holiness. My Soul Power broke through to level 96 a day ago."
"Mm, good." Bibi Dong nodded. "The Soul Bone I promised you will be given to you in a few days."
She had not expected Yue Guan to truly keep his word. He had said he would break through within a year, yet he had done so in only half a year.
Inwardly, she marveled that the immortal-grade herb truly was a fine thing.
Unfortunately, though she had also issued orders over the past half year for Spirit Hall's people to report any rare and exotic plants they discovered immediately.
If they proved useful, Spirit Hall would provide a reward.
Over the past half year, they had indeed collected quite a few from branch halls across the continent, but after Yue Guan examined them, they all turned out to be relatively ordinary.
Of course, a few were of better quality, such as a five-hundred-year Scarlet Flame Fruit and a thousand-year Soul Condensing Orchid.
Bibi Dong had given the Scarlet Flame Fruit to Yan and the Soul Condensing Orchid to Hu Liena.
Although the Soul Condensing Orchid was only a thousand years old, it had still helped improve Hu Liena's spiritual power.
After thanking Bibi Dong, Yue Guan left to rest.
After returning, he also told Gui Mei about it. Their sleeping quarters were connected.
"Old Ghost, I broke through to level 96." Yue Guan formed an orchid-finger gesture and smiled. "His Holiness the Pope promised me a Soul Bone. I just don't know how old it'll be."
Gui Mei said flatly, "I'd guess around twenty thousand years, but that's still pretty good for you. At least you'll finally have a Soul Bone."
Yue Guan was rather excited. "Yes, I'll take it as long as it's at least ten thousand years old. You'll just have to put up with a little unfairness."
Gui Mei naturally knew what Yue Guan meant. He shook his head. "We've been stuck at this realm for over a decade. It's only another two years now. I can afford to wait."
He then continued, "We can't sit idle during these years, either. When we have time, let's study some self-created Soul Skills."
"Once Xiao Yuan grows up, the two of us will have to find the most suitable Soul Rings for him. The older, the better."
They thought this way because the two of them had another idea as well: Qiankun Asking Love Valley!
Ever since Gui Yuan appeared, Spirit Hall had secretly sent people to investigate whether such a valley existed on the Douluo Continent.
But after all these years, they had found nothing.
Not long ago, Gui Yuan had suggested a possibility: could there be other continents in this world besides the Douluo Continent?
Perhaps that valley was something from another continent?
Bibi Dong was also extremely curious about that valley, so naturally, she had been sending Soul Masters out to sea in successive groups to see whether they could really discover other continents.
Yue Guan nodded. "Speaking of Xiao Yuan, how has he been lately? I haven't seen him in a month."
Gui Mei smiled. "The same as ever. Very hardworking."
"He studies theory in the morning and practices his second Martial Soul with me in the afternoon. He's already very proficient with Netherworld Needle and Shadow Step."
"Although his second Martial Soul still has no Soul Rings attached, judging by their current effects, I think those two Soul Skills already have the power you'd need an eight-hundred-year Soul Ring to produce. Not bad."
"Really?" Yue Guan was pleasantly surprised. "Achieving that without attaching any Soul Rings to his second Martial Soul is quite good."
Gui Mei nodded. "That's actually largely thanks to the attribute boosts provided by the three Soul Rings of his first Martial Soul."
Although his second Martial Soul had no Soul Rings, his first Martial Soul did, and all three of its Soul Rings were far from young.
After absorbing Soul Rings, Soul Masters not only gained levels, but also received passive improvements to all their attributes, including physique and spiritual power.
This also allowed Gui Yuan to better control his second Martial Soul.
With his Dark Gold Dreadclaw Right Palm Bone as well, Gui Yuan might be a food system Soul Elder, but his close-combat abilities were not at all inferior to those of a low-level Battle Soul Elder.
Of course, this was only the two men's current conjecture.
So far, they had not yet let Gui Yuan fight anyone in actual combat.
Because they felt it was not yet time.
The next day.
Gui Yuan had a rare day off.
He got roughly one day off for every month of cultivation.
Of course, this break only meant he did not study theory or practice self-created Soul Skills during the day. He still had to meditate at night.
And today, he had arranged to stroll around Spirit City with Hu Liena.
Although he lived in the Pope's Palace, he had rarely explored the city properly.
However, when he waited for Hu Liena at the entrance today, she did not appear alone.
There were two more people beside her.
Xie Yue and Yan.
Hu Liena walked in front, smiling as she waved at Gui Yuan. "Junior brother, have you been waiting long?"
Xie Yue followed behind and nodded to Gui Yuan in greeting.
Yan stood on the other side with his arms crossed, his face expressionless.
Gui Yuan stepped forward and greeted him politely. "Hello, Brother Xie."
Then he turned toward Yan. "Hello, Brother Yan."
Yan's gaze settled on him, but his expression was rather cold, even carrying a hint of hostility.
He did not respond, merely lifting his chin slightly.
Gui Yuan immediately understood what was going on, and inwardly felt a little helpless.
I almost forgot. Yan was Hu Liena's simp.
In the original story, Yan had been utterly devoted to Hu Liena, wishing he could stay by her side around the clock.
Now, as Hu Liena's junior brother, he was young but good-looking, and he often spent time with Hu Liena...
In Yan's eyes, he was probably a romantic rival.
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