A few days later.
Inside Gui Yuan's room.
He sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes closed, sensing the flow of Soul Power within his body.
Today was his eighth birthday, and also the day [Hedge Fund] would trigger.
He raised his right hand, and the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum Martial Soul appeared in his palm.
Four Soul Rings slowly rose beneath him, their purple, purple, black, and black light flowing alternately around him.
Then the light began to flicker, its colors gradually changing.
The second Soul Ring slowly deepened from dark purple, a trace of black appearing along its edges, until it finally transformed completely into black.
Gui Yuan opened his eyes and looked at the brand-new Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
He was now Level 43, so the interest was four thousand years, plus the base five hundred years.
In other words, each of his four Soul Rings gained four thousand five hundred years.
First Soul Ring: 4600 -> 9100 Second Soul Ring: 8500 -> 13000 Third Soul Ring: 14500 -> 19000 Fourth Soul Ring: 30000 -> 34500
It was only a matter of time before his first Soul Ring transformed from a Thousand-Year Soul Ring into a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. It would cross that threshold next year.
His second Soul Ring, meanwhile, had officially entered the ten-thousand-year class.
After his Soul Rings increased in age, the Soul Power he consumed to make the same foods decreased noticeably.
In particular, his second Soul Skill, Singular Velvet Life-Giving Pistil, had undergone a qualitative leap in its recovery effects after transforming from a Thousand-Year Soul Ring into a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.
At the same time.
Inside the Pope's Palace.
Bibi Dong sat in the seat of honor, her expression indifferent.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei stood below on either side, waiting quietly.
Two people stood in the center of the hall, one man and one woman.
The man was lean, with hard, cold facial contours and eyes as sharp as a leopard's.
The woman was tall, dressed in pale blue robes, her gentle bearing carrying a measure of sharpness.
They were none other than Ghost Leopard Douluo and Ling Yuan Douluo.
Their strength was Level 95 and Level 94, respectively.
Ghost Leopard and Ling Yuan stepped forward together and bowed respectfully to Bibi Dong.
"Greetings, Your Holiness."
Bibi Dong looked at them, her expression unchanged.
Inwardly, however, she did not know what to say to her disciple.
Qian Daoliu had visited yesterday, saying he would transfer two elders from the Elders' Hall to serve under her command. He had also said that Gui Yuan had requested this of him.
After hearing that, Bibi Dong had remained silent for a long time. There was no way she could have remained unmoved.
"You may withdraw for now. I'll notify you if there are any assignments."
Ghost Leopard and Ling Yuan exchanged a glance, then each left the Pope's Palace.
Only Bibi Dong, Yue Guan, and Gui Mei remained in the hall.
Bibi Dong's cool voice rang out. "You two can have a little more time to rest from now on. You won't need to be as busy as before."
She paused. "All right, go spend some time with Xiao Yuan."
Yue Guan and Gui Mei bowed and took their leave.
The moment they stepped out of the Pope's Palace, Yue Guan looked positively proud. "Old Ghost, how is that boy Xiao Yuan so amazing?"
"He's your son," Gui Mei said flatly.
"As if he isn't your son too," Yue Guan retorted.
Gui Mei said nothing, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
The two walked side by side toward Gui Yuan's residence.
In the garden behind the residence.
Gui Yuan stood before the cooking counter in the center, fully absorbed in making food.
This garden had been specially built after Gui Yuan awakened his Martial Soul, when his Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum officially took the Food System route.
Many different varieties of chrysanthemums had been transplanted around it-yellow, white, and purple flowers all swaying gently in the breeze.
Yet a broad cooking counter stood in the center of the garden, entirely at odds with the surrounding scenery.
But this was the mimicry environment best suited to Gui Yuan's cultivation.
After all, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum was both a Plant-type Martial Soul and a Food-type Martial Soul, resulting in a place that felt like both a flower garden and a kitchen.
When Yue Guan and Gui Mei entered the garden, the four Soul Rings beneath Gui Yuan were flashing as his hands rapidly condensed food.
Yue Guan had been half leaning against Gui Mei, his arms looped casually around Gui Mei's neck.
But the moment he clearly saw the Soul Rings beneath Gui Yuan, his body went rigid.
"Old Ghost, look!"
He pointed toward Gui Yuan, his voice changing pitch. "Xiao Yuan's second Soul Ring-is it black? My eyes aren't playing tricks on me, are they?"
In his excitement, his hands suddenly tightened, his arms unconsciously squeezing around Gui Mei's neck.
Gui Mei nearly had the breath choked out of him.
He raised a hand and patted Yue Guan's arm. "...Let go."
Only then did Yue Guan notice what he was doing. He hurriedly released him and stepped half a pace away, chuckling. "Sorry, I got a little excited just now."
Gui Mei gave him a helpless glance and straightened his collar. "Let's go take a look."
The two quickly walked over to the cooking counter.
Gui Yuan had just finished what he was working on. He looked up, saw them, and smiled. "First Dad, Second Dad, what brings you here?"
Yue Guan did not answer his question, instead pointing straight beneath him. "What's going on with your second Soul Ring? When did it turn black?"
Gui Yuan glanced down at the Soul Rings beneath him, feigning realization. "Oh, that? It just changed."
"How did it change?" Yue Guan pressed.
Gui Yuan thought for a moment. "Just like when I first obtained my first Soul Ring two years ago. The Soul Rings automatically increased in age."
Yue Guan and Gui Mei both froze.
Yue Guan drew in a deep breath. "Another reward from that deity?"
Gui Yuan nodded. "Maybe?"
He paused, then added, "Actually, my Soul Rings already increased in age once a year ago, but their colors didn't undergo a qualitative change then, so I didn't tell you two for the time being."
Yue Guan's eyes went wide. "In other words, there's a very good chance your Soul Rings will increase in age every year?"
Gui Yuan tilted his head. "Maybe? I'm not too sure either."
Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged a glance.
Both saw shock in the other's eyes.
An ability that could increase Soul Ring ages every year was far too heaven-defying.
Yue Guan steadied his emotions. "You'd better tell your teacher about this."
"If your Soul Rings really can increase in age every year, we'll have to change our choices of Soul Beasts for your two Martial Souls again going forward."
Under normal circumstances, when Soul Masters hunted Soul Beasts, they would certainly prioritize those that were older and suitable.
For example, suppose a Soul Master's absorption limit for his fifth Soul Ring was just over ten thousand years, and he now had two choices before him.
One was to absorb an extremely rare five-thousand-year Soul Ring; the other was to absorb an ordinary ten-thousand-year Soul Ring.
Ninety-nine percent of Soul Masters would choose the latter, because its age was ten thousand years-a qualitative change.
There was no way they would pass up a ten-thousand-year fifth Soul Ring and choose a thousand-year one instead. Even a rare bloodline would be of no use.
There was a qualitative difference between thousand-year and ten-thousand-year Soul Rings. Once the fifth Soul Ring was a thousand-year one, even if the Soul Master could attain a title in the future, their ceiling would be locked at around Level 92.
Without a heaven-defying opportunity, breaking through to Level 93 or Level 94 would be almost impossible.