In a clearing in the woods, Qin Ming looked up at the canopy, then returned his gaze to Fang Lin.
"That four-thousand-year Soul Ring you just mentioned was only a rough guess, I imagine. You had a few fortuitous encounters, and now you've grown careless about absorbing Soul Rings. Even if you succeed this time, what about the next? That attitude will get you killed sooner or later!"
Qin Ming's words struck Fang Lin like a blow from a staff.
Tang San had been able to bridge a gap of more than five thousand years at level forty and absorb a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, but he had not relied entirely on the ice and fire Immortal Herbs. He had also had the Eight Spider Lances, the Mysterious Heaven Skill, his own Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline, and perhaps even other things Fang Lin did not know about.
Tang San's ability to absorb a Soul Ring twice the usual limit did not mean Fang Lin could do the same and raise his Third Soul Ring from eighteen hundred years to four thousand.
If one misstep made his body explode and killed him, he might not be lucky enough to get another chance.
"Teacher Qin, I was too confident." A chill ran through Fang Lin's heart. He bowed deeply to Qin Ming, conflict on his face. "But you know my situation, Teacher Qin. My physique is far beyond an ordinary person's. If I just obediently absorb one within the normal age limit..."
"I know you're unwilling to settle for that." Qin Ming glanced sidelong at Fang Lin. "Since the academy began keeping records, quite a few students have thought the same way you do, but there have been very few deaths. Do you know why?"
"Uh, because they listened to advice?" Fang Lin looked sheepish.
"They did back down in the face of difficulty, but they all did so willingly." Qin Ming chuckled. "There's a way to test whether they can do it or not. It isn't entirely accurate, but it comes close."
As he spoke, a wisp of yellow flame sprang up around Qin Ming out of thin air. The muscles beneath his fitted clothes swelled, his eyes turned yellow, and five Soul Rings-two yellow and three purple-slowly rose from beneath his feet.
Qin Ming's Martial Soul was the Blazing Fire Wolf, a mutation of the Grey Wolf Martial Soul.
Unlike Yu Feng and Yu Tianheng during Beast Martial Soul Possession, Qin Ming had no obvious beastly features, such as wolf fur or sharp claws. The flames around him also vanished once he restrained his presence.
Once a Beast Soul Master reached a profound level of cultivation, he could freely control the beastly features that appeared during Martial Soul Possession. At the Titled Douluo level, he could even look no different from his normal self.
"Teacher Qin, is your method to have me compete with you physically?" Fang Lin was taken aback.
Physical strength, speed, defense, and even recovery in actual combat were all indicators of whether a person's physique was powerful.
"There's no need to go to that trouble." Qin Ming shook his head. "Don't use your Martial Soul or Soul Power. Let me see how long you can hold out."
As he spoke, a heavy, scorching presence spread out from Qin Ming, then largely gathered and locked onto Fang Lin.
At that moment, Fang Lin understood the test Qin Ming had mentioned.
Soul Power pressure.
To resist the Soul Power pressure of a higher-level Soul Master, a low-level Soul Master would normally release his Martial Soul and use his Soul Power to protect his body. Under normal circumstances, he could hold out against pressure at two-thirds of his own level.
There was another way: relying on neither Soul Power nor a Martial Soul, but on the body alone. This could indeed test a Soul Master's physical strength.
As the pressure descended, the air around Fang Lin abruptly froze, and an invisible force of gravity bore down on him from above.
"It's at about level thirty now. I'm going to increase it."
As Qin Ming spoke, it felt as though boulders were being piled onto Fang Lin one after another, their weight pressing tightly against his shoulders and limbs.
"Level thirty-two..." A trace of surprise appeared on Qin Ming's face. Fang Lin was only breathing slightly harder; clearly, he had not yet reached his limit.
"Level thirty-four..."
"Level thirty-eight..."
As the pressure continued to grow, Fang Lin's flesh tightened as though crushed by an invisible force. Faint, muffled sounds came from between his bones, and bloodshot veins appeared in his eyes.
"That seems about right."
Qin Ming restrained his Soul Power, and the heavy pressure enveloping Fang Lin vanished in an instant. The air seemed to flow freely again.
"Judging by that level, you can indeed absorb a Soul Ring far older than eighteen hundred years, but I recommend one around thirty-six hundred years old, and no more than thirty-eight hundred at most. The gap between levels thirty-eight and forty can't be judged by the average of the earlier levels."
Qin Ming's voice was tinged with amazement. A thirty-six-hundred-year Third Soul Ring was unprecedented. With the enhancement of such an extraordinary Soul Ring, the upper limit of the Soul Rings Fang Lin could absorb later would only rise.
Even with average talent, his future accomplishments would not be low.
"Hah... hah..."
Fang Lin gulped down air, recalling that final trace of pressure.
In the end, Fang Lin's body had not been crushed by the Soul Power. His consciousness had given out first, leaving his mind terribly muddled.
Level thirty-seven was not the limit of Fang Lin's body. Soul Power pressure tested not only the body, but also mental strength.
Qin Ming withdrew his Martial Soul, and the two continued down the mountain.
"Now that we've settled on the Soul Ring's age, let's talk about what direction yours should take."
This time, Qin Ming did not give Fang Lin an illustrated guide to browse. Instead, he planned to advise him directly.
"Your First Soul Ring boosts your strength and speed. For a Tool Soul Master, that's fairly standard. Your Second Soul Ring enhances armor penetration, a utility-type Soul Skill aimed at Defense System Soul Masters. Utility-type Soul Skills like this are very useful to Battle Soul Masters. Besides armor penetration, there are other directions to choose from, such as locking onto an enemy, closing in instantly, removing control effects, evading attacks, and even some less common methods of mental defense."
Fang Lin thought of Zhao Wuji, the Immovable Wisdom King. Several of his Soul Skills fell into the categories Qin Ming had just mentioned.
"Teacher Qin, are you suggesting that my Third Soul Ring should give me a utility-type Soul Skill?"
Qin Ming nodded. "That's right. These Soul Skills might not seem impressive early on, but once you reach a higher level, they're actually very useful. They can also make the most of your physical advantage. Especially when you encounter Soul Masters with high-quality Martial Souls-their methods come in all shapes and sizes, and these Soul Skills can often help you catch them off guard and win."
"I know a fire-type Soul Master who has a Soul Skill that can repel every enemy around him. Against an opponent like that, you wouldn't even have a chance to get close."
Fang Lin wholeheartedly agreed. Even setting aside Qin Ming's example, Yu Tianheng's Second Soul Skill had a paralysis attribute, and Fang Lin was unwilling to take it head-on.
"Teacher Qin, for my Third Soul Ring, I'd like a Soul Skill that can directly counter energy attacks or let me evade and close in. Do you know of anything suitable?"
As an academy teacher, Qin Ming had an extensive knowledge of Soul Beasts. After pondering for a moment, he slowly spoke.
"Off the top of my head, I can think of about three."
"The first is the Crane Feather Pattern Antelope. Among thousand-year Soul Beasts, its speed is second only to the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. It's also resistant to poison, freezing, and paralysis. Along with giving you a Soul Skill for closing in, it could greatly increase your resistance to those attributes."
"The second is the Void Pattern Jade Tapir, a rare species among Soul Beasts. It feeds on magma, and its tough skin can withstand most elemental Soul Skills. It also has the rare spatial attribute, but I can't be sure what kind of Soul Skill it would give you. It might lean toward elemental defense, or it might lean toward offense."
"The third is the Mysterious Nether Gold-Entwining Tree, a metal-attribute Plant-type Soul Beast that draws nourishment from ores and the remains of high-level Soul Beasts. In that respect, it's well suited to a Tool Martial Soul. If you choose it for your Soul Ring, you'll probably gain a Soul Skill that directly strengthens the tool soul itself. Combined with your strength, it would be impossible to directly crush other people's Soul Skills."