"I didn't make this up to get you to keep helping me find this kind of Auspicious Beast. I really do have that feeling..." Ye Lingling immediately explained after coming back to her senses, afraid Ling Yu would think she was making excuses.
"Don't worry. I suspect that information was a lingering blessing the power of destiny left you. But encountering an Auspicious Beast like this was already a stroke of heaven-sent fortune. The fortune it carried wasn't particularly great, so even our little group could weather it. Anything greater would probably be hard to imagine..."
Everyone nodded lightly at his words.
"Since we've finished what we came to do, let's head back," Ye Yilan said.
"True. After living like savages for so many days, it's time to go home and get some proper rest." Dugu Yan stretched, never having felt life was so carefree.
The group left the Sunset Forest at a brisk pace.
"Once we reach Heaven Dou City, I'll head home first. We've been away so long that Grandpa must be getting worried. I need to let him know I'm safe." After boarding the carriage, Dugu Yan suddenly spoke softly, breaking the brief silence.
"I'll take Lingling home. I won't let her return to school until she's finished fusing completely. I'll bring you the family's compensation then." Ye Yilan took the opportunity to share her plans as well.
Ye Lingling's expression dimmed. She stole a glance at Ling Yu and saw that he, too, seemed a little downcast and distracted. An inexplicable flutter stirred in her heart.
"Senior Su Yao and I will return to school." Coming back to his senses, Ling Yu also shared his plans.
"Then see you at school!" Dugu Yan brought this Soul Hunting expedition to a perfect close.
"Oh, right, Ye Lingling. Have you compared your Soul Skill's effects with the third-ring skills of Nine Heart Begonia Soul Masters from past generations?" Suddenly remembering there were still a few things he could confirm, Ling Yu hurriedly asked.
"Why aren't you calling her Lingling anymore?" A glint of mischief flashed in Dugu Yan's eyes, and her lips curved like a devil's wicked smile.
"Ahem..." Ling Yu gave a quiet cough.
A blush spread across Ye Lingling's face, and she lowered her head slightly. Then her lips parted, her voice exceedingly soft. "It's all right... you can keep... calling me that..."
Su Yao sighed inwardly, then turned to look out the window, pretending she had neither heard nor seen anything.
After the incident with the Soul Bone, Ye Yilan had completely let down her guard against Ling Yu as well. She closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.
"Then... all right... I'll call you Lingling."
"Mm..."
"All right, all right. Lingling, hurry up and answer him." Seeing how awkward the two were being, Dugu Yan immediately steered the conversation back.
"The records say that most Nine Heart Begonia third-ring skills can only provide preliminary healing for broken bones, which still can't bear any strain. But my Soul Skill can completely heal the fracture, and even its Soul Power consumption is very low."
Ye Lingling knew how important research was to Ling Yu. Composing herself, she told him everything she knew. After all, she had already promised to open the Nine Heart Begonia family's secret archives to him, and this knowledge was included among them.
"It seems to have formed an exclusive Soul Skill similar to a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, only restricted by the Nine Heart Begonia's origin. Still, this Soul Skill should be very complete." Ling Yu lowered his eyes in thought for a moment, then nodded lightly.
"A complete Soul Skill?" Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling asked curiously in unison. Those words also piqued the two Soul Saints' interest, and they stopped playing dead. The same thought rose in both their minds: Teacher Ling Yu's class is in session!
"For example, a Hundred-Year Soul Ring's fire-attribute attack might only be a little fireball, while a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring's fire-attribute attack might be a fire dragon. That's the difference in a Soul Skill's completeness. The greater the age, the more complete it is."
"Another difference lies in the Soul Beast's bloodline. The higher its bloodline, the stronger the Soul Skill's effects."
Suddenly, something occurred to Ling Yu. He took out paper and a pen and began to write-
The significance of a Soul Ring's age: unlocking the level cap; tempering the body to improve its attributes so bottlenecks would not occur; influencing Soul Skill completeness, such as Soul Skill quality; amplifying Soul Skill damage, such as Soul Skill power; Soul Skill consumption; and, most importantly, storing Soul Power.
Then would increasing a Soul Ring's age improve the Soul Skill's completeness? Could it continue tempering the body? What could be confirmed were increased Soul Power storage and amplified Soul Skill damage.
The secret Ring Detonation technique...
"Does he do this often?" Watching Ling Yu suddenly take out paper and a pen to think, Dugu Yan quietly asked Su Yao beside her.
"Quite often." Su Yao glanced at her, looking somewhat helpless.
"No wonder. Only this way of thinking, writing down inspiration as soon as it strikes, could make him so extraordinary." Ye Yilan sighed softly.
A gleam flashed through Ye Lingling's eyes, especially at Ye Yilan's praise. Though her face remained expressionless, delight welled up in her heart.
When Ling Yu put away his paper and pen after his thoughts hit a wall, Dugu Yan spoke. "Great genius, finished thinking?"
Ling Yu's cheeks warmed slightly. Instinctively, he raised a hand to scratch between his brows, his tone carrying a hint of embarrassment. "Sorry. Inspiration flashed through my mind just now. I was afraid I'd forget it in an instant if I didn't write it down right away."
Seeing him like this, a trace of curiosity crossed Dugu Yan's eyes. She leaned forward slightly and asked, "What were you thinking about just now? Can you tell us?"
Ling Yu handed over his notes, and the four gathered together to read them.
Before long, all four froze, disbelief surging through their eyes as they blurted out, "A Soul Ring's age can actually be increased?"
An increase through a God Trial is easy enough to explain. Higher-dimensional divine power solves everything. Aside from that, there are Spiritual Origin and Tang San's Origin Soul Rings. Then why don't Xiao Wu's Soul Rings improve along with her strength?
Spiritual Origin, spiritual power... Thoughts churned through Ling Yu's mind.
"Hey, hey, great genius!" Dugu Yan called to Ling Yu, who had fallen deep into thought again.
"Sorry!" Ling Yu came back to his senses.
"Can a Soul Ring's age really be increased? How is it done?"
"I read about it in a book. I'm still not too clear on the specifics. Let's talk about it once I have some research results." After thinking it over, Ling Yu did not reveal what he knew. After all, it was far too earth-shattering.
"All right. The things you research are always so strange." The others stopped pressing him and returned his notes.
At the gates of Heaven Dou City, they each hired a carriage and went home.
The Dugu Family estate, Heaven Dou City-
Dugu Yan had barely stepped through the door when a voice reached her ears. "Why did it take you so long to return? Wasn't that Ye Family child hunting for a Soul Ring? Wouldn't finding any Thousand-Year Soul Beast have settled it?"
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Dugu Bo sensed something amiss and appeared before Dugu Yan in a flash.
"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan threw herself into Dugu Bo's arms.
"Yanyan, you..." Indeed, Dugu Bo had discovered that much of the innate poison in his granddaughter's body had already been cleared.
"A Titled Douluo really is something. You noticed so quickly. I wanted to surprise you."
"You little girl..." Dugu Bo was filled with affection, and even his nose stung a little.
It's all my fault. I took the path of poison, and as a result, Xin'er and Yue'er both died. Even Yanyan...
The gods have blessed us... Towering waves surged through Dugu Bo's heart.
"Yanyan, just what did you experience over these past few days?"
"Grandpa, let me tell you..."