Seeing Kong Xuan's respectful attitude, Yun Ming nodded in satisfaction. "Mm! Rise!"
Once Kong Xuan raised his head, their relationship as master and disciple was formally established.
"I have already examined you. With your current physique, the maximum age of a Soul Ring you can absorb is 378 years."
Yun Ming quickly settled into his role as a teacher, already referring to himself as Kong Xuan's master.
Kong Xuan listened quietly without interrupting, but quite a few thoughts welled up in his mind.
In Kong Xuan's view, much of the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul proposed by Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang ten thousand years ago was nonsense.
The maximum Soul Ring ages he had compiled for Soul Masters of each rank seemed to point the way for absorbing Soul Rings, but upon closer consideration, they were riddled with holes.
For instance, the maximum age for a first Soul Ring was 423 years. That was simply far too precise.
When hunting for Soul Rings, there was no way to determine a Soul Beast's exact age.
Now that ten thousand years had passed, times and circumstances had changed, and Grandmaster's theories were even less suited to the present.
Still, Kong Xuan really did feel that 378 years was a little too low.
As an orphan, Kong Xuan had lacked proper nutrition since childhood. It seemed that this had affected not only his development, but now his cultivation as well.
Seeing Kong Xuan's tightly furrowed brows, Yun Ming added, "But there is no need to worry. As you continue cultivating, the age of your Soul Rings can keep increasing. This is one of the benefits I bring you, and it will also be the foundation for you to surpass others!"
At these words, Kong Xuan's brows gradually relaxed. He did not seem to have awakened any golden finger since transmigrating, so now Yun Ming was his golden finger!
Although he did not know the configuration of Yun Ming's Soul Rings, Kong Xuan knew that, thanks to the Spirit Ascension Platform ten thousand years in the future, this ready-made teacher of his must have had absolutely terrifying Soul Rings.
And now, all of that would be his too!
Kong Xuan's expression shifted slightly, and he asked, "Teacher, can you only give me Soul Rings? Are there no Soul Spirits?"
"You brat certainly ask for a lot!"
Yun Ming seemed to laugh out of exasperation. Then a look of reminiscence appeared on his face. "Back then, I shattered my own Quasi-God divine seat. I thought my death was certain, but I never imagined I would encounter such an opportunity, traveling upstream along the river of time to arrive ten thousand years in the past."
Only then did Kong Xuan learn that Yun Ming had transmigrated from the moment when the Holy Spirit Cult attacked Shrek Academy with rank-twelve Fixed Soul Cannons.
"It was already a blessing from heaven that all my Soul Power could be preserved. Forget about Soul Spirits!"
Yun Ming smiled, then fixed his gaze on Kong Xuan. "But you know so much, brat. Could you have transmigrated here from an era after mine?"
Kong Xuan's expression turned evasive as he considered how to answer that question.
Seeing his dilemma, Yun Ming snorted. "If you do not want to answer, forget it. But do not think of making up lies to deceive your master!"
Kong Xuan gave an awkward smile. "How could I? It's just rather complicated to explain, but you wouldn't be wrong to think of it that way, Teacher."
"Very well!" Yun Ming shook his head. "Everyone has secrets. Since you do not want to tell me, I will not ask."
But then Yun Ming changed the subject. "Still, there is something I very much want to know. What became of Shrek Academy after my death?"
He was the master of the Sea God Pavilion, after all. His feelings for Shrek Academy truly ran deep!
Meeting Yun Ming's expectant gaze, Kong Xuan grew solemn and said gravely, "Teacher, you shattered your divine seat, blocked two rank-twelve Fixed Soul Cannon shells, and killed several Titled Douluo from the Holy Spirit Cult. But the Holy Spirit Cult deployed a large number of Fixed Soul Cannons in that attack, and Shrek Academy was destroyed in a single day!"
Yun Ming's expression darkened. Although he had already guessed this outcome, hearing it with his own ears still made his entire body tense, his heart feeling as though it were being cut by knives. He had sinned against Shrek!
Kong Xuan continued, "But your powerful intervention also preserved a spark for Shrek Academy. Through their efforts, Shrek Academy was eventually rebuilt. Its prestige was no less than before, and it remained the continent's number one academy!"
At those words, a trace of a smile finally appeared on Yun Ming's slightly pale face. "Shrek Academy did not meet its end in my hands. Then I can rest easy!"
"My disciple, it is time for you to condense your Soul Ring!"
Having received his answer, Yun Ming seemed to have laid down the burden in his heart, and the way he addressed Kong Xuan changed as well.
As those words reached his ears, Kong Xuan felt the world spin around him again before he finally regained control of his body.
He opened his eyes. He was still sitting on the bed.
"Focus your mind and prepare to condense your Soul Ring!"
Yun Ming's voice rang out again, and Kong Xuan hurriedly adjusted his state and began concentrating.
Under Yun Ming's guidance, he felt the Soul Power within him begin to surge, gradually spilling outward.
Although this change produced no unusual phenomena, the spreading Soul Power still roused Kong Ling from her meditation opposite him.
Her eyes widened as she sensed the surging presence around her older brother. A ring gradually took shape, enclosing Kong Xuan within it.
The ring was white at first, but as the Soul Power emanating from Kong Xuan gradually flowed into it, its color began to change.
Yellow gradually mingled with the white, and the yellow portion steadily expanded.
In the end, the ring surrounding Kong Xuan turned pale yellow. Light rippled across it, and it gave off an inexplicable presence.
Kong Ling covered her little mouth, doing her best not to make a sound.
After Fang Sheng's lessons over the past two days, Kong Ling also knew that after killing a Soul Beast, one could absorb something called a Soul Ring.
But what was this thing that had appeared around her older brother?
It looked very much like a Soul Ring, but they had not killed any Soul Beasts yet.
At that moment, Kong Ling's little head was filled with enormous questions.
Kong Xuan opened his eyes and looked at the pale yellow Soul Ring surrounding him, his eyes filled with fascination.
In an instant, the Soul Ring vanished, and the imposing presence emanating from him dissipated as well.
Peace returned to the dormitory, as though none of it had ever happened.
Kong Xuan saw that his younger sister was still covering her mouth, her exposed eyes filled with astonishment.
Looking at her, he smiled and said, "Don't tell anyone about this for now!"
At his words, Kong Ling lowered her hands and nodded emphatically, looking as though she were making a solemn promise.
The siblings had depended on each other since childhood. Having transmigrated, Kong Xuan was mature beyond his years and practically cared for his younger sister as though she were his daughter.
Thus, Kong Ling was deeply attached to her older brother, and naturally carried out his words without the slightest compromise.
Mingdu, Sun Moon Empire.
Right beside the imperial palace stood a magnificent building cast entirely from sun moon adamantine.
The entire hall was silvery white, with pale blue soul tool patterns flowing across its surface, flickering bright and dim like living things with the fluctuations of Soul Power.
Inside the hall, countless intricate Soul Tools were displayed on either side. Some were unfinished experimental products, while others were strategic-grade soul weapons capable of turning the tide of battle.
A faint scent of metal mingled with Soul Power permeated the air. Occasionally, the soft sound of turning gears could be heard, as though the entire hall itself were a vast, intricate machine.
This was the highest sanctuary in the hearts of countless Soul Engineers of the Sun Moon Empire-the Worship Hall!
Deep within the Offering Hall, an old man in a bright yellow robe sat before a desk made from Starfall Iron.
Even seated, he was clearly exceptionally tall and broad, with short gray-white hair standing upright strand by strand.
He was the master of the Sun Moon Empire's Worship Hall, Silver Moon Douluo-Kong Deming!
Kong Deming tapped his fingers lightly on the desktop, his gaze deep and calm as he studied the soul tool blueprints in his hands, his thoughts unknown.
"Teacher!"
A voice rang out, interrupting Kong Deming's thoughts.
Kong Deming looked up to see a man in silver Soul Engineer robes walk in. It was his disciple, Xuan Ziwen.
Xuan Ziwen approached Kong Deming and presented a pitch-black letter with both hands.
"This letter was sent by Shiquan Junior Soul Engineer Academy on the empire's border. The messenger said they have found blood relatives of yours, Teacher."