After leaving Shrek Academy, Dugu Bo returned to the Dugu Manor. As soon as he stepped into the living room, he saw a tall, slender figure standing by the window, seemingly admiring the moonlight outside.
Hearing the noise, the man turned around. Dugu Bo saw him and immediately smiled. This man was none other than his disciple, Lin Yan.
"Teacher, you're back." Lin Yan smiled slightly. "Did you go to see Tang San?"
Dugu Bo wasn't surprised that Lin Yan could guess his whereabouts; his disciple was meticulous and had exceptional insight. He walked to the main seat, poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and then replied, "Yes, I've met him."
He put down the tea cup and looked at Lin Yan with a trace of emotion that had not yet completely dissipated in his eyes. "That boy is good, quick-thinking, and courageous. His understanding of pharmacology, especially toxicology, is profound. If it weren't for a little monster like you, Zhuyu, he would probably be the most monster I have ever seen in my life."
It was rare for Dugu Bo to praise an outsider so openly, which showed that Tang San's performance today had truly impressed him. He continued, "Moreover, I really have to thank him this time. At the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he pointed out the characteristics, effects, and even harvesting taboos of many herbs that I didn't recognize, saving me countless hours of tedious work. In the future, my research on poison techniques will have a clearer direction, and I will be able to avoid those potential troubles."
Lin Yan listened quietly, his face showing no surprise, as if he had already anticipated Tang San's expertise in herbs. He nodded and said calmly, "He is indeed a good person, with a resilient character and great fortune. Teacher, unless absolutely necessary, we should try not to stand against him."
"Hmm, I understand." Dugu Bo responded, acknowledging Lin Yan's suggestion. He looked around and then realized something was missing, casually asking, "Why are you alone? Where's Yanyan?"
Lin Yan replied, " Sister Yan is still practicing at the academy. She said she's had some recent insights and wants to consolidate them. I came back specifically to see you."
"Oh? You specifically sought me out?" Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Lin Yan was extremely independent and rarely used the word "specifically."
Lin Yan stepped forward and stood in front of Dugu Bo.
He circulated his Soul Power, and a significantly stronger and more solid aura than before naturally flowed out.
"Teacher, I've reached level 40."
"What?! You're level 40?!" Dugu Bo jumped up from his seat, the chair sliding backward with a screeching sound as it scraped against the floor. His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.
Lin Yan nodded. "Yes, teacher, I just broke through recently."
Dugu Bo gasped, circled Lin Yan twice, and carefully probed with his Soul Power perception, finally confirming that it was indeed him. The shock on his face gradually turned into ecstasy, and then into a look that was almost like looking at a monster.
"Not even fourteen years old... Soul Ancestor who's not even fourteen! Hahaha!" Dugu Bo couldn't help but burst into laughter, his voice filled with satisfaction and pride. "Good! Good! Good! My disciple is indeed a prodigy! The so-called Golden Generation of the Spirit Hall, at your age, they probably wouldn't even be able to reach the peak of the Soul Elder, right? Hahahaha!"
He patted Lin Yan's shoulder forcefully; if Lin Yan hadn't been physically strong, he probably would have stumbled. "Tell me quickly, how did you break through? Did you feel any instability in your foundation?"
Lin Yan steadied himself, a warm feeling welling up inside him. He knew his teacher was just worried and confused. He explained in detail, "Teacher, don't worry, my foundation is very solid. The medicinal power of the few immortal Immortal Herb I took before wasn't fully absorbed and remained in my body. During this time, I've been diligently cultivating, and with my new understanding of Martial Soul and Soul Skill, it was a natural breakthrough without any strain."
Hearing Lin Yan say this, Dugu Bo was finally relieved, and his smile grew even brighter. Having such a disciple was truly Dugu Bo's greatest fortune.
After the initial joy, it was time to get down to business. Dugu Bo's smile faded, and he said seriously, "Now that we've reached level forty, acquiring Soul Ring is the top priority. What are your thoughts on the Fourth Soul Ring?"
Lin Yan pondered for a moment, then said, " The Soul Beast I want needs to be around 30,000 years old, and it must be Plant-type Soul Beast. Moreover, its core characteristic must be extremely strong vitality, even possessing traits like 'immortality,' 'resurrection,' and 'nourishment from the source.' Only such Soul Ring can maximize the superimposed characteristics of my Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul's powerful vitality, perfectly connecting with my previous accumulation and promoting the evolution of my Martial Soul."
"A 30,000-year-old Plant-type Soul Beast, its core is its powerful vitality..." Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo frowned slightly, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table as he fell into deep thought.
The study fell silent for a moment, broken only by the occasional crackling of the lamp wick. After a long while, Dugu Bo slowly raised his head, looked at Lin Yan, shook his head, and said with a hint of helplessness, "If it were a poisonous, snake, or insect-type Soul Beast, I could immediately point you to a few that fit the age range. But these high-level Plant-type Soul Beast that specialize in vitality... I really don't have any information on them. I only learned about that ten-thousand-year-old Nine-Leaf Sword Grass by chance last time."
This answer was within Lin Yan's expectations. His teacher's Martial Soul and cultivation path were almost at opposite ends of the spectrum from those of a pure life-type Soul Beast.
"In that case," Lin Yan, undeterred, clearly having already planned ahead, "I'll need to make a trip to the Plant Academy."
" The Plant Academy?" Dugu Bo asked thoughtfully.
"Hmm," Lin Yan explained, "Although the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's library has a rich collection, including many records about Soul Beast, I've carefully examined it. The records about high-level Plant-type Soul Beast Soul Beast, especially those that match my requirements, are relatively vague, or the habitats mentioned are too unclear, with too much uncertainty. The Plant Academy is different. Their core tradition is Plant-type Martial Soul, and the research focus of generations of teachers and students has been on this. Their internal library or inherited notes are more likely to contain detailed information rarely known to the outside world about powerful Plant-type Soul Beast, even their specific discovery locations."
After listening, Dugu Bo agreed. Specialization is key, and the Plant Academy's expertise in Plant-type Martial Soul and Soul Beast is indeed unmatched by the comprehensive Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"Your line of thinking is correct. However," Dugu Bo pointed out the key issue, "The internal documents of the Plant Academy must be among its core secrets. You are not a student of the Plant Academy, so why would they allow an outsider like you to access such valuable information?"
Lin Yan smiled slightly, seemingly having already considered this. "Teacher, rest assured, I am quite confident about this matter."
"Years ago, I saved a student from the Plant Academy Plant Academy. She's always been grateful and has repeatedly invited me to visit, saying she wants to repay me properly. We met again at the last Soul Master Showdown, and she invited me to her academy once more. Since that's the case, I'll go this time under the guise of visiting a friend, and then see what happens. I'll try to use her connections to get permission to access their library and look at some materials. Even if I can't see the most crucial secrets, finding clues about Plant-type Soul Beast with a 30,000-year lifespan will be enough."
"Since that's the case, then go ahead." Dugu Bo finally made the decision. "Since you saved someone first, we can take advantage of that relationship. However, although the Plant Academy isn't a den of dragons and tigers, it's still someone else's territory. Be careful in everything you do, and keep your guard up. Do you need me to accompany you?"
"Thank you, teacher, but there's no need," Lin Yan politely declined. "I'm visiting in a private capacity. If you, a Titled Douluo, were to come in person, it would only attract unnecessary attention and speculation, making things more difficult. I will be careful."
Dugu Bo thought about it and agreed, so he didn't insist anymore. "Alright, you can go on your own. Remember, obtaining the Soul Ring is important, but your own safety is always the top priority. If anything goes wrong, send a message to me immediately."
"Yes, teacher!" Lin Yan bowed respectfully. "Then I will depart tomorrow."