As Su Yun finished speaking, the elders' eyes lit up.
Anyone with even a little knowledge of high-ranking Soul Masters could understand what having a ten-thousand-year fourth ring meant.
Anyone who could obtain a ten-thousand-year fourth Soul Ring was a dazzling, extraordinary genius of their era.
Even in an era with many Titled Douluos, those who could obtain a ten-thousand-year fourth ring were geniuses capable of towering over an entire age.
In particular, the very first person to achieve a ten-thousand-year fourth ring had outright become a god.
This was something Shrek had always publicized, practically wishing everyone knew about it.
But even at Shrek, which publicized this feat, as far as the elders knew, no one seemed to have achieved a ten-thousand-year fourth ring in a hundred years. That showed just how much weight it carried.
A genius of that caliber would shine with dazzling brilliance wherever they were placed.
Not only did their physical strength have to reach the level of rank fifty at rank forty, but their spiritual power also had to withstand Soul Shock. It was a dual test of body and mind.
Few could pass that test, but once someone truly did, the foundation laid by a ten-thousand-year fourth ring was terrifying. A fifth ring over thirty thousand years old and a sixth ring over fifty thousand years old would no longer be difficult.
When absorbing Soul Rings beyond the usual limits became routine, even with a slightly weaker Martial Soul, reaching the realm of Titled Douluo would only be a matter of time. Besides, the Su Clan's Martial Soul was not weak.
In the Sun Moon Empire, which suffered from such an extreme shortage of geniuses, the resources available to a genius who would be considered one even among Titled Douluos would be a terrifying number.
"Young clan leader, you are wise. With the Pulse-Protecting Pill, there is no need to worry about a rank-forty Soul Master being unable to withstand the Soul Power impact of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. We need only purchase a ten-thousand-year spiritual-type Soul Bone, and a top genius with a ten-thousand-year fourth ring will emerge from our clan. Then our clan will no longer lack the resources needed for the Titled Douluo realm."
The elders spoke excitedly.
At that, Su Yun glanced at them and silently shook his head.
"There's no need to buy a Soul Bone. The family doesn't seem to have much money left to buy a good one anyway. I have another method for that. Second Elder, Third Elder, you both understand the power of Ring Detonation now. Go capture a twenty-thousand-year Purple Lightning Netherworld Python in a little while. Remember, don't injure it too badly."
"Yes."
"Young miss."
"Young miss."
"Young miss."
When Su Qingxue returned to the clan, everyone greeted her with bows, their attitudes more respectful than ever.
That even included the clan's Soul Saint elders, leaving Su Qingxue a little bewildered.
She could understand everyone else being polite to her, but even her father, the clan leader, had to treat the Soul Saint elders courteously. They were not her subordinates, so why was each one more courteous than the last?
In fact, compared with ordinary clan members, the elders who had once regarded her as nothing more than a junior were the most courteous of all.
"Little brother, what happened at home while I was at school? Did Father break through? That can't be right. He's only been a Soul Saint for a few years. Dad hadn't even reached rank seventy-five when I left last time, had he?"
Only when Su Qingxue saw Su Yun did she find someone she could talk to. She grabbed him, pulled him into her room, and asked.
"Well, not long ago, the clan elders voted to make me the young clan leader. They were so enthusiastic that I was too embarrassed to refuse, so I reluctantly took the position."
Su Qingxue fell silent for a moment. "Did your Martial Soul mutate?"
"No, but..."
Su Yun snapped his fingers. Then a purple Soul Ring slowly rose beneath his feet, making Su Qingxue's pupils tremble violently.
"A thousand-year first ring! How is that possible!"
Su Qingxue rubbed her eyes. Compared with a thousand-year first ring, she felt it was more likely that something was wrong with her eyes.
"Sis, you're not seeing things. I told you before that I was researching some things. Now I've succeeded. Absorbing Soul Rings beyond the usual limits will become normal for the Su Clan's Soul Masters."
"Absorbing Soul Rings beyond the usual limits... normal?" Su Qingxue murmured, then suddenly thought of something.
"Little brother, no one else knows about this, right?"
"No. Even among the Su Clan's higher-ups, only a handful know. The Su Clan isn't strong enough to safeguard this yet, so it's a top secret known only within the upper ranks."
"That's good."
Su Qingxue breathed a sigh of relief. Once word of absorbing Soul Rings beyond the usual limits got out, what the Su Clan would most likely face was not some peaceful transaction, but annihilation at the hands of a major power that would force them to reveal the method.
From then on, absorbing Soul Rings beyond the usual limits would become something exclusively controlled by that major power.
"Let's go, Sis. Your fourth Soul Ring is ready. The clan can't possess a method for absorbing Soul Rings beyond the usual limits, but it can have a particular genius who successfully does so."
Hearing that, Su Qingxue wanted to ask Su Yun what he would do. Was he not going to study at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy afterward?
But when she thought of Su Yun's thousand-year first ring, his situation would invite far more probing questions than her absorbing a Soul Ring beyond the usual limits.
And the Su Clan could not withstand that kind of probing.
"A Purple Lightning Netherworld Python? A twenty-thousand-year Purple Lightning Netherworld Python, at that! Can I really absorb this?"
When she saw the Soul Beast Su Yun had prepared for her, even though Su Qingxue had already prepared herself for absorbing a Soul Ring beyond the usual limits, she was still shocked.
The normal absorption limit for a fourth Soul Ring was only around five thousand years. Whale rubber could improve that a little, but only a little. Those who absorbed a six-thousand-year fourth Soul Ring were exceedingly rare.
Yet Su Yun had prepared a twenty-thousand-year one for her, fully four times the normal absorption limit.
That Soul Ring would be more than sufficient even as a sixth Soul Ring.
"Of course. The Purple Lightning Netherworld Python is more than happy to be absorbed by you."
The moment Su Yun finished speaking, the Purple Lightning Netherworld Python fixed its gaze on him. As a twenty-thousand-year Soul Beast, it had already developed a degree of self-awareness, enough to understand what Su Yun said.
The only reason it was not roaring now was that its mouth was sealed. Otherwise, it would have wanted to swallow Su Yun whole.
"Little brother, are you serious?" Su Qingxue looked at Su Yun, then at the Purple Lightning Netherworld Python, wondering when her little brother had learned to lie so naturally.
"Of course. I'm not lying."
As he spoke, Su Yun walked over to the Purple Lightning Netherworld Python and gently patted him.
"I have a special secret technique that can extract the Purple Lightning Netherworld Python's soul and preserve it intact. That way, it can live in your Sea of Consciousness, Sis, and even appear beside you to fight alongside you."
"That will bind your fates together. Only if you successfully absorb this Soul Ring can it survive."
"And if you have the chance to become a god in the future, Sis, it could even have its body reconstructed and live another life, just like the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape who followed Sea God Tang San ten thousand years ago."
At those words, the Purple Lightning Netherworld Python visibly froze for a moment, but immediately afterward, it proudly turned its head away.
As a Purple Lightning Netherworld Python, it possessed the pride of its kind. Though it was at someone else's mercy, it would never submit to a human.
At worst, they would perish together. A Purple Lightning Netherworld Python would never be a slave!
"Little brother, it looks ready to die rather than yield. Are you sure it really wants to follow me?"
At that, Su Yun looked at the Purple Lightning Netherworld Python and frowned at its proud demeanor.
"It really does seem that this won't work. This Purple Lightning Netherworld Python is too proud. It doesn't look willing to cooperate."
With that, Su Yun sighed. "Forget it. This Purple Lightning Netherworld Python has its own unbending pride. I'm afraid it won't agree to become your Soul Ring, Sis."
"First Elder, take him away. I happen to be craving snake hot pot. Remember to slice off the meat while keeping it alive. Even though it can't become my sister's fourth ring, that kind of pain should be enough to make him drop a Soul Bone."
"I'm truly sorry. You and my sister had the chance to meet, but weren't destined to be together. I can only ask the elders to catch another, more obedient Purple Lightning Netherworld Python."
Once Su Yun finished speaking, the First Elder rose and walked toward the Purple Lightning Netherworld Python.
In an instant, fright cleared the Purple Lightning Netherworld Python's eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, it swiftly crawled to Su Qingxue's feet and rubbed its head ingratiatingly against them. Su Qingxue could even see flattery in the Purple Lightning Netherworld Python's eyes.
Su Qingxue: "..."
"I still preferred you wild and untamed."