Choice

"As a low-grade martial soul, it actually has great advantages when it comes to obtaining soul rings. Just like Little San's Blue Silver Grass martial soul, being ordinary means it is highly adaptable. In other words, your martial soul can absorb almost any type of soul ring. That is what will be most useful to you."

The Grandmaster truly lived up to his name. After his explanation, Hu Jiu's eyes lit up, and a certain thought in his heart suddenly became clear.

"If that's the case, then the effect of my First Soul Ring should be to increase cultivation speed."

On Douluo Continent, every soul master had to cultivate. It was a lifelong endeavor. Hu Jiu's cultivation talent was not particularly good, so he could only find a solution through soul rings.

And for that, he needed the Grandmaster's help. There were countless soul beasts in the world, and the effects of the same soul beast's soul ring differed depending on the soul master who absorbed it. Naturally, he had to consult the Grandmaster if he wanted to obtain the effect he needed.

"Mm. A soul ring that improves cultivation efficiency is something every soul master desires. Unfortunately, among the several thousand auxiliary soul rings I have studied, only three can improve cultivation efficiency."

The Grandmaster glanced blandly at Hu Jiu, as though looking at a fool. Even so, he explained, "The first is the Moonlight Beast. This soul beast only exists in the Star Dou Great Forest, and it is extremely rare. Unless you are willing to pay an enormous price, you will never find one."

"What about the other two?" Hu Jiu had already ruled out the Moonlight Beast. He had neither money nor influence, so he had no hope of finding such a rare and elusive soul beast.

"The second is the Sun Flower. This plant-type soul beast is not difficult to find; there are some in the Soul Hunting Forest. However, if you use it as a soul ring, the chance of gaining an effect that improves cultivation efficiency is only one in ten, perhaps even lower. You must consider this carefully."

Out of consideration for Hu Jiu being Tang San's fellow villager and friend, the Grandmaster kindly offered this reminder.

"A one-in-ten chance? That's practically like winning the lottery. Not choosing that."

Hu Jiu looked expectantly at the Grandmaster. There was still the last one he had not mentioned!

"As for the last one, don't place any hope on it either. It is called the Sky Swallowing Toad. Its effect does indeed increase the cultivation speed of soul power, but it can only increase it by one percent, one-thousandth, or even less. That effect might as well not exist."

After explaining, the Grandmaster said nothing more and let Hu Jiu lower his head in thought beside him.

Should he gamble or not?

Hu Jiu was deeply conflicted. He wanted to use the Sky Swallowing Toad as his soul ring. Though the increase in cultivation speed was indeed low, he still had the AFK Panel. If the skill attached to the soul ring could also be improved through AFK training, then there was nothing left to consider.

The key was that he was not sure whether the skills on a soul ring could be AFK-trained.

That was what troubled him the most.

"Xiao Jiu, how about you stop insisting on this kind of soul ring effect? There are so many soul beasts in the world. Why do you have to choose one that improves cultivation speed?" Seeing Hu Jiu caught in a dilemma, Tang San finally could not help reminding him.

Normally, Tang San would not meddle in a soul ring choice that concerned a soul master's entire life. But seeing Hu Jiu so conflicted, he ultimately could not hold back.

Tang San's words brought Hu Jiu back to his senses. He nodded, then turned to the Grandmaster. "Grandmaster, I've decided. I want the Sky Swallowing Toad. Can you introduce this soul beast to me in detail?"

He would gamble!

It was only a soul ring. Besides, it was merely a low-grade soul ring. No matter how good its effect was, it could not defy the heavens. But if he guessed right, it truly could defy the heavens!

If the AFK Panel could raise the level of the skill's effect, then even if it did not increase cultivation efficiency tenfold or a hundredfold, just doubling it would already make it worthwhile.

"Alright, then I'll introduce the Sky Swallowing Toad to you..."

A while later, Hu Jiu left the Grandmaster's residence with a calm expression. In his hand, he held a token—the Grandmaster's Spirit Hall identification token.

"Xiao Jiu, have you really decided to choose the Sky Swallowing Toad as your First Soul Ring?" That evening, after finishing his lesson with the Grandmaster, Tang San hurried straight to Hu Jiu's place.

"Yes." Hu Jiu nodded, as though he were simply choosing what to eat that day.

"Didn't you understand what Master said? The Sky Swallowing Toad's Soul Ring Year Limit is only a few decades at most. There is no Hundred Year Sky Swallowing Toad at all, and the soul ring skill you gain won't have a good effect either. Xiao Jiu, think it over again. Let's choose a Hundred Year Soul Beast instead. If you're worried about our safety, rest assured. I can't guarantee anything else, but I can handle a Hundred Year Soul Ring."

Faced with Tang San's earnest persuasion, his assurances, and his concerned advice, Hu Jiu felt warmth in his heart. Tang San truly had great personal charm.

At first, Hu Jiu had still harbored some thoughts of using Tang San, but after truly spending time with him, he had gradually begun to regard him as a real brother.

"Don't worry, Little San. I chose the Sky Swallowing Toad as my First Soul Ring after careful consideration. Listen to my sophistry—no, explanation."

Tang San calmed down. "Go on!"

"Mm, how should I put this? In the knowledge we've learned, it says that a soul master's Soul Ring Year Limit cannot be changed, right?" Hu Jiu asked as he looked at Tang San.

"That's right. It's common knowledge." Tang San nodded.

"Then let me tell you, I don't believe this common knowledge." Hu Jiu said seriously.

"You..." Tang San sometimes truly wanted to crack open Hu Jiu's head and see what was inside. Wasn't the fact that Soul Ring Year Limits could not be increased something their predecessors had long established? Hu Jiu was only a few years old, yet he dared to question it.

"Listen to me. In my view, whether it's soul power or soul rings, they are both our own strength. There's no dispute about that, right?"

"Yes, soul power and soul rings are both our strength." Tang San nodded.

"Since they are our own strength, why can't soul rings be improved through cultivation like soul power?" Hu Jiu countered.

"This..." Tang San fell silent. Hu Jiu's words sounded like twisted logic, but when he thought about them carefully, they seemed to make sense. Since soul rings were also part of one's own strength, why could they not be improved through cultivation?

"I think there are two reasons why people say soul rings cannot be improved."

Hu Jiu raised a finger. "First, those who say this cannot truly control their own soul rings. By control, I do not mean releasing or withdrawing a soul ring. I mean controlling the power of the soul ring—simply put, treating the soul ring as a part of your body and controlling it as such, like controlling its size, its strength, and so on."

"And the second?" Tang San was drawn in by Hu Jiu's words and could not wait to hear more.

Hu Jiu's claim was crazy, but the more one thought about it, the more it seemed reasonable. And if what Hu Jiu said was true, then all of Douluo Continent would change because of him.

"Heh heh heh. As for the second point, it's simple. Even if soul rings can be improved through cultivation, so what? With that spare time, wouldn't it be better to work hard at improving your soul power and raising your own level? If you had to choose, would you spend your time increasing your level or increasing the power of your soul ring?"

"Uh...!!!!!" Tang San.