Choice

"As a low-grade martial soul, it actually had a great advantage when it came to obtaining Spirit Rings. Just like Little San's Blue Silver Grass martial soul, being ordinary meant it was highly adaptable. In other words, your martial soul could absorb almost any type of Spirit Ring. That was what would be most useful to you."

Grandmaster truly lived up to his name. After his explanation, Hu Jiu's eyes brightened, 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 something that increases cultivation speed."

On the Douluo Continent, every Soul Master had to cultivate. It was something that lasted throughout one's life. Hu Jiu's cultivation talent was not particularly good, so he could only think of ways to make up for it through his Spirit Ring.

But for that, he needed Grandmaster's help. There were countless Soul Beasts in the world, and even Spirit Rings from the same Soul Beast could produce different effects when used by different Soul Masters. If he wanted to obtain the Spirit Ring effect he needed, consulting Grandmaster was only natural.

"Mm, improving cultivation efficiency is the kind of Spirit Ring every Soul Master hopes for. Unfortunately, among the thousands of auxiliary Spirit Rings I have researched, there are only three that can improve cultivation efficiency."

Grandmaster glanced at Hu Jiu as if he were looking at a fool. Even so, he explained, "The first is the Moonlight Beast. This type of 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 Spirit Ring, the chance of obtaining an effect that improves cultivation is only one in ten, perhaps even lower. You should consider that carefully."

Since Hu Jiu was Tang San's fellow villager and friend, Grandmaster kindly offered him a reminder.

"A one-in-ten chance? Isn't that basically like winning the lottery? No way."

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

"As for the last one, don't get your hopes up. It is called the Sky Swallowing Toad. Its effect really does increase Soul Power cultivation speed, but only by one percent, one-thousandth, or perhaps even less. That effect is practically worse than having none at all."

After explaining this, Grandmaster said nothing more and simply let Hu Jiu lower his head in thought nearby.

Should I gamble or not?

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

The key was that he was not sure whether the skills on a Spirit Ring could be AFK trained.

That was what troubled him the most.

"Xiao Jiu, how about you stop pursuing this kind of Spirit Ring effect? There are so many Soul Beasts in the world. Why do you have to insist on increasing cultivation speed?" Seeing Hu Jiu trapped in indecision, Tang San finally could not help reminding him.

Normally, Tang San would not interfere in a choice of Spirit Ring that concerned a Soul Master's entire life. But seeing Hu Jiu struggle so much, he ultimately could not hold back.

Tang San's words brought Hu Jiu back to his senses. He nodded, then turned to Grandmaster. "Grandmaster, I've decided. I want the Sky Swallowing Toad. Could you tell me more about this Soul Beast?"

I'll gamble!

It was only a Spirit Ring. Besides, it was just a low-grade Spirit Ring. No matter how good its effect was, it could not possibly defy the heavens. But if he guessed right, then it truly could!

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

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

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

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

"Yes." Hu Jiu nodded as casually as if he were choosing what dishes to eat that day.

"Didn't you understand what Master said? The Sky Swallowing Toad's age limit is only a few decades at most. There has never been a Hundred Year Sky Swallowing Toad, and the Spirit Ring Skill it gives isn't good either. Xiao Jiu, think about it again. Let's choose a Hundred Year Soul Beast instead. If you're worried about our safety, you can rest assured. I can't guarantee anything else, but I can handle a Hundred Year Soul Ring."

Faced with Tang San's earnest assurances and concerned persuasion, Hu Jiu felt warmth in his heart. Tang San really did have a powerful personal charm.

At first, Hu Jiu had still harbored some thoughts of taking advantage of Tang San. But after truly spending time with him, he gradually came to treat him like 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—ah, no, my explanation."

Tang San calmed down. "Go on!"

"Well, how should I put it? In the knowledge we've learned, it says that a Soul Master's Soul Ring Year Limit cannot be changed, right?" Hu Jiu asked Tang San.

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

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

"You..." Sometimes Tang San truly wanted to pry open Hu Jiu's head and see what was inside. The fact that Soul Ring Year Limits could not increase had long been established by countless predecessors. Hu Jiu was only a child, yet he dared to question it.

"Listen to me. In my view, whether it's Soul Power or a Spirit Ring, both are powers that belong to us. There's no arguing with that, right?"

"Yes, Soul Power and Spirit Rings are both our powers." Tang San nodded.

"Since they are our own powers, why can't Spirit Rings improve through cultivation like Soul Power can?" Hu Jiu asked in return.

"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 a Spirit Ring was also part of one's own power, why could it not improve through cultivation?

"I think there are two reasons why people say Spirit Rings cannot improve."

Hu Jiu raised a finger. "First, the people who said that could not truly control their own Spirit Rings. By control, I don't mean releasing or retracting them. I mean controlling the power of the Spirit Ring itself. Simply put, treating the Spirit Ring as a part of one's body and manipulating it—for example, controlling its size, its strength, and so on."

"And the second?" Tang San was drawn in by what Hu Jiu had said and could not wait to hear more.

Hu Jiu's theory was crazy, but the more Tang San considered it, the more reasonable it seemed. If what Hu Jiu said was true, then the entire Douluo Continent would change because of him.

"Heh heh heh, as for the second point, it's simple. Even if Spirit Rings could improve through cultivation, so what? Instead of spending that time on it, wouldn't it be better to work hard at increasing your Soul Power and raising your own level? If you had to choose, would you spend your time raising your level or increasing the power of your Spirit Ring?"

"Uh..." Tang San.