Hu Jiu's Considerations

Hearing that Hu Jiu intended to choose a worthless Soul Beast like Metamon as his Second Soul Ring, Tang San thought he had gone mad.

Although Hu Jiu had already proven his theory—that a Soul Ring's year limit could indeed increase through cultivation—it was useless. Tang San had tried it himself. Over the past half year or so, his First Soul Ring had only improved by a tiny amount, not even reaching a single additional year.

If Hu Jiu planned to obtain the Soul Ring first and raise its year limit afterward, Tang San would definitely stop him.

"I remember the Grandmaster once said: there are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters, right?" Although Tang San was not particularly fond of the Grandmaster, using his words as a shield now was simply perfect.

"Xiao Jiu, stop talking. This really won't do. I can't just watch you jump into a pit of fire." Tang San waved his hand emotionally, cutting off Hu Jiu's explanation. "For this Hunt Soul Ring operation, Teacher has used his connections to invite the Dean to personally come along. I've already spoken with Teacher, and we'll take you with us when the time comes. Your Second Soul Ring must be at least five hundred years old. There's no room for discussion."

By the end, Tang San's tone had become unusually fierce. In his heart, Hu Jiu was his good brother.

And he was the good big brother.

He could not stand by and watch his good brother leap into a pit of fire. He had to pull him back.

"Little San, listen to me..." Hu Jiu looked helplessly at Tang San, feeling as though he had personally watched Tang San grow crooked. Perhaps he ought to rename him Tang Sanzang in the future.

"I won't listen, I won't listen. This is non-negotiable." Tang San shook his head again and again, not giving Hu Jiu any chance to explain.

"Damn it!"

"Little San, don't be like this!!!"

Faced with Tang San like this, Hu Jiu had no choice but to bring out his ultimate move.

Summoning his martial soul, Hu Jiu shouted, "Little San, take a look at my Soul Ring first."

Tang San was a little confused. What was there to see about a Soul Ring?

Following Hu Jiu's gaze, he saw the yellow Soul Ring beneath Hu Jiu's feet, glowing with a brilliant color.

Brilliant?

Wait, why was Xiao Jiu's Soul Ring so bright?

At that brightness, it was practically brighter than his own Soul Ring!

For a moment, Tang San felt as though Hu Jiu's Soul Ring had blinded him.

"Haha, Little San, you won't stop me from choosing whichever Soul Beast I want for my Soul Ring now, will you?" Hu Jiu looked smugly at Tang San's stunned expression.

"Xiao Jiu, you'd better not casually reveal the age of your Soul Ring in the future. Otherwise, it'll bring you unnecessary trouble." After standing there blankly for a while, Tang San finally came back to his senses. He gave Hu Jiu a deep look and warned him.

"Don't worry, I'm not that stupid. Only you and Xiao Wu know about the changes to my Soul Ring." Hu Jiu waved a hand in reply.

He was not an idiot. A martial soul being able to improve through cultivation was not much of a big deal on its own. After all, if one had that much free time, it would be better to increase one's own Soul Power cultivation instead.

But Hu Jiu's Soul Ring was improving far too quickly. In just over half a year, it had gained four or five hundred years. If someone with ill intentions discovered it, they might just take him away to dissect and study him.

"Xiao Jiu, although I don't know how you raised your Soul Ring's year limit so quickly, and I don't want to know, but..." Tang San stared deeply at Hu Jiu. Everyone had their own secrets, and as someone who had secrets himself, he understood that very well.

"But even if you can easily increase your Soul Ring's year limit, I still can't let you choose Metamon as your Second Soul Ring."

"You said you wanted a Transformation Skill—what are you planning to use it for? Xiao Jiu, I'm warning you, I promised Grandpa Old Jack that I would take good care of you. If I find out you've done anything bad, I definitely won't let you off." By the end, Tang San's tone had turned stern.

What could a Transformation Skill be used for? Tang San did not even need to think before he could list a whole pile of uses for sneaking around and committing petty misdeeds.

He was the big brother. In his view, if Hu Jiu went bad, it would be his responsibility. It would mean he had failed to look after him properly for Grandpa Old Jack.

Hu Jiu looked gloomily at Tang San.

Big brother, what awful things did you even think of? Why have you thought of more than I have?

But this was not something he could explain to Tang San.

Could he tell Tang San that he wanted Metamon's Transformation Skill because of Xiao Wu beside them? Even if he came clean, Tang San probably would not agree.

So he could only keep this matter buried in his heart. He could not even tell Xiao Wu. He certainly could not say to her, "Hey, I already know you're a Little Rabbit. Don't worry, I won't dislike you."

If he said that, he would probably get beaten up.

Hu Jiu had his own reasons for choosing a Transformation Skill as his Second Soul Skill. Of course, it was mainly for Xiao Wu. After all, in his heart, Xiao Wu was already his girl. Once they grew up, he could naturally pluck this adorable Little Rabbit.

But before that, he needed to protect Xiao Wu's safety.

For no other reason than to conceal Xiao Wu's own aura and prevent others from discovering that she had transformed from a Soul Beast.

Especially people from Spirit Hall. If they discovered her, the consequences would be unimaginable.

If events followed the plot of the Original Work, Xiao Wu might smoothly obtain the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, the immortal herb symbolizing beautiful love, through Tang San's connections, thereby concealing her Soul Beast aura.

But that was only the Original Work.

Now that he had joined the picture, he was no longer sure how the subsequent plot would develop.

After all, even protagonist Tang San's Soul Power cultivation was progressing much faster than in the Original Work. What if Tang San displayed too much talent in the future and got killed ahead of time?

To find a way to conceal the fact that Xiao Wu was a Soul Beast, Hu Jiu had consulted a great deal of information. In the end, he finally found a reliable method.

According to the materials, although the Transformation Skill obtained from Metamon was trash, it possessed an inconspicuous hidden effect: it could alter one's own aura. This piece of knowledge was very easy to overlook. If he had not read so carefully, he might have missed it.

Although this altered aura still could not fool truly powerful experts, Hu Jiu could Increase Soul Ring Year Limit. If ten years were not enough, then a hundred; if a hundred were not enough, then a Thousand Year. Though he was not sure whether Xiao Wu would be able to hide herself before a Titled Douluo in the future, it was still better than doing nothing.

Besides, he had another backup plan. He had decided to temporarily follow the growth path of the Original Work and see whether he could successfully obtain the immortal herbs. Those immortal herbs would have excellent effects for both Xiao Wu and himself. Once they received those benefits, they would no longer have any misgivings about whatever they did in the future.

Unfortunately, he could not share these thoughts with anyone. He could only bury them deep in his heart.

At that moment, he felt that he was truly too great, practically a grand hero and a righteous man. Once he married Xiao Wu in the future, he would definitely have to make her bear several Little Rabbits to repay him.

For a moment, Hu Jiu stared far, far into the future as he looked at Xiao Wu beside him, happily gnawing on a Carrot.