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Time flew by, and Yang Xiong soon turned eleven. Though his Rasengan training had made some progress, his soul power and spiritual energy were still too low to burst the balloon.
However, through practicing Heart Separation Control, he had reached the stage of Four Aperture Constant Heart. He could now use soul power with one hand to burst a water-filled balloon, though bursting a rubber ball remained out of reach.
Yang Xiong believed that as long as he trained diligently, achieving the Soul Grandmaster rank would allow him to complete the next stage of Rasengan development. There might even be unexpected surprises along the way.
After years of hard work, Yang Xiong's soul power finally reached level twenty. Though not outstanding in Class One, he ranked among the upper-middle tier, keeping pace with his peers' cultivation progress.
Moreover, after years of body tempering, Yang Xiong's physique had become incredibly strong. Gone was the frailty of his six-year-old self; at eleven, he stood at 1.6 meters tall, his strength rivaling that of Beast Martial Souls,
His strength and speed had also grown significantly. Thanks to years of weighted running, his base speed and power far exceeded those of his peers. Even compared to Beast Martial Souls of the same level, he showed no disadvantage in either attribute.
One day, Yang Xiong approached his homeroom teacher, Lin Gong, announcing that he had reached level twenty and was ready for his second soul ring.
Lin Gong was surprised. "Yang Xiong, your soul power growth is commendable. I didn't expect you to reach level twenty so quickly—you're the sixth in the class to do so. Do you have any thoughts on what kind of soul beast you'd like? Are you considering another defensive-type soul beast?"
Lin Gong once again produced the sect's book of soul beasts. It listed several hundred-year-old beasts, including some formidable defensive types.
Yang Xiong didn't even glance at the book. "Teacher Lin, none of these soul beasts interest me. I want the Golden Spirit Cypress from our sect's soul beast forest."
Yang Xiong had already decided on his second soul ring long ago. Using the token Ning Fengzhi had given him, he had thoroughly researched the soul beasts in the sect's forest.
The book Lin Gong held contained soul beasts suitable for student-level absorption, all under seven hundred years old—far beneath Yang Xiong's standards.
Lin Gong's expression shifted. "Are you mad? Do you know what kind of soul beast the Golden Spirit Cypress is? Do you know its exact age?"
"That Golden Spirit Cypress has been in our sect for many years. Its age is now 980 years. For a soul master, this is far too high for a second soul ring, yet it hasn't reached the millennium mark needed for a third soul ring. That's why it's still there."
"Many in the sect are waiting for it to reach a thousand years. At that point, it will make an excellent third soul ring."
Yang Xiong inwardly scoffed. It would take at least twenty years for the Golden Spirit Cypress to reach a thousand years. Who knew who would benefit from it by then?
Yang Xiong had thought long and hard about choosing the Golden Spirit Cypress. Since he aimed to incorporate all attributes, finding a wood-attribute strength-type soul beast was extremely difficult—even the Great Star Forest might not have many.
Golden represented ultimate strength and vitality. The Golden Spirit Cypress was entirely golden, with lush branches and leaves—all golden. It was a top-tier plant-type martial soul. If not for its awkward age, it wouldn't have been available to him.
Moreover, plant-type soul beasts were easier to assess than animal-type ones due to their distinct features—trunk thickness, leaf density, height, and even bark patterns could indicate their age. This was why the sect knew the Golden Spirit Cypress's exact age.
To put it bluntly, even if the Golden Spirit Cypress stood still and let Yang Xiong attack it, he might not defeat it. Its vitality and regenerative abilities were extraordinary, and its branches were incredibly strong. Its power even surpassed that of ordinary millennium soul beasts, which was why it thrived in the soul beast forest.
Yang Xiong had read accounts suggesting the Golden Spirit Cypress possessed the bloodline of the legendary Golden Tree. How it ended up in the sect's soul beast forest was a mystery.
Lin Gong looked at Yang Xiong's determined expression and remained silent for a long time before speaking. "Setting aside the issue of its age, have you considered what kind of soul master path you're pursuing? The Golden Spirit Cypress is indeed an excellent soul beast, arguably one of the finest plant-type soul beasts."
"But your martial soul is your body. Your first soul ring came from an animal-type soul beast. Though I don't know what soul skill you gained, it's likely defense-related. If you've decided to follow the defensive path, why absorb a plant-type soul ring? Soul masters typically absorb soul rings corresponding to their martial soul type. Though your martial soul is unique, it resembles a Beast Martial Soul. Since you've already absorbed an animal-type soul ring, aren't you worried about potential issues with absorbing a plant-type soul beast?"
Yang Xiong replied, "Teacher Lin, my Body Martial Soul isn't a Beast Martial Soul, Weapon Martial Soul, or Plant Martial Soul. Its greatest advantage is the ability to absorb any soul ring. I believe the Golden Spirit Cypress suits me perfectly. This decision came after much thought and analysis."
Lin Gong sighed. "Very well. Your knowledge of soul master knowledge is vast, rivaling even some teachers. Since you have your own cultivation plan, I won't stop you. In three days, we'll head to the soul beast forest. Remember, your parents will accompany us."
Yang Xiong left, overjoyed.
Watching him go, Lin Gong couldn't help but shake his head. As a teacher, he greatly appreciated this academically top-ranked student and admired his diligence.
Unfortunately, the boy was anything but worry-free. His soul ring choices always baffled others, though his judgment was impeccable.
For his first soul ring, he had instantly recognized the exceptional Mysterious Turtle of the Abyss. This time, though the Golden Spirit Cypress's age was less than ideal, it was undoubtedly the highest-tier soul beast in the forest, surpassing even some advanced millennium soul beasts.
Lin Gong said nothing more. The sect leader clearly valued Yang Xiong highly, allowing him unrestricted access to the library and even granting him a sect leader token—a privilege no other student enjoyed.
After reporting the matter, Lin Gong stopped worrying. Still, he planned to personally accompany Yang Xiong on this soul ring acquisition.
Three days later, Yang Xiong, Yang Lin, Sun Yu, and Lin Gong set off grandly for the sect's soul beast forest.
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