.
He suspected Louise had given Ning Chuan a drug with significant side effects. Otherwise, his cultivation speed couldn't have been so rapid, surpassing Xiao Wu and his disciple Tang San, both of whom possessed full Innate Spirit Power.
"I don't know, but I trust Director Louise. And the boy's hard work is obvious to all."
Dean Jeno had no doubts, believing it was Ning Chuan's own diligent practice, coupled with Louise's special guidance.
Yu Xiaogang, far from believing it, grew even more suspicious. He, himself a half-level Innate Spirit Power cultivator, knew how difficult it was to cultivate such a damn talent and how difficult it was to increase his Spirit Power. To say it was slow was an understatement.
There was definitely something fishy going on, and the most likely possibility was that Louise had given Ning Chuan drugs.
"It must have been drugs. Sooner or later, he'll be stuck at Level 29, unable to advance. Even becoming a Great Spirit Master is a question. He won't make it far, and he'll never be able to compete with Xiao San."
Thinking back to the beating Louise had given him and Ning Chuan's talent, which was comparable to his own, Yu Xiaogang consoled himself with this.
That afternoon, Louise took Ningchuan to buy some wilderness survival supplies.
The next morning, they rented a carriage and set off.
After a day and a night, they finally arrived at the Soul Hunting Forest on the morning of the third day.
Plant-type soul beasts were not difficult to find.
After reaching their prime, plant-type soul beasts are unable to move.
They typically hide deep in the jungle, indistinguishable from ordinary vegetation, making them difficult to identify without the ability to sense soul power fluctuations.
Led by Louise, Ningchuan searched through the denser areas of the Soul Hunting Forest, finally stopping beneath a large tree.
"This sacred soul tree is over six hundred years old. Xiaochuan, are you sure you want to absorb it?"
The two stopped ten feet from the tree. Louise gazed at the sacred soul tree ahead, a look of concern on her face.
Standing in the jungle, a sturdy banyan tree, seemingly indistinguishable from any other tree, stood out. If it weren't for the intense soul power fluctuations emanating from it, Louise wouldn't have been able to identify it.
Normally, a Soul Power Sacred Tree over ten meters tall is a hundred-year-old soul beast. Each meter of growth beyond ten meters represents a hundred years. This Soul Power Sacred Tree is over fifteen meters tall.
This means it's at least six hundred years old.
Ning Chuan said, "Teacher, remember what I told you before? The time it takes to absorb a soul ring is related to the soul master's physical strength. Over the past year, I've never given up on physical training. Furthermore, this Soul Power Sacred Tree is one of the most gentle soul beasts. It also shares the same wood element as my Green Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword, making it a perfect match. There won't be any soul ring rejection. I'm confident."
On the way here, Ning Chuan repeatedly explained to Louise the soul master theory he'd learned in his previous life, hoping to convince her to let him absorb soul rings beyond his age limit.
This meant no one would help him hunt older soul beasts and provide him with a buffer against the side effects. That's why
he chose this six-hundred-year-old tree.
Otherwise, he would have absorbed soul rings over ten thousand years old long ago.
However, acquiring one hundred-year-old soul ring and two thousand-year-old soul rings in the early stages would be more than enough for him to use and show off.
At worst, he could find a way to detonate the spirit ring later and transfer the side effects to the Tang family father and son.
Destroying a spirit ring is simple enough, practically every spirit master can do it. The difficulty lies in the fact that it's often impossible to restore it, let alone reabsorb it.
Unless there's a secret manual for detonating a spirit ring like the Haotian Sect, or those shameless pseudo-gods in the divine realm intervene.
Ning Chuan possesses a god-level side effect system, so he can easily swap out this spirit ring. He simply needs to carefully select the recipient.
After all, a side effect can only be borne by one person.
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"That being said," Louise began, but seeing Ning Chuan's resolute gaze, she ultimately chose not to dissuade him.
Ning Chuan's physique was indeed formidable.
His insights into spirit master theory over the past few days had completely won her over.
Most importantly, he had raised his spirit power from level five to level ten in just one academic year, nine months, while also balancing sword practice with academic studies. This was a miracle.
She had no reason to refuse.
Pink light surged from her right hand, and Louise summoned a dark red rapier, charging towards the Holy Spirit Tree.
A hundred years ago, the Holy Spirit Tree had no offensive power, relying solely on disguise as an ordinary tree to avoid being hunted by spirit masters.
Once it passed a hundred years old, it could extend its branches to bind and restrain enemies, acquiring a certain initial offensive power.
At a thousand years old, its offensive power increased further. At
ten thousand years old, it could move short distances by creeping its roots, and its branches possessed the ability to regenerate.
At fifty thousand years old, it was indistinguishable from any fifty-thousand-year-old animal-type spirit beast, possessing a powerful group attack capability. Even among fifty-thousand-year-old spirit beasts, it was a terrifying existence.
However, few Spirit Power Sacred Trees were older than fifty thousand years. Ning Chuan hadn't seen any in the books Louise had given him or in the Notting College library.
The Spirit Power Sacred Tree before him was over six hundred years old. The moment Louise approached, branches as thick as an adult's arm spiraled toward her like venomous snakes, attempting to restrain her.
Unfortunately, facing Louise, a high-ranking Spirit Master with a sword spirit and agility attack, his weapons proved useless.
In a matter of moments, the Spirit Power Sacred Tree was chopped down, leaving only its bare trunk.
"Are you really okay?"
After all this, Louise didn't sheathe her spirit. Instead, she stood aside, looking at Ning Chuan with concern, her charming face filled with apprehension and anxiety.
"Teacher, I trust my judgment. Please protect me."
Ning Chuan approached the Holy Spirit Tree and summoned the Green Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword. He gripped the hilt with both hands and poured all his soul power into it. Instantly, the palm-sized sword grew to a full three feet long. With a fierce swing, he swung it.
Bang!
The tree, nearly the size of a man's embrace, was severed in half by Ning Chuan. Faint yellow light converged above the stump, forming a yellow halo.
Ning Chuan sat down cross-legged beside the aura.
Closing his eyes, Ning Chuan's soul ring gradually absorbed into his body, guided by his soul power.
Because the Holy Spirit Tree was a relatively gentle spirit beast, Ning Chuan's own martial spirit, the Green Bamboo Bee Cloud Sword, possessed a wood attribute, and he had practiced diligently for a year. Furthermore, given the various side effects he had previously inflicted on Tang Hao, the absorption of the over six-hundred-year-old Holy Spirit Tree's soul ring went relatively smoothly, without any discomfort.
At most, he felt a constant sense of his soul power approaching saturation during the absorption process.
But that was all.
Whenever his meridians couldn't bear it, the side effects of the swelling and pain would be transferred to the old rat.