"Father, is this really that funny?"
Wang Teng asked quietly, looking at his father who was still laughing.
"Don't worry, Teng'er, I'm professionally trained. I absolutely won't laugh unless I really can't help it!"
"If you keep laughing, I'll go home and tell Mom you caught a snake to scare me!"
Left with no other choice, Wang Teng had to resort to his "backer. "
Sure enough, this tactic worked, and Wang Chengkun immediately stopped laughing.
"You brat, are you asking for a beating? You need a good scolding!"
It wasn't that Wang Chengkun was afraid of his wife, but rather that the couple had a good relationship, and his mother always made the decisions at home.
"Hehe!"
Afterward, Wang Chengkun lost interest in teasing him, directly chasing away the datura snake, and then continued circling the outer edge of Sunset Forest, searching for a suitable soul beast for Wang Teng. The light-attribute soul beast Wang Teng needed was over four hundred years old. Soul beasts of this age couldn't survive in the inner part of Sunset Forest; they could only appear in the outer areas.
However, the outer area of Sunset Forest is quite large, and light-attribute soul beasts are indeed relatively rare, with specific age requirements, making them not so easy to find.
As darkness fell, they still hadn't found a suitable soul beast, so the two found an open space to rest. They did find some light-attribute soul beasts, but none were suitable—either too old or too young—so they were discarded.
The various soul beasts in Sunset Forest also broadened Wang Teng's horizons. After all, these were living soul beasts, far more visually impactful than those previously only seen in the encyclopedia.
"Teng'er, finding a suitable soul beast can't be rushed. Even some soul masters sometimes can't find a suitable one. Take your time. Let's rest for tonight and continue tomorrow."
"Okay!"
Wang Teng knew this couldn't be rushed, and after searching all day, he was tired and needed a good rest tonight, otherwise he wouldn't have the energy to search during the day.
Soon, a tent was pitched in the open space. Then Wang Teng saw Wang Chengkun take out a bottle of powder from his storage soul tool and sprinkle it around the tent.
Seeing his son looking at him, he immediately began to explain, "This powder I'm sprinkling can repel some small insects. Camping in the wild is different from being at home; without insect repellent, you won't get a peaceful night's rest."
Afterwards, Wang Teng ate a simple meal with some dry rations and water. There was no need for Wang Teng to keep watch that night.
Even if Wang Teng wanted to, his father wouldn't allow it! He didn't want to be on watch and get snatched away by a soul beast without even knowing it.
...
The next day, just as dawn broke, the father and son continued their search for soul beasts. Their luck was good today; around noon, they finally spotted a light-attribute soul beast less than 500 years old.
"Father, is this a light beetle?" Wang Teng asked his father, looking at the soul beast before him.
"That's right, it's a Light Beetle. The defining characteristic of this type of spirit beast is its sharp mandibles. A hundred-year-old Light Beetle is no match for most Great Spirit Masters. However, judging by its age, it should be close to 500 years old, exceeding the limit of 423 years by quite a bit!"
After his beloved son awakened his martial soul, Wang Chengkun specifically studied many illustrations of light-attribute spirit beasts, just in case he encountered one he didn't recognize. Now he was applying what he learned on the spot.
"It should be fine. After all, it's not by much, and I've specifically trained my body before, and I've prepared quite a few medicinal baths."
This Light Beetle hasn't reached 500 years old yet, still within Wang Teng's absorption range. Although it exceeds the limit of an ordinary spirit master's first spirit ring, it's not by much.
If he hadn't experienced the 'experience' enhancement from the dungeon before, even with prior physical training, it would probably be very difficult. Wang Teng wouldn't risk his life, after all, many spirit masters die every year from exploding due to absorbing spirit rings beyond their limits.
Seeing his son's confident expression, Wang Chengkun knew that Wang Teng's physical abilities were stronger than ordinary people. Moreover, Wang Chengkun had previously tested Wang Teng's physique, so he let it go.
"Since that's the case, then so be it!"
It was just a hundred-year-old soul beast, naturally no challenge for Wang Chengkun, a Soul Douluo expert.
Without even activating his martial soul, he directly subdued the light beetle in the distance with his bare hands. The unfortunate light beetle struggled desperately, but unfortunately, it was held by a powerful Soul Douluo, not something its mere 500-year-old strength could break free from.
Immediately, Wang Teng took out a sharp dagger from his storage soul tool and ended the light beetle 's life. Instantly, many yellow light spots emerged from the light beetle's body. Slowly, the yellow light spots condensed, and a yellow soul ring bloomed from beneath the light beetle.
"Teng'er, absorb it, I'll protect you."
"Okay."
Without much hesitation, Wang Teng took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and released his first martial soul: the Mysterious Light Cross, beginning to guide the light beetle's soul ring.
The moment the Light Beetle's spirit ring appeared above his head, Wang Teng immediately felt an immense pressure, as if it were about to crush him.
Soon, the spirit ring contracted, directly encasing the Mystic Light Cross on Wang Teng's right palm. Suddenly, a surge of powerful spirit energy flowed from the spirit ring into Wang Teng's body.
This was the spirit energy contained within the Light Beetle's spirit ring. Within this vast surge of spirit energy, Wang Teng seemed to see a radiant cross rising and falling in a sea of spirit energy.
As Wang Teng fully activated his meditation technique to absorb and refine this spirit ring, he could feel his martial soul, the Mystic Light Cross, absorbing the power within the spirit ring and beginning to transform, albeit slowly, with a negligible increase in power. However, Wang Teng knew that if he could absorb suitable spirit rings each time, one day his first martial soul would evolve.
Fortunately, Wang Teng's physical condition was good, and this spirit ring did not exceed his tolerance limit.
As Wang Teng devoted himself to refining the spirit ring, the immense energy within it was gradually absorbed, finally putting Wang Chengkun, who was watching over him, at ease.
Wang Chengkun was filled with satisfaction.
"My son, Wang Teng, truly lives up to his title! His first spirit ring's age surpasses the limits of ordinary spirit masters."
Three hours later, Wang Teng opened his eyes, his body radiating spirit power at the spirit master level.
"Haha, good! Teng'er, I was worried about you before, but I didn't expect you to absorb a nearly 500-year-old spirit ring so easily."