Chapter 3

Gu Rong and Chen Xin rose to their feet, Ning Rongrong flew straight into Chen Xin's embrace, and Gu Xuan walked slowly to stand before Gu Rong.

"Grandfather, I've broken through to rank thirty." Gu Xuan glanced at Ning Rongrong, who was acting coquettish with Chen Xin, and helplessly said to Gu Rong.

Upon hearing Gu Xuan's words, Gu Rong was not surprised; he felt only delight.

A Soul Elder at twelve years old, and one who had just turned twelve a week ago—this record is exceedingly rare across the entire continent.

Although Gu Rong had long grown accustomed to his precious grandson's extraordinary talent, each time Gu Xuan made a breakthrough it excited Gu Rong, because every breakthrough of Gu Xuan's shattered a record, a record within the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect.

Even Chen Xin and he, when they were Gu Xuan's age, had never achieved such feats.

This doesn't even count Gu Xuan's mature mindset for his age and his eager love of learning.

"Good, good, good!" Gu Rong said three goods in a row, then continued: "Xuan'er, I've already found your third soul ring for you; it's currently locked up in the Beast Arena."

Upon hearing that, Gu Xuan's face broke into a smile—this is the benefit of having power and background; he doesn't need to waste time and energy painstakingly searching for a suitable soul ring.

Gu Xuan only needs to make a request, and someone will arrange everything; in the end he just needs to reap the rewards.

Precisely for this reason, most commoner Soul Masters find it hard to rise from nothing, while those Soul Master powers only grow stronger with time.

Chen Xin, standing nearby, rubbed Ning Rongrong's little head and said to Gu Xuan: "Little Xuan, is it really no problem for your third soul ring to absorb a three-thousand-year soul ring? Although I know your foundation, there's still some risk."

Gu Xuan smiled at Chen Xin upon hearing that and said: "Second Uncle, rest assured; when have you ever seen me undertake something I wasn't confident about?"

Pausing, Gu Xuan then looked toward Gu Rong and continued: "I cherish my life greatly; I need to keep this little life of mine to support my grandfather in his old age and you as well."

Hearing Gu Xuan's confident reply, Chen Xin immediately ceased his dissuasion, because Gu Xuan had a point: this kid wouldn't pick a fight he wasn't sure of.

But Chen Xin's worry is also a case of concern breeding chaos, after all Gu Xuan's second soul ring is a six-hundred-year Dark Gold Terror Claw bear, a being comparable to a thousand-year soul beast; even a Soul Master absorbing that six-hundred-year Dark Gold Terror Claw bear as a third soul ring would be more than sufficient.

The three-thousand-year figure is still a conservative estimate so as not to worry Gu Rong, Chen Xin, and Ning Fengzhi.

Of course, the soul beasts Gu Xuan selects are of the highest bloodline; a three-thousand-year rank against an ordinary soul beast yields at least the quality of a six-thousand-year one.

When it comes to choosing soul rings, Gu Xuan always strives for perfection; otherwise, leaving his grandfather's superb combat resource unused would be wasteful.

"Since you're confident, let's go." Gu Rong waved his hand and proposed.

Gu Xuan naturally had this in mind as well; he also wanted to quickly absorb his third soul ring, then head to the Tian Dou Royal Academy, where great opportunities awaited him—if he delayed, his home might be stolen.

Following Gu Rong and Chen Xin, Gu Xuan held Ning Rongrong's little hand and walked behind them, occasionally whispering to Ning Rongrong and occasionally answering Gu Rong and Chen Xin's questions.

Soon, the group arrived at the Beast Arena of the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect.

The Beast Arena was built in the training ground area of the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect; its purpose was to use the ferocity of soul beasts to temper the sect disciples who live in comfort within the sect.

Although there are regular friendly Soul Battle matches, they are still different from actual combat against soul beasts.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Sect is large and prosperous, so it certainly couldn't afford to keep idlers; thus this Beast Arena is also a very important place.

The steward in charge of the Beast Arena is named Na Yuan, over sixty years old, an eighty-five-ranked Soul Douluo, and also an elder of the sect; he has grown up in the sect since childhood.

Upon seeing Chen Xin and Gu Rong both come to the Beast Arena, Na Yuan hurried down to greet them personally.

"Sword Elder, Bone Elder, why have you both come in person? Could it be that you want to observe how your disciples are training?" Na Yuan said respectfully, clasping his hands.

Upon hearing that, Chen Xin and Gu Rong glanced at Gu Xuan, then Gu Rong said: "Steward, you should still remember the three-thousand-year-cultivation Spine Sword Dragon I placed in the Beast Arena earlier, right?"

Na Yuan nodded upon hearing that, then glanced at Gu Xuan and speculated: "Could it be that Young Master Xuan has broken through?"

Gu Xuan nodded and replied: "Steward, you guessed correctly; that Spine Sword Dragon is the soul ring my grandfather prepared for me."

However, after Gu Xuan confirmed it, Na Yuan's brows furrowed again; although that Spine Sword Dragon is only a little over three thousand years old, its quality as a fourth soul ring for a Soul Ancestor is more than sufficient.

But although Gu Xuan is extraordinarily gifted, the last time we saw him he was only in his twenties, and now at most he's broken through to rank thirty—could his third soul ring really be just a single three-thousand-year soul ring?

Na Yuan harbored many doubts inside, but he didn't speak further; being able to sit in this position proves he's also a sharp person—he knows not to ask what shouldn't be asked.

Na Yuan suppressed those doubts in his heart, walked ahead to lead the group: "Sword Elder, Bone Elder, this way please."

Chen Xin and Gu Rong nodded and followed; Gu Xuan held Ning Rongrong's hand and followed behind them.

As they walked, Ning Rongrong softly said to Gu Xuan: "Gu Xuan brother, will your third soul ring absorb a three-thousand-year soul ring?"

Gu Xuan nodded and replied: "Exactly; otherwise Grandfather wouldn't have brought me here."

Hearing that, Ning Rongrong's brows furrowed slightly as she whispered: "Gu Xuan brother, you're being reckless; your second soul ring is only six hundred years old, and the limit for a third soul ring is seventeen hundred years—by breaking the limit like this, what if danger arises?"

Although Ning Rongrong doesn't like cultivation, there's still quite a lot she needs to learn in ordinary times; even if she's unwilling, she has to, being a young lady from an aristocratic family.

And Ning Rongrong knows the basic knowledge of Soul Masters, such as the theory of soul ring limits.

The limit for a third soul ring is only about seventeen hundred years, yet Gu Xuan wants to absorb a three-thousand-year soul ring—isn't that practically courting death?

She's heard that many people, unable to discern a soul beast's exact age, forcibly absorb soul rings and end up exploding; the best outcome is severed meridians, rendering them unable to cultivate for life.

Ning Rongrong certainly doesn't want her Gu Xuan brother to end up like that, so the worry on her little face has already spilled over.

Hearing Ning Rongrong's little-girl concern, Gu Xuan couldn't help but rub her little head and softly explained: "I know you're worried about me, Rongrong, but rest assured—I won't do anything I'm not confident about."

"But..." Ning Rongrong still wanted to say something.

Gu Xuan affectionately pinched her cheek and said: "How about this: later I'll personally defeat that Spine Sword Dragon; if I can defeat it, wouldn't that mean I have the strength to absorb a soul ring?"

Upon hearing Gu Xuan's words, Ning Rongrong tilted her head, thought for a moment, and replied: "Sure, I'll cheer for Gu Xuan brother!"

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(End of chapter)