Chapter 92: Thirty-Eighth Rank, Two Geniuses

After dealing with Du Gu Yan's soul ring, everyone also knew that soul rings could indeed be absorbed across levels, though the exact method was unclear. However, Gu Xuan and Du Gu Yan, as the firsthand experiencers of cross-level soul ring absorption, had a clear understanding.

If they can perfect this method in the future, they might be able to spread this cross-level soul ring absorption technique; based solely on this, they could directly become pioneers in the Soul Master world.

But those are matters for later; at this moment, the group has set out to find a ninth soul ring for Zuoyi.

However, this time the people going to hunt a ninth soul ring for Zuoyi do not include Gu Xuan, Dugu Bo, and Du Gu Yan.

Because Mi He and Long Wu have already successfully obtained ninth soul rings, becoming true Titled Douluo, and with the assistance of Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi, their lineup is sufficient to hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.

Therefore, to avoid delaying Gu Xuan and Du Gu Yan's cultivation time, Dugu Bo brought them back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, and Gu Xuan and Du Gu Yan also went to cultivate in seclusion at the Binghuo Liangyi Yan.

Dugu Bo has recently resolved his poison, also feels he has a breakthrough sign, and also needs to go into seclusion for a while, so the three of them directly split up and first returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect.

Zuoyi had also identified what kind of soul beast was needed for his ninth soul ring; the first choice was naturally flying beasts, focusing on speed and attack, with many options, but a suitable one had not yet been encountered.

Time flew by; after three months, the most suitable soul beast Zuoyi had encountered was only eighty-five thousand years old. If it were an ordinary Soul Master, they would naturally kill it directly and use it as a ninth soul ring.

But Zuoyi is different; with three Titled Douluo and Ning Fengzhi's Eight Treasure Glazed Pagoda, his ninth soul ring must not only be a hundred thousand years, but definitely reach ninety thousand years; otherwise, such a lineup and resources would be wasted.

Thus, after three months, the group is still running around for Zuoyi's soul ring.

This expedition has already lasted nearly five months, and Ning Fengzhi is also somewhat worried about the current state of the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect; although Gu Rong is still managing affairs within the sect, there has been no news from the sect for five months, and as the sect master, Ning Fengzhi naturally feels some inner anxiety.

Therefore, he also wants to quickly obtain a good ninth soul ring for Zuoyi and then swiftly return to the sect.

…………

Binghuo Liangyi Yan.

At this moment, Gu Xuan sat cross-legged inside the Binghuo Liangyi Yan, his body suspended at the interface within, his soul power circulating, and the two dragon-pattern imprints on the backs of his hands flickered with light.

This is a special cultivation method Gu Xuan discovered after many attempts: he can use the dragon-pattern imprints on his hands to refine the terrifying energy within the Binghuo Liangyi Yan to aid his cultivation and temper his physique, which not only prevents his cultivation speed from dropping but actually increases it.

The tempering of his physique also faces no obstruction; as long as he cultivates within the Binghuo Liangyi Yan, both his soul power and physique rise at a terrifying speed.

Although he cannot communicate with the Ice Fire Dragon Kings, Gu Xuan can also guess that these two have likely already been laying plans.

Since he met the two great dragon kings, imprinted their dragon patterns, those two dragon kings have begun to pave the way for him; this is now the best proof.

Moreover, Gu Xuan is not at all worried that the Binghuo Liangyi Yan will become dim due to his cultivation, because its main sustenance comes from the origin of the Ice Fire Dragon Kings' skeletons.

After three months, Gu Xuan's soul power has actually reached the peak of the thirty-eighth rank, just one step away from the thirty-ninth rank; one can imagine how terrifying his cultivation speed is.

However, Gu Xuan also discovered a problem: he cannot cultivate continuously within the Binghuo Liangyi Yan, because improving his physique requires an adaptation process; after a period of cultivation, he needs a period of relief.

Because he needs to fully master this enhanced physique; otherwise, he would end up with a physique strong enough but beyond his complete control.

Naturally, Gu Xuan would not allow this to happen, so after reaching the peak of the thirty-eighth rank, he and Du Gu Yan returned to the academy, because the Tiandou Royal Academy had also started classes.

Gu Xuan did not prepare any immortal-grade medicinal herbs for them, because these people each have their own families and forces, and naturally cannot join the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect right now.

Therefore, Gu Xuan naturally would not lightly give away such strategic-resource-like immortal-grade medicinal herbs to outsiders.

No matter how good their classmate relationship is, it would not lead Gu Xuan to unilaterally make sacrifices.

However, Gu Xuan used some ten-thousand-year medicinal materials and spiritual herbs that can purify soul power cultivation and enhance physique to refine a Hunyuan Pill for them, which also counts as a form of nurturing.

Although this group may not necessarily join the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect in the future, they are at least allies; plus the feelings cultivated over these years could become a great help later, so Gu Xuan, who should make this investment, will not be stingy.

After all, today's investment will be exchanged for a powerful future ally.

Of course, no matter how strong they become, they cannot compare to Gu Xuan and others who have consumed immortal-grade medicinal herbs; he still has plenty of such herbs on hand, and whenever he meets a suitable candidate, he can create a genius who follows in his footsteps.

Currently, within the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, there are two people whom Gu Xuan has selected; these two are also the ones he intends to always bring along in the future, just like the Shrek Seven Monsters in the original work.

Gu Xuan does not hope that only he and Du Gu Yan will ultimately reach that step; after all, even in the God Realm there are scheming and conflict, and having some manpower on his side would better enable him to cope.

The two selected by Gu Xuan are now thirteen and ten years old, respectively.

Their martial souls are Wind God's Wing and Human Face Demon Spider, respectively; the thirteen-year-old with Wind God's Wing is Zuoyi's grandson, named Zuo Yan, who is at rank thirty.

Three months ago, Zuo Yan consumed an immortal-grade medicinal herb called Rooster Crown Phoenix Mallow; at that time he was thirteen and rank twenty-eight, and after consuming it he broke through to rank thirty-six.

However, the medicinal effects of the Rooster Crown Phoenix Mallow were not fully absorbed, so after he absorbed his third soul ring, his soul power broke through to rank thirty-six all at once.

This increase is terrifying, but it was within Gu Xuan's expectations; moreover, his martial soul evolved from the wind-attribute-only Wind God's Wing to the wind-and-fire dual-attribute Phoenix Divine Wing; although still a pair of wings, the grade of these wings far surpasses Zuoyi's Wind God's Wing.

This lays the foundation for Zuo Yan to become a god; as long as he can keep up with Gu Xuan and Du Gu Yan's steps in the future, attaining a godly position is absolutely no problem.

The girl whose martial soul is the Human Face Demon Spider is named Li Li, ten years old and rank twenty-nine; the immortal-grade medicinal herb she consumed is the Withered Bone Corrosive Poison Vine, which is very special, and after Li Li took it, her strength also saw a huge increase.

Ten-year-old Li Li was originally rank twenty-two; after consuming the Withered Bone Corrosive Poison Vine, her soul power increased by seven ranks, and her soul skills also underwent some changes, her strength having seen a huge increase.

These two are now considered Gu Xuan's handpicked core team.

Adding Ning Rongrong and Du Gu Yan plus Gu Xuan himself, this small team is basically formed.

With control from Du Gu Yan and Li Li, offense from Gu Xuan, support from Ning Rongrong, and agility from Zuo Yan, a simple Soul Master team has already taken shape.

Therefore, on this basis, Gu Xuan wants to establish a Soul Master Academy exclusive to the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, but Ning Fengzhi has not yet returned, so he cannot discuss it with Ning Fengzhi.

The purpose of establishing the Soul Master Academy is mainly not to participate in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, but to prepare for the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect to absorb fresh blood in the future.

In the original work, after Shrek Academy defeated the reigning champion of Spirit Hall Academy, Shrek Academy's enrollment surged; this shows the importance of reputation.

However, this is still just an idea for now; the specifics of implementation still need to be discussed with Ning Fengzhi.

ps: Correct typos first, then revise.

(End of chapter)