Chapter 13: Preparations
A thousand years of the second soul ring indeed granted Xiao Yu far superior combat power compared to peers of the same level, but this wasn't all beneficial.
Absorbing soul rings beyond one's level would undoubtedly draw the attention of major powers. Unless Xiao Yu had a formidable backing, these powers would unquestionably seize him and extract the method of absorbing higher-level soul rings from him.
The Spirit Hall, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family, and the reclusive Hao Tian Sect all possessed Title Douluo-level experts. Relying solely on Huo Hu, a Soul Douluo, and Milo, a Soul Saint, would not deter these forces.
Therefore, before hunting for the second soul ring, Xiao Yu needed substantial preparation. Fortunately, with the system at his disposal, he had already discovered items in the system mall that could disguise soul rings.
Furthermore, to better withstand the leap in absorbing a thousand-year soul ring, Xiao Yu tasked Huo Hu with procuring some whale gum, preferably of the millennium grade.
Whale gum was a special substance from the brains of whales, beneficial for soul masters, enhancing their physical condition, strengthening muscles, bones, and meridians, and increasing their resilience. It seemed the effects of whale gum were only discovered during the Douluo Continent's second epoch.
ย Huo Yuhao, nicknamed the Child of the Planes, once consumed a piece of millennium whale gum. According to Tianmeng Iceworm, a piece of millennium whale gum could increase Huo Yuhao's soul ring endurance by at least a thousand years.
During the first epoch, the effects of whale gum had not been discovered. It was even mistaken for an aphrodisiac due to its extremely yang properties and was not considered anything special.
Despite this, millennium-grade whale gum wasn't readily available. Not everyone had the luck to stumble upon it like Huo Yuhao did. Huo Hu, who possessed the ability to fly as a Spirit Benu Bird, searched half of the Tian Dou Empire but only managed to obtain two pieces of the thousand-year grade.
Xiao Yu was prepared for this and didn't feel disappointed. If a millennium-grade could enhance over a thousand years, then a thousand-year one should still have an effect of several hundred years. Coupled with the excellent quality of his martial soul, absorbing a soul ring of thirteen hundred or fifteen hundred years shouldn't be an issue.
"Huo Hu, I'm counting on you!"
Whale gum needed to be softened before consumption, and the best way was through roasting. Huo Hu's martial soul was closely related to flames, eliminating the need for Xiao Yu to start a fire.
Huo Hu nodded. He was never one for many words. He took the whale gum, activated his soul power, and ignited black flames.
In the original work, Ma Xiaotao, a Soul Emperor, roasted millennium whale gum. As Huo Hu was at the Soul Douluo level, the black flames from his Benu Bird martial soul were no less inferior to Ma Xiaotao's Hellfire Phoenix martial soul. In just a moment, the originally stiff whale gum was melted, emitting a strange fragrance.
"Young Master, please!"
Feeling the gum had reached the right temperature, Huo Hu immediately used his soul power to transfer the softened whale gum to Xiao Yu.
Watching the steam rising from the whale gum, Xiao Yu couldn't help but be extremely cautious. He waved his hand to fan away the heat before carefully tearing off a small piece and putting it into his mouth.
The whale gum had a strong fishy smell upon entering his mouth, but soon, the fishiness turned into a warm flow flowing into his abdomen. Moreover, after entering the stomach, the whale gum reverberated with a faint sound, which was quite peculiar.
In this manner, Xiao Yu spent about five minutes slowly consuming the two pieces of whale gum.
Along with the digestion of the whale gum, a scorching hot flow began to flow from his abdomen to his limbs and bones.
This hot flow not only widened Xiao Yu's tendons and meridians but seemed to have other effects as well. Although Xiao Yu's body was still immature, it seemed to have some response.
However, Xiao Yu, who understood the side effects of whale gum from the original work, was well-prepared. When he sensed some signs, he immediately focused his mind and soul power, guiding this warm flow.
Under the guidance of soul power, the previously tumultuous heat flow within Xiao Yu's body began to systematically nourish his meridians, spreading an indescribable sense of comfort throughout his body.
After a while, Xiao Yu exhaled a warm breath and slowly opened his eyes, concluding his absorption of the whale gum.
"Huo Hu."
Xiao Yu turned his head to look at Huo Hu, who had been guarding him all along, and nodded gently. He then said, "Fetch Milo, we're heading to the Star Dou Great Forest to acquire my second soul ring."
"Yes, Young Master."
Shortly after, the three of them set off for the Star Dou Great Forest. As for the academy, Milo informed the dean on Xiao Yu's behalf, explaining that Xiao Yu needed to leave school due to breaking through a bottleneck and reaching level twenty to obtain his second soul ring. Naturally, the dean had no reason to disagree.
"Young Master, have you decided what type of soul beast you want to obtain the second soul ring from?"
Huo Hu's martial soul was the Benu Bird, and Milo's was the Phantom Butterfly. In their martial soul true form, both possessed the ability of prolonged flight. After leaving Kaiser City, they began flying directly, and as they were nearing the Star Dou Great Forest, Milo spoke up.
Xiao Yu had made too many preparations for obtaining the second soul ring, including choosing the soul beast to obtain the ring from.
Xiao Yu replied, "My first soul skill gives me the ability to enhance my own attributes. Therefore, for my second soul skill, I want an attack skill for dealing damage, preferably one that suits my martial soul. It would be best to obtain it from a soul beast like a Dragon Lion Tiger with dark attributes, preferably a dragon-type soul beast."
"Good choice."
Huo Hu nodded in agreement, "I was planning to suggest it when we reached the Star Dou Great Forest, but it seems your thoughts align with mine."
Milo caught the implication in Huo Hu's words and asked, "Huo Hu, do you already have a suitable soul beast in mind to recommend to the Young Master?"
Huo Hu nodded, saying, "While searching for whale gum for the Young Master, I passed by the northeast corner of the Star Dou Great Forest several times. I discovered a Red Lotus Demon Dragon on the outskirts, near the center. It has a cultivation base of around fifteen hundred years, not particularly high, but it can suppress nearby soul beasts with cultivation bases of two to three thousand years, making it the ruler of that area."
"Excellent. Huo Hu, please lead the way."
Xiao Yu nodded. In the original work, aside from a few dragon species with true dragon bloodlines, most soul beasts with dragon attributes were pseudo-dragons.
This Red Lotus Demon Dragon with a cultivation base of around fifteen hundred years was definitely one of them. Even as a pseudo-dragon, it would undoubtedly be a formidable presence among soul beasts of the same level.
(End of Chapter)
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