By now, the Great Master had relaxed, his eyes brimming with confidence. "One of the Ten Core Competitive Theories of the Martial Soul world that I researched and proposed is the Soul Master Mimicry Theory. A plant Martial Soul does not necessarily have to absorb Soul Rings from plant Soul Beasts, and a beast Martial Soul is not necessarily unable to absorb plant Soul Rings. Under certain prerequisite conditions, the two can absorb each other's rings. I told you before that one of the Blue Silver Grass's great advantages is its non-exclusivity. Because it is far too weak on its own, it will not reject any attribute attached by a Soul Ring — it can only passively integrate it. So, absorbing this Mandala Snake's Soul Ring will not be a problem. At the same time, do you remember what kind of Soul Ring we were looking for?"
Tang San's eyes lit up. "One that grants a toughening effect, ideally with toxicity. Right — the Mandala Snake possesses both traits."
The Great Master gave his disciple a long, meaningful look. "Whether it's ordinary Soul Masters or the people over at Spirit Hall, they all scoff at my Ten Core Competitive Theories. Not a single one believes them. In the past, no Soul Master has ever been willing to absorb a Soul Ring from a different type of creature to strengthen themselves. Xiao San, are you willing to give it a try? Though I am absolutely confident in the theory, it has never actually been put into practice. Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth. The reason my Ten Core Competitive Theories remain theories rather than established truth is that no one has been willing to test them."
From the Great Master's eyes, Tang San saw fervor. Because of the mutation of his Martial Soul, the Great Master could never become a powerful Soul Master in his lifetime, yet he remained just as devoted, pouring his life's energy into the study of Martial Souls.
For a man like this, Tang San felt genuine respect from the bottom of his heart — respect for the man himself and for the fruit of his research. "Teacher, let me be the one to put this into practice for you. I believe your research cannot be wrong."
The Mandala Snake's body had gradually stopped moving. With its vital spot pierced through by a blade, no matter how tenacious its vitality, death was inevitable.
Faint yellow specks of light began to coalesce above the Mandala Snake's body. Unlike the ten-year Nether Wolf Soul Ring Tang San had seen before, the yellow ring produced by the Mandala Snake was remarkably clear, its radiance far brighter than that of the Nether Wolf's ring. Even without making contact, he could distinctly feel the immense energy contained within.
Hearing Tang San's words, the Great Master's eyes filled with gratification. "Xiao San, begin."
Tang San nodded. He raised his right hand, suppressing the weakness of exhaustion, and slowly gathered the remnants of his Soul Power into his palm. Bathed in a faint blue glow, Blue Silver Grass sprouted from the center of his palm, emitting a gentle aura of life as it swayed softly with the fluctuations of his Soul Power.
Come, my first Soul Ring. You will determine whether I can master the ultimate techniques of the Tang Sect, and whether I can carry on my teacher's hope.
Guided by that pale blue radiance, the hundred-year Mandala Snake Soul Ring slowly drifted toward Tang San.
The Great Master's eyes were fixed unblinkingly on the approaching ring. In a deep, commanding voice he shouted, "Sit cross-legged and focus your mind on your Martial Soul!"
Tang San obeyed, settling cross-legged on the spot and directing his attention to the Martial Soul in his right hand. As the hundred-year Mandala Snake Soul Ring drew closer, he felt an unprecedented, crushing pressure — his entire skeleton began to emit faint creaking sounds under the force.
Soon, the yellow ring arrived directly above Tang San's head. Without giving him any chance to react, it suddenly contracted, shrinking into a gold ring the size of a bracelet yet astonishingly dense, which clamped directly onto the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul in his right palm.
Tang San felt as though his hand had plunged into molten magma. A scorching energy surged wildly inward, the searing heat flooding through his body in an instant. In that split second, his insides felt as though they were burning alive. His body shuddered violently.
"No matter how the Soul Ring's power hammers your body, remember — you must stay conscious. Only then can you better harness the Soul Ring's power in the future."
Those were the last words Tang San heard from the Great Master. The next moment, with eyes closed, his consciousness was completely submerged in that boiling ocean.
The Mysterious Heaven Skill's internal energy within his body seemed to have been ignited by this sudden force, the searing heat spreading to every corner of his body in an instant. Tang San felt as though he could breathe fire if he opened his mouth.
What domineering power.
The Soul Ring's surging energy baptized Tang San's body in an instant. But what puzzled him was that this blisteringly hot energy did not destroy the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.
Suddenly, his consciousness lit up. Tang San seemed to see himself immersed in a sea of flame, and at the very center of that sea, a solitary blade of Blue Silver Grass swayed gently amid the blaze. No matter how violently the flames raged, they could not destroy it.
Tang San was overjoyed — this seemed to be the inner vision state of internal energy. In his previous life, he had been too old when he began cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record and had never experienced this state. He never imagined it would appear when absorbing his very first Soul Ring.
Under the baking of the flames, the Blue Silver Grass began to change. The originally slender blades grew longer and wider, the faint blue gradually deepening. The dark blue blades spread across the sea of flame, dancing with vitality like countless salamanders darting through fire.
The pale blue blades had turned deep blue, now marked with faint black patterns — identical to the markings on the Mandala Snake from before.
BOOM — all the searing energy erupted outward. Tang San felt as though the scorching aura had melted his very body.
(End of Chapter)