"Brother, my Soul Power has increased by six levels! I'm now Level 37!"
Xiao Wu hugged Tang San's arm, her face radiant with excitement and joy. Her earlier sadness had vanished, replaced entirely by the thrill of her newfound strength.
Seeing her so happy, a complex flicker of emotion crossed Tang San's eyes before settling back into a deep, protective gentleness. He patted her head softly and whispered, "I see. That's incredible, Xiao Wu."
Then, he turned to Lin Mu, his voice serious. "Master, I have already reached Level 40. When shall we set out to hunt for my fourth Soul Ring?"
At the mention of hunting Soul Rings, Xiao Wu's body stiffened slightly. A trace of instinctive resistance and sorrow flashed deep within her eyes, a reminder of her true origin. Lin Mu noted the reaction but remained outwardly calm.
"Don't rush," Lin Mu said after a moment of thought. "Choosing your fourth Soul Ring is a critical step. We need to be meticulous."
He had already calculated Tang San's path: his fourth Soul Ring would be a ten-thousand-year ring. Normally, the limit for a fourth ring was around five thousand years. Even Yu Tianheng, aided by Body Tempering Pills, only dared to aim for six thousand year soul ring.
Absorbing a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring meant enduring an energy shock that could tear an ordinary Soul Master apart. Beyond the physical strain, one had to withstand the Soul Shock, the residual mental vibration of a powerful beast. Many masters above the Soul King level still only possessed thousand-year rings for their early slots because the risk was simply too high.
"Little San, I intend for you to absorb a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring."
"Ten thousand years?" Tang San's pupils constricted. Despite knowing his physique was superior to his peers, the prospect was daunting. However, his trust in Lin Mu was absolute. If his Master said it was possible, it was possible.
"This is the external Soul Bone, the Eight Spider Lances. I retrieved it from the Human-Faced Demon Spider you killed previously." Lin Mu pulled the wickedly sharp, purple-black spider legs from his storage bracelet and handed them to Tang San.
Tang San's eyes widened with joy. Through Lin Mu's teachings, he knew that external Soul Bones were among the rarest treasures in the world, partly because they could evolve alongside their host.
"The Eight Spider Lances will drastically enhance your physical constitution. Combined with the Body Tempering Pills, your body will be strong enough to contain the energy of a ten-thousand-year ring. As for the Soul Shock..." Lin Mu paused, leaning in. "The 'Looking Through Autumn Water Dew' I added to your cultivation pills has fortified your mental strength far beyond your Level. You are ready."
Tang San's doubts evaporated, replaced by a fierce anticipation for his next breakthrough.
"Alright, fuse with the Eight Spider Lances first. We will hunt the ring once your foundation is stable."
"Yes, Master!" Tang San immediately sat cross-legged to begin the fusion, while Xiao Wu stood guard at his side.
Lin Mu used the time to scavenge the edge of the herb garden, collecting rare plants that were mature enough to be useful but hadn't quite reached the immortal grade. These would be perfect for standard cultivation pills. He left the younger shoots untouched, allowing the garden to regenerate for the future.
By the time he finished, Tang San had successfully integrated the Eight Spider Lances. With a bit of guidance from Lin Mu, Tang San learned to retract the eight terrifying legs back into his spine, hiding them from view.
Suddenly, a dark green figure descended into the valley, it was Dugu Bo. Seeing his once-lush garden so depleted, Dugu Bo felt a pang of heartache, but he didn't dare utter a single word of complaint. He bowed low before Lin Mu.
"This old servant greets the Master."
Tang San and Xiao Wu were no longer shocked by this display; they had seen the Poison Douluo's complete submission several times over the last week.
"Master," Dugu Bo reported after Lin Mu signaled him to rise. "That fellow Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan, went to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy again today. He is demanding to know your whereabouts."
Lin Mu frowned. This was the second time in ten days that Chrysanthemum Douluo had come looking. Clearly, the news of Dugu Bo's defeat had reached the highest echelons of the Spirit Hall.
However, Lin Mu wasn't afraid. With his current 100,000-year Soul Ring, the enhanced Qilin Flame, and the support of Hurricane Armor if things went south, even a direct confrontation with a high-level Title Douluo like Yue Guan wasn't a death sentence.
"Do not worry about him," Lin Mu said calmly. He looked at Dugu Bo. "While I am away, you are in charge of guarding this valley. If you perform your duties well, I will consider helping Dugu Yan resolve the poison backlash of her Martial Soul."
Dugu Bo's eyes blazed with hope and gratitude. He dropped to his knees again, his voice shaking. "This old servant will guard this place with his life! I will not fail you!"
Inside the Educational Committee Hall, Xue Qinghe sat calmly, watching the flamboyant man standing before the three education board members.
"It has been half a month. Where is Lin Mu?"
The voice of Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan, was shrill and impatient. He looked down at Meng Shenji and the others with blatant superiority.
"Your Excellency Yue Guan," Meng Shenji replied, suppressing his fury. "Teacher Lin Mu did not specify his return date. We truly do not know his location."
Deep down, Meng Shenji hoped Lin Mu would stay hidden. A talent that could defeat a Title Douluo at Level 70 was a strategic asset the Empire could not afford to lose to the Spirit Hall.
"Is that so?" Yue Guan's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "Are you playing games with me?"
Xue Qinghe, sitting nearby with eyes lowered, felt a chill of hatred. 'That woman actually thinks she can take my man,' she thought, referring to Bibi Dong's orders.
"Very well," Yue Guan said, his voice dropping to a threatening whisper. "The Pope has ordered that you find him within three days. To fail is to defy the Pope's decree. The consequences... will be more than you can bear."
Without waiting for a response, he transformed into a streak of golden light and vanished.
Once the pressure of the Title Douluo was gone, Meng Shenji exhaled a long, ragged breath. His face was grim. "We tried to keep his strength a secret, but the Spirit Hall has eyes everywhere."
"There must be spies within the academy," Commissioner Zhi Lin added coldly.
Meng Shenji turned to Xue Qinghe. "Your Highness, the situation is critical. We must find a way to tie Teacher Lin Mu to the Empire before the Spirit Hall makes their move."
"Do not worry, Chief Meng," Xue Qinghe said, a strange, determined glint in her eyes. "Qinghe understands exactly what must be done."
She would keep Lin Mu under control, not for the Heaven Dou Empire, but for her own future.