C9 Collector

"Anomalous energy detected in the vicinity of the host. Make your selection!"

"Option 1: Absorb the Wind Baboon Soul Ring. Reward: Unlock the twelve trials of immortality, a Divine-level cultivation technique! Gain 1 Soul Point!"

"Option 2: Forego the absorption of the Wind Baboon Soul Ring. Reward: Bodhi Blood, a hidden weapon!"

Ye Cann unhesitatingly chose the first option. After all, the twelve trials of immortality represented a Divine-level cultivation method. On the Douluo Continent, the significance of cultivation techniques was self-evident. The plane's chosen one, Tang San, had managed to turn peril into safety precisely because of the Mysterious Heaven Method and other peerless techniques of the Tang Sect. Without them, Tang San would have perished long ago.

Furthermore, Bodhi Blood was unlike any other Tang Sect hidden weapon. It required a unique technique to unlock its full potential. In the world of the Douluo Continent, only one person had mastered the method to wield Bodhi Blood effectively.

Upon seeing the Wind Baboon's carcass, Yu Tianlang chuckled and remarked, "On the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, the Wind Baboon is considered a formidable Soul Beast. This one likely lived for ninety years. It was a local hegemon in the forest's outer regions. I never imagined it would fall to you. Its meat is quite a delicacy; today is indeed my lucky day."

Yu Xiaogaang and Tang San merely glanced at Yu Tianlang and Ye Cann with skepticism. A ninety-year-old Wind Baboon Soul Beast was hardly cause for excitement.

Ye Cann reached out with his right hand, attempting to touch the luminescent white Soul Ring.

Yu Tianlang was startled by Ye Cann's abrupt move. Even the least talented Soul Master wouldn't opt to absorb a Soul Ring from a ten-year-old Soul Beast. Such a Soul Ring could never produce a formidable Soul Technique. The number of Soul Rings a Soul Master could possess was finite. Even a Doula Title holder was limited to a maximum of nine Soul Rings. No Soul Master had ever broken free from these constraints.

The 100,000-year Soul Beast was highly coveted among Soul Masters not only because it was guaranteed to drop a Soul Bone, but also because the Soul Ring it produced could endow a Soul Master with two exceptionally powerful Soul Techniques. Other Soul Beasts typically granted only a single Soul Technique.

Yu Tianlang rebuked sharply, "Ye Cann, what are you thinking? That's merely a ten-year Soul Beast's Soul Ring. Do you really want to be known as the weakest Soul Master on the Douluo Continent?"

A flicker of contempt crossed Tang San's eyes. To him, Ye Cann was nothing more than a buffoon. Before he even became a Soul Master, he had hunted a ten-year-old Soul Beast in the forests around Holy Spirit Village.

Yu Xiaogaang interjected, "The Wind Baboon, which has lived for ninety years, possesses only two Soul Techniques: Wind Blade and Wings of Wind. Neither is particularly impressive. Given that you've been selected by Uncle Tianlang as his disciple, settling for a white Soul Ring is far from the optimal choice."

Yu Tianlang cleared his throat and added, "Xiaogaang is correct. The Soul Ring from the Wind Baboon is frankly quite underwhelming. Moreover, judging by your Martial Spirit, you should have an affinity for power-based combat, not agility-based techniques like those of the Wind Baboon. If you wish, tomorrow I can take you to the outskirts of Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for a hundred-year Soul Beast."

Ye Cann simply smiled and said, "Uncle Tianlang, I'm just curious to see if the Soul Ring is tangible."

Yu Xiaogaang responded, "A Soul Ring is the culmination of a Soul Beast's life essence. After a Soul Beast's death, this essence coalesces into a Soul Ring; it doesn't become a physical object."

Ye Cann sheepishly admitted, "I just wanted to test it out."

Once Yu Tianlang realized Ye Cann had no intention of absorbing the white Soul Ring, his attention shifted to the carcass of the Wind Baboon. His previously indifferent expression wavered, betraying a glimpse of astonishment, as if he had stumbled upon something extraordinary.

As Ye Cann's right index finger made contact with the white Soul Ring, a soft power emanated from within, caressing his skin with the tender touch of a mother's hands.

The twelve trials of immortality commenced!

First Challenge: Absorb the Soul Rings of ten ten-year Soul Beasts!

Reward: The self-created soul skill, Wings of Wind!

Wings of Wind?

That was one of the Wind Baboon's Soul Techniques, wasn't it? A mobility-focused Soul Technique that, upon activation, allows the user to soar short distances for five minutes and doubles their speed.

The Wind Baboon reigned supreme in the outer reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest, wielding its Wind Blade and Wings of Wind. Within the forest, the Wings of Wind granted the Wind Baboon exceptional agility, eluding most Soul Beasts with ease.

Upon entering Ye Cann's body, the white Soul Ring divided into two comforting streams of warmth. One coursed through his limbs, rejuvenating his muscles, bones, and skin, while the other fused with his Ancient Saint Body.

The Soul Ring was more than just an ability—it was a potent nourishment for the energy-craving Ancient Saint Body.

Observing the change in Ye Cann, Tang San murmured, "Teacher, it looks like that person has absorbed a ten-year Soul Ring!"

Yu Xiaogaang watched the white Soul Ring vanish and sighed in resignation. A disappearing Soul Ring meant one of two things: either a Soul Master had absorbed it, or it would dissipate on its own within four hours.

Given that their skirmish with the Netherworld Cat was brief, it was clear that Ye Cann had absorbed the Wind Baboon's Soul Ring.

"Absorbing the Soul Ring? San, we may have been mistaken about him. He's not the reincarnation of a 100,000-year Soul Beast after all."

Tang San nodded, asking, "Teacher, when will we be able to leave the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Tang San had felt a discomfort around Ye Cann from the start, particularly from his restless Bluesilver Grass martial spirit, which seemed to sense a formidable adversary. His other martial spirit, the Vast Heaven Hammer, also experienced an odd surge.

Yu Xiaogaang gently tapped Tang San's head, reassuring him, "We ventured into the Star Dou Great Forest to secure your first Soul Ring. But with the recent upheaval here, we can't proceed further. We'll resume our quest for your first Soul Ring once the forest settles."

"Okay!"

Yu Tianlang declared icily, "I don't take kindly to sharing my space! Xiaogaang, feel free to hunt for Soul Beasts along the forest's outer perimeter tomorrow. I'll set up the formation for you."

Throughout the conversation, Yu Tianlang's gaze remained fixed on the carcass of the Wind Baboon.

A jade-green blade pierced into the right arm of the Wind Baboon, while a bone radiating pure white light rested silently amidst the interlacing of muscle and vein.