Spring fades to autumn, time flies.
Two and a half years later.
"Finally broke through!"
Su Yu gently exhaled and opened his eyes, a brilliant light shooting out from them.
Level 30!
Now, Su Yu was already twelve years old.
Twelve years old with a Level 30 cultivation.
On the Douluo Continent, there may be other examples, but what's different is Su Yu's Innate Soul Power was only Level 3. He spent an extra year cultivating to break through Level 10 compared to other twelve-year-old Soul Venerables!
Surrounding Su Yu was a sea of Blue Silver Grass, with a thick sense of life permeating. After Su Yu's five years of effort, the Blue Silver Grass here had all evolved into Soul Beasts.
Even half of them were already ten-year Soul Beasts.
"The enhancement to cultivation has already reached double."
And it was this double enhancement that Su Yu had integrated into the Martial Soul Activation Technique. Over the years, besides cultivating, he had been developing self-created Soul Skills and refining the Martial Soul Activation Technique.
After Level 30, it won't be like now, when cultivation can completely remain in the Mimic Cultivation Environment; perfecting the Martial Soul Activation Technique is necessary.
...
"Brother Su, safe travels!"
Su Yu bid farewell to Qian Tong and left Wangyue City.
His target was the Xingdou Great Forest.
After extensive inquiries, Su Yu confirmed the time he was in.
The current emperor of the Xingluo Empire was Xu Jiawei, the brother of that Xu Jiujiu, and the next All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition would be held in a year, hosted by the Xingluo Empire.
Meaning, now was roughly the beginning of the plot.
"Since I need to obtain a Soul Ring, I'll go visit the Xingdou Great Forest this time."
Wangyue City is in the southeast of the Xingluo Empire, and Su Yu traveled at full speed, taking half a month to reach the borders of the Xingdou Great Forest.
As he continued forward, Su Yu smelled a fragrance.
"This is the smell of grilled fish, right?"
Su Yu's heart stirred, could it be such a coincidence?
He followed the scent to find out.
A handsome young boy in clean grey cloth garments, looking about eleven or twelve years old, and a fifteen or sixteen-year-old elegant boy with short blue hair, with a gentle smile at the corner of his mouth.
Beside them was a ponytail-haired girl, exuding a youthful energy.
"Hey, are you also drawn here by the smell of grilled fish?"
The girl seemed to be arguing with the blue-haired boy, and seeing Su Yu approach, enthusiastically asked.
"That's right."
"Hello, I am Tang Ya, this is Beibei, and the one grilling fish is Yuhao."
"I am Su Yu, I smelled the aroma from afar, may I eat with you?"
"Sure, I'll go catch a few more fish later." Huo Yuhao, seriously grilling fish, didn't reject Su Yu.
Su Yu looked at Huo Yuhao, carefully observing those occasionally glowing eyes.
"Your Martial Soul is quite extraordinary."
Hearing Su Yu's words, Beibei was taken aback, carefully observing Huo Yuhao, only then noticing the difference in his eyes.
"Yuhao, your eyes turned out to be your Martial Soul!"
Tang Ya was pleasantly surprised and immediately asked.
Huo Yuhao nodded, "My Martial Soul is my eyes, I named it Spiritual Eyes."
By this time, the fish in his hand was already grilled, and he handed it to Su Yu.
"Brother Su, for you."
"Thank you."
Su Yu bit into it, praising repeatedly.
"In return, let me give you a suggestion."
Huo Yuhao along with Tang Ya and Beibei all turned their gaze, curious about Su Yu's suggestion.
They met by chance, what valuable advice could be given?
"Your Martial Soul is the Spiritual Eyes, a rare Body Martial Soul.
Given your situation, your Innate Soul Power may not be high, but I can tell you that your Martial Soul is the top-tier Martial Soul.
The Body Martial Soul's development and cultivation are understood best by the Essence Sect, if you want to fully tap into the potential of your Martial Soul, going to the Essence Sect is the best choice."
Su Yu's advice was spot on.
The Essence Sect would be the best choice for Huo Yuhao.
"Moreover, the Essence Sect treats each Body Martial Soul holder as family, with an environment most welcoming, very suitable for you."
"Thank you, Brother Su."
Huo Yuhao politely expressed his gratitude for Su Yu's advice.
"Yuhao, actually our Tang Sect isn't bad either."
Tang Ya got anxious seeing Su Yu recommend a sect to Huo Yuhao.
Although Su Yu's advice indeed makes sense, she had already taken a fancy to Huo Yuhao.
Even Beibei frowned, preparing something to say to lure Huo Yuhao.
Tang Ya might act out of desire, but Beibei knew the rarity of Body Martial Souls.
Though he didn't originally know the characteristics of Body Martial Souls, he could somewhat gauge the potential of Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Eyes from Su Yu's earlier implicit suggestions.
Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Eyes might be of top-tier caliber among Body Martial Souls!
"Tang Sect?"
Huo Yuhao grew up listening to stories of the Tang Sect and Shrek, aware of Tang Sect's existence.
Tang Ya proudly puffed up her chest seeing Huo Yuhao's reaction.
"That's right, the Tang Sect. I am the current Sect Leader of Tang Sect, and Beibei is the head senior disciple."
Compared to the unheard-of Essence Sect, Huo Yuhao seemed more interested in Tang Sect.
Su Yu didn't press further.
The suggestion from a stranger is no match to the influence of the stories Huo Yuhao's mother told over the years.
"Yuhao, although our Tang Sect lacks methods for cultivating Body Martial Souls, we have the Purple Extreme Demon Pupil technique for eye training, which complements your Spiritual Eyes excellently."
Beibei's analysis was very accurate, laying out his strengths.
Huo Yuhao was very keen on the stories.
But ultimately, he didn't accept any of the three's proposals.
He didn't choose any of the sects.
He appeared enthusiastic, but in reality, his heart was quite closed, holding a bit of wariness towards all three upon first meeting.
After finishing the grilled fish, Huo Yuhao bid farewell to the trio.
"Brother Bei, Sister Tang Ya, and Brother Su, I am leaving now."
"Yuhao, we're far from civilization, near the Xingdou Great Forest, where are you heading?"
Huo Yuhao shook his head, waved to the trio with a smile, and turned to leave.
"Oh, Yuhao must be heading to acquire a Soul Ring."
Tang Ya ruefully patted her head.
"Yuhao's Soul Power seems weak, what if he encounters danger being alone?"
Her eyes rolled, looking at Beibei beside her.
"Beibei, why don't we help Yuhao?"
Beibei wiped his mouth and nodded.
"Since we've decided to bring Yuhao into the Tang Sect and eaten so many of his grilled fish, we should protect him for a while. Let's go."
"By the way, Su Yu, do you want to join us?"
Tang Ya was very enthusiastic towards Su Yu, feeling a sense of familiarity from him.
"I haven't even paid, let's go together."
"Little Su, are you here to acquire a Soul Ring too?"
On the way, Beibei and Tang Ya inquired about Su Yu's situation.
"Yes, I've reached Level 30, and need to acquire a Soul Ring to break through to Soul Venerable."