Nighttime, at Wang Li's home.
Wang Li sat on his bed, staring at the panel before him:
[Increase Soul Ring Duration (Yes/No)]
He had earned 18 experience points in the Soul Hunting Forest but had not found the right opportunity to use them. Now, back home with no distractions, it was the perfect time to try using the experience to increase his soul ring's duration.
Silently, he thought:
"Yes!"
In an instant, Wang Li instinctively summoned his martial soul. The blue silver grass grew wildly, and the yellow soul ring floated up and down.
At the same time, it felt as if an invisible force was flowing from the surrounding void into the soul ring. The ring seemed alive, expanding and contracting like a beating heart.
Wang Li's eyes widened as he felt a surge of power enter his body, coursing freely. His skin, fat, muscles, bones, and internal organs were all swept by this energy, undergoing destruction and regeneration, as if being tempered.
The sensation came quickly and vanished just as fast. Within a few breaths, Wang Li felt completely normal again.
He took deep, excited breaths, eyes sparkling with delight:
"I didn't expect that increasing the soul ring duration would also cleanse my body and refine my soul power. This is great news, and…"
He looked at his first soul ring. Its duration had now reached an astonishing 422 years. With continued experience, he might eventually reach a 999-year first soul ring.
Even holding back to avoid shocking everyone, in the future, a thousand-year first ring, ten thousand-year first ring, hundred-thousand-year first ring, or even a million-year first ring would all be within reach.
Soon, Wang Li retracted his martial soul, cleared his mind, and began meditating for cultivation.
Experience now had another use. He had to train diligently to earn more experience to continue increasing his soul ring's duration.
After training until exhaustion, Wang Li fell asleep. Not in the academy or the Soul Hunting Forest, he slept soundly at home, waking late in the day.
Upon opening the door, he was greeted by a group of villagers outside, carrying tables, chairs, pots, and pans.
Seeing Wang Li, everyone turned to him, excitement, anticipation, and a touch of reverence in their eyes.
Wang Li was momentarily stunned. He scanned the crowd, found Wang Ping, and quickly walked over:
"Village Chief, Grandpa, everyone's here. Why didn't you wake me?"
Wang Ping looked at Wang Li with pride and satisfaction, explaining:
"That was everyone's idea. I informed the entire village last night. They thought you must have been very busy at Notting Academy. This time, they wanted to let you rest and not be disturbed. Now that you're awake, say a few words."
At this, the crowd fell silent, all eyes on Wang Li, excitement and admiration written on their faces.
Wang Li sighed but spoke loudly:
"Fellow villagers, uncles, I have become a soul master and registered at the Soul Hall in Notting City, officially becoming a soul master of the Tiandou Empire. I also received a gold soul coin as a stipend."
"I used this gold soul coin to buy a large amount of food. I need your help, fellow villagers, uncles. Today at noon, we will have a feast!"
At this, the crowd erupted in cheers. A soul master, and an official one at that, meant they could stand on equal footing with the nobility.
Having a formal soul master from their village was a point of pride, and there were countless hidden benefits. Most importantly, Wang Li had received the stipend and had not forgotten his fellow villagers.
After the cheering, Wang Ping organized everyone. Those slaughtering pigs did so, others prepared chickens and ducks… soon Wang Li's home became busy and lively.
Not long after, in the courtyard, Wang Ping gently asked Wang Li:
"Xiao Li, how long will you be staying in the village this time?"
Wang Li replied casually:
"I can stay for over a month…"
Pausing, he added:
"Village Chief, Grandpa, I have become a soul master. I can now apply to graduate from Notting Academy. Soon, with the academy's recommendation, I will go on to an intermediate soul master academy. I may not be back for several years."
Wang Ping was both surprised and delighted. Wang Li had left the primary soul master academy and returned as a soul master. He would go on to the intermediate academy and surely return as a renowned, powerful soul master.
Looking at Wang Li, who had grown taller and stronger in less than a year, with a more mature expression, Wang Ping said with comfort:
"Go ahead. The houses and fields in the village will be taken care of by everyone. You can return anytime. This will always be your home."
Wang Li smiled and nodded. He did not know when he would come back again, but being born in this village created a bond he could never sever.
This feast for the entire village was also to ease his attachments before leaving.
By noon, the air around the courtyard was filled with the aroma of meat. Villagers of all ages were joyous. It was not a festival, yet everyone was eating so well it was hard not to be happy.
A flowing banquet, big pots of food, heavy seasoning,not necessarily refined, but incredibly satisfying. Everyone ate heartily until nightfall, when the feast ended.
The next day, the area outside Wang Li's home remained lively, but he could not spend every day entertaining visitors. He headed directly to the back mountain to train with his first soul skill.
His first soul skill, Growth, could instantly generate a large number of blue silver vines, which he could control freely.
This showed the skill had broad applications, but to truly master it, training was necessary.
Against a single enemy, Wang Li could manipulate six, twelve, or twenty-four vines to attack or restrain.
Against two, four, or eight enemies, whether he could respond flexibly and calmly was the focus of his training.
Controlling multiple vines simultaneously was like drawing a square with the left hand while drawing a circle with the right. Wang Li used one vine to bind while another lashed like a whip.
At first, the vines would unknowingly mimic each other. Even with deliberate control, any slight lapse caused them to overlap.
This gave Wang Li a headache. After repeated practice, he gradually got the hang of it, though it always felt like he was splitting himself in two.
Curious villagers came to watch from the back mountain. Seeing the thick, snake-like vines, they expressed amazement and grew more respectful of Wang Li.
Time passed quickly, and over forty days later…
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