Chapter 46: Great Improvement of the Academy

(PS: Chapter 14 lists the levels of the teachers: Zao Wou-Ki is level 73, Shao Xin is level 68, Lu Qibin is level 66, Li Yusong is level 64, Oscar is level 18, and Ma Hongjun is at the peak of level 11.)

The immortal herbs had all been distributed, and now all that was left was to wait for their improvements.

Li Yusong and Lu Qibin were the first to absorb the medicine. The pill, which had ninth-grade purple ganoderma as its main ingredient, was absorbed much faster than the immortal herbs.

Both Li Yusong and Lu Qibin rose two levels. Li Yusong reached level 66, and Lu Qibin reached level 68. Not only had their soul power increased, but the wrinkles on their faces had also diminished. Li Yusong's gray hair turned black, and Lu Qibin's white hair turned gray. Both men appeared at least ten years younger, and they felt as though they had returned to their youth.

The pill, made from ninth-grade purple ganoderma as the main ingredient and other natural treasures as auxiliary ingredients, was one of the most advanced body-strengthening and essence-replenishing pills in the Poyi Clan's recipe collection. For soul masters past their golden cultivation age, the pill could bring their cultivation speed back to a level similar to that of their youth for five years, while also making bottlenecks easier to break through.

Li Luochen guessed that Grandpa Lu would likely break through to Soul Saint within two years. As for his own grandfather, it seemed he was still a little short of that goal. Li Luochen had a seventh-grade dragon ganoderma on hand, which he decided to reserve for his grandfather as a special gift. His grandfather deserved even better treatment.

Li Luochen thought about how his grandfather, Li Yusong, was his only blood relative in this world, and how he hadn't abandoned him even when he was foolish and silly as a child. If Li Luochen became a god, he would definitely take his grandfather with him.

Currently, Li Yusong's soul ring configuration was too common: white, yellow, purple, purple, and black. Such a configuration could at most support a high-level Soul Saint, especially with Li Yusong's innate level five soul power.

However, Li Luochen wanted his grandfather to become a Titled Douluo. With the resources he had, they could find better soul rings for his grandfather's seventh, eighth, and ninth rings.

'Why not go for a 100,000-year ninth soul ring for Grandpa? A configuration of white, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, and red would be unique. Hehe, you can prepare one,' Li Luochen thought.

Li Yusong, of course, had no idea that his beloved grandson was already planning so much for him.

Next, Zhao Wuji and Shao Xin finished absorbing their herbs one after another. Zhao Wuji's soul power increased by two levels, reaching level 76, and his body became even more muscular. The magic herb helped him heal the hidden injuries he'd suffered over many years, further enhancing his strength and defense.

Shao Xin's soul power increased by one level, reaching the bottleneck of level 70. The remaining medicinal power would accumulate in his body and be released when he obtained his seventh soul ring. The ninth-grade ginseng king had a mild medicinal property that greatly improved soul power. After Shao Xin acquired his seventh soul ring, he might be able to improve by another one or two levels.

Now it was Oscar and Ma Hongjun's turn. They were eight and a half and six and a half years old, respectively, with Oscar at level 19 and Ma Hongjun at level 14. At their age and level, it was the perfect time for them to absorb the immortal herbs.

While their soul power might not increase immediately, the medicinal effects of the herbs would transform their bodies, improve their physical fitness, enhance their meridians, and strengthen their bones. By the time they reached level 30 or above, the medicinal effects could boost their soul power by at least five levels. Even now, as Great Soul Masters, it was uncertain how much they could improve.

Oscar was the first to complete the absorption, and his soul power reached the bottleneck of level 20. The Eight-Petal Fairy Orchid was the most suitable herb for him due to its mild and mellow medicinal properties, which made it easy to absorb. He still had plenty of medicinal power stored in his body.

Li Luochen wondered if Oscar could obtain a second soul ring that was a thousand years old. Oscar had regularly consumed whale glue, and Flanders had once purchased a nine-thousand-year-old whale glue for Oscar to take after becoming a Soul Master. Flanders used his own soul power to help Oscar absorb it.

Li Luochen figured Oscar should try to acquire a millennium-level second soul ring. Originally, Oscar's second soul skill was the detoxification sausage, but Li Luochen found it largely unnecessary, especially with Dugu Yan around. Li Luochen himself had a deep understanding of poisons and could refine detoxification medicine directly. 

Oscar was well-suited for a flying soul skill. The Spine-Tailed Swift would be a much better option than the Cockapoo. Even though both provided only one minute of flight time, the Spine-Tailed Swift's speed far exceeded that of the Cockapoo.

As for Ma Hongjun, now that the defects in his martial soul had been repaired by the immortal herb, he could also take whale glue. Beforehand, giving him whale glue might have made his energy even stronger and endangered his life. But now that he had absorbed the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, Ma Hongjun could safely consume the whale glue.

Ma Hongjun, being a combat-type Soul Master, would benefit greatly from a thousand-year second soul ring, especially with the flame-amplifying soul skill. Looking ahead, they could seek soul beasts with strong fire attributes, such as the Three-Legged Golden Crow, Scarlet Flame Phoenix, or Fire Spirit Holy Beast.

Suddenly, a phoenix cry echoed as powerful flames erupted from Ma Hongjun's body. The Evil Fire Phoenix, which had previously resembled a chicken, transformed into a true Fire Phoenix martial soul.

Ma Hongjun's Fire Phoenix Martial Soul had now entered the ranks of Super Martial Souls. If he could master Ultimate Fire, he would become even more formidable.

The once chubby little boy had slimmed down thanks to the herbal jelly. He wasn't as tall as Oscar, but he was slightly more muscular. His slimmer face hinted that he might grow into a handsome young man in the future.

"Haha! The evil fire in my martial soul is finally gone! Brother Chen, I love you so much!" Ma Hongjun felt the changes in his body and ran over to hug Li Luochen's legs like an excited puppy.

"Alright, alright. Enough with the love. Loving me won't get you anywhere. Anyway, now that your martial soul's problem is solved, your life is no longer in danger. But remember, no slacking off in training," Li Luochen said, looking at Ma Hongjun. He knew that Ma Hongjun had once been separated from his wife Bai Chenxiang and later died due to the imbalance of Yin and Yang, caused by his laziness in training in his early years.

In the end, the Phoenix became a god, while the Swift lost its soul. That's why Li Luochen was always strict with Ma Hongjun, making sure he practiced diligently. Training was a must, but enjoyment was allowed too—that was Li Luochen's philosophy for Ma Hongjun.

So far, Ma Hongjun had done well, and Li Luochen was satisfied.

Now that Ma Hongjun's soul power had risen by six levels, reaching the bottleneck of the Great Soul Master stage, he was ready to obtain his second soul ring. Ma Hongjun had never consumed whale glue before, so Flanders gave him a piece of eight-thousand-year-old whale glue.

Ma Hongjun swallowed the whale glue and began absorbing it. This was Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan's first time witnessing the process. To Dugu Bo, whale glue was simply a virility enhancer—how could it possibly aid cultivation?

Dugu Bo eyed Ma Hongjun suspiciously. Ma Hongjun first softened the whale glue with flames, reducing its volume by two-thirds. Then, he swallowed it and sat down to refine it.

At first, Ma Hongjun's face flushed red, but it soon returned to normal. The energy contained within the whale glue directly enhanced Ma Hongjun's physical fitness. With his solid foundation built by medicinal baths, and now the top-quality whale glue, Ma Hongjun's body would improve significantly. Absorbing a thousand-year spirit ring shouldn't be a problem.