Chapter 57: Into the Forest of Fate — The Right to Choose

The wind was crisp as the brothers stood at the edge of the towering green world—Star Dou Forest, both ancient and eternal. The moment had finally arrived.

Tang Yan exhaled, eyes gleaming.

Beside him, his twin mirrored the breath. Tang San, ever calm, now carried a depth and steel born of hardship and clarity.

Standing before them, clad in black robes embroidered with celestial gold runes, was Di Tian—in his human form, as always. His presence commanded the forest like a silent king, his eyes like still pools that concealed a roaring sea.

❖ A Mother's Farewell and Insight

Before their departure, Gu Yuena had spoken with a serene, almost bittersweet smile.

"Integration with your Martial Soul can still be achieved at the level of a Soul Saint… around level 70. But remember—doing it then merely maintains your potential."

"The earlier you integrate, the greater your ceiling becomes."

Her eyes had drifted to Tang Yan, a subtle pride gleaming there.

"Very few succeed at your stage. But you two… you're not just humans."

She had turned to Di Tian with a nod.

"Escort them. Protect them. But do not hold them back."

And so he had led them here, wordless but present.

❖ Into the Forest

The deeper they walked, the more alive the world around them became.

Soul beasts stirred in the distance. The trees whispered with age. The air was thick—not just with soul energy, but with tension. The energy density in the forest had skyrocketed, as had the number of powerful beasts.

It felt like the forest itself was watching.

Tang San looked around cautiously.

"The soul power here… it's denser than I expected."

Tang Yan grinned. "That's why we're here."

❖ The Secret of Ring Absorption

It was then that Tang Yan dropped a bombshell.

"By the way, we're not absorbing rings the normal way."

Tang San blinked. Di Tian narrowed his eyes.

Tang Yan stretched lazily and smirked.

"We can condense our own rings based on the hunted soul beast."

They could choose attributes.Combine traits from the beast and their own essence.Even alter the elemental alignment of the ring if it was compatible with their soul power.

"As long as the ring isn't beyond what we can handle, we can customize it. Tweak it. Shape it."

Di Tian, for the first time in hours, looked intrigued.

Tang San asked, "But how?"

"Hybrid bloodline," Tang Yan said casually. "We're half-soul beasts, remember? Same as a 100,000-year-old transformed beast—they can create their own rings. We inherited that."

Then, glancing at his brother:

"You can go up to a 2,500-year soul ring now."

"I… can probably go for 10,000 or higher."

Di Tian's brow twitched. The implications weren't lost on him.

❖ A Brother's Care

As they walked, Tang Yan leaned close to Tang San.

"Listen. I'll teach you some tricks. Like how to seal the soul beast's consciousness, or destroy it completely. Or how to construct a ring from scratch."

Tang San stared, mouth slightly open.

Tang Yan continued with a wink, "It's not cheating if it's smart."

Tang San finally chuckled, a rare warmth behind it.

"Thanks, brother."

❖ The Encounter

Suddenly, Di Tian stopped mid-step.

"Something's ahead."

His spiritual sense swept forward. Trees trembled. Animals fled.

Then—he found them.

A dying soul beast: a magnificent Verdant Moonlight Sky Vine Serpent, glowing faintly with green-gold light. It radiated gentleness… and desperation.And lurking in the shadows: a twisted, black-scaled Bloodthorn Night Howler, pulsing with malevolent blood energy.

The serpent's body was bleeding profusely, having fought to protect the younger beasts behind it. The Howler had ambushed it—its purpose: devour its life essence and accelerate its evolution.

Di Tian acted on instinct—blurring forward and slashing through the Howler's flank, forcing it back. The beast snarled and vanished into the shadows, temporarily suppressed.

But the serpent… was dying.

❖ Tang Yan Steps Forward

Tang Yan approached the Serpent, his expression softening.

"It's compatible with you, San. Life. Control. Precision."

Di Tian frowned. "It's a 100,000-year beast. You can't—"

"We'll take both."

Di Tian turned sharply. "Are you mad?!"

Tang Yan merely smiled.

"Tianmeng. Come out."

❖ Enter the Bug

A sudden chill swept the forest. A rotund, glimmering blue worm spirit emerged from Tang Yan's shoulder, yawning.

"Ahh… what's this? Di Tian! Wow, long time no threaten!"

Di Tian's eye twitched.

Tianmeng Ice Silkworm floated lazily.

"Relax. I'll seal the soul ring's output. No harm done."

"And I'll erase the evil beast's will myself. Flawlessly."

"The ring will scale as they grow."

Tang Yan added, "The Serpent will seal its essence in the ring willingly. The Howler… well, Tianmeng can handle that."

❖ Reluctant Approval

There was silence.

Then Di Tian, after long hesitation, stepped aside.

"One mistake… and I'll erase both rings. And you."

Tang Yan grinned wider. "Deal."

❖ Final Scene: A Glimmering Beginning

The brothers knelt side by side. The sky above shimmered as green and crimson energy coalesced before them.

Tang San looked over.

Tang Yan's eyes gleamed.

"This is it, brother. Our first step toward the peak."

System: "Achievement Unlocked: 'Soul Ring Customization – Advanced Mode.' Loading future plot devices…"

And with that, the absorption began..