Seeing Gu Han's furrowed brow, Lu Rentao couldn't help but worry.
"Master Zhen, is it really safe for Xiaohan to absorb a 400-year soul ring?" he asked, concern heavy in his voice.
After all, Gu Han wasn't just a child prodigy—he was also the same young man who Lu Rentao had searched in vain for years.
"I believe in this child," Zhen replied firmly, though inwardly, even he felt uneasy. But at such a critical moment, interruption would only ruin Gu Han's future.
They could only wait.
Zhen's eyes stayed locked on Gu Han, not daring to miss a single expression or twitch. If something went wrong, he would rather damage Gu Han's cultivation potential than risk his life.
Half an hour passed. Finally, Gu Han's body trembled slightly. The energy of the soul ring had been completely absorbed. His meridians had transformed—what was once a trickling stream was now a wide riverbed. The amount of soul power his body could hold had expanded several fold.
As Gu Han opened his eyes, he was startled to find three large faces staring intently at him.
He leaped up instinctively, startling the others in return.
Recognizing them, Gu Han calmed down and smiled, "Grandpa Zhen, Brother Tao, Brother Hai—I did it."
"Okay, okay! I knew you could!" Zhen beamed, stroking his beard, putting on the air of a wise master—though moments ago, he'd nearly squeezed his own fingers off in anxiety.
Lu Rentao and Gui Hai exchanged glances and rolled their eyes. Zhen's act wasn't fooling anyone.
"Ahem, well… Let's talk about your soul skill, Xiaohan." Zhen coughed lightly to change the subject, attempting to recover his dignity.
As expected, everyone's attention turned to Gu Han, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Gu Han nodded and summoned his Xuanshuang Sword. A faint yellow soul ring glowed beneath his feet—though it was simulated, it radiated the pressure of a true hundred-year ring.
"My first soul skill is Xuanshuang Sword Qi. It coats the sword in icy energy, allowing it to release sword qi from a distance. It boosts attack power by 10%."
As he finished, his soul ring shone. Frost shimmered along the blade, and with a flash, he struck a nearby boulder.
The stone split cleanly in two. The cut surface was like a mirror, coated with translucent frost that radiated biting cold.
"What a sharp sword…"
"That's a true hundred-year soul ring, no doubt."
The three adults stood in awe. It was the most powerful first soul skill they'd ever seen.
Perhaps only the core geniuses of the Spirit Hall or the royal clans could compare.
"Good… good… good! Shuofeng City has produced a genius!" Zhen exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement.
Gu Han scratched the back of his head modestly. "I wouldn't have obtained such a good soul ring without the help of Grandpa Zhen and you two."
Despite the pride swelling in his chest, Gu Han remained humble.
However, he didn't reveal the full truth—his greatest secret. The soul ring and its skill would grow stronger over time, enhanced by the nameless cultivation method in his mind.
That was his real trump card.
"Haha! Don't be so polite. Just don't forget us when you're powerful in the future," Lu Rentao laughed, slapping Gu Han on the back.
Gu Han chuckled. "Of course not. I won't forget those who helped me."
His tone was light, but the promise was serious. He had no intention of becoming someone who turned his back on old friends.
Their smiles showed their satisfaction. Rentao nodded and gestured.
"Well then, let's head back and get you officially registered. From today on, you're a real Soul Master."
"Mm!"
The group made their way out of the forest and returned to Shuofeng City in a horse-drawn carriage.
After a simple registration at the Spirit Hall, Gu Han received his Martial Soul Identification Card—a basic token for all registered soul masters. His emblem bore a simple sword, indicating entry-level status.
With this token, Gu Han would receive one gold soul coin per month as a subsidy from any branch of the Spirit Hall.
After bidding farewell to the trio, Gu Han returned alone to his academy.
He didn't go to class. Instead, he headed straight for his dormitory, closed the door, and sat cross-legged on the bed.
His mind sank inward.
Earlier, the moment he absorbed the soul ring had been too intense to analyze. Now, he could finally examine the changes brought by the nameless method.
Inside his consciousness, the white jade-like Nameless Scripture lay quietly. Gu Han's focus shifted to the second page. A yellow soul ring turned slowly on its surface.
He injected soul power into it—and though there wasn't much visible change, Gu Han could clearly sense that the ring's age had increased slightly.
"What is this book…?"
He frowned.
It had appeared the day he awakened his martial soul. At first, he thought it was a second martial soul—but how could a martial soul contain its own technique?
The book had taken in his soul ring—yet on the surface, everything looked the same. His Xuanshuang Sword retained the attack boost, but the true soul ring now rested within the pages of the book.
To any outside observer, he looked no different from a normal soul master.
But Gu Han knew the truth.
After gaining the first soul ring, the Nameless Scripture had begun displaying attributes. It was subtly reshaping his soul power, enhancing it in ways that should have been impossible.
"This book… maybe it's the reason I crossed over," he murmured.
Opening his eyes again, Gu Han felt the powerful flow of energy through his body.
He had reached Soul Power Level 11, and with his innate talent of Level 5, this meant that in just two years, he had surpassed many soul masters of the same age.
More importantly, he noticed something subtle but critical—his soul power had begun to shift entirely into the ice attribute.
"If I keep absorbing ice-attributed soul beasts for my future rings… maybe the Xuanshuang Sword can evolve into a true Extreme Ice Martial Soul."
Originally, Gu Han had only hoped to enhance his martial soul a bit.
But now—he dared to dream bigger.
The nameless law was unlocking a path no one else could see.
And he was determined to walk it to the end.