Tang Ya voiced all the doubts swirling in her mind, and Zhou Sichen replied with a hint of helplessness, "The reason I haven't used my martial soul in front of you is that I was afraid you wouldn't be able to accept it. But you're smart—you've already guessed it, haven't you?"
Hearing this near-confirmation, Tang Ya froze in place.
At that moment, Bei Bei and Huo Yuhao, who had just finished training, walked over. Seeing Tang Ya's stunned expression, they both looked at each other in confusion.
Bei Bei asked, "Xiao Ya, what's wrong?"
Tang Ya glanced at Zhou Sichen, who gave her a small nod. Only then did she recount their conversation.
After listening to Tang Ya's words, Bei Bei's gaze turned to Zhou Sichen in disbelief.
"So I was right... Ah Da's soul age isn't just one or two thousand years, is it? It's at least over five thousand, right?"
Zhou Sichen nodded. "I didn't tell you before, not only because I thought it would be hard to accept but also because we had just met, and I had my reservations. But after half a month of traveling together, I trust you now, so I won't hide it anymore."
Hearing this, Bei Bei chuckled. "I figured as much. That's why I didn't ask before... but, man, I've been holding in this question for so long!"
After a moment, Bei Bei asked with difficulty, "So... your first soul ring really is at the thousand-year level?"
Zhou Sichen nodded—then shook his head.
This left the trio even more confused. What did that mean? A yes and a no?
Seeing their puzzled expressions, Zhou Sichen explained, "Ah Da is indeed at the thousand-year level now, but when I first contracted him, he was only about 700 years old. The reason he reached a thousand years is because of the special nature of my martial soul."
Bei Bei, being extremely intelligent, instantly came up with a bold hypothesis.
"So... your contract soul beasts grow stronger as your cultivation advances?"
Zhou Sichen nodded again. "Exactly. That's why Ah Da is now a thousand-year soul beast."
Upon receiving this confirmation, Bei Bei and Tang Ya locked eyes, and in that moment, both saw the sheer terror in each other's expressions.
Not just shock—pure fear.
As students of Shrek Academy, their knowledge of martial souls was vast.
But a contracted soul beast that grows stronger with its master's soul power?
It meant that when Zhou Sichen reached Rank 50, he would have five powerful ten-thousand-year soul beasts guarding him.
And when he broke through Rank 90, reaching Title Douluo, all of his contracted soul beasts would be at the hundred-thousand-year level.
At that point, Zhou Sichen alone would possess the equivalent strength of nine Title Douluo.
One person, fighting nine at the same level?!
That had never happened in the history of the soul master world!
Only now did they realize... just what kind of monster Zhou Sichen truly was.
For half a month, they had been traveling alongside this absolute anomaly—and even became friends with him?!
This... this was a golden opportunity!
Even someone as naturally talented as Bei Bei had to admit that Zhou Sichen's potential was boundless.
He had seen countless geniuses before—but not a single one could compare to this freak of nature.
Even last year's most gifted student in Shrek's Inner Court couldn't measure up!
And not only that... Zhou Sichen was about the same age as Bei Bei, yet already at Rank 30+.
At this rate, reaching Title Douluo was only a matter of time!
All Zhou Sichen needed was time, and he would inevitably become one of the greatest soul masters in history.
Still somewhat dazed, Bei Bei hesitated before speaking.
"I've been meaning to ask this for a while, but I didn't want to be rude... Can I ask how old you are, and what your exact soul power rank is?"
When Bei Bei first met Zhou Sichen, he had never actually read the recommendation letter. He only knew it came from the City Lord of Tianyuan City, so he had no idea about Zhou Sichen's age or level.
Visually, Zhou Sichen looked older than fifteen, but Bei Bei knew that if someone was truly talented and had a recommendation letter, Shrek Academy could still accept them even if they were past twelve—though the requirements would be much stricter.
Upon hearing the question, Zhou Sichen's expression became oddly amused.
"I suggest you don't ask. You might not want to know the answer."
Then, he realized something.
Zhou Sichen was saying this because the truth would be too shocking to handle!
But now that the question was out there, not knowing would be even worse.
Tang Ya hesitated before saying, "Brother Zhou, just tell us. It's not like you're secretly a Rank 50 Soul King, right?"
Zhou Sichen chuckled and shook his head. "No, no, I'm just at Rank 30. Nothing too crazy."
Hearing this, Bei Bei and Tang Ya both let out a deep sigh of relief.
Even Huo Yuhao, who had been quietly listening and processing everything, felt his nerves settle.
Brother Zhou had already given him enough shocks—his mental endurance was just barely holding up.
If Brother Zhou was actually a Rank 50 Soul King, Huo Yuhao probably would have fainted from the sheer absurdity of it.
Thirty Rings. That's still really strong, Huo Yuhao thought. After all, he himself was only at Rank 10 and didn't even have his first soul ring yet.
Bei Bei mumbled, "Thirty Rings... Thank god, it's just three rings..."
But just as the group was finally calming down, Zhou Sichen decided to drop the final bombshell.
With a calm smile, he spoke.
**"Allow me to introduce myself properly.
"I am Zhou Sichen. My martial soul is Contracted Tome.
"I am twelve years old.
"And my soul power is at Rank 38, Battle Soul Elder."**
Bei Bei absentmindedly repeated the number, thinking it was only one level higher than himself, so it was acceptable.
Bei Bei, Tang Ya, and Huo Yuhao all widened their eyes in shock.
For Huo Yuhao, it was the biggest shock of all.
He was eleven, only a year younger than Zhou Sichen—but standing next to him, he felt like a toddler compared to an adult.
And more importantly...
Why did Brother Zhou seem more mature than Bei Bei?!
How was this man only twelve?!
A twelve-year-old at Rank 38?!
How was that even humanly possible?!
Bei Bei had always considered himself a genius.
Zhou Sichen was two years younger than him and yet one rank higher?!
They were both human—so why was the gap so massive?!
What Bei Bei didn't know was that just a few days ago, Zhou Sichen had only been at Rank 37.
He had just broken through during meditation, which is why he was one level ahead.
Seeing the three of them completely dumbfounded, Zhou Sichen smiled and added:
"No need to be so shocked. There's something even more surprising."
With that, a golden tome materialized in his hands—its intricate, majestic design radiating an almost divine aura.
And as his martial soul appeared, so did his soul rings.
Purple. Purple. Purple.
Three thousand-year soul rings rose around him, completely shattering their understanding of reality.
For a moment, the three were speechless.
Because seeing it firsthand was an entirely different experience.
A Soul Elder with three purple soul rings?!
Were their eyes playing tricks on them, or were they witnessing a legend in the making?
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