Chapter 141: Absorbing the Soul Bone
After returning to the sect and checking on Nami's progress, Ning Bei planned to enter seclusion to absorb the right leg bone of the Holy Light Sea Urchin.
After greeting Ning Rongrong and the others, he headed to the secret room in his own quarters. Looking at the translucent right leg bone, Ning Bei felt a surge of excitement. Whether he could reach the level of a Super Douluo now depended on this.
He pressed the soul bone to his right leg. After a flash of dazzling light, the soul bone vanished, and Ning Bei sat cross-legged to absorb it.
As time passed, the bottleneck in his soul power began to loosen, and Ning Bei moved closer to the 94th level, inching toward the Super Douluo stage.
...
"Brother, when will you take us soul hunting?"
After finishing her afternoon practice, Ning Rongrong was bored and complained to her fellow sisters.
Zhu Zhuqing, who also needed a soul ring, wasn't in a hurry at all.
"Didn't Big Brother Ning Bei say? We're waiting for him to finish absorbing his soul bone, then we'll go soul hunting together with Ah Du and the others."
"I know, but I really want to get my fourth soul ring quickly. I'm already two stages behind Xiao Wu."
Xiao Wu, who had successfully reached the Soul King stage, proudly looked at Ning Rongrong.
"Haha, Rongrong, Soul Sovereign! When you see Soul King Xiao Wu, you should salute, got it?"
"Pfft, what's there to be proud of? I'll be a Soul King soon, too!"
Ning Rongrong snorted disdainfully, but inwardly she was incredibly envious.
"Zhuqing, you're the patient one, huh? You're not even worried about your third soul ring?"
Xiao Wu smiled, unbothered by Rongrong's teasing.
"What's mine will be mine. No point in stressing over what's not."
As the three sisters chatted, Ning Bei, who had been in seclusion for three days, had finished absorbing the soul bone. His soul power had reached level 94, only a little short of reaching the Super Douluo stage.
Ning Bei couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed but didn't dwell on it. After helping Rongrong and Ah Du get their soul rings, he would accept the sacrifice from the Ice Emperor, and his soul power would naturally increase.
In his mind, Tianmeng, understanding Ning Bei's thoughts, eagerly jumped with excitement.
"Stop wasting time and go get those kids their soul rings!"
"Got it, I'll go after Ah Du and the others finish absorbing their Celestial Herbs!"
Ning Bei helplessly glanced at Tianmeng in his mind. Always so eager.
While Ning Bei was communicating with Tianmeng, the soft voice of the Ice Emperor echoed in his consciousness.
"Already at level 94? Not bad!"
"Ice Emperor, you've woken up?"
The beautiful figure of the Ice Emperor appeared beside Tianmeng, adding a stunning touch to Ning Bei's empty consciousness.
"Yes, I've recovered. I sensed Bing'er's aura. Has she come back with you?"
Ning Bei nodded, confirming the Ice Emperor's guess.
"Yes, she's staying inside my first martial soul. Eventually, she'll be sacrificed to me and become the wisdom soul ring of the Ice Heaven Snow Woman martial soul."
The Ice Emperor's expression became somewhat complex. After a while, she regained her calm.
"This is fine. It's also a great opportunity for Bing'er. I hope the Ice God will treat her well."
Before Ning Bei could speak, Tianmeng made a promise to the Ice Emperor.
"Don't worry, this kid doesn't have a bias against soul beasts. His ten-thousand-year soul rings are mostly accepted as sacrifices. He won't do anything like killing the donkey after the grinding is done."
The Ice Emperor nodded after hearing this, then glared at Tianmeng.
"What kid? Show some respect to the Ice God, or I'll make sure you regret it!"
"Uh!"
Tianmeng froze for a moment, then nodded fearfully. He dared not act out in front of the Ice Emperor. It was a respect cultivated over many years in the extreme north.
The absorption of the soul bone was nearing completion. Ning Bei felt the soul skills that the Holy Light Sea Urchin's right leg bone brought to him and was slightly moved.
The two soul skills were Sunlight Beam and Sunlight Absorption to accelerate cultivation.
Moreover, the cultivation acceleration skill was similar to a domain state and could be applied to others, not just himself.
However, there was something about the Sunlight Beam released from the right leg that gave him a strange feeling, like a creepy guy with sunglasses.
Could he start using his skills to make a scary "one-shot, one-kill" move on a titled Douluo?
Having obtained another offensive soul skill, Ning Bei was satisfied and walked out of the secret room, heading directly to the place where Ah Du and the others were in seclusion.
Ning Rongrong and the others had been waiting by the door.
"It's already the seventh day, they should have finished absorbing the Celestial Herbs by now!"
Xiao Wu nodded in agreement. It had taken the three of them that long to absorb the herbs.
"How? Can't wait anymore?"
Ning Rongrong turned around at the sound of the voice and saw her brother, her eyes lighting up.
"Brother, you're out of seclusion!"
Rubbing Ning Rongrong's head, Ning Bei nodded slightly.
"That's right. I'm almost a Super Douluo."
"Really! Does that mean my backing is getting stronger and stronger?"
Rongrong proudly cheered, feeling that her brother's strength was her own strength as well!
Xiao Wu looked at Ning Bei with shock. The man, who was several years older than her, had already reached a level beyond her reach. The strongest in the Star Luo Empire was probably around that level.
Both Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong felt a sense of loss in their hearts. Unlike Rongrong, who could comfortably accept her brother's strength, Xiao Wu couldn't accept being treated like a flower vase.
Ning Bei, noticing the girls' expressions, didn't plan to comfort them. The gap in strength couldn't be erased by words. They would have to work hard on their own.
At that moment, Ah Du and the others walked out of the room together.
"Second Young Master, Misses, sorry to keep you waiting!"
The three of them were excited and greeted Ning Bei and the others respectfully.
Ning Bei waved his hand, signaling them to skip the formalities.
"So, how much help did the Celestial Herbs bring you?"
Ah Du was the first to summon his martial soul. The originally gold-patterned scythe had now become even more magnificent. A ghostly cry seemed to surround the scythe, and the dark energy was even more powerful than before.
"Second Young Master, my soul power has reached level 40, and my martial soul has advanced as well."
"Wow, Ah Du, you've gained quite a lot. Even Xiao Wu is a bit envious."
Xiao Wu smiled, happy for her little brother, her face full of pride.
Ah Du scratched his head shyly.
"Xiao Wu, it's just luck, all thanks to Second Young Master's help."
Ning Bei nodded in satisfaction and turned his gaze to the other two.
Seeing Ning Bei's gaze, Long Nianbing and Ye Yin Zhu also summoned their martial souls.
While their martial souls hadn't changed fundamentally, Long Nianbing's golden kitchen knife was no longer as restrained as before. It now radiated an impressive sharpness, the benefit of the Mixed Yuan Grass.
"Second Young Master, my soul power has reached level 47. Before the Soul Master competition, I'll definitely reach the Soul King level."
"My soul power has reached level 40. I'll know how much I've gained after obtaining my fourth soul ring."
Ye Yin Zhu didn't fall behind, introducing his soul power level to Ning Bei, unwilling to lag behind his two companions.
(END CHAPTER)
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Chapter 142: Leading the Soul Hunting Team
After learning about the progress of their cultivation, Ning Bei waved his hand and told the group to prepare. Tomorrow, he would lead them to the Sunset Forest for soul hunting.
The young ones excitedly nodded and dispersed into two groups.
Just as Ning Bei was planning to rest, the steward called him to the council hall, where Ning Fengzhi had something to discuss.
Upon entering the council hall, Ning Bei saw that both Jian and Gu were there. He was puzzled as to what was so important that it required such a large gathering.
Once everyone had arrived, Ning Fengzhi instructed the servants to bring out a tray, on which were several mechanical contraptions.
Ning Bei immediately understood that these were simple mechanical hidden weapons that had been created.
"Nice efficiency. It's been less than ten days, right?"
Ning Fengzhi nodded with a smile.
"After receiving the crafting methods from you, I hired a group of skilled craftsmen from Gengjin City to quickly make these hidden weapons."
"Some other types of hidden weapons require specific techniques and aren't suitable for the direct disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. But these two are simple enough."
Ning Bei nodded as he looked at the silent sleeve arrows and the Zhuge crossbow on the tray. These were indeed suitable for the direct disciples of the sect.
Jian and Gu exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what exactly these two were up to.
"Fengzhi, Bei'er, can these pieces of metal really give auxiliary soul masters any fighting power?"
Gu Long looked skeptically at the hidden weapons before him. Could mere iron compare to the power gained through painstaking cultivation?
After a brief glance at each other, Ning Bei and Ning Fengzhi both smiled. They had already tested the weapons' power.
"Grandfather Gu, why don't you give these weapons a try?"
Gu Long didn't object and immediately walked to the center of the hall.
"Let me see what these lumps of iron can do."
Without wasting time, Ning Bei picked up a silent sleeve arrow and aimed it at Gu Long, pulling the trigger.
A slender iron arrow shot out, cutting through the air straight at Gu Long.
Gu Long's eyes narrowed slightly, and with a single hand, he caught the arrow. The force of the arrow surprised him slightly.
"Well, this arrow has the power of a Soul Sovereign-level battle soul master. A normal person wouldn't be able to avoid it."
Chen Xin, standing aside, was also surprised. He hadn't expected this father-son duo to have come up with such a thing.
"Where did you two get these? If all the disciples of the sect start learning these kinds of underhanded methods, won't it be a bit misplaced?"
"Well, Uncle Jian, I got the crafting method by chance. Our direct disciples don't have much combat power, right? With these, they'll have an extra layer of protection. After all, it's always good to have some precautions!"
Chen Xin nodded thoughtfully. As long as the sect's disciples didn't start learning these kinds of tricks on a large scale, it was fine. It was good to have more options in battle.
After testing the silent sleeve arrow, Ning Bei picked up the Zhuge crossbow and fired several arrows toward Gu Long.
Seeing the number of arrows, Gu Long didn't try to catch them with his hands. Instead, he created a protective shield made of soul power to block them.
The arrows hit the soul power shield and made slight ripples before falling to the ground.
After a moment of thought, Gu Long gave his evaluation.
"Each of these arrows has the power of a high-level Soul Sovereign's full-force strike. With a rapid-fire attack, even a defensive Soul Sage wouldn't be able to withstand it."
Ning Bei and the others nodded in satisfaction upon hearing Gu Long's assessment. This was already a great result, as the cost of making these hidden weapons was negligible for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, yet they could provide their direct disciples with significant combat power.
"Father, do you plan to make these in large quantities?"
"Yes, I plan to equip the direct disciples with these two hidden weapons. The others, which require special techniques, will be given to disciples with poor cultivation talent to study."
Ning Bei nodded. This was a feasible idea, so he didn't offer further suggestions.
"By the way, tomorrow I plan to take Rongrong and the others to the Sunset Forest for soul hunting. It will probably take a few days."
Hearing this, Gu Long instinctively wanted to warn Ning Bei that it was too dangerous, but he stopped himself when the words almost left his mouth.
Ning Bei was no longer the young auxiliary who needed to rely on the old masters.
"Be careful, the Sunset Forest is still very dangerous."
What was originally a reprimand turned into a reminder. Ning Bei nodded, indicating that he would be careful. If anything happened, they had plenty of auxiliary battle soul beasts and pills for safety.
The next morning, Ning Bei arrived at the sect's gate, where the young ones had been waiting for a while, their faces full of excitement.
"You're quite punctual! Let's go!"
Ning Bei summoned the Hurricane Hunting Falcon, which had grown into a ten-thousand-year soul beast. Its wingspan now reached an impressive six meters.
Ning Rongrong, filled with joy, stepped forward to the hunting falcon.
"Brother, are we going to ride the little falcon to the Sunset Forest?"
Ning Bei shook his head, laughing as he looked at his sister.
"You got it wrong. I'll ride the little falcon, and you all will run."
"Ah! You sly brother, you're too shameless! No way, I want to ride the little falcon too."
Xiao Wu didn't say anything, but her expression clearly showed she was also too lazy to run. However, Ning Bei didn't give them a chance to hop on, directly commanding the Hurricane Hunting Falcon to soar into the sky.
"Appropriate exercise is good for both mind and body. That's settled."
Looking up at the person and beast circling above him, Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu stomped their feet in frustration.
"Hmph, shameless brother! If you don't let me ride, I'll never run to the Sunset Forest!"
"Xiao Wu, let's rent a carriage!"
Xiao Wu nodded, fully agreeing with her friend's decision.
Just as the two were about to set off, Ning Bei's voice rang out again.
"The last one to reach Sunset Town gets a reward—candied chestnuts!"
The two girls, who were planning to slack off, froze up at the sudden challenge. Was he a devil?
"Also, the first one to arrive gets a reward. Let's see who gets there first!"
With that, Ning Bei glanced at Ah Du and the others, nodded at them, and then ignored everyone else, signaling the falcon to head toward the Sunset Forest.
"What should we do, Rongrong? Should we run?"
Hearing her friend's question, Rongrong smiled cleverly.
"Run? Brother only said the last one gets punished. As long as we get there together, we'll be fine!"
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up immediately.
"Only you could come up with such a plan, Rongrong!"
Rongrong smirked and planned to discuss with the others about taking a carriage together.
But when she turned around, she couldn't see anyone else's figures. Ah Du, the others, and Zhu Zhuqing, upon hearing Ning Bei mention the reward for the first place, quickly ran off toward Sunset Town.
All that was left was a cloud of dust.
"Ah! These damn guys! They didn't wait for me! Xiao Wu, wait for us… hey!"
Rongrong was still planning to discuss how to deal with Ah Du and the others after arriving at the Sunset Forest, but when she looked back, Xiao Wu had already disappeared from sight.
I and my sisters are heart-connected; my sisters and I use our brains!
The huge sect gate was left with her alone, looking disoriented.
On the road leading to Seven Treasure City, the little rabbit, running frantically, silently apologized to Rongrong. She knew that with Ning Bei's personality, he would definitely treat them as the last ones to arrive and give them both a round of candied chestnuts.
Xiao Wu, with no hesitation, had completely abandoned her friend.
Rongrong, realizing the situation, was so angry she nearly exploded. With no choice left, she summoned the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to buff herself with speed and soul power, using all her strength to chase after the main group.
(END CHAPTER)
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Chapter 143: Soul Hunting Begins
Arriving early at Sunset Town, Ning Bei was already lying on Dugu Yan's lap, resting with his eyes closed. His woman would occasionally feed him peeled fruit, making him feel incredibly at ease.
"By the way, is it really okay for you to bully Rongrong and Xiao Wu like this?"
"This isn't bullying! It's training their escape abilities."
Dugu Yan glanced helplessly at Ning Bei, realizing her man's strange sense of humor.
"Are you going to join us in the soul hunting later?"
"Sure, I'm free anyway."
"By the way, what reward do you plan to give the winner later?"
Ning Bei didn't keep them guessing and directly took out a 50,000-year-old Explosive Magic Lion's right leg bone from his Soul Guidance Device, waving it in front of Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan was impressed by her boyfriend's generosity. Giving away a ten-thousand-year soul bone as a game reward was unheard of.
"After the Soul Master Competition, I'll prepare a suitable soul bone for you."
"No need, I already have two soul bones, and if I take yours, people might gossip."
Ning Bei opened his eyes, glancing at his girlfriend. Are you being polite with me?
"Don't worry, I've already inquired. The grand prize for the Soul Master Competition's champion is three high-quality ten-thousand-year soul bones. I'll ensure each member of the team gets one, it's not just for you."
Seeing him say this, Dugu Yan finally nodded in agreement.
Ning Bei's talent put a lot of pressure on her, and she didn't want to be a decorative vase. So, she accepted his kindness, as long as it didn't come across as too sudden.
While they were talking, a camouflaged butterfly landed on Ning Bei's fingertip.
This was something Ning Bei had sent out to keep an eye on the group, signaling that the children were almost at Sunset Town.
"Let's go, Yan, let's see who will get this soul bone."
"Okay."
Leading Dugu Yan to the edge of the town, they soon saw Long Nian Bing arriving breathlessly in front of them.
"Second Young Master, I'm first!"
Ning Bei nodded with a smile and took out the Explosive Magic Lion's right leg bone from his Soul Guidance Device, tossing it to Long Nian Bing.
"Here's your reward!"
Long Nian Bing fumbled to catch the soul bone, his eyes widening. Although he didn't know the exact age of the soul bone, just a glance told him it was a top-quality ten-thousand-year soul bone.
"Second Young Master, this..."
Seeing Long Nian Bing stutter, Ning Bei, understanding what he was thinking, casually waved his hand.
"Take it, it's not related to the sect, consider it a personal gift from me. Train hard!"
Hearing this, Long Nian Bing's heart filled with joy as he respectfully bowed.
"Thank you, Second Young Master! I won't disappoint you!"
As they were talking, Ah Du also arrived in front of them, panting and looking at everyone.
"Nian Bing, you're too fast! I almost ran out of soul power and couldn't catch up!"
"Haha, it's just luck! My soul power is much higher than yours, nothing to be proud of!"
Soon, the others arrived. Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, being speed-type soul masters, arrived ahead of Ye Yin Zhu.
After a few minutes, Ning Rongrong arrived, looking angry. She immediately went up to Xiao Wu and started tickling her.
"Letting you run first! You're not showing any loyalty!"
Knowing she was in the wrong, Xiao Wu didn't resist and begged for mercy, swearing she wouldn't do it again.
Seeing the two girls teasing each other, Ning Bei happily walked up behind Ning Rongrong and gave her a candied chestnut.
A loud scream immediately echoed outside Sunset Town.
After a while, Ning Rongrong rubbed her head, looking at her brother with a pitiful expression.
"Hmph! How can I race with them, I'm just a little auxiliary! Brother, you're so mean."
Everyone couldn't help but smile at Ning Rongrong's complaints, while also wondering what reward Ning Bei had prepared for Long Nian Bing. After all, the last place had already been punished.
"Brother Ning Bei, what about Xiao Bing's reward?"
Hearing Xiao Wu's question, Ning Bei turned to look at Long Nian Bing and nodded at him.
"Xiao Wu, Second Young Master already gave me my reward, it's a ten-thousand-year soul bone!"
Everyone was stunned by Long Nian Bing's words and couldn't help but admire Ning Bei's generosity.
Ah Du and Ye Yin Zhu's eyes were filled with deep envy.
Ning Bei waved his hand and led everyone to the tavern in town. It was already noon, so they decided to eat first before going soul hunting. They also needed time to recover their spent soul power.
While eating, Ning Bei began to explain the rewards and opponents of the Soul Master Competition.
"The grand prize for this Soul Master Competition is three soul bones. If you win the championship, I'll personally give you four more soul bones, one for each of you."
"So don't be jealous of Nian Bing!"
Xiao Wu didn't think much of it. She wasn't particularly interested in soul bones, but the others looked excited, glancing happily at him.
Ning Bei, noticing their excitement, decided to throw some cold water on them.
"Don't get too happy just yet. The Spirit Hall's team has three Soul Kings. If we lose, don't blame me for not warning you."
"What?!"
They had thought that with the help of the immortal herbs, winning the championship was within their grasp, but now they realized there were formidable opponents ahead.
However, the group wasn't scared. They all confidently said they would definitely defeat the Spirit Hall team.
"That's good. Finish your food quickly, and recover your soul power. After that, I'll take you hunting."
The group nodded and picked up the pace while eating.
With Ning Bei's help from the medicinal pills, everyone quickly recovered their spent soul power and headed for the Sunset Forest.
Arriving at the edge of the forest, Ning Bei looked at the young ones.
"Unless absolutely necessary, I won't interfere. You're a team for the competition, so practice coordinating your teamwork."
"Yes, Second Young Master!"
"Got it, Brother Ning Bei!"
After some discussion, they decided to hunt a thousand-year soul beast for Zhu Zhuqing's third soul ring. Of course, if they encountered a suitable soul beast for the others, they wouldn't let it slip by.
They quickly arranged their formation. Ah Du and Long Nian Bing led the way, while Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Yin Zhu, and Ning Rongrong were protected in the center, with Xiao Wu guarding the rear.
Ning Bei summoned the Hurricane Hunting Falcon once again, flying alongside Dugu Yan in the sky, keeping an eye on the team from above, just in case.
"Abē, aren't I going to coordinate with them?"
Ning Bei rolled his eyes at his girlfriend. "Are you sure you'll be coordinating? Just one breath of poison mist, and they'll all be done for?"
"Forget it. If you go now, they'll just depend on your strength. It won't help them grow."
Dugu Yan nodded and didn't insist on joining the hunting. Instead, she grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds from Ning Bei's hand and began to munch on them with him.
(END CHAPTER)
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Chapter 144: Soul-Devouring Beetle
In fact, Ning Bei could have directly taken out the Pill Tower or the Youxiang Qiluo Immortal Herb to lure soul beasts. With his cultivation as a Title Douluo, he could have easily helped the younger ones obtain suitable soul rings.
However, in order to train everyone's cooperative combat abilities, he had no intention of doing so.
The group advanced deeper into Sunset Forest, encountering quite a few soul beasts whose age was not suitable. They didn't kill unnecessarily and bypassed them to continue forward.
Due to taking whale glue for over a month, Zhu Zhuqing's physical fitness had already improved greatly. After arriving at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she took the immortal herb given by Ning Bei, further enhancing her physical condition.
With the aid of the Meridian Protection Pill, she planned to hunt for a soul ring close to 4,000 years, which was near her current limit. But the little cat, who wasn't in the best position, decided to take the risk—otherwise, even with the immortal herb's boost, it would be hard to compete with her sister, who was six years older.
Perhaps due to bad luck, the group had been walking for several hours without encountering a soul beast suitable for Zhu Zhuqing.
"This soul beast is just too hard to find! We've been in here for hours already."
Ning Rongrong, whose first three soul rings had been easily obtained with the help of her two Title Douluo grandfathers, pouted in complaint.
Ah Du, understanding her special background, smiled and comforted her:
"Miss, this is actually quite good already. When I was looking for my third soul ring, I wandered around Star Dou Forest for three whole days before I found a suitable soul beast."
"Three days?"
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened in surprise, completely unable to understand why acquiring a soul ring could be so troublesome.
Xiao Wu playfully patted her best friend's head.
"Rongrong, just be happy you have two grandfathers with Title Douluo strength. Do you know how many people lose their lives just to obtain a soul ring?"
Ning Rongrong was left speechless, only able to obediently follow the team forward.
As everyone chatted about their own experiences obtaining soul rings, Ye Yinzhu—who had been on high alert—suddenly shouted toward Ah Du and Long Nianbing at the front.
"Ah Du, Nianbing, watch out!!!"
Upon hearing the warning, Ah Du and Long Nianbing quickly leapt back, moving in front of Ye Yinzhu and Ning Rongrong.
A black shadow streaked past where they had just been standing. Seeing that its attack had missed, the shadow quickly burrowed into the ground to hide.
"Was that… a big black rat that just flashed by?"
Ning Rongrong looked blankly at Ye Yinzhu beside her.
Ye Yinzhu, staring seriously at the spot where the shadow disappeared, explained:
"If I'm not mistaken, that shadow was a Soul-Devouring Beetle. Its body isn't large, but it specializes in burrowing into the bodies of soul masters or soul beasts to consume their soul power!"
"Ah?! That's disgusting!"
The moment Ning Rongrong heard it was a bug that could get inside the body, she shuddered all over, feeling the instinctive fear women often have toward insects.
Just as the group was on high alert, the black shadow shot out from underground again, aiming straight for Ah Du in the front row.
Long Nianbing, who had been vigilant all along, gave a cold snort.
"Hmph, still trying to sneak attack?"
"Morning Dew Blade, Snow's Lament!"
Countless frost-covered kitchen knives formed an icy array, trapping the shadow inside. Everyone could now clearly see it.
It was a black beetle resembling a rhinoceros beetle, its body nearly ten centimeters long.
"Ah Du, this is a ten-thousand-year Soul-Devouring Beetle. Its attributes match yours, but its age is a bit of a stretch for you."
After hearing Ye Yinzhu's words, everyone turned to look at Ah Du, waiting to see what choice he would make.
While Ah Du hesitated, Long Nianbing's urgent voice rang out.
"Not good—it's about to break through my blade formation!"
Indeed, while they were talking, the beetle had begun crashing wildly inside the array, and the formation looked like it wouldn't hold much longer.
Seeing this, Ning Rongrong quickly summoned her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to buff Long Nianbing.
"Nine Treasures in name, never stop working!"
With strength, speed, and soul power boosted by forty percent, Long Nianbing stabilized the formation again and shot Ning Rongrong a look of approval.
Realizing it was time to act, Ah Du made up his mind.
"I'll take this beetle as my soul ring!"
Ye Yinzhu and Long Nianbing looked at him with concern.
"Ah Du, are you sure?"
Ah Du nodded firmly.
"I've always been the one with the weakest talent. If I don't take the risk now, I'll always be left behind by you all."
Seeing his determination, the two stopped trying to persuade him and instead gave him an encouraging glance.
Since they had decided to hunt this beetle, the next steps were clear.
Ning Rongrong buffed the entire team again—she had been practicing her Exquisite Seven Apertures Heart diligently.
"Nine Treasures in name, still working nonstop!"
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing quickly moved to positions beside the formation. Once Long Nianbing released it, they would strike immediately.
"Nianbing, once I control it with my soul skill, release the array!"
Long Nianbing didn't reply—he simply nodded solemnly.
A guqin appeared in Ye Yinzhu's hands, and he sat cross-legged on the ground.
Yellow, purple, purple—three soul rings appeared on the guqin, the third one lighting up.
"Soul-Seizing Enchantment!"
A strange melody echoed through the forest, but it didn't make the surrounding companions feel uncomfortable.
The Soul-Devouring Beetle, however, was different. Its frenzied body began to slow down, and it drifted aimlessly in midair, as if in a trance.
"Now! Don't waste the chance!"
Upon hearing Ye Yinzhu's call, Long Nianbing immediately released the formation and condensed a blazing red kitchen knife in his hand.
"Zhengyang Blade, Flaming Roar!"
The knife shot toward the beetle with fierce flames, tearing open its shell and leaving charred marks.
Not to be outdone, Xiao Wu used her Eight-Stage Throw, slamming the beetle to the ground. Zhu Zhuqing followed up with her Nether Hundred Claws, raking at the wound.
After the heavy blows, the beetle lay unconscious on the ground, making Ah Du's eyes light up.
"Ah Du, finish it! It's almost dead!"
"Alright, thank you everyone!"
Ah Du released his martial soul, his first yellow soul ring lighting up. A massive scythe swept across the beetle's wound. The beetle trembled briefly before going completely still.
A pitch-black soul ring rose from its corpse!
Ah Du thanked his companions, then swallowed the Meridian Protection Pill he had prepared in advance. Sitting cross-legged beside the beetle, he began absorbing it.
Soon, the black ten-thousand-year soul ring slowly attached itself to Ah Du's scythe, indicating the absorption had begun.
The smaller members immediately stood guard.
Ye Yinzhu and Ning Rongrong stayed close to Ah Du, while Xiao Wu, Nianbing, and Zhu Zhuqing formed a triangle to protect them.
In the sky, Ning Bei, seeing the group cooperate to kill a ten-thousand-year soul beast, nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad at all. I thought I'd have to step in."
Dugu Yan, who had witnessed the entire hunt, also let out a sigh of admiration.
(END CHAPTER)
(END CHAPTER)
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Chapter 144: Soul Hunting Begins
Ning Bei, having arrived early at Sunset Town, was already lying on Dugu Yan's lap, resting with his eyes closed. His woman occasionally fed him peeled fruit, making him feel utterly content.
"By the way, is it really okay to bully Rongrong and Xiao Wu like that?"
"This isn't bullying! It's training their escape skills."
Dugu Yan glanced helplessly at Ning Bei. Sometimes her man could be so mischievous.
"Are you going to join us in the soul hunting later?"
"Sure, I'm just resting anyway."
"By the way, what's the reward you plan to give the winner?"
Ning Bei didn't keep them guessing and directly took out a 50,000-year-old Explosive Magic Lion's right leg bone from his Soul Guidance Device, waving it in front of Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan was stunned by her boyfriend's generosity. Giving a ten-thousand-year soul bone as a game reward was unprecedented.
"After the Soul Master Competition, I'll also prepare a suitable soul bone for you."
"No need. I already have two soul bones, and if I take yours, people will start gossiping."
Ning Bei opened his eyes and glanced at his girlfriend. "Are you being polite with me?"
"Don't worry. I've already found out. The grand prize for the Soul Master Competition champion is three high-quality ten-thousand-year soul bones. I'll make sure each member of the team gets one. It's not just for you."
Dugu Yan, hearing this, finally agreed with a nod.
Ning Bei's talents had put a lot of pressure on her, and she didn't want to just be a decorative vase. So, in the absence of any awkwardness, she accepted his kindness.
While they were talking, a camouflaged butterfly flew to Ning Bei's fingertip.
This was something Ning Bei had sent out to monitor the group, signaling that the kids were almost at Sunset Town.
"Let's go, Yan. Let's see who gets this soul bone."
"Okay."
Leading Dugu Yan to the edge of the town, they soon saw Long Nian Bing arriving, breathless.
"Second Young Master, I'm first!"
Ning Bei smiled and nodded, then pulled out the Explosive Magic Lion's right leg bone from his Soul Guidance Device and tossed it to Long Nian Bing.
"Here's your reward!"
Long Nian Bing hurriedly caught the soul bone, his eyes widening. Although he didn't know the exact age, just a glance told him it was a high-quality ten-thousand-year soul bone.
"Second Young Master, this..."
Seeing Long Nian Bing stutter, Ning Bei waved his hand casually.
"Take it. It's not related to the sect; it's a personal gift from me. Train hard!"
Hearing this, Long Nian Bing's heart filled with joy, and he respectfully bowed.
"Thank you, Second Young Master! I won't disappoint you!"
While they were talking, Ah Du also arrived, panting and looking at everyone.
"Nian Bing, you're too fast! I almost ran out of soul power and couldn't catch up!"
"Haha, it's just luck! My soul power is a lot higher than yours, nothing to be proud of!"
Soon, the others arrived. Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, being speed-type soul masters, arrived ahead of Ye Yin Zhu.
After a few minutes, Ning Rongrong arrived, looking angry. She immediately went up to Xiao Wu and started tickling her.
"Letting you run first! You're not showing any loyalty!"
Knowing she was in the wrong, Xiao Wu didn't resist and begged for mercy, swearing she wouldn't do it again.
Seeing the two girls teasing each other, Ning Bei happily walked up behind Ning Rongrong and gave her a candied chestnut.
A loud scream immediately echoed outside Sunset Town.
After a while, Ning Rongrong rubbed her head, looking at her brother with a pitiful expression.
"Hmph! How can I race with them, I'm just a little auxiliary! Brother, you're so mean."
Everyone couldn't help but smile at Ning Rongrong's complaints, while also wondering what reward Ning Bei had prepared for Long Nian Bing. After all, the last place had already been punished.
"Brother Ning Bei, what about Xiao Bing's reward?"
Hearing Xiao Wu's question, Ning Bei turned to look at Long Nian Bing and nodded at him.
"Xiao Wu, Second Young Master already gave me my reward, it's a ten-thousand-year soul bone!"
Everyone was stunned by Long Nian Bing's words and couldn't help but admire Ning Bei's generosity.
Ah Du and Ye Yin Zhu's eyes were filled with deep envy.
Ning Bei waved his hand and led everyone to the tavern in town. It was already noon, so they decided to eat first before going soul hunting. They also needed time to recover their spent soul power.
While eating, Ning Bei began to explain the rewards and opponents of the Soul Master Competition.
"The grand prize for this Soul Master Competition is three soul bones. If you win the championship, I'll personally give you four more soul bones, one for each of you."
"So don't be jealous of Nian Bing!"
Xiao Wu didn't think much of it. She wasn't particularly interested in soul bones, but the others looked excited, glancing happily at him.
Ning Bei, noticing their excitement, decided to throw some cold water on them.
"Don't get too happy just yet. The Spirit Hall's team has three Soul Kings. If we lose, don't blame me for not warning you."
"What?!"
They had thought that with the help of the immortal herbs, winning the championship was within their grasp, but now they realized there were formidable opponents ahead.
However, the group wasn't scared. They all confidently said they would definitely defeat the Spirit Hall team.
"That's good. Finish your food quickly, and recover your soul power. After that, I'll take you hunting."
The group nodded and picked up the pace while eating.
With Ning Bei's help from the medicinal pills, everyone quickly recovered their spent soul power and headed for the Sunset Forest.
Arriving at the edge of the forest, Ning Bei looked at the young ones.
"Unless absolutely necessary, I won't interfere. You're a team for the competition, so practice coordinating your teamwork."
"Yes, Second Young Master!"
"Got it, Brother Ning Bei!"
After some discussion, they decided to hunt a thousand-year soul beast for Zhu Zhuqing's third soul ring. Of course, if they encountered a suitable soul beast for the others, they wouldn't let it slip by.
They quickly arranged their formation. Ah Du and Long Nian Bing led the way, while Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Yin Zhu, and Ning Rongrong were protected in the center, with Xiao Wu guarding the rear.
Ning Bei summoned the Hurricane Hunting Falcon once again, flying alongside Dugu Yan in the sky, keeping an eye on the team from above, just in case.
"Abē, aren't I going to coordinate with them?"
Ning Bei rolled his eyes at his girlfriend. "Are you sure you'll be coordinating? Just one breath of poison mist, and they'll all be done for?"
"Forget it. If you go now, they'll just depend on your strength. It won't help them grow."
Dugu Yan nodded and didn't insist on joining the hunting. Instead, she grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds from Ning Bei's hand and began to munch on them with him.
(END CHAPTER)
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Chapter 145: Zhu Zhuqing's Third Soul Ring, External Soul Bone
The absorption of a ten-thousand-year soul ring was clearly not as simple as expected.
Watching Ah Du's agonized expression, the others felt a deep sense of worry. Although with Ning Bei's medicinal pills, there was no danger to life, a failed absorption would still have irreversible effects on his future cultivation.
Fortunately, Ah Du's expression was grim for a while, his veins bulging, but there were no further signs of deterioration. The group finally relaxed.
Ning Rongrong teased Xiao Wu with a playful glance.
"If this were at Shrek Academy, that useless Master would probably have made a dual martial soul out of this!"
Long Nian Bing and Ye Yin Zhu looked at Ning Rongrong in confusion, while Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but laugh.
Thinking about Master's confidence, which was inversely proportional to his cultivation, they realized he might genuinely think that way.
"Miss, why do you say Ah Du has a dual martial soul?"
Seeing their confusion, Ning Rongrong sneered and laughed.
"Isn't it because that useless Master thought it was impossible to have a second soul ring of a thousand years and a fourth soul ring of ten thousand years, so he insisted that your Xiao Wu sister had dual martial souls!"
"Huh? There are such people? Isn't that just showing off their ignorance?"
Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, agreeing with the statement.
"Exactly! He insisted that I reveal the soul skills of my other martial soul so he could 'guide' me. Where was I supposed to find another martial soul?"
It could only be said that Master and the others' attitudes disgusted the two girls, and they couldn't get over it even after leaving the academy.
Zhu Zhuqing, hearing her friends' complaints, felt a lingering gloom in her heart. She would never forget how those people had tried to force her to stay at the academy.
The two girls, understanding the painful memory resurfacing for their friend, each took her hand and gave her a comforting look.
Ah Du's soul ring absorption lasted for several hours. During that time, several careless soul beasts had attacked, but they were quickly repelled by the group. Their friendship deepened as they fought together.
When Ah Du finally finished absorbing, the group quickly gathered around.
"Ah Du, how is it? Is the soul skill useful? Also, what level is your soul power now?"
Seeing everyone staring at him, Ah Du bashfully scratched his head.
"I think this soul skill is really suitable for me. Thanks, everyone! As for my soul power, it's already level 46."
"46? That's amazing! Now, only Xiao Wu and Nian Bing are above you."
Ye Yin Zhu looked at her friend with admiration but wasn't envious. She would soon get her fourth soul ring too.
"How about your soul skill? Let us see it!"
Ah Du glanced around, hesitating before speaking.
"It's probably inherited from the Soul-devouring Beetle's abilities. The soul skill is called 'Crack the Shadow.' I can't test it yet because it needs to burrow into the enemy's body to activate."
Ning Rongrong stepped back with a look of disgust.
"Huh? You had to inherit such a gross ability? But the Soul-devouring Beetle's speed is impressive too!"
"Uh..."
Seeing Ah Du's awkwardness, Ye Yin Zhu quickly intervened.
"Miss, the Soul-devouring Beetle is known for its ability to enter the body and devour souls. We should be happy for Ah Du."
"Alright, sorry Ah Du, I shouldn't have said that."
Ning Rongrong nodded, acknowledging Ye Yin Zhu's explanation, and apologized to Ah Du.
Ah Du quickly waved his hand, signaling that he didn't mind.
"Next, let's continue helping Zhu Zhuqing find her soul ring."
The group didn't raise any objections and continued to walk towards the left side of the forest. Here, they could encounter ten-thousand-year soul beasts, so there was no need to venture deeper; they just needed to move sideways.
Perhaps it was the luck they gained from encountering the first soul beast, but less than half an hour later, they came across a 4000-year-old Shadow Magic Wolf, which was a perfect match for Zhu Zhuqing in terms of both attributes and age.
Seeing the dark beast, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up, and her claws started to twitch eagerly.
"Such good luck! Rongrong, assist me! I want to try my new soul skill!"
Ah Du, seeing that the Magic Wolf was a good match for Zhu Zhuqing, quickly released his martial soul and prepared to test his soul skill.
The group understood his intention and didn't object. Ning Rongrong quickly released her martial soul, continuing her work.
"Nine Treasures, never stop working!"
Feeling the enhanced strength and speed in his body, Ah Du smiled confidently. His third soul ring pulsed, and he disappeared from everyone's sight, blending with the ground as he quietly approached the vigilant Shadow Magic Wolf.
The Magic Wolf didn't notice Ah Du's movement and remained focused on the others.
When Ah Du was close enough, he didn't hesitate and activated his fourth soul skill, burrowing into the wolf's body.
A shadowy glow flashed across the Magic Wolf's body, and a giant scythe hovered above its head – Ah Du's martial soul.
Sensing something was wrong, the Magic Wolf began to struggle desperately, but no matter how hard it tried, it couldn't attack the enemy inside its body.
Gradually, the wolf's breath weakened, and when its soul power was nearly drained, it collapsed to the ground in exhaustion.
The scythe slashed down, leaving a terrifying wound on the Magic Wolf's body.
"Wow, Ah Du, your soul skill is so sneaky!"
Xiao Wu looked at the easily defeated Shadow Magic Wolf, clicking her tongue as she looked at her little brother.
Ah Du awkwardly smiled, unsure how to respond to Xiao Wu.
It was Ye Yin Zhu who saved him from the situation.
"Miss Zhu, hurry up and finish it!"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded gratefully at Ah Du, then excitedly approached the Magic Wolf. She used her Nether Claws to pierce its body, taking its life. A deep purple soul ring quietly rose.
"Thanks, everyone!"
After thanking them, Zhu Zhuqing quickly took the Heart Pulse Pills that Ning Bei had given her and sat cross-legged next to the Magic Wolf's corpse, starting to absorb the soul ring.
As before, the others surrounded her, standing guard.
Compared to Ah Du's difficult absorption of a ten-thousand-year soul ring, Zhu Zhuqing had an easier time. After all, a thousand-year soul beast was less powerful than a ten-thousand-year one, so there wasn't as much soul impact.
Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing only had a slight tremble in her body, everyone relaxed, confident that the absorption would succeed without any issues.
Minutes passed, and the purple soul ring on her body grew stronger, indicating that the absorption was nearing completion.
Just as everyone let their guard down, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly let out a painful groan.
The group quickly looked toward her with worried expressions.
Suddenly, her right arm exploded from the sleeve, and a vicious claw appeared.
"Is that a soul bone?"
Ah Du looked at Zhu Zhuqing's right hand in surprise, turning to Ye Yin Zhu for clarification.
Before he could respond, Ning Rongrong's shocked exclamation drew their attention.
"This isn't just any soul bone, it's an external soul bone, second only to a hundred-thousand-year soul bone. Given the position, it should be a right-hand external soul bone."
Hearing Ning Rongrong's explanation, the others were even more surprised, looking at Zhu Zhuqing with admiration.
After several more minutes, Zhu Zhuqing finally opened her eyes.