Chapter 146: Zhu Zhuqing's Third Soul Ring, External Soul Bone
When Ning Rongrong saw Zhu Zhuqing wake up, she hurried over to her side.
"Zhuqing, did you just get an external soul bone?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at her right hand in confusion, and it seemed that something new had appeared. A terrifying claw shot out, about thirty centimeters long.
"Are you talking about this? Is this the external soul bone?"
Not being very familiar with this aspect, Zhu Zhuqing held out the claw to Ning Rongrong, hoping she could help identify it.
Ning Rongrong curiously touched the sharp end of the claw, and soon a streak of blood appeared on her finger, slowly dripping blood.
"Ah! Ouch, it's so sharp!"
Looking at Ning Rongrong with her finger in her mouth, looking all pitiful, the others couldn't help but laugh.
"Rongrong, you still haven't said if this is an external soul bone."
Xiao Wu, looking anxious, came over to her friend and asked.
"Yes, it's definitely an external soul bone."
"Zhuqing, your luck is amazing!"
Zhu Zhuqing smiled and put away the claw from her right hand, looking at everyone with deep gratitude.
"It's all thanks to everyone's help. Otherwise, I couldn't have handled this Shadow Magic Wolf alone."
"No problem, we're all partners. Helping each other is what we do."
As the group exchanged humble words, a gloomy voice suddenly echoed in their ears.
"Hehehe, little ones, should I say you're lucky or unlucky?"
The sudden voice made the group tense up, anxiously looking around.
"Who is it? Show yourself!"
As soon as the words were out, the bushes not far away parted, and a figure slowly emerged into view.
It was a middle-aged man with full silver hair, appearing to be around fifty years old.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
Ning Rongrong gave him an unpleasant look and asked.
"My name is Shi Nian, I'm a teacher from Canghui Academy. I didn't expect that during this soul hunting trip, I'd encounter little kids with soul bones."
"Are you going to hand them over yourself, or should I come and take them?"
His arrogant words seemed to imply that he had already decided that these kids were easy prey, making the group frown.
Ning Rongrong immediately rolled up her sleeves and retorted, "Where did this old man come from, spouting nonsense? If you have the guts, come take it from me!"
"That's right, who do you think you are, coming here to make trouble?"
Xiao Wu walked up next to her friend, nodding in agreement, glaring at the middle-aged man.
Shi Nian cast a gloomy look at the two girls and then revealed a cruel smile. He hadn't intended to spare these children's lives.
"Well, don't blame me for being cruel. Don't forget, Soul Saints are not people you can afford to offend."
Thinking his self-introduction would shock the group, Shi Nian was momentarily stunned by the disdainful looks from everyone.
"Soul Saint? I thought you were a Spirit Hall elder, daring to come and shout in front of us."
Ning Rongrong looked at Shi Nian with disdain.
Then, without further discussion, she released her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, adding a three-layer buff to her companions.
The others understood immediately, releasing their martial souls, preparing to attack Shi Nian. They didn't think someone of his level needed Ning Bei's help.
Seeing the soul rings of the group, Shi Nian was horrified. Earlier, he had only seen that Zhu Zhuqing was at the Soul Sovereign level, thinking that they were just an ordinary soul hunting team from a small academy.
Now, seeing that there was a Soul King among them and that three others had ten-thousand-year soul rings, he realized the terrifying background these children had.
After a brief hesitation, Shi Nian gritted his teeth and revealed a sinister grin. If he didn't take care of these children now, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Little ones, don't blame me for being cruel. I don't want to be chased by the powerful beings behind you."
After receiving Ning Rongrong's buff, Long Nian Bing immediately formed his kitchen knife in his hand, and seeing that Shi Nian was about to make a move, he launched the first attack.
"Sky Blade, Whisper of the Wind."
With his fourth soul ring glowing, countless knives shot toward Shi Nian with the force of breaking wind, leaving noticeable scratches in the air.
Ah Du, seeing this, didn't hesitate either. His third soul ring pulsed, and he disappeared from everyone's sight, merging with the earth.
Zhu Zhuqing moved skillfully around Shi Nian, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Xiao Wu didn't attack immediately; instead, she stood in front of Ye Yin Zhu and Rongrong.
Countless kitchen knives pierced Shi Nian, and Ah Du emerged from the ground, activating his fourth soul skill, entering Shi Nian's body. A scythe hovered above his head.
Seeing the opportunity, Zhu Zhuqing quickly rushed to Shi Nian's side and activated her third soul skill, Nether Cut.
She slashed a terrifying wound on his back.
Ah Du, having drained Shi Nian's soul power, controlled the scythe and decapitated him, his head falling to the ground.
"Tch, this is a Soul Saint? Easier than that Soul-devouring Beetle."
Ning Rongrong looked at Shi Nian's fallen body and commented with exasperation.
The others were also relieved and returned to her side.
However, they didn't notice that Shi Nian's head on the ground was slightly trembling, a strange smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Now, we can help Rongrong and Xiao Ye find their soul rings, right?"
"That's right, but it's getting late. Let's find a place to rest for the night and continue tomorrow morning."
Ye Yin Zhu made a suggestion, and no one objected.
Just as the group was about to head out to find a resting place, the surrounding scene shattered like a mirror.
The little ones jumped in surprise, hastily looking around.
"You guys were thinking of resting? You've almost been wiped out, and you don't even think about how easily a Soul Saint can be dealt with?"
Ning Bei's familiar voice sounded in their ears, full of reproach.
"Second Young Master?"
"Brother!"
The little ones saw Ning Bei's figure and were immediately overjoyed, but soon confusion appeared on their faces, not understanding why he was saying this.
"Who are you? How dare you meddle in my business?"
Shi Nian's figure reappeared before them, leaving the group slightly stunned. Looking back, they saw no trace of his body on the ground. It turned out that everything before had been a dream.
Ning Bei ignored Shi Nian's ranting and continued to lecture the kids.
"This guy's martial soul is Residual Dream, which allows him to create illusions in a certain space. If I hadn't shown up, you all would've been played by him."
Hearing Ning Bei's explanation, the kids lowered their heads in shame. It seemed they still had a long way to go.
Shi Nian, seeing that the young man in front of him ignored him and was talking to himself, became furious.
"Kid, do you want to die? I'm a Soul Saint!"
Shi Nian observed Ning Bei for a moment. Seeing that he appeared to be no older than twenty, he thought that even if he was the strongest in the group, he was just a Soul King at best.
As for how Ning Bei had broken his illusion, Shi Nian figured it must be a special method. He didn't take him seriously.
Ning Bei, seeing this old man still babbling, glanced at him impatiently.
"Soul Saint? Someone at that level dares to chitchat in front of me? You're in such a hurry to reincarnate?"
"Even if the Pope of the Spirit Hall shows up, he'll be crawling on the ground!"
Shi Nian thought Ning Bei was just messing with him, not realizing that it was the truth!
Even the little ones around him showed strange expressions after hearing Ning Bei's words.
"Kid, you're asking for death."
Furious, Shi Nian immediately released his martial soul, planning to teach this ignorant kid a lesson.
(END CHAPTER)
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Chapter 147: Ning Rongrong's Fourth Soul Ring
Ning Bei sighed inwardly. His age was a factor, causing his presence to lack a certain deterrence.
Seeing that the opponent still dared to act arrogant, Ning Bei decided not to play along any longer.
A unique pressure, one only a Title Douluo could exert, descended upon Shi Nian.
It directly crushed his Residual Dream Martial Soul, causing it to retract back into his body.
"You... you... you are..."
Seeing that Shi Nian stuttered, unable to finish his sentence, Ning Bei sneered and spoke mockingly:
"You can address me as the Medicine God Your Majesty."
"Y-your Majesty, this is a misunderstanding! I am a teacher from Canghui Academy. I was just out here hunting souls with my students and accidentally ended up here. Please spare me!"
"You think I'm as stupid as you? Accidentally came here and yet released an illusion?"
"That... that's because..."
Shi Nian nervously tried to explain, but Ning Bei wasn't interested in listening to him. The Eternal Freezing Domain was unleashed, freezing him into an ice sculpture.
Ning Bei walked up to the ice sculpture, flicked his finger, and Shi Nian's body shattered into pieces.
The little ones stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the scattered ice chunks, unable to speak for a while.
The one who had been playing with them, manipulating them so easily, was effortlessly dealt with by Ning Bei with a simple wave.
Ning Bei ignored their astonishment and began searching through the broken ice for the soul bone.
"Brother, what are you doing?"
Ning Rongrong curiously looked at her brother, who was rummaging through the ice pieces.
It didn't take long for Ning Bei to find his target.
He picked up the head soul bone and weighed it in his hand.
"Got it, this is it!"
"This is a soul bone?"
Seeing the eager expressions of the little ones, Ning Bei impatiently placed the soul bone into the soul guide.
"With how you're acting, do you really think you deserve a soul bone? You're just dreaming. This is a reward for the Soul Master Competition champion, I'll keep it for now!"
After hearing Ning Bei's scolding, the group initially felt disappointed, but upon hearing the second half of his sentence, they immediately perked up.
"Brother, don't worry, we'll definitely win the championship in the Soul Master Competition!"
Ning Rongrong patted her not-so-big chest with great determination and assured Ning Bei.
Ning Bei chuckled and lightly tapped her head, making her pout in pain.
"First, focus on solving your fourth soul ring before thinking that far ahead!"
After saying that, he didn't linger, flying off into the sky.
The little ones looked at each other, unsure of what to say.
"Let's go, find a place to rest for the night, and continue tomorrow!"
"Alright."
The group found an open space, set up two tents using their soul guides, then made a campfire and sprinkled insect repellent powder.
"Night watch duty goes to the three of you, is that okay?"
After dinner, Xiao Wu cleverly assigned the night watch to the three men, and quickly grabbed Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing's hands, heading into one of the tents.
Ah Du and the others smiled and didn't mind. After organizing the night shifts, Long Nian Bing and Ye Yin Zhu went into the other tent.
The night passed without incident, and the group didn't encounter any troublesome soul beasts. The three girls slept soundly, feeling refreshed when they emerged from the tents the next morning.
"Thank you for your hard work, Xiao Ye."
Ye Yin Zhu, who had done the final shift, waved his hand, signaling it was something he should do.
After briefly cleaning up the tools, the group set off again on their soul hunting journey.
"By the way, Zhuqing, we didn't ask you yesterday, what level is your soul power now?"
Due to Shi Nian's interruption, the group had forgotten to ask Zhu Zhuqing about her soul power the previous day.
Zhu Zhuqing smiled. She was quite satisfied with her progress.
"I'm at level 38 now. Before the competition, I'll definitely reach Soul Sovereign."
The others nodded, not thinking she was boasting. Given Zhu Zhuqing's competitive nature, even Soul Sovereign seemed like a conservative estimate.
It was unclear whether it was due to bad luck yesterday, but today, after a whole day of searching, they didn't encounter any suitable soul beasts for Rongrong and Ye Yin Zhu. Either the years were too low, or the attributes didn't match.
Helpless, the group decided to rest another night in the forest.
Not far away, Da Ming leaned against a large tree, watching the group set up camp, and sighed softly.
"Such a tiring life!"
As for why Da Ming was watching them, it was naturally because the couple was about to go see the Nightlight Soul Bone!
The next morning, Ning Rongrong walked out of the tent with a face of disgust. The harsh environment and lack of proper hygiene left her feeling sticky all over.
"Ah! We need to find a suitable soul ring today. I don't want to stay in this wretched place for another day."
Zhu Zhuqing smiled at her friend's complaint. "This is nothing. When I was chased to the Star Luo Empire, the environment was far worse."
Perhaps Ning Rongrong's prayers were answered. Shortly after they began their search, they came across a Spirit Turtle soul beast by a pond. Its age was just over ten thousand years, making it perfect for Ning Rongrong's fourth soul ring.
"Finally, I've found it! Brothers and sisters, let's do this."
After a moment of excitement, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda started up again, and after receiving the buffs, the group mercilessly surrounded and beat the Spirit Turtle. After about fifteen minutes, the turtle lay weakly before Ning Rongrong.
Apologizing silently, Ning Rongrong took the exquisite dagger her brother had given her and, with her eyes closed, stabbed it towards the turtle's eyes, knowing that most soul beasts' weak spots were in their eyes.
A metallic clang sounded as Ning Rongrong slowly opened her eyes.
"Eh?"
To her surprise, the dagger hadn't pierced the turtle's eyelid; she hadn't used enough force.
Ning Rongrong stomped her foot angrily.
"Why are the eyelids so thick? It's almost as thick as my brother's skin!"
Ning Bei: "Ah, who's thinking about me?"
The little ones couldn't help but laugh at Ning Rongrong's frustration, unsure of what to say.
Seeing her failed strike, Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth and put more force into her next attempt.
This time, the dagger succeeded, and a black soul ring emerged from the turtle's body.
Ning Rongrong quickly took the protective pulse pill her brother gave her, then sat down in front of the Spirit Turtle to absorb the soul ring, just as the others had done before.
Xiao Wu anxiously watched her friend, concerned because Ning Rongrong wasn't a battle soul master like Ah Du and her physique was much weaker.
But the proud Ning Rongrong wasn't willing to settle for a thousand-year soul ring while her friends absorbed ten thousand-year rings. She had to try for one herself.
Although Ning Bei had already tested her body's limits before and confirmed she could handle a ten thousand-year soul ring, Xiao Wu was still worried. She tightly held the return-life pill in her hand, ready to feed it to Rongrong if anything went wrong.
Fortunately, the worst didn't happen. Ning Rongrong's face looked a little pale, but there were no major issues.
A few hours later, Ning Rongrong opened her eyes excitedly after successfully absorbing the soul ring.
"Ha ha, Soul Sovereign Ning Rongrong has arrived!"
The others laughed at her show-off and didn't stop her.
Ning Rongrong summoned the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and her four soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, and black—rose in order.
"My fourth soul skill increases everyone's defense by fifty percent. Since our team is all fragile, this soul skill will definitely come in handy."
The others were happy for her. After all, her soul skill would benefit the group.
"Rongrong, what's your soul power now?"
Xiao Wu asked, smiling at her friend.
Ning Rongrong's face lit up with pride.
"I'm already level 45. With a little more effort, I'll become a Soul King before the Soul Master Competition!"
(END CHAPTER)
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Chapter 148: Cathead Night Eagle
After dealing with Ning Rongrong's fourth soul ring, only Ye Yin Zhu's soul ring remained to be obtained in the team.
The reason his soul ring was left for last was because mental-type soul beasts were exceedingly rare.
As expected, after Ning Rongrong obtained her soul ring, the group searched for nearly two days without encountering a mental-type soul beast that was suitable for Ye Yin Zhu.
That night, the little ones sat around the campfire, feeling somewhat disheartened.
"Why don't we ask Brother to help us? How much longer is this going to take?"
Ning Rongrong pouted and complained, occasionally poking the fire with a stick, venting her frustration. She just wanted to return to the sect and take a good bath.
However, as soon as she voiced her thoughts, all of the little companions, except Xiao Wu, immediately objected.
"No way, this is Young Master's test for us. If we can't overcome this small difficulty, how can we live up to his training?"
"That's right, let's keep searching."
Ning Rongrong pouted but didn't argue. She was just venting her frustration.
Just as the group was about to arrange the night watch, a long, eerie call echoed from the distance.
The sound had a magical effect, causing the group to momentarily lose focus.
"What is that sound?"
Everyone turned to Ye Yin Zhu, who was the most knowledgeable among them.
But he shook his head. Ye Yin Zhu hadn't been out of the sect much, and he wasn't able to identify the type of soul beast based only on the sound.
Xiao Wu, eager to investigate, suggested:
"Why don't we go take a look?"
Her suggestion quickly gained the approval of the group. That eerie sound seemed to have a mental influence, possibly something suitable for Ye Yin Zhu.
The group moved cautiously in the direction of the sound. Soon, more calls echoed through the air, and this time, they clearly recognized the sound as coming from bird-type soul beasts.
The calls carried an ominous warning, and their chilling effect amplified the group's fear and vigilance. The closer they got, the stronger the feeling became.
After some time, they reached the source of the sound.
There, perched on a towering tree, a bird-type soul beast was repeatedly calling out in warning to another beast below.
Ye Yin Zhu recognized the two soul beasts, and a joyful exclamation escaped him.
"It's the Clawed Long-Tailed Bear, and the bird on the tree is the Cathead Night Eagle. It's just the right type for mental-type soul beasts!"
"Why is it warning the raccoon? If it can't defeat it, can't it just fly away?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Ye Yin Zhu, puzzled by the strange confrontation between the two beasts.
Ye Yin Zhu patiently explained.
"The Cathead Night Eagle is likely in a post-laying state, and the Clawed Long-Tailed Bear feeds on the eggs of bird-type soul beasts."
At that point, the group understood. It wasn't that the Cathead Night Eagle didn't want to fly away, but it couldn't, as it had to protect its eggs.
"Miss Zhuqing, could you help me check how many inverted triangle patterns are on the Cathead Night Eagle's abdomen?"
"Patterns?"
Zhu Zhuqing paused for a moment, not understanding why Ye Yin Zhu wanted her to do this.
"The Cathead Night Eagle is a rare mental-type soul beast. Its call amplifies the fear in its prey, immobilizing it. This makes it a perfect match for my musical ability."
"And from ten thousand years on, the Cathead Night Eagle develops an inverted triangle pattern on its abdomen. For every additional ten thousand years, an extra inverted triangle pattern appears."
"I see!"
After hearing Ye Yin Zhu's explanation, Zhu Zhuqing nodded in understanding and no longer asked further questions.
She summoned her Ghost Spirit Cat Martial Soul and quietly climbed another large tree to observe.
The Ghost Spirit Cat's movements were light, and Zhu Zhuqing didn't attract the attention of the two soul beasts below.
A few seconds later, the little cat returned to the group.
"There's just one inverted triangle pattern on its abdomen. I didn't see any signs of a second one."
"Great! This is a ten-thousand-year Cathead Night Eagle, perfect for me!"
Ye Yin Zhu clenched his fists in excitement. He was done with the wild life, and he couldn't wait to get this soul ring and end this soul hunting trip.
But Ning Rongrong stared at the Cathead Night Eagle on the tree with a confused expression and voiced her concern.
"But it's up in the tree. If we attack, won't it just fly away?"
"That..."
Ye Yin Zhu hadn't considered the logistics of actually capturing the soul beast. For a moment, he fell silent.
"Yin Zhu, Nian Bing, can you two restrain it for a while?"
After thinking for a moment, Ah Du turned to his companions.
"Mm? You mean..."
"Exactly. You two hold it down, and I'll sneak over, release my fourth soul skill, and enter its body. Once I absorb its soul power, I'll immediately attack its wings."
The group's eyes brightened. This was indeed a great plan.
"Then you'll need to act quickly. My Morning Dew Blade might not hold it for long."
"Don't worry. I'll take a Windrun Pill before I make my move."
Saying that, he took out a jade bottle from his soul guide.
"Alright, I'll boost your speed."
Ning Rongrong, seeing this, was about to release her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Xiao Wu quickly pulled her back, gesturing dramatically.
"Your little pagoda is so bright, when you bring it out, the soul beast will definitely notice us."
"Eh!"
Ning Rongrong paused, glancing at the dark sky above her, realizing that her Martial Soul was indeed quite conspicuous.
"No need, miss. The Windrun Pill is enough."
"Fine, I suppose it'll have to do."
Ning Rongrong nodded reluctantly, realizing that even the greatest assistant in the world could be tied down by the night, which was truly frustrating.
With the plan set, everyone began to execute it.
Ah Du, having taken the Windrun Pill, used his third soul skill to burrow into the ground and move towards the tree where the Cathead Night Eagle was perched.
Long Nian Bing gathered the Morning Dew Blade in his hand, waiting for Ah Du to get into position before launching the attack.
Seeing that Ah Du had silently reached the base of the tree, Long Nian Bing wasted no time.
"Morning Dew Blade: Ice Snow Sigh."
A blade formation of cold ice shot out, soon trapping the unprepared Cathead Night Eagle inside.
The Cathead Night Eagle screeched, flapping its wings in desperation.
"Not good, cover your ears!"
Seeing this, Ye Yin Zhu quickly summoned his ancient zither, and with his first soul ring glowing, he played to calm the rising fear in everyone's hearts.
Below, Ah Du began moving towards the tree where the Cathead Night Eagle perched.
The Clawed Long-Tailed Bear, seeing the setup, quickly tucked its tail and scurried off into the distance, not bothering to stay for the eggs.
Just as the Cathead Night Eagle was about to break free from the Morning Dew Blade formation, Ah Du's figure reached the tree.
"Fourth soul skill: Split Shadow."
Ah Du disappeared from everyone's sight, and above the prey, a massive scythe materialized.
(END CHAPTER)
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Chapter 149: End of the Soul Hunt
The Cathead Night Eagle , struggling with all its might, managed to break through the blockade of the Morning Dew Blade Formation, but it could not escape from Ah Du, who had burrowed into its body.
Feeling the constant drain of its soul power from within, the Cathead Night Eagle let out continuous, harsh cries and struggled in midair.
The piercing shriek almost made the small companions, who were in the True, Good, and Beautiful state, lose their composure. Their expressions were filled with pain.
A few minutes later, the Cathead Night Eagle 's soul power was greatly depleted, and it landed on the ground, gasping for breath.
Seeing the moment had come, Ah Du emerged from its body and slashed his scythe at the base of its wing.
A mournful scream echoed. The small companions snapped out of their daze and hurried to surround the Cathead Night Eagle .
Seeing the blood gushing from its wing, they knew this was the best opportunity.
Zhu Zhuqing unleashed her newly acquired Netherworld Sharp Claw. Her figure, ghostly and swift, appeared behind the Cathead Night Eagle . The third soul ring on her Spirit Cat body lit up.
"Netherworld Slash!"
A crescent-shaped, dark slash struck directly at the Cathead Night Eagle 's other, uninjured wing.
Another shrill scream rang out. The Night Hawk had now completely lost its ability to fly.
Normally, Zhu Zhuqing's cultivation level was not enough to unleash such attack power, but the external spirit bone she possessed granted her the ability to increase her soul skill's power by fifty percent.
Seeing this, the companions also released their soul skills at the Cathead Night Eagle . Before long, it collapsed to the ground, breathing out more than it breathed in.
"Yinzhu, hurry!"
Ye Yinzhu nodded, quickly walked to the Cathead Night Eagle , drew a dagger, and stabbed it into its eye socket, bringing the hunt to a decisive end.
A black soul ring rose from the corpse.
Ye Yinzhu nodded at her companions, then took out the Pulse Protection Pill Ning Bei had given her and swallowed it. She skillfully began absorbing the soul ring.
Ah Du looked at Ye Yinzhu, who sat cross-legged, with some worry. Having absorbed ten-thousand-year soul rings before, he understood the terror of the soul shock. He imagined that the soul shock from a spiritual-type soul beast would be even more terrifying.
"Yinzhu won't have any problems, right? After all, this is a ten-thousand-year spiritual-type soul beast."
"Relax. Remember, Yinzhu is also a spiritual-type soul master!"
Ning Rongrong waved her hand, completely unconcerned as she reassured Ah Du. If she, a small support-type, could absorb a ten-thousand-year soul ring without issue, then Ye Yinzhu was far from a mere support soul master.
Thinking about it, Ah Du also slowly set his worries aside.
Time passed slowly, and Ye Yinzhu's expression changed from pain to calm.
The companions finally relaxed completely.
After another half a quarter-hour, without any mishaps, Ye Yinzhu slowly opened her eyes, excitement on her face.
"How is it, Yinzhu? Is the soul skill useful?"
Ye Yinzhu smiled and nodded:
"It's a terrifying Serenade granted by the Cathead Night Eagle . It can directly connect to the enemy's mind, evoking the deepest fears in their heart."
"Well now, isn't our team getting a bit too full of control-type soul masters?"
Aside from Ye Yinzhu, Long Nianbing's soul skill also had partial control effects. Moreover, Ning Rongrong had heard from Dugu Yan that she, too, would be joining the team for the Soul Master Tournament.
"No problem. By then, you'll all be keeping the enemy under tight control, and I, Sister Xiao Wu, will rush in with a full set of Eight-Stage Throws."
Xiao Wu made an over-the-shoulder throw motion, her eyes full of excitement.
"By the way, Xiao Bamboo, what's your soul power level now?"
Ning Rongrong gave her best friend a sidelong glance, ignoring her antics, and asked about Ye Yinzhu's soul power after absorbing the ring.
Ye Yinzhu closed her eyes, feeling the flow of soul power within her.
"It's already close to level 47. If we all work hard, we might form a team of all Soul Kings before the tournament."
Everyone nodded in agreement with Ye Yinzhu's words, except Zhu Zhuqing, who slightly clenched her fist.
The rest of the team had at least become Soul Sects, but she was still only a Soul Elder. In the less than two years ahead, she could not afford to relax for even a moment.
She could not bear to be the only one holding the team back, so she secretly resolved to train for more than eleven hours a day.
For some reason, Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong felt a chill at their backs. They turned to look at the little cat, only to see two distinct characters in her eyes: roll up (competition).
The soul hunt concluded, and Ning Bei arrived with Dugu Yan.
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up at the sight of her brother.
"Brother, were you watching us from above the whole time?"
Ning Bei nodded without the slightest embarrassment, silently apologizing to Da Ming in his heart.
"All right, the hunt's over. From now on, you can focus on practicing team coordination. If you have time, visit the Seven Treasures Battle Soul Arena."
"Yes, Second Young Master!"
"Let's go. We'll rest in Sunset Town for a day, then return to the sect tomorrow."
They returned to town together. Since it was already late at night, everyone went to their rooms to rest. Ning Rongrong declared she was going to soak in a bath for two hours.
The next day, they found a nice-looking restaurant, rewarded their grumbling stomachs, and then began their orderly journey back to the sect.
Ning Bei couldn't help but chuckle when he saw Dugu Yan looking reluctant to part with him.
"I told you to move into the sect, but you wouldn't, and now you can't bear to leave."
Dugu Yan shook her head.
"If I move there, where will I find time to train properly? I don't want to be just a decoration!"
Seeing her turn her head in a proud huff, Ning Bei stroked her hair.
"All right, if you miss me, come find me at the sect. I'll be staying there most of the time lately."
"Mm."
After a bout of playful bickering, Ning Bei bid farewell to Dugu Yan and headed toward the sect.
Upon arriving in Heaven Dou City, he remembered that he hadn't visited his little angel since returning from the Extreme North, and he suddenly felt the urge to see her.
Without hesitation, Ning Bei changed direction and went to the Crown Prince's mansion.
The guards clearly recognized the heir of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect and allowed him through without stopping him.
Familiar with the place, Ning Bei went straight to the study, where Qian Renxue was handling some political documents that Xue Ye had entrusted to her.
Her male disguise looked more awkward to Ning Bei than ever. He wondered why he'd never felt this way before.
Quietly, he crept up behind her and covered her eyes.
Qian Renxue's body trembled slightly, then relaxed.
"Are you bored or something? Let go."
"How did you know it was me?"
Puzzled, Ning Bei walked in front of her. She had clearly been startled just a moment ago.
"Hmph, I could smell a certain jerk from far away!"
She rolled her eyes at him.
"Looks like she's annoyed I haven't visited her in so long."
Ning Bei silently considered her feelings and put on a pitiful expression.
"I've been busy running around for your sake for half a month, and this is what I get?"
Qian Renxue gave him a look that said figure it out yourself, then led him into the secret chamber in her bedroom, where she removed her disguise.
"Go on, tell me—what exactly have you been so busy with for me?"
(END CHAPTER)
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Chapter 150: The Heartbreak Red of Longing
Ning Bei glanced around the secret room. The walls were lined with light soul guiding devices, and even without sunlight, the room didn't feel dark at all.
"Well, didn't you ask me to prepare the participants for the Soul Master Competition?"
After hearing Ning Bei's explanation, Qian Renxue seemed somewhat puzzled.
"Didn't you just need to pick them? What's all the fuss about?"
"Tch, I don't need to bring anyone for soul hunting."
"Does Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect require you to personally lead the team for soul hunting?"
"Shouldn't I make sure to monitor the quality of the members? If you keep saying that, I'm not doing it anymore!"
Looking at Ning Bei's gloomy expression, Qian Renxue covered her mouth and chuckled lightly.
"Then what kind of reward do you want?"
"No rewards, just the Ice God Palace. We haven't been there in ages; it's probably gathering dust."
Qian Renxue clicked her tongue, a slight blush appearing on her face, before her expression turned serious again.
"Are you confident you can defeat the Spirit Hall team?"
"Heh, are you doubting my judgment? I'm telling you, before the Soul Master Competition, we'll form a team of all Soul Kings."
Qian Renxue's eyes instantly lit up.
"Really?"
"Of course, it's true. By the way, I even managed to convince Yan to help you out, so you can't be jealous of her anymore."
Qian Renxue's face immediately showed a strange expression. Did the other party not get jealous of her?
"She didn't say anything? For example..."
Ning Bei knew what she was going to ask and awkwardly scratched his head. He hadn't even confessed to Dugu Yan yet!
Qian Renxue immediately understood from Ning Bei's expression, and she gave him a disdainful glare.
"Hmph, if she's not jealous, I won't say anything. When will you settle things with that toxic woman? Then we can talk about these things."
"Also, make sure you stomp the Spirit Hall team under your feet. I want to make them raise their heads again."
When she spoke about the Spirit Hall team, the little angel's expression became fierce, showing just how much she hated some members of that team.
But thinking about it, all the care she sought from her mother had been taken away by that little fox, who even stole her position as the Saintess of the Spirit Hall. Anyone would feel a sense of imbalance.
But it didn't matter how the little fox was related to her, it was more important to please the little angel.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely make you proud!"
With the Soul Master Competition now in hand, the little angel's mood improved.
"I've investigated the situation with Xue Beng. It's just as you said. He's been hiding his true abilities all along."
"Mm, what do you plan to do about it?"
Ning Bei, lounging in a soft chair, lazily looked at her.
"Of course, I'll find an opportunity to remove him. He'll always be a hidden threat otherwise."
Ning Bei shook his head, his thoughts different from hers.
"I don't think it's necessary. He's the last remaining heir of Xue Ye. If he dies unexpectedly, your identity as Xue Qinghe will be the only beneficiary. It might cause some unforeseen issues."
Qian Renxue frowned in thought for a moment. Ning Bei's reasoning made sense.
"Then should I just let him and Xue Xing do their thing?"
"Why bother with them? You're the Crown Prince, just let things play out and wait for your ascension to the throne. Once you're in power, you can deal with Xue Beng however you like."
"Alright, I'll follow your advice, but I'll have someone keep an eye on him."
"Forget about Xue Xing, I'm more concerned about the progress with the Han Hai Qiankun Shield. Any developments?"
Qian Renxue smiled confidently.
"That depends on how your team performs. I plan to use our victory in the competition to demand the Han Hai Qiankun Shield from Xue Ye."
Ning Bei nodded. He couldn't think of any reason his team would lose.
"Then it's settled. Let's wait and see!"
Seeing Ning Bei's complete disregard for the Spirit Hall team, Qian Renxue kindly reminded him.
"Don't get too careless. Among the three Soul Kings of the Spirit Hall team, there's a pair of siblings. They have a martial soul fusion skill."
"You mean Xie Yue and Hu Liena, right? I've already taken their fusion skill into account. In the final battle, I'll have Yan participate. By then, she'll have close to Soul Saint strength. The opponents shouldn't be able to stir up much trouble."
"What? That toxic woman has that high of a cultivation?"
The little angel's eyes widened in disbelief, full of indignation. How could the other party, a mere Biling Serpent, match the cultivation speed of her Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul?
Seeing Qian Renxue's expression, as if she was treating this differently, Ning Bei hurriedly explained.
"You know, I've been with her for so long, so naturally, I've helped her as much as I could."
"So?"
The little angel's gaze slowly turned aggrieved. Does this mean I'm not important to you?
Ning Bei couldn't help but chuckle. Now she's comparing things. He didn't slow down and pulled two仙草 (immortal herbs) from his soul guide, one of which had a stone attached to it.
"These two are the Solar Crown Flower and the Heartbreak Red of Longing. You can choose one to take."
Qian Renxue looked at the unknown herbs in Ning Bei's hand, clearly puzzled.
"What do these do?"
Ning Bei began explaining the legend of the Heartbreak Red of Longing, causing ripples in Qian Renxue's heart.
"The Heartbreak Red of Longing, as the king of immortal herbs, has the power to bring the dead back to life and can greatly enhance a soul master's soul power. It all depends on whether you can win its approval."
Looking at the beautiful figure in front of him, Ning Bei thought about how he couldn't be wholeheartedly dedicated to her, and now he was asking her to remain loyal to him till death. He felt a bit like a jerk.
"Of course, if you're not confident about earning its approval, the Solar Crown Flower, which absorbs the essence of the sun, is also a good choice. It's very helpful for fire and light-based soul masters, though its effects aren't as strong as the previous one."
Qian Renxue didn't hesitate much and reached out to take the Heartbreak Red of Longing. The story behind it had stirred her emotions.
With a playful eye roll at Ning Bei, she started recalling their moments together.
From that not-so-pleasant encounter in the Star Dou Forest, to him helping her build her team without asking for anything in return, to giving her pills for her cultivation, and then always managing to make her angry whenever they met.
From her grandfather's reluctant consent to her selfless actions defending him against the Ice Emperor's attacks in the extreme north, to the honest exchange they had in the Ice God Palace.
As she thought about these memories, a slight blush appeared on her face. She didn't know when, but the man before her had left a deep mark on her life.
Thinking of all this, Qian Renxue slowly exhaled onto the Heartbreak Red of Longing.
As her breath touched it, the flower began to glow with a golden-red light. After a few seconds, it detached from the stone and gently landed in her hand.
Qian Renxue's eyes widened in surprise, and she excitedly looked at Ning Bei.
"Did I... earn its approval?"
Ning Bei, feeling a bit guilty, glanced at Qian Renxue and slowly nodded.
"Yes, you can take it now. It will definitely help you become a Soul Saint."