Strength Boost

As Chen Yuan absorbed the Spirit Ring, he felt that he had refined the immense energy surging into his body without too much danger.

But to outsiders, his absorption process looked incredibly perilous.

From the moment he began absorbing the Spirit Ring, his body started swelling like an inflated ball. His complexion grew increasingly ugly, as though he might explode at any moment.

When Ning Rongrong saw this, she became worried as well. She tightly clutched Chen Xin's sleeve and anxiously asked,

"Sword Grandpa, is Chen Yuan... going to be all right...?"

Chen Xin was somewhat worried too, afraid that Chen Yuan would be unable to absorb the Spirit Ring of this Saber-Toothed Beast that was over four hundred years old. But before Ning Rongrong, he naturally could not tell the truth, so he said with great confidence,

"Rongrong, you've seen how seriously Chen Yuan has trained over the past forty-odd days. A four-hundred-year Saber-Toothed Beast Spirit Ring couldn't possibly stump him."

Ning Rongrong nodded, though there was still some worry between her brows. Chen Yuan was the first person who had ever told her he would protect her. She truly did not want anything to happen to him.

With Chen Xin standing guard, no snakes, insects, rats, or other creatures dared approach. As they waited quietly, Chen Yuan finally passed through the danger safely. The swelling in his body had returned to normal, and it seemed he would wake up soon.

However, they waited another hour before Chen Yuan finally opened his eyes. A flash of sword light seemed to flicker through them before they returned to their clear black-and-white state.

Chen Yuan rose to his feet in one motion. A yellow Spirit Ring rose from beneath his feet, revolving continuously around his body and shining brilliantly.

Looking at Chen Xin, Chen Yuan said gratefully,

"Thank you, Teacher. I've successfully absorbed the Saber-Toothed Beast's Spirit Ring!"

Chen Xin looked calm, as though he had expected this all along, but he still nodded in satisfaction and praised him.

"Not bad. What exactly is the effect of your First Soul Skill?"

Chen Yuan had no intention of concealing it. Upon hearing this, he answered honestly,

"My First Soul Skill enhances the Seven Kill Sword's sharpness, strengthening its cutting and tearing abilities and increasing its attack power by forty percent."

After speaking, Chen Yuan swept his gaze over the surroundings. He then walked over to a large tree that would take one person to wrap their arms around, standing before it with his sword in hand as he said in a low voice,

"First Soul Skill, Sword Drawn from its Sheath!"

Chen Yuan's First Spirit Ring immediately lit up. At the same time, circles of invisible currents wrapped around the Seven Kill Sword. Their forms could not be seen, but their sound could be heard.

"Kill!"

With a low shout, Chen Yuan swung his sword in a horizontal slash. Cold light flashed, and like a hot knife cutting through butter, the Seven Kill Sword severed the tree without the slightest resistance.

That smooth sensation made Chen Yuan's eyes grow brighter and brighter. Before, he had not even dared entertain the thought of confronting that four-hundred-year Saber-Toothed Beast head-on. But if another Spirit Beast of the same kind appeared now, he would definitely dare to fight it.

Absorbing just one Spirit Ring had brought Chen Yuan comprehensive growth in strength, speed, reactions, and explosive power... Especially the tremendous boost granted by his First Soul Skill—it was simply astonishing.

Only then did the tree split apart into upper and lower halves before toppling to one side under the pull of gravity.

Chen Yuan quickly retreated when he saw this. He had no desire to be crushed by a tree over ten meters tall.

With a loud bang, the tree crashed to the ground. Dust immediately billowed through the air, revealing the clean, even cut.

Ning Rongrong was utterly shocked. She clapped her hands and said sweetly,

"Brother Chen Yuan, that sword strike was amazing!"

Even Chen Xin showed a trace of surprise. Finally, he looked toward the Saber-Toothed Beast and said,

"Your First Soul Skill is several degrees stronger than my own First Soul Skill was back then. It seems this Saber-Toothed Beast that was supposedly over four hundred years old was actually much older than that."

By then, Chen Yuan had already put away his Martial Soul and returned to Ning Rongrong's side. Smiling, he said,

"Teacher, I've obtained my First Spirit Ring. It's time to help Rongrong obtain hers."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Rongrong wore an eager expression. Looking at Chen Xin, she asked coquettishly,

"Sword Grandpa, what Spirit Beast am I going to hunt?"

Chen Xin smiled faintly as he walked and spoke.

"Come on, we'll head over now. The Spirit Beast I chose for Rongrong is one from the Great Strength Gorilla Tribe in this Soul Hunting Forest. It is a strength-attribute Spirit Beast, so it will grant Strength Boost. The most perfect arrangement for the seven Spirit Rings of your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Spirit has long been determined: Strength Boost, Speed Amplification, Soul Power Amplification, Defense Amplification, Attack Amplification, Attribute Amplification, and most importantly, the Martial Soul Avatar!"

Behind him, Ning Rongrong and Chen Yuan quickly followed.

The seven-tier Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda could only hold seven Spirit Rings. The seventh Spirit Ring was fixed as the Martial Soul Avatar, and how to use the first six Spirit Rings to achieve the most comprehensive enhancement had long since been proven.

After walking for some time, the three of them stopped, because waves of roars sounded from the surrounding forest.

A moment later, numerous figures came leaping toward them. They surrounded the three from every direction, filling both the ground and the trees.

Once they drew closer, their true forms were revealed. They were all humanoid Spirit Beasts with grayish-brown fur and bulging muscles—the Great Strength Gorillas.

There were dozens, perhaps even over a hundred of them. They roared without pause, their voices chaotic and alarming, as though they wanted to drive away Chen Xin's group of intruders.

Chen Xin merely snorted coldly, and the pressure of his Soul Power swept outward. A Titled Douluo could rival a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast; his aura was terrifying beyond compare.

In an instant, the dozens or hundreds of Great Strength Gorillas fled in terror even faster than they had arrived. Most of them were only Spirit Beasts a few decades old. They had dared to roar and posture earlier, but how could they dare linger now?

As they fled, Chen Xin's gaze flashed like lightning. Among the many Great Strength Gorillas, he accurately found one that was over three hundred years old.

"Yuan'er, protect Rongrong!"

Leaving behind those words, Chen Xin shot out like a gale, chasing after the Great Strength Gorilla that was over three hundred years old.

Chen Yuan shielded Ning Rongrong and warily looked around. In truth, there was nothing left to be wary of. Anything capable of running had already fled in terror from Chen Xin's aura.

The corners of Ning Rongrong's lips curved upward. Her watery eyes looked at Chen Yuan standing before her. Though he was not particularly tall yet, he firmly protected her behind him, giving her an incomparable sense of security.

Only a moment later, a white figure flashed back. With a bang, a Great Strength Gorilla crashed heavily onto the ground, clearly unconscious. Chen Xin then descended after it, looking as graceful and ethereal as an immortal.

After landing steadily, Chen Xin raised his hand, and an exquisitely decorated short sword appeared in his grasp from a Storage Soul Tool.

Looking at Ning Rongrong, Chen Xin smiled. He was completely unlike the stern man he was when facing Chen Yuan, and he said encouragingly,

"Rongrong, take the short sword and kill this Spirit Beast. Its Spirit Ring will be yours."

Ning Rongrong stepped out from behind Chen Yuan and reached out with her small hand to take the short sword, not forgetting to thank Chen Xin.

"Thank you, Sword Grandpa!"