I'll Raise Your Granddaughter

"Rongrong, what do you think of that Iron-Eating Panda Beast? It's around 350 years old, a pure strength-type Soul Beast. It's rather rare among Soul Beasts, so running into one today is quite lucky. Its soul ring also happens to suit you perfectly." Sword Douluo pointed at the black-and-white bear-like Soul Beast dozing several dozen meters away, smiling indulgently.

After studying it curiously for a few moments, Ning Rongrong asked somewhat uneasily, "Grandpa Sword, this Iron-Eating Panda Beast is so fluffy and cute. Do we really have to kill it?"

There was a touch of innocence in Ning Rongrong's voice, and her gaze toward the Iron-Eating Panda Beast carried a trace of pity. Such a cute little bear, all round and plump—it must feel wonderful to pet. It would be great if she could bring it home as a pet. If anyone else had asked that question, Sword Douluo would have spat in their face.

But it was Ning Rongrong who had asked. Ning Rongrong was the treasure of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. She had been raised with a golden spoon in her mouth since childhood. Whether it was Ning Fengzhi or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's two Titled Douluo, they treasured her beyond measure.

Sword Douluo had no intention of scolding her. Instead, he patiently explained, "Rongrong, Soul Beasts are the enemies of us humans. Remember, you must never pity Soul Beasts in the future, understand?" After speaking, Sword Douluo affectionately patted Ning Rongrong's little head.

While the old man and young girl were seriously going over some basic common knowledge, a small figure was crouched roughly a hundred meters away.

Ye Zhiqiu wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth. Damn, I wonder whether panda meat tastes good. I never expected Douluo Continent to have panda Soul Beasts too. I never got the chance to eat bear paws in my previous life, but today, I'm going to indulge myself.

Many trees stood between Ye Zhiqiu and Sword Douluo, and the dense forest kept them from noticing each other. Logically speaking, Sword Douluo's senses were extremely sharp. Unfortunately, he was earnestly educating a certain little thing at the moment, so he failed to notice the small figure hiding a hundred meters away.

Ye Zhiqiu did not think much of it. He was a man of action—and a gourmet.

So, after wiping away his drool, he made his move.

Out of respect for the food, Ye Zhiqiu did not choose to sneak attack. Instead, just as his foot was about to kick the panda's head, he let out a loud shout as a warning.

"Leaf Whirlwind!"

The Iron-Eating Panda Beast jolted awake from its nap. The moment it opened its eyes, it saw an increasingly large foot hurtling toward its face. Before the attack even landed, the howling wind already stung its cheeks.

Iron-Eating Panda Beast: ???

"Boom!"

The round, plump creature flew seven or eight meters like a ball after being kicked by Ye Zhiqiu. With a smack, it splattered against a massive tree that three people could not wrap their arms around. After hanging there for several seconds, it slowly slid down. Part of the Iron-Eating Panda Beast's skull had caved in, and confusion still lingered in its unfocused eyes. It was clearly on the verge of death.

Sword Douluo: ???

Ning Rongrong: Σ(д|||) "Huh? I hadn't even used any strength yet, and you're already dead?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled faintly and clapped his hands, looking every bit the expert.

Negative Emotion Value from Iron-Eating Panda Beast: +2660

Negative Emotion Value from Chen Xin: +966

Ye Zhiqiu was not surprised by the first notification. When he had killed that Solitary Bamboo Soul Beast earlier, it had also given him 1660 Negative Emotion Value. To verify his theory, he had killed a ten-year Striped Cat Soul Beast along the way, and it had likewise given him 1660 Negative Emotion Value.

This confirmed Ye Zhiqiu's suspicion: killing an intelligent creature directly granted ten times its Negative Emotion Value. (For example, if it could provide 166 Negative Emotion Value, killing it would generate 1660 Negative Emotion Value.) As for how Ye Zhiqiu had discovered that only killing intelligent creatures produced Negative Emotion Value, he had tested it himself.

Along the way, when he killed an ordinary sparrow that had not yet become a Soul Beast, he received no Negative Emotion Value from it. Yet killing Soul Beasts did yield it.

The only difference between the two was that one had gained intelligence, while the other had not. As for whether it was related to strength, Ye Zhiqiu was still testing that.

Ye Zhiqiu had not killed this Iron-Eating Panda Beast purely because he wanted bear paws. Part of it was for the sake of experimentation.

A ten-year Soul Beast gave 1660 Negative Emotion Value, while a hundred-year Soul Beast gave 2660. This perfectly confirmed Ye Zhiqiu's hypothesis.

This was extremely encouraging. Ye Zhiqiu had gained yet another way to earn Negative Emotion Value.

However, when he saw the next system notification, Ye Zhiqiu suddenly had a bad feeling.

Why had Sword Douluo Chen Xin also provided me with Negative Emotion Value? Emmm, that was a problem.

"Rustle." The sound of shoes brushing against fallen leaves came from behind him.

Ye Zhiqiu stiffly turned his head and saw Sword Douluo Chen Xin, whose face had gone completely dark, along with Ning Rongrong, who was looking at him curiously.

Sword Douluo was in a foul mood. Seeing the hundred-year yellow soul ring appearing above the Iron-Eating Panda Beast's corpse, the corner of his eye twitched violently.

That was the Soul Beast prepared for our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's little treasure, and you actually kicked it to death? Did you come here on purpose to steal our prey? But this kid doesn't even have a soul ring, does he? How could he kick a three-hundred-year Soul Beast to death in one blow? Even a Soul Grandmaster above level twenty might not be able to deal with such a Soul Beast. This wasn't an ordinary wild beast. How had a Soul Scholar without a single soul ring managed it? Sword Douluo was beginning to doubt his life.

"Little fellow, how did you do it?" Sword Douluo asked suspiciously. In all his years, this was the first time he had seen a freak like Ye Zhiqiu.

"What?" Ye Zhiqiu was somewhat bewildered.

Sword Douluo darkened his face. "I'm asking how you kicked this three-hundred-year Iron-Eating Panda Beast to death in one blow."

"Ah! So it's called an Iron-Eating Panda Beast. I thought it was just called a giant panda." Ye Zhiqiu clapped his hands together, looking enlightened. However, when he saw Sword Douluo's face growing darker and darker, his voice gradually softened. Ye Zhiqiu was not stupid. He could roughly guess how this had unfolded. Somehow, he had probably stolen the prey Ning Rongrong had chosen.

What should he do? Sword Douluo seemed to have his eye on him now. This was a little scary. Asking for advice online.

"Ahem, Senior. This junior has trained since childhood, so perhaps my physique is a little better," Ye Zhiqiu said uneasily as he looked at Sword Douluo. He was panicking like crazy inside; even he could not fool himself with those words.

Yet after Sword Douluo carefully examined him, he seemed to believe it.

After a year of refinement by the Shukaku Origin, Ye Zhiqiu's body had become a treasure body, comparable to a humanoid Soul Beast. Its foundation was incomparably solid, though even he did not know this himself.

But who was Sword Douluo? Naturally, he could see the strength of Ye Zhiqiu's physique.

Sword Douluo suddenly smiled. "Good lad. When we met before, I actually failed to notice how special your physique was. But you stole the Soul Beast meant for my precious granddaughter. How do you think we should settle this?" Sword Douluo asked meaningfully.

Sword Douluo was finally no longer wearing that dark expression, which eased Ye Zhiqiu's nerves slightly. It seemed he would not do anything to him? Then should he be bold?

Ye Zhiqiu tested the waters and said quietly, "Senior, how about I raise your granddaughter for you?"

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