This Soul Ring Is Too Trashy, It Doesn't Deserve Me

Sword Douluo wore a beaming smile. Not only was he not angry, he even said, "Sure. If you have what it takes, you can raise her. But to prove your strength, you'll be the one to secure Rongrong's first soul ring."

"Grandpa Sword, what are you saying?" Ning Rongrong stamped her little foot in embarrassment, her face flushing as she protested coquettishly.

What did he mean, she could let him raise her? Grandpa Sword was such an old rascal. Ning Rongrong's little face was full of bashful embarrassment. Hmph, I can raise myself too.

Sword Douluo merely burst into laughter.

Ye Zhiqiu: ???

Damn it, Sword Douluo had looked so cold when they first met. Why had his attitude changed so drastically now? He didn't even get angry over jokes like this? Was he taking a fancy to me now? Was he suddenly acting all worldly because he saw how talented I was? These people from great clans really were too realistic.

What was he supposed to do now? Did he really have to help Ning Rongrong hunt her first soul ring? This old fellow clearly wanted to see what he was capable of. If he agreed, wouldn't he be playing right into his hands?

Countless thoughts raced through Ye Zhiqiu's mind, and his little face showed some hesitation.

A seasoned old monster like Sword Douluo saw at a glance what Ye Zhiqiu was thinking. Smiling, he said, "Little fellow, it's fine if you don't agree. I won't make things difficult for you. Just find us another 350-year Iron-Eating Panda Beast like this one."

Ye Zhiqiu's face darkened. The hell, this was what he called not making things difficult? Where was he supposed to find another 350-year Iron-Eating Panda Beast? A soul beast like that looked like a rare breed no matter how he saw it.

"Uh, Senior. Since I stole the soul ring you had your eye on, I think I have an obligation to help this little girl hunt another suitable soul ring. Leave such a small matter to me." Ye Zhiqiu patted his chest confidently as he promised.

Ye Zhiqiu had come to terms with it. Wasn't it just hunting one more century-old soul beast? For him, it would be easy.

As long as he did not reveal all his strength and trump cards.

If you can't resist, then lie back and enjoy it. —Lu Xun

However, when Ning Rongrong heard this little runt, who was barely older than her, call her a little girl, she immediately became unhappy. "Who are you calling a little girl? Aren't you a little runt yourself?" With her hands on her hips, Ning Rongrong questioned him angrily. She looked rather adorable like that.

Ye Zhiqiu said nothing. He simply walked over to her side and held out his hand to compare their heights. Ning Rongrong was a full head shorter than Ye Zhiqiu.

Facts proved everything, and Ning Rongrong immediately wilted.

Still, her young miss temperament kept her from admitting defeat. She could only mutter indignantly, "I'll grow taller in the future. I'll let you have this one-head advantage for now, but I'll catch up to you later."

"Pfft." Ye Zhiqiu laughed aloud.

Why was this girl's way of thinking so bizarre? Was she sure she could catch up to him? Even Sword Douluo could not hold it in any longer and laughed a few times. "That way of thinking really is worthy of the young miss of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

However, seeing Ning Rongrong's big eyes glaring at him, Sword Douluo instantly shut his mouth. Pretending to be calm, he changed the subject and looked at Ye Zhiqiu. "Little fellow, what is your name? Which clan are you from?"

Seeing that Grandpa Sword, who had laughed at her, was discussing serious business, Ning Rongrong puffed out her cheeks and gave up on the idea of making a fuss.

The corners of Sword Douluo's lips lifted slightly. He knew Ning Rongrong's temperament like the back of his hand.

Ye Zhiqiu saw everything but had no intention of exposing Sword Douluo. He casually continued, "Senior, my name is Ye Zhiqiu. I'm currently a first-year student at Nuoding Academy. My home is Holy Spirit Village, over four hundred li from this Soul Hunting Forest. I don't belong to any clan." As he answered Sword Douluo, Ye Zhiqiu did not forget to run over to the Iron-Eating Panda Beast. Pulling out a small dagger, he spent some effort cutting off its four paws and a chunk of thigh meat.

He had not forgotten why he had killed this Iron-Eating Panda Beast in the first place.

Sword Douluo pondered inwardly. Nuoding Academy? He had never heard of it. It was probably some insignificant academy. This child had excellent talent. Though he still did not know what martial soul he possessed, it surely would not be bad. The fact that he had no clan made things even better. He had to find a way to make him join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Sword Douluo walked over to Ye Zhiqiu's side. Watching Ye Zhiqiu skin and remove the fur from the panda beast's paws, he asked curiously, "This Iron-Eating Panda Beast is fairly rare, and its 350-year soul ring should suit you well. Why aren't you absorbing the soul ring? Why are you cutting off its paws?"

"To roast and eat. This soul ring is too trashy. It doesn't deserve me." Ye Zhiqiu answered without looking back, continuing with what he was doing.

Sword Douluo's face darkened. This kid really was arrogant. He actually said a 350-year Iron-Eating Panda Beast soul ring was unworthy of him?

But on second thought, Sword Douluo felt that it might actually be possible. After all, this little fellow's body was somewhat monstrous.

This was a body capable of kicking a 350-year soul beast to death with a single strike. With such a physique, perhaps he could absorb a soul ring of even greater age.

Sword Douluo became somewhat interested. He wanted to see where Ye Zhiqiu's limit lay and what age of soul ring he would hunt for himself.

Ye Zhiqiu had no idea what Sword Douluo was thinking. He simply continued on his own, skillfully skinning and removing the fur from the bear paws in his hands. He then washed them with the purified water from the Lonely Bamboo he had hunted earlier before gathering some firewood and beginning his grand barbecue endeavor.

The one thing the Soul Hunting Forest lacked least was firewood. It was everywhere.

He quickly set up a fire rack. As a gourmet, he naturally always carried a fire starter with him.

The little flame soon spread, turning into blazing crimson fire.

Ye Zhiqiu first roasted the bear paws and bear leg over the flames until they were half-cooked. Then he took them down and cut away the charred outer skin, revealing the half-cooked, oil-seeping tendon meat beneath. Ye Zhiqiu then skillfully rubbed on his secret seasoning.

When the firewood had nearly burned out, leaving only glowing red charcoal and a few scattered flames, Ye Zhiqiu placed the bear paws and bear leg back over the fire to finish them off.

Sword Douluo and Ning Rongrong watched from the side the entire time. They had eaten roasted meat before, but this was the first time they had ever seen roasted meat so fragrant it made their mouths water.

Regardless of how it tasted, the aroma alone earned countless points.

"Gulp." Ning Rongrong swallowed.

Sword Douluo also stared at the roasted meat with shining eyes. He was not someone greedy for food, yet he now had the urge to tear into it in huge bites. This roasted meat smelled far too good.

Nearly half an hour later, the charcoal fire had basically gone out, with hardly any heat left. By then, the Iron-Eating Panda Beast meat had turned golden brown, especially that large piece of thigh tendon meat, which made anyone who saw it want to take a bite.

Ye Zhiqiu took out his little dagger and casually sliced the roasted meat into strips. After placing them on an unknown large leaf he had prepared earlier, he divided them equally between Sword Douluo and Ning Rongrong.

Ye Zhiqiu and Sword Douluo both gnawed on the bear paws in large bites, occasionally grabbing a strip of meat. Their mouths glistened with oil, and their faces were full of satisfaction.

At first, Ning Rongrong still tried to maintain the image of a refined young lady. However, she soon could not hold back any longer and began wolfing it down in big mouthfuls as well.

The three of them were immersed in the world of delicious food, unable to extricate themselves.