Return Journey

After the spirit ring had been absorbed, the effects of the spirit ability automatically surfaced in Ye Zhiqiu's mind. It was vastly different from the Clone Jutsu.

Multiple Shadow Clones Jutsu: The number of clones depends on the Soul Power within the user's body. Each clone possesses eighty percent of the original's combat strength and will be destroyed upon suffering a heavy blow. Clones can cultivate independently, and each possesses self-awareness. If the original does not issue a mandatory command for the clone to complete a certain task, the clone will act according to its own preferences. Ninety-nine percent of clones will strictly obey the original's commands. Clones do not share vision with the original. Once a clone is dismissed or destroyed, the original can receive everything it saw and heard. (Additional effect of the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Ring: So long as the clone does not suffer fatal damage, it can remain intact and absorb the energy of heaven and earth to repair itself.) "Hiss—" Ye Zhiqiu sucked in a sharp breath.

This Multiple Shadow Clones Jutsu was definitely worth the price. With his ability to draw upon the tailed beast's Soul Power within his body, wouldn't he be able to create as many shadow clones as he wanted? And the additional effect of the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Ring had effectively eliminated the drawback of clones disappearing after taking a heavy hit.

Combined with the passive effect of his First Spirit Ability, which increased his clones' combat strength by ten percent, once he became a Titled Douluo, would anyone on Douluo Continent still be a match for him? They would probably all get beaten to death by his sea-of-people tactics, right? What? You're a Limit Douluo, and I, at level 91, can't beat you? Heh. But have you ever seen a thousand level 91 Titled Douluo all activating Susanoo at once?

At the thought, Ye Zhiqiu felt refreshed. He rose, stretched lazily, and prepared to go share the good news with Sword Douluo and Ning Rongrong.

As he turned around, a flash of black light suddenly passed through Ye Zhiqiu's eyes beneath the Ironclad Rhino's foreleg.

Ye Zhiqiu halted. Could it be...? To confirm his suspicion, he quickly walked over to the Ironclad Rhino's leg and pushed aside its forelimb. A shiny black, metallic object resembling a bracer came into view. Ye Zhiqiu's eyes immediately lit up. He picked up the black bracer and examined it carefully. If he was not mistaken, this should be a right arm soul bone.

Why the right arm rather than the left? Because it had been found beneath the Ironclad Rhino's right foreleg, of course.

Sure enough, this Ironclad Rhino had been moved by him before its death and had dropped a soul bone afterward to repay him. Although, in Ye Zhiqiu's eyes, this soul bone was somewhat trashy. It was only ten thousand years old, its age was too low, and he did not even know what it could do.

"Hehe, Xiaoqiu, it seems your luck is pretty good. This should be a soul bone." Sword Douluo walked over with Ning Rongrong, smiling.

Ning Rongrong curiously examined the soul bone in Ye Zhiqiu's hand. Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was enormously wealthy, soul bones were still scarce.

Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's two Titled Douluo only possessed a few soul bones each.

Ye Zhiqiu smiled in satisfaction. Getting a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone was an unexpected gain. Though he did not think much of a ten-thousand-year soul bone, he could give it away. Rongrong seemed not to have any soul bones, right? He could give her this right arm bone and consider the debt for the Black Jade Bracelet repaid.

"Grandpa Sword, you deserve some credit for this soul bone too. After all, you were the one who severely wounded the Ironclad Rhino first. Let Rongrong have this soul bone." With that, Ye Zhiqiu handed the soul bone to Ning Rongrong.

"Ah? For me?" Ning Rongrong's small mouth opened slightly in surprise. No matter how immature she was, she knew that soul bones were extremely precious. After all, even her Grandpa Sword, powerful as he was, did not have many.

Even Sword Douluo was stunned upon hearing Ye Zhiqiu's words. How much generosity did it take to give away a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone?

Sword Douluo pressed his lips together and said nothing, merely watching the two quietly. Matters between youngsters were best decided by youngsters themselves.

Besides, Ye Zhiqiu might very well become the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's future son-in-law. Giving away a soul bone in advance as a betrothal gift was perfectly reasonable. Sword Douluo was becoming more and more pleased with Ye Zhiqiu. At such a young age, he was not only sensible, but also possessed limitless potential.

Seeing Ning Rongrong stare at him blankly without reaching out to take it, Ye Zhiqiu smiled helplessly and stuffed the soul bone into her arms. "Take it. You're still too weak. If you don't improve your strength a little, you won't even be able to see my back in the future."

Ning Rongrong had originally intended to refuse, but after hearing Ye Zhiqiu's words, the small hand she had tentatively extended immediately withdrew. She clutched the Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone in her arms tightly.

The sight made both Ye Zhiqiu and Sword Douluo struggle not to laugh. This little girl was simply too adorable.

Their suppressed smiles made Ning Rongrong's cheeks flush red with embarrassment, and she could not help rolling her eyes at them several times.

Once Sword Douluo saw that the two had settled the matter, he pondered for a moment before saying to Ye Zhiqiu, "Xiaoqiu, the age of your second spirit ring seems to have increased again. I suspect that the age of every spirit ring you gain in the future will increase, and by a substantial amount. This may be related to your martial soul and spirit abilities in several ways. What is your Second Spirit Ability? Tell Grandpa Sword about it, and I'll help you figure out what exactly is influencing the mutation of your spirit rings."

"Uh..." The devil could guess that, Ye Zhiqiu secretly snickered to himself. Outwardly, however, he remained perfectly serious. "Grandpa Sword, my Second Spirit Ability is also a Clone Jutsu. This time, I can create ten clones with eighty percent of my original combat strength. The clones also have their own consciousness. They can cultivate on their own and won't disappear unless they suffer fatal injuries."

"Hiss—" Sword Douluo sucked in a sharp breath after hearing Ye Zhiqiu's words. Damn, compared with Xiaoqiu's first spirit ability, this one was like heaven and earth—there was far too much difference! If Xiaoqiu fought other Spirit Masters in the future, every one-on-one fight would turn into a group beating. At least this spirit ability did not disgrace the title of a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Ring like his First Spirit Ability had.

"This spirit ability is practically heaven-defying compared to your First Spirit Ability. Very impressive. The increase in your spirit ring ages may also be related to those clones of yours." Sword Douluo's tone carried a trace of wonder.

When Ning Rongrong heard that Ye Zhiqiu's Second Spirit Ability could create ten clones, her eyes instantly lit up. No one knew what she was thinking. With all matters in the Soul Hunting Forest settled, the three were all in good spirits. Sword Douluo smiled and teasingly asked, "Xiaoqiu, should we leave the Soul Hunting Forest now? Don't tell this old man that you still want to hunt for your third spirit ring. There truly won't be any spirit rings suitable for you in this Soul Hunting Forest."

"How could that be? Cultivation doesn't happen that fast. Grandpa Sword, even after absorbing the Ironclad Rhino's Ten Thousand Year Spirit Ring, I've only reached level 27. I still need three more levels before I can hunt for my third spirit ring." Ye Zhiqiu scratched the back of his head, his face showing a hint of regret.

As soon as he finished speaking, amid Ning Rongrong's cry of surprise, Ye Zhiqiu gently scooped her up in a princess carry. He lightly pushed off the surrounding tree trunks with his legs, nimbly darting and leaping through the forest. His figure vanished in an instant, moving several times faster than before he had absorbed his second spirit ring.

Only Sword Douluo remained where he stood, his cheek twitching faintly as he muttered unconsciously, "Level 27... Level 27..."