Entrance to the Star Dou Great Forest.
Li Xiaoyao spoke up—
"Teacher Zhao, Rongrong and I will go on ahead!"
"Once we've settled Sister Rongrong's Third Soul Ring, we'll return to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel and wait for you."
Zhao Wuji nodded and said gravely.
"Alright! I understand!"
"The Star Dou Great Forest is fraught with danger. You two be careful!"
Li Xiaoyao had a Space Soul Bone Skill, so his safety was basically guaranteed.
Ning Rongrong also had a large group of guards around her, so there was no need to worry too much.
After entering the Star Dou Great Forest, Li Xiaoyao took Ning Rongrong and left Zhao Wuji's group.
With Tang Hao no longer secretly watching them, Li Xiaoyao had no need to conceal his strength as a level-seventy Quasi Soul Sage.
Li Xiaoyao walked in front, while Ning Rongrong followed half a step behind.
Under spiritual power comparable to that of a Titled Douluo, any soul beast that entered Li Xiaoyao's sensory range was instantly enveloped by the activated Domain: City of Eating Time, stripped of all its life force without even a chance to struggle.
Sweeping through the entire outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest, Li Xiaoyao and Ning Rongrong soon arrived at their destination: the area where Thousand Year Soul Beasts and Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts mingled.
Enhanced by Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber, Ning Rongrong's Third Soul Ring could reach an age of four thousand five hundred years, a full two thousand eight hundred years beyond the optimal Soul Ring limit of one thousand seven hundred years.
As for the choice of soul beast, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had always set the rules. They generally chose types that could grant enhancement and support abilities.
The soul beast Ning Rongrong chose made Li Xiaoyao frown slightly.
"Rongrong, this soul beast is five thousand years old, much older than we expected. Are you sure you can withstand it?"
"Even if I have Time Reversal as a safeguard, the strain on your body and the pain of your meridians feeling as though they're being torn apart when absorbing a Soul Ring beyond your level can't be avoided."
A man had to cherish his own woman.
Even if he had the chance to reverse things with Time Reversal, he still did not want Ning Rongrong to experience having all her meridians severed, her cultivation ruined, and her body exploding to death.
"Brother Xiaoyao, don't worry!"
"After being strengthened by your family's secret formula, and with the Mysterious Heaven Skill you taught me protecting my body, a mere five-thousand-year Soul Ring is nothing Rongrong can't handle."
Ning Rongrong patted her chest, her tone brimming with confidence.
After all, her man had her back. If anything really went wrong, one use of Chronos's Time Reversal could undo everything. There was no need to worry so much.
Time reigned supreme; space was king.
Did he understand the weight of those words?
As long as they could not die, they could go wild all they wanted.
"Alright, alright! I'll listen to you!"
"And don't pat your chest flat!"
Li Xiaoyao did not refuse Ning Rongrong's request.
"Hmph! Brother Xiaoyao only knows how to tease Rongrong!"
Ning Rongrong pouted.
Speaking of her chest—
She really had a few things to say about that.
It had once been no more than the first budding tip of a lotus.
But after this period of growth and maturation—
It had gradually become full and plump, her figure ever more slender and alluring, long since losing its former immature appearance.
She was no longer that little girl who knew nothing.
From now on, please call her—
Madam Ning, the veteran driver.
Li Xiaoyao raised his right hand and pulled the trigger of his Flintlock Pistol.
With a bang, a bullet wrapped in immense Soul Power tore through the air, precisely piercing a vital spot and instantly grievously wounding the five-thousand-year soul beast, leaving it collapsed on the ground and unable to move.
Ning Rongrong flashed forward, took an iron dagger from her Storage Guidance Tool, and delivered the final strike, completely ending the soul beast's life.
A pale purple Soul Ring slowly rose from the soul beast's body, radiating dense Soul Power fluctuations.
Ning Rongrong took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, looked up at Li Xiaoyao, and said softly.
"Brother Xiaoyao, I'm ready to absorb the Soul Ring."
"I'll have to trouble you with what comes next!"
Li Xiaoyao nodded.
"Mm! Don't worry."
Ning Rongrong said no more. She closed her eyes, circulated the Mysterious Heaven Skill, and let the Soul Power within her surge as she actively drew the Soul Ring over herself.
The soul beast that had already died: ↓
Please provide the text you would like me to translate and revise.
Speak up for me, speak up for me!
I was a five-thousand-year soul beast, for crying out loud. Yet even when I died, I didn't deserve to have a name.
Half an hour later—
Ning Rongrong finished absorbing the Soul Ring in a thoroughly bedraggled state.
"Sister Rongrong, congratulations on successfully breaking through to level thirty-five Soul Elder!"
Sensing Ning Rongrong's Soul Power Level, Li Xiaoyao quickly stepped forward and raised a hand to wipe the sweat from her brow, his voice full of relief.
It had to be said, absorbing a Soul Ring beyond one's level was truly fierce.
If Ning Rongrong had followed the normal Soul Ring limit and absorbed only a Soul Ring around one thousand seven hundred years old, she would have reached level thirty-two at most. How could she have shot straight up to level thirty-five like this?
Ning Rongrong rubbed herself against his palm, her lips curving upward.
"Isn't it all thanks to Brother Xiaoyao? You gave me Time Reversal as a safeguard and helped me find such a suitable soul beast. Otherwise, how could I have dared challenge a five-thousand-year Soul Ring?"
As she spoke, she raised her hand and activated her Soul Power. Three Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—circulated beneath her feet.
"Brother Xiaoyao, look. This Third Soul Skill is even stronger than expected. The Soul Power boost has increased by thirty percent, and it even comes with a small amount of Soul Power recovery."
Li Xiaoyao lightly pinched her cheek and smiled.
"Sister Rongrong, it's because your foundation is good and your physique is tough. Someone else might not have been able to endure this impact."
"Seeing how exhausted you are, I'll take you back to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel first so you can have a proper bath and rest."
Ning Rongrong's face was full of fatigue as she nodded gently.
"Mm, Rongrong will listen to Brother Xiaoyao."
She had barely stood when her steps swayed slightly, her meridians still aching and swollen.
Seeing this, Li Xiaoyao simply bent down and lifted her into his arms, his movements gentle and steady.
Ning Rongrong cried out in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around Li Xiaoyao's neck. With her cheek pressed against his warm chest, the sound of his powerful heartbeat instantly soothed her, and she whispered.
"Brother Xiaoyao, you should put me down."
"Rongrong can walk back by herself."
"Stay put. Don't force yourself."
Li Xiaoyao looked down at Ning Rongrong, his tone gentle but leaving no room for refusal as he briskly headed toward the forest's outer edge.
All kinds of soul beasts along the way scattered aside, not daring to approach.
After leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, the two soon returned to their room at the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel.
Li Xiaoyao gently placed Ning Rongrong on the bed, then turned and poured her a cup of warm water.
"Rongrong, drink some water first. I'll go prepare a hot bath for you."
Ning Rongrong accepted the cup and watched Li Xiaoyao's busy figure, the corners of her lips unconsciously lifting as warmth filled her eyes.
After preparing the hot water, Li Xiaoyao returned.
"Rongrong, take a nice bath and relax first."
"Brother Xiaoyao, you should bathe with me too."
"Just... I'm a little tired. Could you massage my shoulders?"
Ning Rongrong looked up at him, her cheeks flushed and her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
Considering that they still had plenty of time, Li Xiaoyao nodded in agreement.
"Alright, I'll listen to Rongrong."
Before you continue