The next day, the sun was already high in the sky.
Mu Rongchen's figure appeared at the entrance to the city lord's manor.
"Boss! Why are you up so early? What happened?"
Lin came out of the manor, yawning, his face still heavy with sleep.
"It's something important."
Mu Rongchen folded his arms and spoke calmly.
"Boss, you've broken through to Rank 10! The city lord asked you to go see him, and he'll give you a hundred-year-old soul ring."
"Huh?!"
Lin's drowsiness vanished at once. His eyes widened, and he hurried over, full of excitement.
"Boss, you really broke through before me! That's not fair!"
"You already called me boss, so naturally I'd break through before you."
Mu Rongchen didn't take his words seriously.
Just then, a long-legged figure walked out of the manor.
Chang He appeared with a bowl of thin porridge in one hand, eating as he walked.
"Hey, kid. I heard you've broken through."
"Uncle, you really do know everything."
Mu Rongchen's face broke into a respectful smile.
"Since you're here, I might as well ask you to take me to the Star Dou Great Forest and help me get a hundred-year-old soul ring."
"The Star Dou Great Forest?"
Chang He paused, then set down his bowl.
"Wait a moment. First tell me what kind of soul ring you want."
"Cold Poisonous Toad."
"Pfft—"
Chang He had just taken a mouthful of porridge. He sprayed it out, choking and spluttering as it went everywhere.
"Cough, cough! Cough!"
He coughed violently for a long while before finally catching his breath. Then he stared at Mu Rongchen in disbelief.
"Kid, are you sure you want a Cold Poisonous Toad soul ring?"
The reaction was completely beyond Mu Rongchen's expectations.
"According to what I've learned, Cold Poisonous Toads are venomous creatures. They also contain a trace of thin, poisonous blood."
After a hundred years of cultivation, even an ordinary soul beast could become immensely powerful. To get a hundred-year-old soul ring, you'd have to fight a soul beast of that age!
"Uncle, didn't you just break through to Rank 40 and become a Soul Ancestor?"
Mu Rongchen blinked, then put on a pitiful expression.
"A hundred-year-old soul beast isn't a problem for you. Please, Uncle, don't make things difficult for me."
Chang He rubbed his hands together, looking troubled.
"Kid, I'm afraid I might not be able to protect you."
The city lord's manor was bustling with business, and he could hardly spare any time.
"Besides, the trip to the Star Dou Great Forest and back, plus searching for a soul beast, will take at least a month."
Mu Rongchen's heart sank a little, though his expression remained unchanged.
Sure enough, getting a city lord to abandon everything and risk his life for him was far too much to ask.
"That's alright."
Chang He pondered for a moment, then came up with a solution.
"I'll arrange three people for you. They're all my trusted guards, and they can be relied on."
"Among them, there's a Control-type Soul Ancestor at Rank 33."
The other two were a Rank 28 Control-type Soul Ancestor and a Rank 28 Agility Attack-type Soul Ancestor.
"This lineup isn't bad. As long as you hunt a hundred-year soul beast outside the Star Dou Great Forest, it'll be more than enough."
A team of three Soul Ancestors...
It wasn't exactly an impressive lineup, but it was enough to hunt a hundred-year-old Cold Poisonous Toad, provided they were properly prepared.
"Alright, then I'll trouble you, Uncle."
Mu Rongchen nodded and accepted the arrangement.
Over the past year, the city lord's manor had earned a fortune from his blacksmithing business—more than ten million gold soul coins.
Chang He also knew that he and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan were close. The people most likely to protect Mu Rongchen had already left with the clan leader, so he'd called in the most trustworthy guards he could find.
He'd promised to help Mu Rongchen obtain his first soul ring. He wouldn't go back on his word.
"Oh, and you can prepare some herbs for treating white wounds, as well as yellow-mud powder for making antidotes to snake venom. They can attract quite a few spirit-type creatures."
Chang He nodded.
At that moment, a young man with a tall, lean build and an ordinary-looking face had appeared behind them without anyone noticing.
"Yang Biao!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Protect Young Master Mu Rong well. If he loses even a single hair, don't bother coming back!"
Chang He's tone was stern, and he looked imposing.
"Yes, Lord City Lord! I'll complete the mission, even if it costs me my life!"
Yang Biao dropped to one knee, his voice full of conviction.
"Alright. Go prepare your supplies, then set out immediately."
"Understood. Uncle Chang He, goodbye."
Mu Rongchen bowed to Chang He, then left the city lord's manor with Yang Biao and the two other men. He didn't look back.
At a window on the second floor of a seven-story merchant building not far from the city lord's manor, the master of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan watched the group go and stroked his beard.
"Looks like the old man has finally found himself a little disciple."
The young master hadn't used his personal token to summon Mu Rongchen's children. Instead, he'd only sent word to ask that they protect him along the way, and had specifically instructed them to keep their identities secret and not investigate him.
They were certainly taking him seriously!
"Enough, enough. The young master gave the order. Who'd dare disobey?"
Ning Rongrong pursed her lips, then turned and went downstairs.
If something unexpected happened to Mu Rongchen within the borders of Zhuding City, the young master himself would take responsibility. There was no way she could just stand by and watch.
She had to follow them and see for herself.
Four days later.
Outside the Star Dou Great Forest stood a small town called Biying.
It was the last place to stock up before entering the Star Dou Great Forest. Soul Masters from all over gathered there, a chaotic mixture of all kinds.
Ning Rongrong had brought two men along with Mu Rongchen. She'd bought plenty of dry rations, fresh water, and herbs to ward off the various venomous insects before they set off together for the lush, gloomy forest.
"Young Master, stay behind me."
As soon as they entered the forest, Yang Biao's expression turned grim. He took the lead, a long spear in his hand, and warily surveyed his surroundings.
The other two men—the Control-type Soul Ancestor and the Agility Attack-type Soul Ancestor—walked on either side, keeping Mu Rongchen closely protected.
"Keep your guard up."
Mu Rongchen reminded them at the entrance.
"You know I'm looking for a Cold Poisonous Toad. What kind of habitat does it prefer?"
"Your subordinate has already done his research."
Yang Biao answered without hesitation.
"This kind of toad likes cold places. It usually lives in deep caves near cold, damp marshes or underground caverns. We'll head northwest through the marshes. We should have a better chance of finding one there."
The group moved forward, with Mu Rongchen in the middle and the two men watching over him from either side.
The sky gradually darkened. After searching for a long time, they found a dry cave, lit a fire, and spent their first night in the forest.
During the search, they encountered several soul beasts.
At a glance, they were all under five hundred years old.
Over the half-month journey, they came across more than a dozen soul beasts, from ten-year-old wild dogs to hundred-year-old Shadow Wolves. The three men dispatched them with ease.
Mu Rongchen, too, was growing more accustomed to the danger lurking around every corner.
That day, as they crossed a stretch of dark, damp marshland, they noticed a strange glimmer of light.
In a deep pool lay several venomous toads, their bodies covered in patches of ice-blue scales that shone with a faint, ghostly light.
They'd found it!
"Everyone, put on the snake-repellent powder!"
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