Di Tian looked at the three people sprawled on the ground, utterly baffled.
The master's mood had clearly been awful ever since he woke up. It was only natural that Di Tian had felt uneasy. But what surprised him was that the master hadn't seemed drowsy or exhausted at all. On the contrary, he'd remained completely alert.
If it had been for the sake of keeping Duoduo safe, Di Tian could understand. After all, Duoduo and the master were both among the most important beings in the Star Dou Great Forest.
But...
What he'd just witnessed was far beyond Di Tian's understanding.
Especially after the master had spent some time with Duoduo and the others, and learned about the special abilities of those three people, Di Tian was even more confused.
As a super soul beast with eighty-nine thousand years of cultivation, Di Tian naturally knew that one of the three people possessed the soul of a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
With his keen senses, he could also clearly detect that a sealed soul beast was secretly guarding them.
But none of that seemed to be the reason the master had asked him to keep watch.
A Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, a sealed soul beast—neither was worth the master's attention.
As for the person with a ten-thousand-year soul ring, that was even less worth mentioning.
The only thing that left him somewhat puzzled was the male who had absorbed the soul ring of a violent Dark Demon Tyrant Bear.
A golden soul ring appeared beneath Xiao Ge, and a fine glimmer shone in his eyes.
Judging by the soul power of a soul master, he should have been around thirty years old. In the human world, that would already make him a rare genius. But... he seemed to possess an even rarer quality.
Di Tian couldn't help drawing in a deep breath.
If that heartless person had known the dignified Di Tian had run all the way out of the Star Dou Great Forest to keep an eye on a human with only forty-thousand-year soul power, he'd probably have laughed himself silly.
But when Di Tian thought of the master's warning, he felt a little wronged. He could only sigh and continue observing.
After a brief silence, Duoduo slowly opened her eyes.
Having absorbed a soul ring worth thirty thousand years of soul power, Duoduo rose to her feet. She stretched lazily, then, a bright smile spreading across her delicate face, turned toward Xiao Ge, who was sitting nearby.
"I've absorbed it."
The smile on her face was as radiant as the sunlight of early summer.
In the past, every person who shared the first soul ring with her had been a woman. But after absorbing the soul ring, Duoduo had actually looked toward Xiao Ge first!
Why?
I was clearly the one who came first. Whether it was keeping Duoduo company as she grew up, or protecting her along the way... I'd put more thought into her than anyone else. So why had she turned to Xiao Ge as soon as she finished?
"Congratulations! You look great. The effects of the third soul ring must be impressive, right?"
After spending so much time together, Xiao Ge and Duoduo had grown familiar with each other. Naturally, he didn't bother with formalities.
Duoduo smiled and rolled her eyes at him. She didn't answer, merely lifted her fair hand and waved it.
A pale, jade-green pagoda appeared in Duoduo's palm.
"Seven Treasures, Glazed Light. Third soul skill: Attack."
As expected, the effect wasn't surprising.
As an ancient clan that had inherited its legacy for thousands of years, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Clan had long since developed a soul skill set perfectly suited to its pagoda. Aside from the pagoda's soul avatar, the first six rings provided power, speed, attack, defense, soul power, and enhancement. There was hardly ever any variation.
If Duoduo's third soul skill hadn't been one of those, it would have been extraordinary.
"Congratulations, Duoduo."
Seeing Duoduo turn toward him, Xiao Ge smiled. But his smile looked a little forced.
"I really do have you to thank, Xiao Ge. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to kill that Dark Demon Tyrant Bear. Once I reach the thirtieth rank, I'll come back to the Star Dou Great Forest."
Duoduo hadn't noticed the strained look on Xiao Ge's face. Her attention was entirely on Xiao Ge.
She thought that Xiao Ge had truly gone out of his way to help her find the soul beast that suited her best—the one that contained fragments of the divine spirit of the Goddess of Nature.
She had no idea why, but since she already believed Xiao Ge was the most suitable person to accompany her, she naturally wouldn't let him down.
Duoduo paused, then smiled and said, "As for what you mentioned, there's still some time before I need to visit the Ouyang Family's academy. I don't need to rush."
"Besides... I sensed a fluctuation in soul power nearby. Why don't we go take a look?"
Duoduo's reason for staying in the Star Dou Great Forest suddenly seemed a little flimsy, but Xiao Ge didn't give it much thought. He'd been trying to come up with a reason to stay there himself, and Duoduo had brought it up first.
I have no idea why Duoduo isn't in a hurry to go to the Ouyang Family's academy, but since she's clearly found a good reason to stay, and the soul-power fluctuation up ahead doesn't seem weak... perhaps we should go and see.
"Let's go. We'll take a look."
Duoduo glanced at Xiao Ge, smiled, then took the lead and walked off in the direction of the soul-power fluctuation.
Xiao Ge, are you kidding? Am I really losing to her?
You actually dare say that? Duoduo, who was a girl but had a masculine personality, was the one who had taken the initiative.
A thought flashed through Xiao Ge's mind, and the whole group immediately followed Duoduo.
Xiao Ge hesitated for a moment, but he didn't have time to think it over. He only wanted to protect Duoduo, so he quickly followed.
Not long afterward, they arrived at a patch of tangled trees.
Parting the branches, they were greeted by a huge ape-like soul beast. Its entire body was covered in dark fur, its arms were unusually long, and sharp claws extended from its hands. Fangs showed between its lips.
At first glance, it looked unusual, but on closer inspection, it was just an ordinary ten-year soul beast.
And it was a ten-year soul beast.
Standing in front of it was a frail-looking young soul master. He seemed to be about the same age as the three of them. He looked thin and pale, with nothing particularly remarkable about his features. Only his bright eyes seemed especially striking.
At the sight of the scene, Xiao Ge couldn't help taking a deep breath.
He'd gone through all that trouble, only to find that...
It really was the legendary sight!
A ten-year soul beast had put up a fight against a soul master, leaving the future emotional god stunned.
"Uh... this really does seem to be only a ten-year soul beast. I can't believe someone could actually fight one to a standstill."
"No. It doesn't seem like a standstill. That guy looks like... he's about to get killed."
Xiao Ge and Duoduo exchanged glances, their mouths twitching in unison.
That guy was just too unlucky.
He was... so weak! How could anyone be that weak?!
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