"They're here, they're here. Hmph, kid, which of your sweethearts are you helping this time?"
Divine Eye teased Qian Yu from within his spiritual sea.
Qian Yu could only ignore Divine Eye's teasing. With a serious expression, he continued, "Divine Eye, help Ning Rongrong absorb her third Spirit Ring in a moment."
"Fine." Seeing how serious Qian Yu was, Divine Eye gave up teasing him.
"Rongrong, you can begin."
After giving Divine Eye his instructions, Qian Yu turned to Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong looked equally serious and anxious. Excitedly, she said, "Okay."
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda hovered above Ning Rongrong's palm. Pale golden Soul Power wrapped around a specially made Soul-Absorbing Jade Talisman, which was fastened to the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's Spirit Ring. She held the Soul Ring Absorber firmly against the ring and, with a swift motion, drew it into the vortex of her Soul Power.
The 3,800-year-old Spirit Ring surged with crimson light. The impact of its Soul Power nearly made her meridians tremble. Qian Yu seized the moment. The Divine Eye at his brow suddenly gleamed silver, precisely locking onto the ring's age and breaking its violent energy into trickling streams that flowed into Ning Rongrong's body.
Ning Rongrong held her breath and guided the energy into herself. Purple light intertwined and coiled around her, and in less than half a quarter of an hour, she had fully refined the Spirit Ring. Her third Spirit Ring settled securely around the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes opened slightly, and a faint smile curved her lips.
"She did it." Sword Douluo had been watching Ning Rongrong anxiously. Now he saw that she had truly managed to absorb a Spirit Ring beyond her level.
He immediately stepped forward and asked, "Rongrong, how do you feel?"
"Quick, see what Spirit Skill you got and what level your Soul Power has reached!"
"And remember to check the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. It might even produce a Spirit Bone."
Sword Douluo sounded like a nagging old man, endlessly chattering at Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong didn't mind. She told Sword Douluo and the others everything.
"My third Spirit Skill is an amplification skill that boosts the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's Soul Power recovery. When the purple Spirit Ring flares, golden patterns ripple with warm light across the pagoda's third tier, and pale purple Soul Power turns into specks of light that cover the target. It increases the target's Soul Power recovery speed by forty percent, and that will rise as my level does. It also slightly nourishes the meridians and eases the sluggishness caused by depleted Soul Power."
"Because I absorbed a Spirit Ring beyond my level, I can also cover three teammates within ten meters of me. It lasts for eight breaths."
"What? Her Spirit Skill even has a team-wide boost, and it's the powerful Soul Power amplification skill!"
"That's wonderful!" Sword Douluo was overjoyed by Ning Rongrong's words.
Everyone else was happy for Ning Rongrong, too.
Of course, Qian Yu was among them.
"By the way, Rongrong, what level is your Soul Power now?" Zhu Zhuqing asked curiously.
Ning Rongrong grinned and said to the others, "Guess."
"Thirty-six!"
"Thirty-seven!"
"Thirty-nine!"
They guessed all sorts of levels.
At last, barely containing her excitement, Ning Rongrong told them, "I've reached level thirty-eight, too."
Ning Rongrong looked gratefully at Qian Yu, then gathered her courage and threw herself at him.
Before Qian Yu could react, she planted a loud kiss on his cheek.
The other girls were used to it by now. Ye Lingling, however, clenched her right hand at the side, as if struggling with something.
Ning Rongrong's kiss left Qian Yu feeling rather embarrassed, so he hurried over to inspect the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's corpse.
"Wait here a moment. I'll check the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's corpse."
Qian Yu spoke to Ning Rongrong, then ran off without looking back.
Nearby, Qian Yu used Divine Eye to quickly break down the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's corpse.
Unfortunately, Spirit Bones weren't that easy to come by. Neither of the two Spirit Beasts had produced one.
After Qian Yu finished, the group continued looking for Spirit Rings for Dugu Yan and Xiao Wu.
When Xiao Wu heard they were going to find a Spirit Ring for her, her body visibly trembled.
"Xiao Wu, are you all right?" Ye Lingling seemed to get along well with Xiao Wu. Walking beside her, Ye Lingling noticed her trembling and hurried over to ask.
"I'm fine. Thank you, Lingling!" Xiao Wu answered Ye Lingling's kindness while wondering to herself how she would deal with this predicament.
What should I do? If Sword Douluo finds out I'm a Spirit Beast, will he capture me and keep me in captivity, planning to turn me into a Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone for Ning Rongrong? Xiao Wu's imagination ran wild, and the more she thought about it, the harder she trembled.
In the middle of the group, Qian Yu's Spirit Detection also picked up on Xiao Wu's distress.
Xiao Wu was someone he had brought along, and he had been keeping an eye on her all this time.
After spending these years together, Qian Yu still didn't completely trust Xiao Wu. But he had allowed her to join Feather Gate and stopped Divine Eye from absorbing her essence. That was as good as accepting her.
Seeing how troubled Xiao Wu looked, Qian Yu immediately understood what was bothering her.
He slowed his pace and walked over to Xiao Wu.
He gently took her hand and sent her a mental message. "It's me, Qian Yu. Don't worry. I'm here. Just pretend to absorb the Spirit Ring, and leave the rest to me."
Xiao Wu felt the warmth of his hand. Qian Yu's gentle words echoed in her mind, sending a tremor through her entire being.
She looked up in shock at Qian Yu, who was holding her hand.
Disbelief filled her eyes. Qian Yu knows I'm a Spirit Beast?
Xiao Wu's mind went blank.
Is he planning to keep me captive, too, and make me into his Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone? Xiao Wu wanted to struggle, but she felt the strength in Qian Yu's grip,
and in the end, she helplessly closed her beautiful eyes and resigned herself to letting Qian Yu hold her hand.
Seeing the hopeless look on Xiao Wu's face, Qian Yu understood at once that she thought he was like Tang San and his father.
He hurriedly sent her another message. "Xiao Wu, don't overthink it. Don't worry. Being a Spirit Beast doesn't change the fact that you're part of Feather Gate. As its sect master, I have a responsibility and a duty to protect you all."
Qian Yu's voice was quiet, but it still made Xiao Wu tremble.
Qian Yu really does know I'm a Spirit Beast.
But he said I'm part of Feather Gate.
Xiao Wu couldn't help feeling relieved.
But then she felt terribly disappointed and thought, That wretched man. Is it only because I'm part of Feather Gate that he has no feelings for me beyond those of a fellow sect member? Xiao Wu wanted to demand an answer from Qian Yu, but she didn't dare.
After hearing Qian Yu's reassurance, Xiao Wu felt much better.
Qian Yu released Spirit Share once more.
The group resumed their journey to find Spirit Rings for Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and Xiao Wu.
The central region of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Qian Yu and the others searched for another two days.
At last, they found two more suitable Spirit Beasts.
One was a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, and the other was a Man Faced Demon Spider. At the same time, another group was concealed not far from the two Spirit Beasts.
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear slammed its huge paws against the ground, splitting the earth. Its dark golden claws tore through the wind and slashed straight at the Man Faced Demon Spider as a stench of blood and flying stones filled the air. The spider sprang forward on its eight legs, its purplish-black limbs stabbing toward the bear's belly like steel spears. It spat out sticky webs, trying to ensnare the bear. Claws and legs collided in a burst of sparks. The bear roared and the spider shrieked; a claw tore open the spider's back, spraying black blood. Webbing stuck to the bear's paw, only to be ripped apart by its brute strength. Rocks flew through the forest as blood mist churned.
Before you continue