Invincible Golden Body (Part 1)

"Teacher, how should I fuse them then? Which ones would be best to fuse?"

Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head slightly, looking up at Gu Chensha, her cool eyes filled with complete trust.

"Although there are soul bones here that match the Hell Spirit Cat, which can enhance agility, speed, and attack power."

"But I wanted to arrange them according to my Second Martial Soul, and I don't feel like there's anything particularly suitable."

How could Gu Chensha not understand what she meant?

He couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke her hair.

Zhu Zhuqing didn't dodge, but instead lowered her head slightly, obedient as a kitten.

Gu Chensha's heart stirred slightly.

This girl trusted him and depended on him so completely.

She had placed her future and her destiny entirely in his hands.

He really hadn't misjudged her.

"You're right, there are indeed too few soul bones here that can fit the Primordial Demon Spider Emperor Martial Soul."

Gu Chensha withdrew his hand, his tone carrying undisguised disdain.

"However, I do not intend for you to fuse these miscellaneous items."

Gu Chensha sneered, turned to look at Wangcai, who was comfortably soaking in the hot spring, and called out loudly.

"Wangcai, bring that thing over."

Soul Tool?

A string of question marks popped into Zhu Zhuqing's mind.

She knew that Soul Tools were special items inscribed with core formations.

Moreover, the technology for Soul Tools had long been lost, and most of the remaining ones were simple auxiliary items, with even offensive ones being extremely rare.

But judging by her Teacher's demeanor, this item was clearly extraordinary.

Could it be...

That the true gift he spoke of wasn't this mountain of soul bones, but this Soul Tool?

As she was thinking, Wangcai ran out of the hot spring, shaking its wet tail, and shook its black fur, splashing water everywhere.

It was clearly prepared, and before Gu Chensha could urge it further, it trotted over, holding a palm-sized sandalwood box in its mouth, and placed it squarely in front of Zhu Zhuqing.

It even nudged it with its nose and wagged its tail as if seeking praise.

Zhu Zhuqing looked eagerly at Gu Chensha, her eyes sparkling.

"Open it and take a look. It was meant for you anyway."

With permission, she carefully lifted the lid of the box.

Her originally cool eyes instantly filled with a stunning radiance the moment she saw what was inside.

A necklace lay quietly in the box.

A delicate golden chain, each link intricately carved with fine patterns, flowed with a gentle luster under the sunlight.

The pendant was a thumb-sized, pale golden crystal, shaped like a perfect teardrop.

Inside the crystal, a mass of flowing starlight seemed to be solidified, refracting warm golden light of varying depths with changes in angle, fine and brilliant.

The entire necklace was so exquisite it didn't look like a Soul Tool, but more like a masterpiece of craftsmanship.

In her entire life, she had never seen anything so beautiful.

Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed slightly, her heart inexplicably quickening.

"Teacher... is this really for me?"

"Of course. Try it on."

Zhu Zhuqing softly hummed and extended her fingertips, lifting the necklace from the box.

A cool, smooth touch landed in her palm.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, her heart inexplicably quickening.

Her Teacher hadn't given her a weapon or armor, but a necklace...

She couldn't quite articulate what it meant, only feeling that a soft spot in her heart had been gently touched, stirring an indescribable warmth.

She just thought silently:

I will definitely cherish it, for a lifetime.

She lowered her head slightly, looped the necklace around her neck, and turned her back to Gu Chensha to fasten the clasp.

But her fingers were a little uncooperative, and she couldn't fasten it after several tries.

The roots of her ears grew redder, and even the skin on the back of her neck was tinged with a faint pink.

"Teacher, help me put it on."

She muttered under her breath, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum.

Gu Chensha looked at her flushed little face, stepped forward, and gently took the clasp.

His fingertips inadvertently brushed against the skin at the nape of her neck.

Zhu Zhuqing's body trembled slightly, and she buried her head even lower.

"All done."

Gu Chensha withdrew his hand, watching the necklace settle against her fair collarbone; the pale gold crystal pressed against her skin, making it appear even more luminous.

"Try injecting some soul power into it."

"Mm!"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded vigorously and hurriedly channeled a wisp of soul power into the pendant.

The next second, shock appeared in her eyes once again.

A layer of pale golden light spread out from the pendant, enveloping her entire body.

The light shield resembled flowing golden glaze, its edges shimmering with fine starlight, feeling warm to the touch yet exceptionally sturdy.

She tried adjusting it with her intent, and the shield expanded and contracted flexibly according to her will.

From a thin veil clinging to her body to three meters, five meters, and finally expanding to a radius of ten meters, the strength did not weaken in the slightest.

Gu Chensha glanced at Wangcai, who was clawing at the ground nearby, eager to try, and commanded:

"Wangcai, ram into it."

Wangcai stopped abruptly, pointed a front paw at itself, and tilted its head in disbelief, as if asking something.

Me? You really want me to ram it?

"Don't dawdle, hurry up."

Wangcai let out an "aowu," as if it were trying to bargain.

We had a deal, if she gets hurt, don't you dare beat me up.

It took a few steps back, shook its large head, and prepared to charge.

"Qing'er, get ready."

"Mm! I'm ready!"

Zhu Zhuqing clenched her fists, her eyes full of anticipation.

Wangcai charged forward.

To be safe, it first tentatively extended a claw and lightly tapped the light shield.

With a soft "thud," the shield didn't move an inch, and its claw was bounced back instead.

Wangcai refused to accept this.

It didn't believe it, so it shoved hard with its large head, then swung its barbed tail and lashed out fiercely.

The light shield remained as steady as a rock, not even a single ripple appearing on its surface.

Wangcai grew anxious; it retreated a dozen meters, took a running start, and slammed headfirst into the shield.

"Bang!"

After a loud crash, Wangcai was sent flying backward, landing on its back with all four paws in the air.

It scrambled up, dizzy, shook its head, and stared at the pale golden light shield in a daze.

It couldn't fathom how it failed to break through such a thin membrane.

Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help but let out a "pfft" of laughter.

Gu Chensha said calmly from the side, "Alright, go play over there."

Wangcai let out a disgruntled low growl, drooped its ears, and slunk back to the side of the hot spring to lie down.

It crouched on a rock, feeling more depressed the more it thought about it:

Could it be that I, this Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, am a fake?

Withdrawing his gaze, Gu Chensha began to explain.

"I obtained this Soul Tool from a soul master years ago."

"It comes with a built-in skill that can release the shield you just saw, with an effect somewhat similar to the 'Invincible Golden Body'."

"Invincible Golden Body?"

Zhu Zhuqing looked at him with curiosity.