Fluorite Iridescent Deer

In a valley on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Tang Yin and Ning Rongrong lurked in the shadows of a rock face, gazing into the craggy, stone-strewn valley ahead.

The ground within the valley was scattered with many crystalline mineral fragments, refracting iridescent colors under the sunlight.

Between those fragments, a spirit beast resembling a reindeer, its entire body crystalline and gleaming brilliantly in the sun, lay prone on the ground, occasionally turning its head to gnaw on the minerals with a crisp "crunching" sound.

"It's a Fluorite Iridescent Deer. Judging by its antlers, it should be around seven hundred years old."

Recalling the various spirit beast encyclopedias he had read under Yu Xiaogang over the years, Tang Yin quickly retrieved the information corresponding to this spirit beast in his mind.

Tang Yin lowered his voice and said to Ning Rongrong, "This spirit beast has a gentle temperament; it isn't very aggressive, but it has excellent stamina."

Although these words were directed at Ning Rongrong, Tang Yin was not truly speaking to her, but rather to the Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, and Ning Fengzhi who were secretly following them.

The seven spirit skills of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda are fixed, so as long as the age is appropriate, the species of the spirit beast makes little difference.

The Fluorite Iridescent Deer before them was nearing seven hundred years, and its characteristic was high stamina. After a spirit master absorbs its spirit ring, they can inherit a portion of that trait, making it very suitable for an auxiliary spirit master like Ning Rongrong who does not require the spirit beast to provide a spirit skill.

Furthermore, because of its gentle nature, absorbing its spirit ring is not as difficult or dangerous as those of other ferocious, bloodthirsty spirit beasts.

Of course, the most important thing is that the Fluorite Iridescent Deer itself has low aggression, aside from being fast and enduring, so the danger in fighting it is relatively small.

Ning Rongrong stared at the crystal-like Fluorite Iridescent Deer not far away, her eyes sparkling: "So pretty... this is the one!"

Seeing this, Tang Yin did not answer immediately. After waiting a moment to ensure the three people in the shadows did not object, he nodded in response to Ning Rongrong.

"Stay here and don't move around; I'll go meet it!"

"Wait!" Ning Rongrong grabbed his sleeve, her small face uncharacteristically serious. "My first spirit skill is Power Boost. With my current number of spirit rings, I can increase your strength by twenty percent."

"Twenty percent?" Tang Yin pondered slightly. He naturally knew the effect of each of Ning Rongrong's spirit skills. If it were Ning Fengzhi, his first spirit skill at level seventy-nine could increase a spirit master's strength by eighty percent—truly terrifying.

Power Boost primarily corresponds to physical strength attributes, namely the force of melee physical attacks, load-bearing, and explosive power; it provides the most significant boost to Power Attack and Strength-type battle spirit masters.

Unfortunately, Ning Rongrong's level was currently too low, and coupled with his own pure agility-based path, a twenty-percent power boost would have a negligible effect on his combat prowess.

Against this type of gemstone-like spirit beast, if you can't break its defense, you still can't break it.

Although the Fluorite Iridescent Deer had strong defense, its underbelly was its weak point. Tang Yin's intention was to bait it into exposing its belly, then strike for a one-hit kill.

"Better than nothing, I suppose," Tang Yin muttered subconsciously.

"What did you say!" Because she was standing close, Ning Rongrong heard Tang Yin's mutter and was instantly displeased.

"Twenty percent is not a small amount! Besides, my first spirit skill can improve along with the number of my spirit rings. Once I reach level seventy, a Spirit Saint, I can increase a spirit master's strength by eighty percent!"

Saying this, Ning Rongrong lifted her chin, full of pride, looking as if he didn't know a treasure when he saw one.

Tang Yin raised an eyebrow, then feigned surprise: "Whoa, it's that powerful?"

"Hmph!" Ning Rongrong crossed her arms and turned her face away, but then, with a serious expression, she opened her hands. As a brilliant light shone, a small pagoda radiating seven-colored light hovered above her palm.

"Seven Treasures Famous One: Power!"

A yellow spirit ring circled Ning Rongrong's body, and then a ray of light covered Tang Yin. Tang Yin felt a warm current spread throughout his body, followed by a surge of mental clarity.

"How is it? Not bad, right? Do you feel like you could kill a cow with one punch?"

"Sorry, I spoke a bit too loudly just now. My apologies." Tang Yin clenched his fist and felt that his strength had indeed increased slightly, but as he had expected, it had little impact on the coming battle. Still, he gave a perfunctory reply.

Hearing this, Ning Rongrong pretended to be angry and turned her face away again, but the corners of her mouth, which she couldn't suppress from curling upward, showed she was in a good mood.

"You know it. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is the number one auxiliary sect on the continent. If you latch onto my thigh, I guarantee you'll be eating well and living well in the future."

Tang Yin said no more. He executed the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, his figure darting out like a swallow, silently slipping into the valley.

He did not attack directly, but instead picked up a crystal shard from the ground and tossed it gently beside the Fluorite Iridescent Deer.

"Clang—"

The crystal hit the ground, and the Fluorite Iridescent Deer alertly raised its head, though its body remained prone.

This was its instinct; it would never expose its belly without confirming the location of an enemy.

"Projection."

Tang Yin whispered in his heart. The Gan Jiang longsword appeared in his hand, and he circled around a rock to approach from the side, slashing at its neck.

"Ding!"

It was merely a probing attack, so Tang Yin retreated instantly after the strike.

Although it was a probe, he had still used fifty percent of his strength.

Just as he had expected, his attack did nothing more than knock a few crystal shavings off the Fluorite Iridescent Deer, causing it no real harm.

Yoe~ Yoe~

Suddenly attacked, the Fluorite Iridescent Deer curled its body up, finally looking toward Tang Yin, who stood holding his sword not far away.

Yoe~ Yoe~

Another annoyed deer cry followed, but due to its gentle nature, its next action was not to attack, but to stare at Tang Yin in defense while confirming his position. Tang Yin also waited quietly on the spot.

At this moment, it was a test of patience. As long as the Fluorite Iridescent Deer did not expose its belly, he would not attack. With those three protecting him from the shadows, he was not afraid that the battle here would attract other spirit beasts.

For a time, the atmosphere in the arena grew quiet, while Ning Rongrong, observing from behind a rock not far away, felt the loss of spirit power within her body and grew somewhat anxious.

"Lan Yin, what are you doing? Once my soul power is exhausted, the power amplification will deactivate!"

Her first soul skill's amplification effect had no time limit, but it continuously drained her soul power; not knowing Tang Yin's battle plan, she was naturally anxious.

At this moment, she also realized she had been careless. In the past, she had always teamed up with people she knew well from the sect, so she was naturally clear about everyone's abilities and never needed to make any preparations before a fight.

Yet, she knew nothing about Lan Yin's abilities, and she had only just learned what his martial soul was during the battle moments ago.

"This little girl Rongrong has finally learned a lesson this time!" On the cliff above the valley, Sword Douluo curled his lips as he watched Ning Rongrong's panicked expression, a hint of schadenfreude appearing on his usually cold and stern face.

"Hmph! To team up with someone without first understanding their martial soul and abilities—does she still think she's in the sect?" Ning Fengzhi's expression was unsightly.

In the past, within the sect, those disciples would all fawn over Ning Rongrong, leaving her with nothing to worry about; whenever there were soul master duels in the sect, she would simply cast her amplification soul skills and watch the show from the sidelines.

"We can't blame it all on Rongrong. Doesn't that boy named Lan Yin have any fault?" Bone Douluo's face was gloomy as he defended his little princess Rongrong. "This is Rongrong's first time teaming up with a stranger, so it's understandable that she didn't perform well, but that boy is a level 23 Soul Grand Master—how is he acting like a greenhorn fresh out of the gate?"

"Uncle Bone, there's no need to make excuses for Rongrong at this time," Ning Fengzhi said with some helplessness. "Fortunately, we followed along this time; it's better for Rongrong to make mistakes now than in the future."

The two Douluo, Sword and Bone, nodded upon hearing this. This experience would surely let Rongrong know her own shortcomings; a support soul master must have a thorough grasp of their partner's various abilities to provide the best support strategy during a battle.

The three of them paused their conversation and continued to observe the two on the battlefield, though Bone Douluo nudged Chen Xin with his shoulder.

"This kid has a sword martial soul like you, and at an age similar to Rongrong's, he is already a level 23 Soul Grand Master. His martial soul quality must not be weak; his Innate Soul Power is at least level eight."