After thinking it over, Mu En shook his head slightly. "Back then, I was able to absorb a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast for my fourth Soul Ring only because I'd obtained a Head Soul Bone. Your spiritual power is strong, but to be safe, you should wait until your fourth Soul Ring to try."
Hearing Mu En's words, Bei Bei nodded and asked, "Are there any Soul Beasts here that would suit me?"
"There's one that's about nine thousand nine hundred years old." As Mu En spoke, he released his Soul Power, seized control of a White Armored Earth Dragon, and pulled it over in front of them.
"It has the Light Attribute. It must be a mutated White Armored Earth Dragon!" Zhang Lexuan noticed that this White Armored Earth Dragon was rather unusual.
"Exactly. I sensed its special qualities earlier. Its bloodline has reverted to its ancestral form, bringing it almost to the level of a true dragon. It's no longer a White Armored Earth Dragon—it can be called a White Armored Holy Dragon," Mu En said.
Bei Bei also noticed that the Soul Beast was extraordinary. Ordinary White Armored Earth Dragons looked like golden four-legged lizards, but this one had a pair of wings on its back and radiated pure, bright power.
"Then I'll choose it." Bei Bei was overjoyed. Its age was suitable, its attributes matched his, and its mutated bloodline had brought it close to the level of a true dragon. It was an excellent choice for his third Soul Ring.
Golden thunder wrapped around Bei Bei's arm. A Thunder Dragon Claw struck the White Armored Holy Dragon's scales, but it didn't do much damage.
"Its defense is really strong." Bei Bei began searching for a weak spot to attack, and only then managed to kill it.
A deep purple Soul Ring, faintly glimmering with black light, slowly appeared.
Bei Bei sat down nearby and began absorbing and refining it.
Several hours later, everything had gone smoothly, with no unexpected developments.
Bei Bei slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath. He couldn't help thinking that Mu En really was dependable.
He rose slowly, three purple Soul Rings shimmering and circling around him.
The Soul Ring directly raised his Soul Power by three levels. He had now reached level thirty-three and become a Soul Elder.
"Bei Bei, how's your third Soul Skill?" Zhang Lexuan asked eagerly.
The third Soul Ring beneath Bei Bei's feet flashed, and three golden phantom Coiled Dragon Shields appeared around him, circling his body.
"This is my third Soul Skill, Bright Dragon's Blessing!" Bei Bei explained. "It can withstand even an attack from a Titled Douluo. Each time it successfully blocks an attack, one shield disappears. It can even block intangible spiritual attacks. And every time I gain a Soul Ring, I get another shield."
Bei Bei continued, "Although it takes the form of shields, it provides all-around defense. The drawback is that even the weakest attack will automatically trigger the defense and consume a shield, as long as it's made with malicious intent. Of course, no one will know about that as long as I don't tell them."
"Is it similar to Invincible Golden Body?" Mu En nodded. With this defensive Soul Skill, even a powerful Titled Douluo would find it difficult to hurt Bei Bei in a short time—provided he didn't discover the skill's weakness.
The three of them took a brief rest, then continued deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest.
After several days, they found a Soul Beast suitable for Zhang Lexuan's Seventh Soul Ring. It was around eighty thousand years old.
With Mu En there, they felt completely safe. That eighty-thousand-year-old Soul Beast couldn't make a ripple.
Even if Beast God Di Tian suddenly attacked, Mu En could still get them all out safely.
Zhang Lexuan successfully hunted the Soul Beast and refined it into her Seventh Soul Ring.
After their Soul Hunting expedition, Mu En led them out of the Star Dou Great Forest. It took a day to escort them to Heaven Dou City, after which Mu En vanished from sight.
When they met up with Xuan Zi, this year's Soul Master Tournament had already officially begun.
The competition's outcome was hardly in doubt. Led by Zhang Lexuan, who had reached the Soul Saint level, Shrek Academy swept through the matches and secured victory after victory.
Unless something unexpected happened, Shrek Academy would once again claim the championship.
Since he rarely got the chance to go out, Bei Bei naturally wanted to explore the city.
The Heaven Dou Empire had split apart during the wars of years past, forming the Heaven Dou Empire and the Dou Ling Empire.
Heaven Dou City, with its history of ten thousand years, had become the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Heaven Dou City was far larger than Shrek City. After all, it was a city with a history stretching back ten thousand years.
As the capital of an empire, it had a population of ten million. Its grandeur was only to be expected.
Bei Bei was strolling along a bustling street.
Suddenly, he heard an angry young girl's voice from nearby. "That's nonsense! My Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons are the best!"
"Haha! Your decrepit sect fell into decline thousands of years ago, and you still have the nerve to bring it up?" A gruff voice rang out, dripping with contempt and mockery. "If you ask me, your Tang Sect might as well disband already!"
The moment Bei Bei heard that, his attention was caught. The Tang Sect! Hidden Weapons!
He wondered if it could be that little girl, Tang Ya!
If he remembered correctly, the Tang Sect was based right here in Heaven Dou City.
He turned and walked toward the voices.
When Bei Bei turned onto another street, he found a mansion up ahead. The sign above its gate clearly read "Tang Sect."
At the gate, a little girl was confronting several burly men.
She looked about nine years old, with a round, adorable face and long black hair tied in a ponytail behind her.
Although she was still young, it was already clear that she would grow into a graceful beauty.
It really was the Tang Sect, and that little girl had to be Tang Ya! Bei Bei remembered that before long, the Tang Sect would be wiped out by the Iron Blood Sect.
"Tie Tang, you're dreaming! The Tang Sect will never sell our ancestral property to you," Tang Ya scolded.
"Have you ever seen a sect without a single disciple? Why should the three of you occupy such a prime location?" Tie Tang sneered. "If you know what's good for you, hand over the Tang Sect's territory today, and the Iron Blood Sect might still let you live. Otherwise, don't blame us for what happens."
As he spoke, Tie Tang ordered the Iron Blood Sect disciples behind him to move in and force their way inside.
"Let's see who dares take another step." A yellow Soul Ring rose beneath Tang Ya's feet, and strands of Blue Silver Grass spread out from beneath her.
Several needle-like Hidden Weapons were tucked between her fingers, ready to fly.
"With those useless Hidden Weapons of yours, you've got the nerve to show your face?" Tie Tang continued to taunt her, utterly confident.
The Iron Blood Sect disciples behind him joined in, laughing.
"Soul Tools are the mainstream now." As Tie Tang spoke, he took out a Level Three Defensive Soul Tool and strapped it on.
"The Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons are the best!" Tang Ya shouted back. Her fingers twitched, sending several steel-needle-like Hidden Weapons shooting toward Tie Tang.