Battle God Ning Rongrong

However, how could Ning Rongrong, who was clutching his leg, ever allow him to do such a thing?

"No, Grandpa!"

"Hmm?"

"Sword Grandpa, you are not allowed to hurt it!"

Ning Rongrong immediately lowered her body and rubbed the little bear's head; the cub immediately squinted its eyes in a fawning manner.

Its adorable appearance instantly captured the young girl's heart.

"Grandpa, why don't we take it back as a pet?"

"Uh..."

Chen Xin's expression turned troubled; Soul Beasts were creatures always full of wild nature.

It might look harmless now, but who knew when it might suddenly go berserk?

One had to remember that Ning Rongrong was a little support-type soul master; if this bear were to lash out, she would have no ability to resist whatsoever.

"Rongrong, be good. This Soul Beast is too dangerous to keep by your side."

"Grandpa promises not to kill it, so how about we just let it go?"

Ning Rongrong pursed her lips, clearly understanding Chen Xin's concerns.

She looked at the little bear on her leg with some reluctance.

Seeming to sense the impending separation, the little bear shed tears in great sorrow.

At this, Ning Rongrong was completely unable to walk away.

"Sword Grandpa, look at how pitiful it is. It definitely won't hurt anyone, can't we take it back?"

Chen Xin glared at the little bear with a grim expression. This glare was significant, as he suddenly discovered that the little bear's claws were a bright, metallic gold.

Chen Xin's expression instantly shifted to one of astonishment.

"A Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear?"

"Ah?"

"What is a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, Grandpa?"

"The absolute king among bear-type Soul Beasts. Don't be fooled by this tiny size; ordinary thousand-year Soul Beasts are no match for it."

"Hiss, this silly thing is that powerful?"

Chen Xin nodded, his expression turning serious as his muscles began to tense.

The presence of a bear cub meant that there was a high probability of one or two adult Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears nearby.

Those were existences comparable to Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts; even he had to be cautious.

"Rongrong, be good. It's dangerous here, let's leave quickly."

Hearing that the grandfather and granddaughter were about to leave, the little bear gripped Ning Rongrong's limbs even tighter.

It wore an expression that said no matter how they tried to drive it away, it wouldn't leave.

The shameless display made Chen Xin laugh in spite of his anger, but he was now basically certain that this Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear would not hurt anyone.

Otherwise, given the characteristics of the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear recorded in texts, it should have launched an attack the moment it appeared.

"What a clingy little beast. Fine, we'll take it back for now!"

"Yay!"

Having received permission, Ning Rongrong excitedly crouched down to pick up the little bear.

But to her surprise, despite having just broken through to the rank of Soul Grand Master, she couldn't even lift the creature.

"So... so heavy!"

"Nonsense, once a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear reaches adulthood, its fur is comparable to tempered steel. How could it not be heavy?"

Chen Xin raised an eyebrow, then used his soul power to lift both the girl and the beast, quickly flying toward the edge of the forest.

He had no desire to remain in place and face an adult Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.

This type of Soul Beast had virtually no natural predators on the entire continent, and even humans were reluctant to provoke them.

If one were to ask why, given the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's incredibly powerful bloodline, Battle Soul Masters didn't hunt them for soul rings?

Spending the effort required to deal with a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast just to obtain a ten-thousand-year soul ring—were they out of their minds?

In Soul Hunting Town, Lu Xian, who had been monitoring the development of the situation from beginning to end through the bear's perspective, revealed a knowing smile.

The "Fifth Worker" plan had completed its most critical step; all that remained was to gain the little girl's trust.

Upon returning to the sect, Bone Douluo and Ning Fengzhi were both so astonished by the hundred-year-old Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear before them that their jaws dropped.

"Absolutely not, this is too dangerous."

"Rongrong, you don't need to make that face. No means no."

What is a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear? If this creature reached a thousand-year cultivation level, even someone like Ning Fengzhi would be left waiting for death on the spot.

Let alone Ning Rongrong, a mere Soul Grand Master.

Seeing that her coquetry was ineffective, Ning Rongrong pointed at the little bear, who was currently focused entirely on devouring its meal, with an expression of utter disbelief.

"Do you see this looking like something that would hurt people?"

"I don't care, I want to keep it."

"Father, you keep your cat-girls, and I'll keep my little bear; we won't get in each other's way."

Ning Fengzhi, who was only thinking of his daughter's safety, was so angered by the little girl that he trembled, raising his palm as if to scare her.

But the moment Ning Fengzhi raised his hand, the little bear in the center of the hall immediately dropped the roasted lamb leg in its paws and dashed in front of Ning Rongrong with lightning speed.

It opened its mouth and roared at Ning Fengzhi, its protective stance leaving Ning Fengzhi, Sword, and Bone stunned.

"Heehee, my little bear even knows how to protect me?"

"Unlike some people who only say 'don't do this' and 'don't do that'!"

Ning Fengzhi could only awkwardly lower his raised hand to scratch his nose.

After a moment of thought, he said:

"Fine then, if you want to keep it, keep it, but do be careful."

"That's great!"

Clearly, the bear's protective nature had convinced Ning Fengzhi, Sword, and Bone.

They had not expected the little girl to have such an encounter during her soul-hunting trip.

Having just acquired a new adorable pet, Ning Rongrong was inseparable from it, even moving the little bear's bed into her own room.

It slept right by her bedside at night.

Perhaps because of the adorable pet guarding her side, Ning Rongrong slept exceptionally soundly.

Quietly, she felt a fleshy sensation atop her head.

Immediately afterward, her consciousness entered an ancient battlefield, in the center of a desolate wasteland.

A giant, dozens of meters tall with bear claws, was locked in a life-and-death struggle with massive beasts.

Wherever the bright golden bear claws swept, they were invincible, tearing every beast into shreds.

It was unknown how much time had passed before the war slowly subsided.

And there were no living creatures left beside the giant.

Seeing the giant slowly fall into a deep slumber, Ning Rongrong gathered her courage and quietly walked before it.

Perhaps having discovered Ning Rongrong's arrival, the giant wearily opened one eye.

It glanced at her with extreme lethargy.

"Little girl, do you wish to accept the inheritance of the Battle God?"

"Battle... Battle God?"

"Fight with men, fight with beasts, fight with gods; the joy is endless!"

"Then after accepting the inheritance, can I also become a god?"

"Hahaha, that is only natural; ascend to the peak through struggle."

"Remember, girl, do not tarnish the prestige of the Battle God."

The giant transformed into a streak of dark golden light, plunging straight into the center of Ning Rongrong's brow.

Ning Rongrong, who had been sleeping soundly, woke up with a start, gasping for air as she rose and went to the mirror in her room.

On her previously smooth forehead, a divine claw-mark pattern had emerged.

"Was it really just a dream?"

"If it was a dream, where did this come from?"

Just as Ning Rongrong fell into self-doubt, a heavy voice suddenly echoed in her mind.

"Ninety-Nine Trials of the Battle God, First Trial: Robust Physique."

"To become the Battle God, one cannot succeed without a qualified physique."

"Run three laps around the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Time limit: one day."

The smile on Ning Rongrong's face had barely formed before it instantly froze.

"Hey, hey... I'm a support-type!"

"And do you have any idea how big the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is?"

"Three laps is nearly 60 kilometers!"

"Don't just go silent, you bastard! Who just issues a quest and then runs off?"