Xiao Yin Profits, First Spirit Ring!

In the shadows behind a boulder, Xiao Yin observed the battle like a hunter.

The Golden-Armored Earth Dragon possessed unparalleled defense and terrifying strength, but speed was its weakness, and its injuries were worsening.

The Nether Shadow Leopard was lightning-fast and attacked from tricky angles, but its defense was weaker. After taking several heavy blows from the earth dragon, its movements were clearly no longer as agile as before.

Ten minutes later, the battle reached its climax.

The Nether Shadow Leopard used its speed advantage to feint again and again, draining the Golden-Armored Earth Dragon's stamina.

Finally, it seized an opening when the Golden-Armored Earth Dragon turned slightly too slowly. It pounced from the side and rear, its sharp claws viciously raking toward the junction of the earth dragon's neck!

"Roar—!"

The Golden-Armored Earth Dragon let out a pained roar. The scales on its neck shattered, and blood sprayed wildly!

But the Golden-Armored Earth Dragon was no pushover. Its enormous head snapped sideways, and its hard horn savagely rammed into the waist and abdomen of the pouncing Nether Shadow Leopard!

Crack!

A bone-breaking sound that made teeth ache rang out!

The Nether Shadow Leopard let out a miserable shriek. Its body was sent flying like a ragged sack, smashing heavily against a distant cliff wall.

Blood gushed wildly from its waist and abdomen. From the looks of it, Xiao Yin estimated that it would not survive.

"Damn. That was brutal."

The Golden-Armored Earth Dragon was not doing much better either. Its wound was deep enough to expose bone, its aura rapidly weakening as its body swayed unsteadily.

But it had won!

It let out a victorious growl, its yellow-green eyes greedily fixed on the Purple Heart Jade Bone Orchid within reach.

As long as it ate it, it could break through the thousand-year bottleneck!

Now!

A cold gleam flashed from Xiao Yin's eyes!

This was his only chance!

Xiao Yin shot out from his hiding place like an arrow loosed from the bow!

Yet his target was not the Golden-Armored Earth Dragon, but the Purple Heart Jade Bone Orchid!

Sure enough, the Golden-Armored Earth Dragon was instantly alerted!

When it saw Xiao Yin rushing toward the spirit plant, boundless fury erupted from its yellow-green eyes!

Damn it!

I risked my life to win that prize, and this insignificant insect dares covet it?!

Ignoring its grievous injuries, it roared, dragging its battered body as it opened its massive jaws and lunged straight at Xiao Yin!

Though its speed had greatly diminished, the momentum of its desperate final counterattack was still terrifying!

However, the instant the Golden-Armored Earth Dragon lunged, a mocking curve rose at the corner of Xiao Yin's mouth.

"Idiot."

His charging body abruptly halted, and in an instant, he appeared at the Golden-Armored Earth Dragon's side!

[Flash Talisman (Single-Use Talisman)]: 20 Wish Value. Effect: Teleport to a designated location (distance cannot exceed 10 meters).

At the same time, the ferocious might of Xiao Yin's Taotie Martial Soul, which he had kept suppressed all this time, erupted without restraint!

"Roar—!!!"

An ancient, primordial roar more terrifying than any before exploded behind him!

The Taotie phantom with a dragon's head and a sheep's body instantly became several times more solid. Though it was still illusory, its savage, world-devouring pressure slammed fiercely into the Golden-Armored Earth Dragon's soul!

"Whimper!"

The Golden-Armored Earth Dragon's killing lunge instantly froze stiff!

Its yellow-green eyes were filled with endless terror and blankness!

At this critical moment, a sharp gleam flashed through Xiao Yin's eyes as he raised his dagger high!

Dark Soul Power coated it!

"Die!"

Squelch—!

With a piercing tearing sound, the Hundred-Refined Steel dagger purchased for 5 Wish Value viciously plunged deep into the massive wound on the Golden-Armored Earth Dragon's neck!

"Aoo—!!!"

The Golden-Armored Earth Dragon let out an earth-shaking scream, filled with pain and unwillingness!

Its enormous body convulsed and struggled violently, but with its neck's vital point severely damaged and its soul cowed by Taotie's pressure, its struggle was futile.

After succeeding with one strike, Xiao Yin immediately retreated and coldly watched the dying spirit beast.

The Golden-Armored Earth Dragon's vitality was exceptionally tenacious. It struggled for nearly a minute before finally crashing to the ground amid unbearable agony!

Then, a deep and brilliant Spirit Ring, already tinged with purple, slowly rose from its corpse!

"This is... a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring!"

Xiao Yin hurriedly suppressed Taotie's devouring desire and exclaimed in surprise!

He had not expected that, at the moment of its death, the Golden-Armored Earth Dragon had actually become a genuine Thousand-Year Soul Beast!

Looking at the purple Thousand-Year Spirit Ring before him that radiated powerful fluctuations, Xiao Yin's eyes burned with desire!

"Though the Golden-Armored Earth Dragon does not even count as a lesser dragon species, it still carries a trace of dragon blood.

"And in a confined place like Soul Hunting Forest, even Thousand-Year Soul Beasts are rare. This Spirit Ring is just right!"

Normally, the limit for a person's first Spirit Ring was 423 years, while the limit for the second Spirit Ring was generally 764 years.

But clearly, Xiao Yin was not normal!

With his current Level 20 Soul Power, combined with the strengthening of his physical body from the energy fed back by devouring spirit beasts over the past few days,

he was certain that he could absolutely endure this purple Thousand-Year Spirit Ring as his First Spirit Ring!

Without further hesitation, Xiao Yin immediately sat down cross-legged.

Guided by the devouring power of the Taotie Martial Soul, the Thousand-Year Spirit Ring glowing purple slowly descended and precisely settled around his body.

In an instant, a tyrannical force exploded within him. Agonizing pain like his meridians were being torn apart spread through his blood to every limb and bone!

"Urgh—ah!"

Xiao Yin let out a low roar, veins bulging on his forehead, yet there was a clearly restrained excitement on his face.

Information about a powerful soul skill was branded deep into his soul along with the Spirit Ring's fusion!

[Soul Skill: Iron Chewer!]

Effect: Both arms are covered in illusory scales and sharp teeth condensed from the power of Taotie. When attacking an opponent, it can devour 10% of the target's vitality and blood to replenish the user!

The pain of the Spirit Ring's fusion and the impact of its energy lasted for a full half hour.

When everything calmed, Xiao Yin slowly opened his eyes. A sharp light burst from them like an unsheathed sword!

An aura far more powerful than before spread from his body.

First Spirit Ring!

Purple Thousand-Year!

"First Soul Skill: Iron Chewer!"

As Xiao Yin circulated his Soul Power, a purple Spirit Ring emerged beneath his feet. Immediately afterward, arm guards covered in dense, vicious scales and phantom fangs appeared around both arms!

"Attacking restores health... isn't this basically a Blood Drinking Sword?"

Ever thrifty, Xiao Yin did not waste anything. He thoroughly drained the remaining essence of flesh and blood from both the Golden-Armored Earth Dragon and the Nether Shadow Leopard.

Only then did he carefully pluck the Purple Heart Jade Bone Orchid glowing with a soft purple light and, without hesitation, place it in his mouth to chew.

"Mmm... not bad... mmm... kind of tastes like mint!"

Xiao Yin felt his mind become exceptionally clear, as though it had been cleansed.

His spiritual power surged like bamboo shoots after rain, and the range of his perception instantly expanded severalfold!

Xiao Yin stood in the valley, with the remains of two spirit beasts at his feet.

"Since my First Spirit Ring is already thousand-year, then staying in Soul Hunting Forest for my Second Spirit Ring probably won't be suitable..." he murmured.

Just as Xiao Yin planned to head to Star Dou Forest to obtain his Second Spirit Ring and break through to Soul Grandmaster—

[Ding! Extremely intense sorrowful wishes and an obsession born of loneliness detected! Task matching successful! Priority: Highest!]

[Task Source: [Douluo Continent] native plane (special task), the 'Blue Silver Emperor' whose soul is imprisoned in eternal darkness and solitude.]

[Wish Core (Soul's Lament): 'Light... so cold... so dark... Hao... where are you... take me away... leave this eternal cage...']

[Task Objective: Transfer the Blue Silver Emperor Ah Yin (main plant body) from her current place of confinement. Requirement: Her origin must not be damaged.]

[Time Limit: 24 hours.]

[Task Reward: Wish Value +500; [Blue Silver Emperor Source Dew] ×1; special passive skill [Vegetation Affinity]; the eternal gratitude of Ah Yin's remnant soul (hidden).]

[Failure Penalty: Pursued by Tang Hao to the death (karma locked).]

Xiao Yin: "..."