"Just as expected of a Thousand-Year Soul Skill. It's truly powerful."
"Xiao Xuan, the destructive power of your First Soul Skill even surpasses that of an ordinary Soul Master's Fourth Soul Skill."
Yue Guan said with satisfaction, then continued:
"Wait, something's not right!"
"If the Nine Nether Evil God Tiger can devour blood essence and souls, converting them into its own Soul Power, you should have risen by more than just two levels."
Hearing this, Qin Xuan laughed awkwardly.
"Just as expected of Elder Chrysanthemum. You really are meticulous."
"Although my Evil Emperor Hook can plunder every aspect of an opponent's abilities, it still needs time to refine them."
"Right now, the Shadow Mantis's energy is residing in the other-dimensional space inside the Nine Nether Evil God Tiger."
"With my current Soul Power, I need three days and three nights to refine all of its energy."
"Once I've finished refining it, I'll still be able to rise another level."
"I see!" Yue Guan nodded in sudden understanding, then regained his composure and said:
"Xiao Xuan, are you going to rest and recover first, or..."
Before Yue Guan could finish, Qin Xuan cut him off.
"Elder Chrysanthemum, there's no time to lose. Let's go hunt a second Soul Beast."
"Good!" Yue Guan replied, wasting no time. He immediately released his spiritual power, covering an area dozens of kilometers in every direction.
As an elder of the Spirit Hall, he had many responsibilities.
He didn't want to waste too much time in the Star Dou Great Forest, either.
But finding a second Soul Beast this time took quite a while.
Yue Guan furrowed his brows. With a flash, he transformed into a golden streak of light and flew high into the sky.
Looking up,
one could just make out the golden figure constantly changing direction.
Qin Xuan stood below, keeping his focus and tracking Yue Guan's position at all times.
After all, with a Titled Douluo helping him hunt a Soul Beast, there wasn't much he could do himself.
At the same time, he couldn't help feeling fortunate that he'd met Qian Renxue in that little alley.
If not for that, forget awakening his Martial Soul—
even surviving that cold night would have been a fifty-fifty chance.
In truth, Yue Guan had found the Shadow Mantis so quickly earlier purely through luck.
There were plenty of dark and evil Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest.
But finding a thousand-year Soul Beast that was just right for Qin Xuan to absorb was no easy task.
After a long while, Yue Guan finally spoke:
"Xiao Xuan, I've found a Holy Demon Iron Rhino with three thousand years of cultivation. I wonder if you can withstand the Soul Ring's energy?"
Hearing this, Qin Xuan fell into thought:
The Holy Demon Iron Rhino has three attributes: evil, darkness, and defense. Its Soul Skill should be an enhancement-type skill, so it really is very suitable for me.
After absorbing my First Soul Ring, my body's resilience has already risen to a new level. I might be able to absorb a three-thousand-year Soul Ring after all!
After quickly weighing the pros and cons, he replied, "No problem!"
"The Holy Demon Iron Rhino is more than fifty kilometers away. We absolutely can't let the beast get away!"
"Xiao Xuan, I'll take you there!"
"Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar!"
As Yue Guan spoke, a gigantic golden flower took shape behind him.
The golden flower spun lightly, then drifted in front of Qin Xuan.
The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum was over ten meters in diameter and glimmered brilliantly. Each of its petals was as sharp as a blade.
At the center of the flower was a pale golden barrier, and Yue Guan stood atop it.
Although the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum was a plant-type Martial Soul, its resilience and sharpness were hardly inferior to those of a weapon-type Martial Soul.
Without a word, Qin Xuan leaped beside Yue Guan.
The moment he steadied himself, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum shot toward the distance as fast as lightning.
Bang!
A piercing roar split the air.
In less than ten minutes, the two had reached the sky above the Holy Demon Iron Rhino.
The Holy Demon Iron Rhino was six meters long, its entire body covered in purple armor. It was drinking beside a stream.
Though the Soul Beast was huge and looked clumsy, it was exceptionally cautious.
They had barely arrived when the Holy Demon Iron Rhino sensed the immense pressure coming from above.
It turned its head and saw Yue Guan's imposing presence. Without hesitation, it spun around and fled deep into the woods.
"Could the Holy Demon Iron Rhino have a whole herd?"
Seeing it make straight for the marsh, Qin Xuan couldn't help asking.
"Mm..." Yue Guan nodded slightly and replied calmly:
"It's said the leader of the Holy Demon Iron Rhinos is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, though it rarely appears in the forest."
"The Holy Demon Rhino King is so absorbed in cultivating that very few Soul Masters know how strong it is."
"Now that I think of it, that marsh is probably the Holy Demon Rhino King's territory. Otherwise, why would this beast run there without looking back, as if it had found a lifeline?"
With that,
he snapped his fingers.
The enormous Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum immediately shot out over a hundred golden-glowing petals, sending them flying toward the Holy Demon Iron Rhino.
Despite fleeing at full speed, the Holy Demon Iron Rhino was traveling at an astonishing ninety kilometers per hour, far faster than an ordinary thousand-year Soul Beast.
But fast as it was, the golden petals were faster!
In just a few breaths, the petals surrounded the Holy Demon Iron Rhino in a circle, then flew at it from every direction.
Seeing it couldn't dodge, the Holy Demon Iron Rhino stopped and its horn blazed with dazzling black light.
A moment later,
a semicircular black energy shield enveloped its entire body.
Bang—
A series of impacts rang out.
The dark energy shield couldn't hold for more than five seconds before spiderweb-like cracks appeared across it.
Just as the shield was about to shatter, red light blazed across the Holy Demon Iron Rhino's body. Its aura surged, rising to rival that of a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast!
"You wretched beast, you're willing to go that far—you're burning your blood essence to increase your cultivation for a short time."
Yue Guan sneered, his expression full of contempt.
At the same time, the Holy Demon Iron Rhino suddenly roared at the sky, a layer of red light surging around it.
The light sent the dozens of remaining petals nearby flying in every direction.
It shook its enormous head, then charged toward the marsh again.
"It actually withstood a Titled Douluo's attack. This Holy Demon Iron Rhino really is powerful." Qin Xuan was stunned, and a shiver of fear ran through him.
If I had to face this Holy Demon Iron Rhino alone, I'd be done for!
The Holy Demon Iron Rhino was less than five hundred meters from the marsh. Yue Guan's face turned icy as he said calmly:
"You really are desperate to stay alive, you wretched beast!"
"But the more afraid you are of dying, the less I'll let you escape!"
"Fifth Soul Skill, Gathering of Cold Blossoms!"
As soon as he spoke,
Yue Guan, who had been standing beside Qin Xuan, vanished.
In the next instant, he appeared a hundred meters away, blocking the Holy Demon Iron Rhino's path.
At the same time, a three-meter-wide Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum formed in his left hand.
The Holy Demon Iron Rhino hurriedly met it with its hardest weapon, its horn.
With a thunderous bang,
the horn was instantly split in two by the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.
Then, like a kite with its string cut, the Holy Demon Iron Rhino flew a full five zhang before crashing heavily to the ground.
Before you continue