"I might very well explode and die."
Bibi Dong fell silent for a long time, then slowly uttered those words.
"Exactly."
Ban Shu's expression grew serious too. "That's the problem we need to solve right now: the issue with Twin Martial Souls."
"But what are we supposed to do?"
Bibi Dong looked up at Ban Shu, her face a little pale. She didn't want to end up like those predecessors.
"Don't worry, Sister Dong'er."
Ban Shu put an arm around her shoulders. "Since your little brother brought up this problem, there must be a way to solve it."
"Really?"
"Of course. You have to trust me."
Ban Shu patted his chest. "The flaw of Twin Martial Souls being impossible to balance won't show up until later. Before level fifty, there won't be any serious problems, so take it easy."
"All right, then."
Bibi Dong nodded, and her heart settled—for now.
"Okay, it's getting late. Hurry up and go to bed. We have training tomorrow."
Ban Shu yawned, preparing to see her out before going to rest.
Just then, Bibi Dong suddenly took his hand. "Um, how about we sleep together tonight?"
"Huh? I don't mind."
Ban Shu nodded unconcernedly, turned around, and lay down on the bed.
Bibi Dong slowly lay down beside him too, wrapped her arms around his, and drifted off to sleep.
Time flew by, and before long, the day to hunt for a Soul Ring arrived.
This time, Qian Xunji brought someone Ban Shu hadn't expected.
"Xiao Ban, Dong'er, let me introduce you. This is Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Second Worship of the Worship Hall. He's come along today to help us hunt a Soul Ring for you."
"Greetings, Your Holiness Golden Crocodile."
Ban Shu and Bibi Dong immediately bowed.
"Ah, there's no need to be so formal. Just call me Grandpa Golden Crocodile. Don't be so stiff."
Usually stern and serious, Golden Crocodile Douluo now wore a kind expression as he faced the two of them, his tone friendly and approachable.
He had wanted to meet them for a long time. He rarely ever left the hall, spending all his time there on guard.
The main reason he'd personally come out to help Ban Shu hunt for a Soul Ring was to see for himself what the boy was like—and to provide an extra measure of protection.
Ultimately, though, he was just too bored and wanted to get out for a stroll.
The journey from Spirit Hall to the Star Dou Great Forest took more than half a day. By the time they arrived, it was already afternoon.
No one stopped to rest. They entered the forest at once and began looking for Soul Beasts for Ban Shu.
"Teacher, Grandpa Golden Crocodile, I already decided yesterday what kind of Soul Beast I want."
Hearing this, Qian Xunji felt like testing him. "Oh? Then tell us what you have in mind."
"Here's what I'm thinking."
Ban Shu laid out his plans for the future in full. "I think that if I absorb Soul Rings this way, I should be much stronger than an ordinary Soul Master."
"Hmm..."
Golden Crocodile Douluo thought it over briefly, then nodded. "Xiao Ban, what you're saying makes sense. Get enhancement skills from your first five Soul Rings, then go for attack-type Soul Skills afterward."
"That way, you'll have an absolute advantage when fighting Soul Masters of the same rank in the future."
"Exactly. Once Soul Masters reach a certain level, their first few Soul Skills are practically useless. This approach would let you draw out their full potential."
Qian Xunji agreed with Ban Shu's idea. "Besides, with us around, almost no one would dare lay a hand on you before you've grown up. Good. Let's do it."
"Mm."
Seeing that both men agreed, Ban Shu took out the list he'd made the day before. "These are the Soul Beasts I carefully picked out as suitable for me."
"Good. Let's start looking for the Soul Beasts on this list."
Golden Crocodile Douluo took the paper and released his spiritual power, beginning to search for Soul Beasts.
"There's one more thing, Teacher."
Ban Shu paused, then continued, "For my second Soul Ring, I want to try for a thousand-year one."
He said it calmly, as if it were a trivial matter.
But those words immediately made Qian Xunji uneasy.
"What?"
Qian Xunji furrowed his brow and rejected the idea without hesitation. "Absolutely not, Xiao Ban. A thousand-year Soul Ring is no joke."
"I know you took Whale Rubber, but a thousand-year Soul Ring is on a completely different level from a hundred-year one. You're only at level twenty, and you want to leap that far beyond the limit? You're being too hasty."
"You have extraordinary talent and such a detailed plan for the future. You can't stumble here."
Bibi Dong tried to talk him out of it too. "That's right, Xiao Ban. This is no joke. One little mistake and you're done for!"
"Teacher, Sister, I have faith in myself."
Ban Shu shook his head, his voice unwavering. "Teacher, have you forgotten? My Martial Soul is special. Back then, even without Whale Rubber, I absorbed a seven-hundred-year Soul Ring through my own strength alone."
"I believe that now, even a thousand-year Soul Ring won't be beyond me."
"..."
Just then, Golden Crocodile Douluo, who had been silent for a long while, spoke up. "Ji'er, in that case, let him give it a try."
"This... all right."
In the end, Qian Xunji nodded in agreement. Though he didn't want to admit it, deep down he believed Ban Shu might actually pull it off.
The four of them continued deeper into the forest, searching for a Soul Beast.
After searching for about an hour, they finally found a suitable one.
A mountain cave stood nearby. It was damp and dark inside, but farther in, they could see a faint yellow glow.
A few steps farther in, they spotted a creature resembling a hound, lying motionless with its eyes closed.
Its fur stood on end in jagged, irregular lightning-bolt shapes. Two of its teeth jutted outward like a saber-toothed tiger's.
Most distinctive of all, two long, ribbon-like appendages extended from its back.
The sound of Ban Shu and the others entering the cave had already alerted the Soul Beast. Its ears stood upright, yellow lightning crackled through its fur, and it growled continuously in warning.
Unfortunately, to Qian Xunji and Golden Crocodile Douluo, it looked no more threatening than a kitten hissing.
"The Thunder-Charging Beast has tremendous attack power. It can unleash terrifying strength in a short time. At five hundred years, it can already overpower Soul Beasts around a thousand years old. It's one of my top choices."
Ban Shu carefully studied the Soul Beast before him. "The two lightning ribbons on its back are its strongest weapons. Judging by its size and the length of those ribbons, it's about twelve hundred years old."
"Teacher, this is the one."
Ban Shu looked at Qian Xunji, who hesitated for a moment before nodding.
The Thunder-Charging Beast seemed to sense the danger Qian Xunji posed. The fur on its body began to flash with lightning, and its aura instantly doubled. Then it sprang at him.
Unfortunately, no matter how powerful it was, it was still only a thousand-year Soul Beast. Qian Xunji didn't even summon his Martial Soul. He casually struck it with one palm, knocking it unconscious.
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