One Year Later, Obtaining the Third Soul Ring

Walking back to the Pope Palace, Qian Xunji looked at the broad smiles on the faces of Ban Shu and Bibi Dong and helplessly patted both of their heads.

"Happy now?"

"Mm-hmm!"

The two nodded rapidly; anyone would be happy to receive so many good things at once.

"You two, these items were given by the elders to encourage you. Do not get carried away; you must continue to cultivate diligently, understand?"

"Yes, Teacher, we understand!"

Qian Xunji walked ahead with his hands behind his back: "Since that is the case, let us go. Don't forget, Xiao Ban, you must reach level thirty before Golden Crocodile Douluo will take you to the ruins."

"Understood!"

Time flew like an arrow, and before they knew it, a year had passed.

At this moment, inside the Pope Palace, a boy and a girl stood still—they were none other than the now-grown Ban Shu and Bibi Dong.

After a year of growth and development, both of them had changed significantly.

Ban Shu was more mature than before; his features had become increasingly handsome, and his stature had grown tall, surpassing his elder sister, Bibi Dong.

As for Bibi Dong, after a year, she had grown further from the young girl she once was.

Girls develop early, and Bibi Dong had shed her childishness; her curves were more defined, and she was becoming increasingly mature and graceful.

During this time, the two had been cultivating in Spirit Hall. In just one year, Ban Shu had broken through consecutively, reaching the cultivation level of a level thirty Spirit Sect.

Bibi Dong had also reached the Spirit Sect level, and both were just one spirit ring away from advancing.

Inside the grand hall, Ban Shu and Bibi Dong bowed respectfully: "Disciples pay respects to Teacher."

Qian Xunji looked up, gazing at the two disciples who made him proud with a gratified expression: "Xiao Ban, Dong'er, you have arrived? How is your cultivation now?"

"Teacher."

Ban Shu straightened his posture: "I have reached level thirty and am only one spirit ring away from advancing."

"Teacher, I have also reached the Spirit Sect level, and I am likewise one spirit ring away from advancing."

Bibi Dong raised her hand and said.

Hearing this, Qian Xunji stood up, walked before them, and nodded with satisfaction: "Not bad. To reach such a cultivation level at such a young age, Teacher is proud of you."

"This is nothing, Teacher."

Ban Shu stood tall, his gaze fixed on Qian Xunji: "It is all thanks to your excellent guidance."

"Hahaha."

Qian Xunji shook his head with a smile: "I did not do much; I merely provided you with the resources you deserved. Tomorrow morning, we shall set off for the Star Dou Great Forest to find your spirit rings."

"Yes."

The next morning, led by Qian Xunji, the group of four—Golden Crocodile Douluo, Ban Shu, and Bibi Dong—entered the Star Dou Great Forest, just as they had years ago.

Upon entering the forest, the first task was to find a suitable spirit ring for Bibi Dong.

As the current master of theoretical knowledge, Ban Shu had long since researched the spirit rings he and Bibi Dong should acquire next.

The greatest characteristic of the Death Spider Emperor was its immortality; it was extremely difficult to kill. Therefore, Ban Shu suggested that this spirit soul should focus on defense and recovery, while the Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor should focus on offense.

Switching between offense and defense, they would be invincible.

Bibi Dong, the little academic slacker, naturally followed Ban Shu's orders. Her fourth spirit ring target was a spirit beast called the Thorn Poison Scorpion.

This spirit beast did not hunt using a poisonous stinger on its tail like ordinary scorpions; instead, it relied on the half-meter-long poisonous thorns covering its entire body to hunt by reflecting damage onto its enemies.

Furthermore, this spirit beast could change its color to camouflage itself, making it a master assassin.

Thus, the spirit beast's usual habit was to wait for a stroke of luck among the rocks, waiting for some unlucky soul to step on it before it would start its meal.

Following the habits of this spirit beast, the group searched near the valleys and rocky areas. Under the powerful spiritual perception of the two Title Douluo, Qian Xunji and Golden Crocodile Douluo, they soon found a lead.

"Dong'er, look."

Qian Xunji pointed toward the rocky, rugged mountain terrain ahead: "It is right there."

"?"

Bibi Dong squinted, looking carefully at the rocky ground, but she could not see any traces of the spirit beast.

"Since Teacher said so, it must be correct."

Ban Shu could not see anything in the rocks either, but he had a cheat.

"Sharingan, activate!"

Ban Shu closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, a single tomoe was spinning in each of his eyes.

"Xiao Ban, what is this?"

Qian Xunji and Golden Crocodile Douluo looked at Ban Shu's eyes in surprise; they felt a powerful spiritual energy emanating from them.

"Teacher, this is the energy I awakened earlier. It can significantly enhance my vision and spiritual power; you could consider it a secondary awakening of my martial soul."

Ban Shu opened his Sharingan and looked over. Sure enough, he discovered traces: "Right there, between those two protruding boulders!"

"Look at the rings on its back. It's about six thousand years old; it can be absorbed."

Qian Xunji gave Ban Shu an appreciative look, then stepped forward, activated his martial soul, and dispatched the Thorn Poison Scorpion in a few swift moves.

Although it possessed damage reflection, Qian Xunji had long-range capabilities; as long as he avoided melee combat, it was fine.

"Dong'er, hurry and absorb it. Aim for the gaps in its armor."

Bibi Dong nodded, summoned her Death Spider Emperor, extended its sharp spider legs, and without hesitation, pierced them into the gaps of the thorns.

As the potent venom entered its body, the Thorn Poison Scorpion struggled and twitched a few times before it breathed its last.

Once the soul ring rose, Bibi Dong sat cross-legged and began the absorption process.

Although it was painful at first, Bibi Dong's expression soon calmed, and the absorption proceeded exceptionally smoothly.

After a few hours, Bibi Dong finally opened her eyes and stood up excitedly.

"I succeeded!"

Bibi Dong's fourth soul skill was named Thorn Armor. It generated a suit of armor covered in poisonous spikes around her body without hindering her speed, providing formidable defense.

"Heh heh, next up is Xiao Ban."

Qian Xunji looked at the sky: "The sun is setting. Let's rest for the night and continue the search tomorrow."

The night passed without incident...

The next morning, after the group finished breakfast, they headed toward the west side of the Star Dou Forest.

"Ban Shu, what kind of soul ring are you actually looking to obtain this time?"

On the way to find the soul beast, Bibi Dong asked curiously.

"Well..."

Ban Shu spread out the book in his hands: "What I need to find is this: the Demon-Devouring Mosquito."

"Ah? A mosquito?"

Bibi Dong looked at the picture in the book with a look of disgust: "How can there be such a disgusting soul beast?"

"The world is vast, and there are all sorts of wonders; soul beasts are no exception."

Ban Shu smiled and closed the book: "But you're right about one thing—this type of soul beast is extremely annoying; even other soul beasts loathe them."

"That's why they are forced to stay away from common soul beast tribes and live in the corners of the forest."

"Eww~"

Imagining a mosquito several meters large buzzing in front of her made Bibi Dong's skin crawl.

"What kind of abilities does this thing actually have?"