Nan Shuisui and Nan Qiuqiu

Ning Tian nodded, drew a short blade, and approached the Tyrannosaurus.

"Although it sounds hypocritical for me to say this, I am sorry."

Ning Tian pressed her palms together to apologize to the Tyrannosaurus, then plunged the blade into the back of its head, ending its life.

"Master, since the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda martial soul improves by roughly the same margin at every level, why must Ning Tian's spirit ring be locked to a Tyrannosaurus?"

Watching Ning Tian sit cross-legged to begin the spirit ring absorption process, Lin Yuan couldn't help but chat with Cao Xin.

Cao Xin did not answer Lin Yuan's question immediately, instead walking over to sit beside a massive tree root.

"Come over and stabilize your cultivation first," Cao Xin said, beckoning to Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan ran over immediately, sitting on the tree trunk beside him to calm the restless spirit power from his recent breakthrough.

"Because the Sect Master has placed high hopes on Ning Tian," Cao Xin began to explain to Lin Yuan.

"Ordinary Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda disciples might just follow your suggestion and absorb the easiest spirit rings; even those with higher talent usually choose the path of least resistance."

"But Ning Tian is different. Ning Rongrong did not leave any bloodline for the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect. This means we must start from zero and slowly find a way to evolve the martial soul."

"That is why, even though Ning Tian's bloodline is precious, the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect is still willing to take risks with them."

Lin Yuan nodded in realization; the reality was indeed as he said.

No matter how much of a genius Ning Tian was, if her martial soul did not evolve into an Eight Treasures Glazed Pagoda, she would be stuck at the Spirit Saint level for the rest of her life.

However, since he had arrived in this world, he wouldn't just stop at the Eight Treasures Glazed Pagoda—he would even hollow out the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for the Buddha.

Just as the two were waiting, Cao Xin's eyes suddenly narrowed.

Noticing the change in Cao Xin's expression, Lin Yuan also put on a serious face.

He stopped circulating his spirit power and stood ready, facing the direction Cao Xin was staring at.

Not long after, two figures—one large and one small—pushed through the thicket and entered the field of vision of Lin Yuan and Cao Xin.

It was a mother and daughter, both with pink hair.

If this world were the novel or anime version, Lin Yuan truly wouldn't have recognized who these two were.

But since he had transmigrated into this manga version of the world, it was obvious that the two before him were Nan Shuisui and her daughter, Nan Qiuqiu, from the Earth Dragon Sect.

Nan Shuisui, a mature and beautiful woman, was quite surprised to see the three of them.

Because Lin Yuan and Ning Tian's cultivation levels were very low, Nan Shuisui ignored their spirit power fluctuations.

As for Cao Xin, she couldn't sense any spirit power fluctuations radiating from the old man at all.

It was impossible for two brats to be wandering around the Star Dou Great Forest with an ordinary old man, so there was only one possibility—

A Titled Douluo.

Nan Qiuqiu also looked surprised, but upon seeing the corpses of the two Tyrannosaurus spirit beasts lying to the side, she understood what had happened.

These three had actually hunted the spirit beasts that were meant to be her first spirit ring!

The little princess of the Earth Dragon Sect couldn't swallow this insult, and she immediately pointed at Cao Xin and Lin Yuan, angrily questioning them: "Fine, you actually snatched this young lady's spirit beasts!"

"Heh." Cao Xin raised his eyes and chuckled.

Nan Shuisui felt an immediate sense of danger; she quickly picked up Nan Qiuqiu and covered the little girl's mouth.

"Senior, please don't take offense. This junior is Nan Shuisui of the Earth Dragon Sect. The child doesn't understand the rules of the spirit master world. I ask that you be magnanimous and not take a child's words to heart," Nan Shuisui apologized to Cao Xin.

Although she possessed the Rouge Dragon martial soul, which was said to be capable of fighting above one's rank, theory was just theory.

Furthermore, she had only recently broken through to level eighty; at most, she could only hold her own against a Titled Douluo for a short time.

Now that Nan Qiuqiu was with her, if a fight broke out, Nan Qiuqiu would certainly die if caught in the crossfire.

It was not a wise move to clash with a Titled Douluo expert over a four-hundred-year spirit beast.

"It's fine, it's fine. Children are lively and cute. It's not a big deal; this old man isn't that petty," Cao Xin said with a laugh, stroking his beard.

Nan Shuisui felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She put Nan Qiuqiu down and bowed to Cao Xin: "Then many thanks to Senior for your generosity."

However, Nan Qiuqiu, standing at her feet, had no grasp of the current situation; she still thought she was back at the Earth Dragon Sect.

"Mom, why are you apologizing to these people? It was clearly them who snatched my spirit beasts! We found them a week ago."

A week ago...

Lin Yuan recalled that, according to the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect's intelligence, these two spirit beasts had been discovered by the sect's scouts a month ago.

Nan Shuisui realized she had been too doting on her child; a sapling that isn't pruned won't grow straight.

"Not convinced, are you..." Cao Xin chuckled lightly.

"Senior, the child didn't mean it that way. I have been lax in my discipline. Once we return, I will certainly make sure she learns the rules properly." Nan Shuisui looked quite embarrassed at this moment.

She reached out to grab Nan Qiuqiu, but the little girl nimbly dodged her.

A flash of gloom crossed Nan Shuisui's bitter smile; Lin Yuan recognized that look.

It was the classic "don't force me to spank you right here" look that parents on Blue Star often gave.

Clearly, Nan Qiuqiu hadn't realized she was at risk of a sore bottom. She pointed at Lin Yuan and the other and shouted angrily: "Because that spirit ring is a total waste if you absorb it! This young lady has the Rouge Dragon martial soul. Only a martial soul like this is worthy of absorbing the spirit rings of powerful dragon-type spirit beasts. Do you even have such a powerful martial soul?"

"Rouge Dragon martial soul." Surprise flickered in Cao Xin's eyes; he finally understood who these two were.

"That's right, the Rouge Dragon martial soul!" Nan Qiuqiu puffed out her chest with pride.

"Please don't mind her, Senior. Her childhood will be complete soon enough," Nan Shuisui said with a helpless, bitter smile.

"It's fine, it's fine." Cao Xin smiled at Nan Shuisui before turning his head toward me, the bystander.

He sent a mental transmission: "Little Yuan, how is your control over your Destruction attribute coming along?"

What did that mean?

Lin Yuan understood. This was the "Little Junior Pokémon" segment that the old fogies loved most.

Whenever old fogies who both possessed "Little Junior Pokémon" locked eyes, a battle was bound to follow.

Cao Xin was asking about the extent of his attribute control; he wanted him to suppress his cultivation and spar with Nan Qiuqiu.

"As long as I don't reveal my true power, taking her down won't be a problem," Lin Yuan replied helplessly.

"Very good."

Seeing Cao Xin answer so readily, Lin Yuan completely confirmed his hypothesis.

"Since you're unhappy that we took your soul beast, little sister, why don't you two have a spar?" Cao Xin said to Nan Qiuqiu.

"A spar? Sure! Watch me beat him to a pulp!" Nan Qiuqiu pointed at the helpless-looking Lin Yuan.

Nan Qiuqiu was confident she could thrash anyone her age, as she had been training in combat since she was a child, and there wasn't a single peer within a hundred miles who could defeat her.

Seeing this, Nan Shuisui also became interested.

However, she sensed the soul power fluctuations coming from Lin Yuan and couldn't help but frown.

"Senior, is this really appropriate? This child has already broken through to the first ring, while my Qiuqiu is still only at level ten."