Rongrong's Third Soul Ring! Defense Amplification!

Five days later, Gu Rong confirmed the target for Ning Rongrong's third Soul Ring.

"Golden Light Profound Turtle, four thousand years old, living in Profound Turtle Pond deep in Sunset Forest."

"This soul beast is renowned for its defense. Its Soul Ring can provide auxiliary Soul Masters with a defense amplification-type soul skill."

"For Rongrong, after Power Amplification and Speed Amplification, adding Defense Amplification will make the three auxiliary effects complement one another. It can be called perfect."

After hearing this, Ning Fengzhi nodded in satisfaction.

"The Golden Light Profound Turtle is indeed a good choice. Defense Amplification can greatly improve the team's overall survivability."

Gu Rong looked at Ning Rongrong. "Rongrong, do you dare hunt this four-thousand-year-old soul beast?"

Ning Rongrong thrust out her small chest. "I do! Rongrong is already level thirty. What is there to be afraid of?"

Gu Rong rarely showed a smile. "Good. Then we'll set out tomorrow."

Early the next morning, Zhao Tian, Ning Rongrong, and Gu Rong left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Chen Xin remained at the sect to hold down the fort. This time, Gu Rong would lead the team.

Sunset Forest was not far from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. At Gu Rong's speed, they arrived in less than half an hour.

Profound Turtle Pond was located in a valley deep within Sunset Forest. Ancient trees towered all around it, while the pond's jade-green waters were dark and deep, like a massive emerald mirror.

"The Golden Light Profound Turtle is at the bottom of the pond."

Gu Rong stood by the pond and extended his spiritual power underwater.

"It has roughly four thousand years of cultivation. Its body is enormous, but its temperament is gentle. As long as it isn't provoked, it won't attack of its own accord."

Ning Rongrong leaned over and glanced at the deep, dark water, swallowing nervously.

"It... it won't suddenly pop out, will it?"

"It will."

Gu Rong spoke calmly.

"So you'd better be prepared."

Before his voice faded, the pond water suddenly began to churn.

A huge black shadow rapidly rose from the bottom. Immediately afterward, an enormous turtle head broke through the surface!

It was a giant turtle covered entirely in golden shell armor. Ancient patterns covered its shell, glittering with golden light beneath the sunlight.

Its body was larger than any soul beast Zhao Tian had ever seen. It was seven or eight meters in diameter, like a moving hill.

The Golden Light Profound Turtle had been angered by the intruders' presence in its territory. It let out a deep roar, and the pond water shook violently.

"Rongrong, get back!"

Zhao Tian immediately stepped in front of Ning Rongrong. Three Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet, and a golden Radiant Phoenix phantom appeared behind him.

But he did not attack, because Gu Rong had already moved.

Gu Rong's figure vanished from where he stood, appearing above the Golden Light Profound Turtle the next second. His right hand transformed into a claw covered in dark black dragon scales.

He struck down with one palm!

Boom!

The Golden Light Profound Turtle's shell armor caved inward. Its massive body sank into the water, throwing up a towering wave.

The Golden Light Profound Turtle let out a pained hiss and struggled to counterattack, but Gu Rong's second strike had already landed.

Another heavy palm strike.

Cracks appeared across the Golden Light Profound Turtle's shell armor, and golden light seeped out through them.

"Rongrong, you finish it with the final blow."

Gu Rong returned to the shore and stood with his hands behind his back.

Ning Rongrong took a deep breath and stepped forward, condensing a Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda in her hand.

Dark golden light flowed through the pagoda, and two yellow Soul Rings rose from beneath her feet.

"Seven Treasures have names. First, Strength!"

The light fell upon the Golden Light Profound Turtle. Although the auxiliary effect was ineffective against the soul beast itself, Ning Rongrong had completed the motion for releasing her soul skill.

She closed her eyes. The light of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda condensed into a beam and struck the Golden Light Profound Turtle's head.

The Golden Light Profound Turtle's body trembled violently several times before slowly ceasing its struggles.

A purple Soul Ring slowly rose from its corpse.

A four-thousand-year-old Golden Light Profound Turtle, with a purple Soul Ring.

"Rongrong, sit down and absorb it!"

Gu Rong immediately spoke.

Ning Rongrong sat cross-legged and guided the Soul Ring into her body with her mind.

The purple Soul Ring slowly floated toward her, settling around her body before beginning to merge into her.

Zhao Tian stood to one side, watching her nervously.

Ning Rongrong's constitution was inferior to his. Absorbing a four-thousand-year Soul Ring would be a tremendous trial for her.

Sure enough, the instant the Soul Ring entered her body, pain appeared on Ning Rongrong's little face.

She bit her lip, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead as her body trembled slightly.

"Rongrong, hold on."

Zhao Tian spoke softly.

Ning Rongrong heard his voice. Her tightly clenched teeth relaxed slightly, and she forced two words through the gap.

"Rongrong... can..."

She closed her eyes and did her best to guide the immense energy through her body.

Zhao Tian and Gu Rong stood to the side, watching her without blinking.

Time slowly passed in the quiet valley.

After an unknown amount of time, the pain on Ning Rongrong's face finally faded, replaced by an expression of relief.

The purple Soul Ring slowly merged into her body.

The light receded. She opened her eyes and let out a long breath.

"Rongrong succeeded!"

Ning Rongrong stood up and hopped excitedly.

"My third soul skill, Defense Amplification! Eighty percent!"

"It can grant defense to my teammates and increase their defense by eighty percent!"

A flicker of delight passed through Zhao Tian's eyes.

With eighty percent Defense Amplification, combined with one-hundred-percent Power Amplification and Speed Amplification, Ning Rongrong had become an extremely well-rounded auxiliary Soul Master.

"Rongrong, you're amazing."

Zhao Tian spoke from the heart.

Ning Rongrong proudly raised her little face. "Of course! Rongrong is going to become the greatest auxiliary Soul Master on the continent!"

Gu Rong also rarely showed a smile. "Not bad. You absorbed the third Soul Ring very smoothly."

"All right, Rongrong's Soul Ring is settled. Next, it's Tian'er's turn."

Zhao Tian nodded, anticipation flashing in his eyes.

He had long since chosen his target for his fourth Soul Ring.

A Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

For an ordinary Soul Master at the Soul Ancestor stage, the theoretical limit was a Soul Ring between five thousand and eight thousand years.

But Zhao Tian's Radiant Divine Canon had given him physical strength far beyond that of his peers. Combined with the powerful carrying capacity of the Radiant Phoenix Spirit, he was confident he could absorb a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

"Tian'er, what is your target for your fourth Soul Ring?"

Gu Rong asked.

Zhao Tian slowly spoke a name.

"Radiant Dragon Sparrow."

"According to ancient records, the Radiant Dragon Sparrow is a close relative of the Radiant Phoenix, with an extremely pure bloodline and more than ten thousand years of cultivation."

"If I can obtain its Soul Ring, my Spirit will undergo a qualitative leap."

Gu Rong fell silent for a moment after hearing this.

"The Radiant Dragon Sparrow... does indeed exist, but there are very few of them, and all have more than ten thousand years of cultivation."

"Hunting one would be extremely dangerous."

Zhao Tian's gaze was resolute. "This disciple is willing to take the risk."

Gu Rong looked at him and finally nodded.

"Good. Since you've decided, this old man will accompany you."

Seeing the determination in Zhao Tian's eyes, Gu Rong said no more.

"Return and rest for three days. We leave in three days to search for the Radiant Dragon Sparrow."

"Thank you, Teacher."

Zhao Tian bowed, then took Ning Rongrong's hand and walked toward home.

The afterglow of the setting sun fell upon them, dyeing them golden.

As they walked, Ning Rongrong chattered about how powerful her new soul skill was. Zhao Tian listened with a smile, responding now and then.

His fourth Soul Ring: the Ten-Thousand-Year Radiant Dragon Sparrow.

He was about to take the most crucial step on his path as a Soul Master.