Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's First Soul Ring! 100% Power Amplification!

"Found it."

Chen Xin's eyes lit up as he controlled the Seven Kill Sword and dove downward.

The longsword pierced through the dense canopy and descended into a relatively open patch of forest.

Zhao Tian and Ning Rongrong leaped off the sword and followed Chen Xin's gaze.

Not far ahead, a powerfully built bear-type soul beast was sharpening its claws against a large tree.

Its entire body was covered in dark golden fur that gleamed with a metallic sheen beneath the sunlight. Most eye-catching were its two front claws, whose tips were a deep dark gold and incomparably sharp. Every swipe gouged deep furrows into the trunk.

"This is... a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear!"

Zhao Tian was startled.

He had not expected Chen Xin to actually find this kind of soul beast.

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, known as the "Jungle Ripper," was one of the most formidable bear-type soul beasts.

Its strength was extraordinarily terrifying. The power of a hundred-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear was enough to rival that of an ordinary thousand-year soul beast.

If Ning Rongrong could use it as her first soul ring, the effects of its Power Amplification would undoubtedly far surpass those of ordinary soul beasts.

"It really is a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear! Grandpa Sword is amazing!"

Ning Rongrong recognized the soul beast as well and clapped excitedly.

Chen Xin did not act immediately. Instead, he observed it carefully for a moment before confirming, "This Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear is about a hundred years old, just right for Rongrong. Its soul ring can provide extraordinarily powerful Power Amplification. Among all the past wielders of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, no one has ever used a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear as a soul ring."

At that, Chen Xin turned and glanced at Zhao Tian.

He knew perfectly well that encountering a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear here was probably inseparable from Zhao Tian's Radiant Phoenix.

This legendary divine beast martial soul naturally carried a blessing of fortune. First the Jade Marrow Ganoderma, then the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear—such a string of good luck could not possibly be a coincidence.

"Tian'er, it seems your Radiant Phoenix is giving Rongrong another gift."

Chen Xin said meaningfully.

Zhao Tian smiled but did not respond.

He also felt that today's luck had been a little too outrageous, but it was enough to know such things in his heart. There was no need to say them aloud.

"Rongrong, are you ready?"

Chen Xin looked at Ning Rongrong.

"I'm ready!"

Ning Rongrong nodded firmly, her little face full of resolve.

"Good. Then I'll seriously wound it first, and you can deliver the final blow."

After saying that, Chen Xin flashed forward and appeared before the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.

Sensing danger, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear immediately let out an enraged roar and swung its two massive paws at Chen Xin.

Its speed was astonishing, completely unlike the speed a bear-type soul beast should possess.

But before Chen Xin, that little bit of speed was nothing.

Chen Xin sidestepped the attack and flicked a finger lightly. A sharp sword aura shot out, striking the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear precisely in the leg.

Splat!

Blood sprayed.

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear let out a miserable cry, and its enormous body crashed to the ground.

Chen Xin's sword aura had been controlled perfectly. It had severely wounded the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear without taking its life, leaving its last breath for Ning Rongrong.

"Rongrong, go."

Chen Xin stepped aside.

Ning Rongrong took a deep breath and walked toward the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, her small hands trembling slightly.

Looking at the dying giant bear, a trace of reluctance flashed through her eyes.

But that reluctance was quickly replaced by determination.

She recalled Zhao Tian's decisiveness when he killed the Holy Light Phoenix.

To become a powerful soul master, this was a step she had to cross.

"I'm sorry... I have to do this!"

Ning Rongrong whispered, then closed her eyes. A dagger appeared in her hand, and she drove it viciously into the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's neck.

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear let out a low, mournful cry before its life force vanished completely.

The next moment, a yellow soul ring slowly rose from its corpse.

A hundred-year soul ring, yellow.

"Rongrong, you did very well. This is the first step every soul master must take! Now sit down and absorb the soul ring quickly!"

Chen Xin said at once.

"Mm, I understand, Grandpa Sword."

Ning Rongrong nodded and took a deep breath, calming her tangled emotions.

Then she sat cross-legged and used her will to guide the soul ring into her body.

The yellow soul ring slowly drifted toward her, settling around her body as it began to merge into her.

Unlike Zhao Tian's easy absorption of a soul ring, pain soon appeared on Ning Rongrong's little face.

The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's energy was tyrannical and violent, rampaging through her body as if it wanted to tear her meridians apart.

"Rongrong, hold on!"

Chen Xin said in a deep voice, his eyes filled with concern.

Zhao Tian clenched his fists as well, his gaze fixed tightly on Ning Rongrong.

He knew that the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's soul ring would not be easy to absorb, but this pain was something every soul master had to endure. No one could bear it in her place.

Time passed second by second.

Sweat poured down Ning Rongrong's small face like rain, and her complexion was as pale as paper. Yet she clenched her teeth and endured without making a sound.

This was the pride of the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

She did not want to show weakness before Zhao Tian, much less let him look down on her.

After an unknown amount of time, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's energy finally began to calm and gradually fused with Ning Rongrong's body.

The pain on Ning Rongrong's face slowly faded, replaced by an expression of comfort.

After another incense stick's worth of time, the yellow soul ring finally merged completely into her body.

Ning Rongrong opened her eyes and let out a long breath. Her entire body was drenched, as though she had just been pulled from the water.

"Grandpa Sword, I succeeded!"

Ning Rongrong smiled weakly.

Chen Xin strode forward, placed his fingers on her wrist, and examined the condition inside her body.

A moment later, shock appeared on Chen Xin's face.

"Your Soul Power has reached level twelve. Your first soul ring directly raised you by two levels!"

"Normally, a hundred-year soul beast couldn't possibly bring such a great improvement. It seems the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear truly is extraordinary!"

"And your Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda... seems to have changed somewhat."

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong quickly summoned the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda.

A faint layer of dark golden radiance could be seen emerging over the surface of the originally crystal-clear Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda. Compared to before, it carried a few more traces of domineering power.

"Release your first soul skill. Let me see its effect."

Chen Xin said.

Ning Rongrong nodded, and the yellow soul ring rose beneath her feet.

"Seven Treasures are famed, first: strength!"

Light shot from the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda and fell upon Chen Xin.

Chen Xin felt the amplification's effect, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

"This... this is..."

Even his voice trembled slightly.

"The amplification effect is actually one hundred percent! The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's soul ring truly is extraordinary!"

Chen Xin took a deep breath and steadied his excited emotions.

What did one hundred percent strength amplification mean?

An ordinary Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda's first soul skill provided roughly twenty percent Power Amplification.

Yet Ning Rongrong's amplification had directly reached one hundred percent!

This meant that in team battles, Ning Rongrong's presence could raise her teammates' strength by an entire level.