Ning Rongrong covered her head, never expecting to be lectured.
And because of that Su Li, no less!
Hmph!
She didn't want to!
"Tch~ That kind of knowledge is boring to death. Isn't it enough if Su Li learns it?"
"Besides, he'll be the one protecting me in the future..."
Chen Xin shook his head helplessly.
There was really nothing he could do about this little princess.
Born into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she was their one and only treasured jewel.
She truly had nothing to worry about.
Before this,
he might have coaxed the girl into studying a little more.
But...
Now there was Su Li, and he was such a diligent, well-behaved child.
They could leave everything else to Xiao Li. Rongrong only needed to grow up healthy.
"You little girl... One day, you'll regret this."
Chen Xin patted her head.
With his hands behind his back, he continued forward.
Ning Rongrong stuck out her little pink tongue, then looked at Su Li beside her and huffed. "Hey! You'll protect me, right?"
"That depends on how you behave."
"What do you mean, depends on how I behave?! I'm the Young Sect Master! Protecting me is your duty! And I'm also your future... Ah! Idiot!"
Ning Rongrong puffed up her cheeks and hurried after Chen Xin, her ears bright red.
Su Li tilted his head, curious about what she was muttering about.
What future and all that?
Forget it.
Why should he fuss over things with a little girl?
Her mind had yet to mature. Other than making people want to bully her, it served no purpose at all.
Before long,
the silent Sunset Forest finally stirred with faint movement.
Su Li's eyes narrowed slightly. Holding the Pure Jun Sword, he watched the massive thicket ahead vigilantly.
Rustle, rustle, rustle~
A Cluck-Cluck of around ten years flapped its wings as it fled in terror.
Behind it
was a black panther nearly two meters long.
Its gaze was fierce as it stared fixedly at the hopping, scrambling Cluck-Cluck.
In an instant,
its pupils shifted as it noticed the three humans ahead.
Its forelegs, which had been about to spring forward, stopped abruptly. It carefully watched the three of them, seemingly considering whether they were dangerous.
Chen Xin concealed his aura very well.
He now looked like an ordinary person, standing there with elegant poise.
He did not appear threatening.
Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, had been staring at the fleeing Cluck-Cluck. She swallowed, unable to resist shaking Chen Xin's arm.
"Sword Grandpa, I want to eat chicken."
Chen Xin glanced at the mere ten-year Cluck-Cluck and waved a hand. "Have Xiao Li help you."
Ning Rongrong gave an "oh," pursed her lips, and turned her gaze toward Su Li.
After a moment, the girl tugged at Su Li's sleeve.
She said nothing, leaving him only the sight of her fair profile.
Half a second later,
a streak of sword qi slashed toward the fleeing Cluck-Cluck.
A miserable cry rang out.
The Cluck-Cluck instantly collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Ning Rongrong's pretty face reddened as she glanced at the calm-faced boy beside her.
She hadn't expected...
him to act so swiftly.
Hehe.
The corners of Ning Rongrong's lips lifted slightly. Ignoring the hundred-year black panther, she happily ran over to the dead Cluck-Cluck, grabbed it by its legs, and leisurely started back.
The black panther had never seen such an arrogant human.
Stealing its food was one thing, but she was even ignoring it!
For a moment,
rage filled the mind of the black panther, which possessed no intelligence.
It propelled itself forward on all fours and pounced at them.
Chen Xin remained silent, continuing to act like an expert.
His gaze fell on Su Li beside him. Clearly, he intended to let him make the move.
Although a Soul Master who had not absorbed a first Soul Ring would normally have no chance against a hundred-year Soul Beast,
after their spar before coming here,
Su Li's talent was terrifyingly strong.
He had comprehended swordsmanship without a teacher, and his sword qi was quite powerful.
Perhaps he could create a miracle.
"Roar!"
The black panther pounced first at Ning Rongrong, whose back was turned toward it. The viciousness in its eyes was nearly tangible.
Yet their little princess was not worried in the slightest. She continued walking leisurely, as though she were simply returning home.
"Space, fold."
A faint silver light flickered in Su Li's pupils. As his fingertip moved, strange spatial energy gathered beneath where the black panther's front paws would land.
With a muffled groan,
the black panther, which had been running just moments ago, crashed heavily to the ground.
Its forelegs had broken, crushed apart by space itself.
Blood sprayed everywhere as agonized cries filled the air.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Su Li gathered most of his Soul Power into the Pure Jun Sword.
Half a second later,
sword qi brimming with sacred power shot toward the black panther's head!
Driven by its survival instinct,
it leaped sideways with all its strength.
Yet,
the rear half of its body was still easily severed.
Strangely,
the black panther's body was rapidly destroyed by the lingering sword qi.
Its wounds quickly spread to its heart. In the end, there was no saving it. It died with its eyes wide open, filled with resentment.
"Wow! Su Li, you actually killed a hundred-year Soul Beast?!"
"I heard only two-ring Soul Masters can do that..."
Ning Rongrong was briefly surprised, but it was soon replaced by intense pride.
Tch~
So what if he was amazing!
Wouldn't he still have to listen to his wife in the future?!
The girl's lips curved upward, putting her in an excellent mood.
Su Li's face was somewhat pale. He gave her an indifferent look. "Just luck."
"The black panther was a dark-attribute Soul Beast. I just happened to counter it."
Ning Rongrong pursed her lips and planted her small hands on her waist.
She had praised him, so why was he still being so modest?
Honestly!
Very soon,
a yellow Soul Ring emerged above the black panther's body.
None of the three paid it any attention.
They continued deeper into Sunset Forest.
Only Soul Beasts with light and sacred attributes were their target.
As for the poor black panther, it could only be said that it had bad luck.
Hopefully, it would be more careful in its next life.
An hour later,
Chen Xin finally sensed a certain energy of the light element.
To prevent the Soul Beast from escaping,
he grabbed the two little ones by their necks and rushed over.
As for whether they were comfortable, that was not something he considered.
"I... Sword Grandpa, are you trying to strangle me to death?"
Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes, looking as though she were about to suffocate.
Su Li, too, had experienced the essence of Sword Douluo's childcare.
As long as they were alive, it was fine.
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it."
Chen Xin concealed his aura and looked at the Soul Beast ahead. He muttered softly, "It's a Glimmer Beast. I've heard that this kind of Soul Beast contains a faint trace of dragon bloodline and is rather rare on the continent."
"I didn't expect us to run into one."
Then,
Chen Xin's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.
He shook his head helplessly.
"It's around six hundred years old. What a pity."
Compared to Chen Xin's disappointment, Su Li's eyes shone even brighter.
A Glimmer Beast.
He had heard of this Soul Beast while playing games in his previous life. It was among the most suitable choices for a first ring.
Unfortunately,
he had played dozens of times without ever encountering one.
Who would have thought Sunset Forest had them?
"Six hundred years..."
Su Li murmured, his expression gradually turning serious.
He tugged at Chen Xin's sleeve and spoke quietly.
"Sword Grandpa, I think I can try absorbing it."
"With my current physical condition, six hundred years shouldn't be difficult."
Before you continue