Four Thousand Two Hundred Years, Radiant Griffin

Finding a Soul Beast with sacred and light attributes in Sunset Forest was not as easy as it was in Star Dou Forest.

Compared to Star Dou Forest, Sunset Forest was merely one region of it.

After searching Sunset Forest for three days, they heard the cry of a griffin at dawn on the fourth morning.

Jiang Nanchen and the others rushed over and found a griffin with dazzling golden feathers standing on all fours atop a cliff, gazing into the distance as it cried out.

"A four-thousand-two-hundred-year Radiant Griffin!"

They had hit the jackpot!

Jiang Nanchen was overjoyed.

"Little Nanchen, four thousand two hundred years? Why are you being so reckless? Even I wouldn't have dared absorb that for my third Soul Ring."

Dugu Yan noticed something off about the way Jiang Nanchen looked at the Radiant Griffin. He looked even crazier than when he looked at women.

"I'm confident about this one. If we let this chance pass, we may never find another. We have to take down the Radiant Griffin," Jiang Nanchen said firmly.

With the boost from the Ice-Fire Dragon Bones and the Ice-Fire Alchemical Body, absorbing a four-thousand-two-hundred-year Soul Ring should not be a problem.

Porcupinefish Douluo felt conflicted. This was far too risky, but what if it actually worked?

A four-thousand-two-hundred-year Soul Ring could raise Jiang Nanchen's Soul Power by four or five levels.

Since Jiang Nanchen was so confident, the opportunity he had obtained at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well must have been extraordinary.

Let's do it!

Porcupinefish Douluo made up his mind.

"Since you're confident, let's do it." Porcupinefish Douluo agreed, but he did not make a move himself. Instead, he had Dugu Bo do it. At the very least, they could not let themselves be discovered.

Heaven Dou City only had one Title Douluo—Dugu Bo.

"Since young friend Nanchen is so confident, this old man will act personally."

Dugu Bo activated Martial Soul Possession. His Jade Phosphor Dragon Martial Soul covered both arms in jade-green dragon scales, giving him partial draconic traits.

"Dragon Breath!"

Dugu Bo leaped into the air and exhaled a mouthful of green Dragon Breath enhanced with potent poison. It was so fast that the Radiant Griffin had no time to react before its body was directly struck.

Radiant Griffin: Damn it, I only let out a roar. Was that really necessary? And such a cheap shot too!

The Radiant Griffin cried out miserably and immediately fell to the ground. Jiang Nanchen seized the chance and summoned the Angel Sacred Sword from thin air.

With one slash, the Radiant Griffin died on the spot.

The next moment, a purple Soul Ring rose from its corpse.

Jiang Nanchen sat cross-legged and began guiding the purple Soul Ring toward the top of his head.

The process of absorbing the Soul Ring began the next moment.

During the absorption process, Jiang Nanchen felt some pain, but it did not last long.

In the Sea of Spirit, the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King watched silently.

"I have to say, this kid is truly bold when it comes to absorbing Soul Rings. I thought he would choose a safer approach."

Bing Yue was somewhat surprised by Jiang Nanchen's boldness.

Huo Li smiled. "Those who awaken my Martial Soul have always been bold. There's nothing strange about it."

Bing Yue shot her a disdainful look. "Narcissist. Stop flattering yourself."

Huo Li rolled her eyes. "You're just jealous."

The two traded barbs back and forth.

It was not until evening that the purple Soul Ring above Jiang Nanchen's head entered his body.

After completing the absorption, Jiang Nanchen opened his eyes and found that dusk had already arrived.

"Little Nanchen, you really absorbed it successfully? How many levels did your Soul Power rise, and what Soul Skill did you get?"

Dugu Yan hurried forward and asked impatiently.

"My Soul Power rose by five levels."

"The Soul Skill is Angel's Blessing. Once activated, it increases strength, speed, defense, and spiritual power by fifty percent across the board. Holy light covers the entire body, forming a layer of light-element armor that additionally provides twenty percent damage reduction. The reduction effect doubles against attacks with dark or evil attributes."

"While flying, I can unleash a short burst of acceleration, increasing movement speed by one hundred and fifty percent. I can also glide through the air for a short distance. Wherever my light wings sweep past, they leave behind brief golden trails that inflict minor sacred burns on enemies who touch them."

"A self-buff? Not bad." Dugu Yan praised him. "With a Soul Skill like that, you might even be able to defeat me."

Porcupinefish Douluo and Dugu Bo also breathed a sigh of relief.

With the mission successfully completed, the four set off from Sunset Forest and arrived at the carriage that had been waiting for a long time.

When the coachman saw the four return, tears streamed down his aged face. If they had taken any longer, he would have been bored to death.

After boarding the carriage, the coachman hastened the journey.

Jiang Nanchen had barely closed his eyes to rest when Bing Yue urged him awake.

"After we get back, remember to prepare some food for me. I've been here for tens of thousands of years. I can barely remember what food outside tastes like."

Huo Li also spoke up. "I want braised pork ribs, spicy rabbit heads, boiled fish, braised pork belly, roast duck, roast chicken, and so on."

Jiang Nanchen immediately blocked out their voices. She was still listing dishes through the barrier.

Once they got back, he would make a few dishes first.

It was not until the next morning that the carriage returned to Heaven Dou City.

After returning to Heaven Dou City, the four got out of the carriage.

"Young friend Nanchen, we'll head back first. If anything comes up, remember to come find me at my residence."

Dugu Bo planned to return and break through to level ninety-three, then go find Yue Guan for a fierce fight and reclaim his dignity.

"See you at the academy, Little Nanchen." Dugu Yan waved.

"See you." Jiang Nanchen waved farewell.

Only after the two had gone far away did Porcupinefish Douluo say, "Nanchen, let's head back as well. His Highness has probably been waiting anxiously."

"Understood." Jiang Nanchen nodded.

Meanwhile, in the study of the Crown Prince's Residence.

Qian Renxue was writing in her diary.

"Another day of missing Nanchen."

More than ten whole days had passed without even a single letter.

Qian Renxue sighed. After handling official documents, all she did was write in her diary or stare blankly into space. Every day felt like a year.

She had practically worn out her diary. Other than missing Jiang Nanchen, she was still missing Jiang Nanchen. She simply could not stop.

Just as she was feeling distressed, the study door was suddenly pushed open.

"Crown Prince Brother, I'm back."

Jiang Nanchen walked in, startling the absent-minded Qian Renxue.

"Nanchen, where did you go? Why did you only just return?"

Qian Renxue asked instinctively.

Jiang Nanchen had just been about to answer when he spotted the item on the table and immediately jumped onto it. "Diary..."

The moment he said those two words, Qian Renxue immediately clutched the diary tightly to her chest and asked warily, "What are you trying to do? This diary is my privacy."

Jiang Nanchen curled his lip. "Cheapskate. Fine, forget it if you won't let me read it."

Qian Renxue was startled, her back drenched in cold sweat. Thankfully, the little fellow had not seen what was inside. If he really had, she was afraid he would misunderstand and think she harbored improper thoughts toward him.

Most importantly, she was currently the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe.

After recovering herself, Qian Renxue questioned Porcupinefish Douluo in a very displeased tone, "What happened with you all? Why did it take more than ten days to return?"

Even as she spoke, she still held the diary in her hands.

Porcupinefish Douluo remained unflustered. He clapped his hands, as though telling Nanchen to show the Crown Prince his Soul Ring.

Jiang Nanchen immediately revealed the dazzling holy light around his body, like a god descending into the mortal world, as one yellow and one purple Soul Ring rose beside him.

Qian Renxue's displeased expression turned into shock and disbelief.

"A... a thousand-year Soul Ring!"