Hunting the Third Soul Ring

The two soon entered the depths of Sunset Forest side by side.

Sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, casting mottled patches of light and shadow across the ground, as though the earth had been covered in scattered golden brocade.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of soil and vegetation, mingled with the fragrance of wildflowers. From time to time, roars of beasts drifted over from afar, adding an air of mystery and danger to this ancient forest.

"Lin Ming, whose Soul Ring are we hunting first?"

Ning Rongrong skipped along beside Lin Ming, holding a foxtail grass she had plucked from somewhere and swaying it back and forth. She looked especially cheerful, even humming an unknown little tune.

"We'll find yours first," Lin Ming said without hesitation, his gaze sweeping over their surroundings.

"Your third Soul Ring needs to be at the five-thousand-year level. Soul Beasts of that age aren't too hard to find in Sunset Forest, and there should be plenty of suitable ones around the outer regions. My target starts at ten thousand years, so we may need to go much deeper to find something appropriate. It'll be more dangerous then, so I won't be at ease until you're settled first."

Ning Rongrong nodded obediently. "Okay, I'll listen to you! You definitely wouldn't trick me anyway!"

The two began searching through the forest. Lin Ming spread out his divine sense, sensing the auras of nearby Soul Beasts.

After consuming so many immortal herbs, his perception had greatly improved. Even the slightest movement within several hundred meters could not escape his awareness. He could even catch the faint sounds of small animals moving underground.

About half an hour later, they discovered a Soul Beast in a relatively open patch of grassland.

It was a Prismatic Elk, its entire body shimmering with seven colors. It was a size larger than an ordinary elk, nearly two meters at the shoulder, with a pair of coral-like, dazzling antlers that refracted rainbow light beneath the sun. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

It was grazing with its head lowered, occasionally lifting it to warily survey its surroundings. Its long lashes fluttered, and its large eyes were clear and gentle. It looked tame and beautiful, like a creature that had stepped out of a fairy tale.

"A Prismatic Elk, with five thousand years of cultivation," Lin Ming said in a low voice, his eyes fixed on the elk.

"It's an extremely gentle Soul Beast. Timid and cowardly by nature, but incredibly fast, and skilled at using illusions to confuse its enemies. Its Soul Ring can provide a speed boost and resistance to illusions, making it very suitable for an auxiliary-type Soul Master like you. With this Soul Ring, you won't be so easily controlled when facing enemies skilled in illusions."

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up, and she clasped her hands together. "Then it's the one! I like it! It's so pretty! Look at its antlers—they're like a rainbow!"

Lin Ming did not know whether to laugh or cry. "It is pretty, but I'm going to kill it in a moment. Won't you feel bad?"

Ning Rongrong tilted her head and thought for a moment, then shook her head seriously, her expression entirely matter-of-fact.

"I won't! It's just a Soul Beast anyway, and becoming my Soul Ring is an honor for it! Once I become a Titled Douluo in the future, it'll be bringing glory to its ancestors too! Then I can tell everyone that my third Soul Ring came from a beautiful Prismatic Elk. How impressive would that be?"

Lin Ming was amused by her twisted logic. Without saying anything further, he tightened his grip on the Heaven-Piercing Divine Spear. Faint golden patterns flowed across its shaft, radiating a sharp aura.

"Wait here. I'll be back in a moment."

Before his words had even faded, he shot forward like a bolt of black lightning.

His second Soul Ring lit up—Heaven-Piercing Battle Intent!

A faint golden light glimmered in his eyes, his muscles bulged slightly, and his speed and strength instantly surged to more than twice their previous level!

The ground beneath his feet cracked inch by inch as he stomped down, sending dirt flying everywhere. He turned into an afterimage and crossed nearly a hundred meters in the blink of an eye, appearing before the Prismatic Elk.

The Prismatic Elk sensed the danger and let out a terrified neigh. Its four hooves suddenly exerted force as it prepared to use an illusion and flee.

A layer of rainbow light spread across its body, and the air around it began to distort. One illusion after another appeared in the air, attempting to confuse Lin Ming's vision.

But Lin Ming was too fast.

So fast that before the illusion could fully unfold, his attack had already arrived.

His first Soul Ring lit up—Shatter the Sky!

The Heaven-Piercing Divine Spear transformed into a streak of platinum light, tearing through the air with unstoppable sharpness as it pierced straight through the Prismatic Elk's head!

Where the spear's radiance passed, the air let out a shrill explosive howl, as if even space itself had been pierced through.

"Pfft!"

The sound of the spearhead entering flesh was crisp and clear.

The Prismatic Elk's body suddenly stiffened, and the light in its eyes swiftly faded. It did not even have time to scream before crashing to the ground, kicking up dust and fallen leaves. Its limbs twitched a few times before falling completely still.

A purple Soul Ring slowly rose from its corpse, giving off a soft, mysterious glow as it gradually rotated in the air.

Lin Ming stood with his spear withdrawn, looking at the corpse on the ground. Even he was somewhat surprised.

After evolving into the Heaven-Piercing Divine Spear, its offensive power had increased far too much. The same move, Shatter the Sky, was at least twice as powerful as it had been half a month ago.

He even had the illusion that, even if there were a hundred-meter-thick wall of refined gold before him, he could punch through it with a single thrust without the slightest effort.

"Wow! Lin Ming, you're amazing!" Ning Rongrong cheered as she ran over, her eyes filled with little stars of admiration. She circled Lin Ming several times.

"You killed it in one move! That was so cool! The Prismatic Elk died before it even had time to react! How did you do that?"

Lin Ming smiled, put away his spear, and ruffled her hair. "Stop flattering me and hurry up to absorb the Soul Ring. I'll stand guard for you. Try to finish before nightfall."

Ning Rongrong nodded obediently, sat down cross-legged, and began drawing in the purple Soul Ring. Guided by her, it slowly descended, encircling her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda before merging into it.

Perhaps the effects of the Aromatic Silk Beauty were still at work, but Ning Rongrong absorbed the Soul Ring exceptionally smoothly. She completed the process in less than two hours. Everything was steady and seamless, without any setbacks.

When she opened her eyes, her Soul Power had already broken through from level thirty to level thirty-three!

"Lin Ming! I'm level thirty-three now!" Ning Rongrong excitedly jumped to her feet and threw herself into Lin Ming's arms like a happy little bird, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"The effects of the immortal herbs haven't been fully digested yet. I feel like if I cultivate for a while longer, I can rise another level or two! Maybe I'll be able to challenge level forty next year!"

Lin Ming caught her and smiled as he patted her back. "Congratulations, congratulations. Our Rongrong is about to become a genius. Let's see who still dares to call you a spoiled rich kid relying on your family's resources."