Hunting the Third Soul Ring

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

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

The air was filled with the fresh scent of soil and vegetation, mingled with the fragrance of wildflowers. From time to time, distant beastly roars echoed through the woods, lending this ancient forest an air of mystery and danger.

"Lin Ming, whose soul ring are we hunting first?"

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

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

"Your third soul ring needs to be around five thousand years old. Soul beasts of that age aren't too hard to find in Sunset Forest; there should be plenty of suitable ones in the outer regions. My target starts at ten thousand years, so we may need to go much deeper to find something suitable. 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 won't trick me anyway!"

The two began searching through the forest. Lin Ming spread out his spiritual sense, feeling for the auras of nearby soul beasts.

After consuming so many immortal herbs, his perception had improved tremendously. Nothing within several hundred meters could escape his senses, not even the movements of small creatures beneath the ground.

About half an hour later, they discovered a soul beast in a relatively open clearing.

It was an elk covered in seven-colored fur, larger than an ordinary elk by a full size. It stood nearly two meters tall at the shoulder, and a pair of coral-like, dazzling antlers grew from its head, refracting rainbow light beneath the sun in breathtaking splendor.

It was grazing with its head lowered, occasionally raising it to warily survey its surroundings. Its long eyelashes 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, around five thousand years old." Lin Ming lowered his voice, his gaze fixed on the elk.

"It's an exceptionally gentle soul beast—timid and cowardly, but incredibly fast. It excels 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-system soul master like you. With this soul ring, you won't be so easily controlled when facing enemies skilled in illusion techniques."

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

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

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

"Not at all! It's just a soul beast, and becoming my soul ring is an honor for it! Once I become a Titled Douluo, it'll be bringing glory to its ancestors too! Then I'll tell everyone that my third soul ring came from a beautiful Prismatic Elk. How impressive would that be?"

Lin Ming was amused by her warped logic. He stopped wasting words and tightened his grip around the Heaven-Piercing Divine Spear. Faint golden patterns flowed along its shaft, radiating a sharp aura.

"Wait here. I'll be right back."

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 appeared in his eyes, his muscles slightly swelled, and his speed and strength instantly more than doubled!

The ground beneath his feet cracked inch by inch as dirt flew everywhere. He became a blur, crossing nearly a hundred meters in the blink of an eye and appearing before the Prismatic Elk.

The Prismatic Elk sensed the danger and let out a terrified cry. Its four hooves exploded with force as it prepared to flee using an illusion.

A layer of seven-colored light appeared around its body. The air around it began to distort, and phantom images emerged 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 became a streak of platinum light, tearing through the air with unstoppable sharpness as it accurately pierced through the Prismatic Elk's skull!

The air emitted a piercing boom in the wake of the spear light, as though even space itself had been punctured.

"Pfft!"

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

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

A purple soul ring slowly rose from its corpse, emitting a soft and mysterious glow as it rotated slowly in the air.

Lin Ming stood with his spear withdrawn, looking at the corpse on the ground in surprise.

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 a hundred-meter-thick wall of refined metal stood before him, he could punch through it with a single thrust without any effort.

"Wow! Lin Ming, you're incredible!" Ning Rongrong cheered as she ran over, her eyes full of worshipful stars. She circled Lin Ming several times.

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

Lin Ming smiled, put away his spear, and rubbed her hair. "Enough flattery. Hurry up and 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, the ring slowly descended, settling around her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and merging into it.

Perhaps the effects of the Qiluo Tulip were still at work, but Ning Rongrong's absorption process went exceptionally smoothly. She completed it in less than two hours. The entire process was steady and seamless, without a single hitch.

When she opened her eyes, her soul power had already broken through from rank thirty to rank thirty-three!

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

"The immortal herb's effects haven't been fully digested yet. I feel like if I cultivate for a while longer, I can rise another one or two ranks! Maybe I can even challenge rank 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 say you're a spoiled brat relying on your Household's resources."