Golden-Pattern Iron Rhino

The vegetation in the Jingyang Mountain Range was far denser than in the outskirts of Mingdu. Ancient trees towered overhead, their branches and leaves intertwined, allowing sunlight to filter through only the gaps and cast mottled patches of light and shadow across the forest. The air carried the scent of earth, along with a faint metallic tang.

They had not walked far when a sound came from the bushes ahead.

A Soul Beast about the size of a calf crawled out from the undergrowth. Its body was covered in gray-silver scales, with a row of metallic spikes growing along its back. Its limbs were thick and sturdy, and its dark golden eyes watched them warily.

"A Silver-Armored Lizard, a metal-attributed Soul Beast about two hundred years old."

Jing Hongchen spoke casually, then sent out a strand of Soul Power.

Before the Silver-Armored Lizard could react, its body was violently flung away. It smashed through two small trees as thick as bowls before finally stopping.

It struggled to its feet. Much of the ferocity had faded from its eyes. After glancing at Jing Hongchen, it turned and slipped into the dense forest.

Jing Hongchen did not pursue it.

Looking toward where the Silver-Armored Lizard had disappeared, he said calmly, "Soul Beasts are becoming fewer and fewer. If a Soul Beast is of no use for Soul Rings, let it go if possible."

"The truly powerful forces on the continent are consciously controlling the scale of their hunts now. Otherwise, in a few thousand years, Soul Masters may struggle even to find Soul Rings."

Meng Hongchen nodded thoughtfully.

"Grandpa, what if we encounter a Soul Beast that actively attacks us on the road?"

"Just subdue it."

Jing Hongchen continued onward.

"Like I said, if you have no use for its Soul Ring, there is no need to take its life."

He walked through the mountains for roughly half an hour. Along the way, he released another five or six Soul Beasts, subduing each with a single strike without wasting much Soul Power.

They did not stop until they reached a rocky slope. Jing Hongchen took out a map from his storage Soul Tool and examined it.

"This area is marked with three metal-attributed Soul Beasts between seven hundred and nine hundred years old. At this time of day, they should be active nearby."

As soon as he finished speaking, a low, muffled sound came from beneath a nearby rock wall.

A Soul Beast slowly emerged from a cave.

It was an enormous rhinoceros-type Soul Beast, its entire body covered in a dark golden keratinous layer. The patterns on it looked as though they had been forged from metal.

A curved, saber-like horn grew from the front of its skull, and the base of the horn was covered in rings resembling concentric circles.

Its limbs were as thick as pillars. Every step it took produced a dull thud. Its eyes were dark red as it swept its heavy gaze over the group, two streams of white hot vapor billowing from its nostrils.

"A Golden-Pattern Iron Rhino. Metal-attributed, approximately eight hundred years old."

After putting away the map, Jing Hongchen looked at the Golden-Pattern Iron Rhino.

Xiao Hongchen's eyes lit up. "This one suits me well."

According to the continent's Soul Master theory, the optimal absorption age for a second Soul Ring was a little over seven hundred years. However, Xiao Hongchen had consumed all kinds of heavenly treasures since childhood, including Whale Rubber that could strengthen his physique.

Absorbing a second Soul Ring over eight hundred years old would be no problem at all.

"Then it's settled."

Jing Hongchen did not act immediately. Instead, he had the three children remain where they were, then pointed at the Golden-Pattern Iron Rhino's horn.

"First, look carefully at how to determine this Soul Beast's age."

"For a Golden-Pattern Iron Rhino, one of the most direct indicators of its century-level cultivation is the growth rings on its horn. Each distinct ring represents roughly one hundred years of cultivation, while the smaller dark lines indicate shorter cycles of anywhere from ten to fifty years."

"Observe carefully. There are eight main rings on this horn, and near the base is a short segment of patterning that has not fully closed. Therefore, it is within the eight-hundred-year range and has not broken through to nine hundred years."

Jing Hongchen then pointed at the Golden-Pattern Iron Rhino's scales.

"An eight-hundred-year Iron Rhino has a dark golden shell. Once it exceeds a thousand years, it will turn bright gold, and sun-pattern markings will appear on its shell. So its age can be judged by its color and patterns."

He explained everything very clearly, and the three children listened with great focus.

Afterward, Jing Hongchen rose to his feet and released his Soul Power. The aura of a Rank 94 Titled Douluo spread outward. The Golden-Pattern Iron Rhino immediately sensed danger and let out a low roar, its four hooves scraping furiously at the ground as it tried to flee, but it could no longer move.

Jing Hongchen's Soul Power became an invisible cage, imprisoning it.

"Xiao Hongchen."

"Here."

"Go on. This Soul Beast is yours."

Xiao Hongchen nodded.

As he took a step forward, golden elements gathered at his side and condensed in his hand into a metal dagger.

Xiao Hongchen's martial soul allowed him to control metal. Even without summoning his martial soul or using a soul skill, he could manipulate metal elements and condense them into weapons. After taking a deep breath, he walked up to the Golden-Pattern Iron Rhino.

The Golden-Pattern Iron Rhino was still suppressed by Soul Power. Its pupils were filled with terror, yet it could not even struggle.

Xiao Hongchen drew the short blade. After infusing it with Soul Power, the blade shone with golden light. With a turn of his wrist, he drove it into a vital point behind the Golden-Pattern Iron Rhino's horn.

The Golden-Pattern Iron Rhino's body suddenly stiffened, then it crashed to the ground with a boom, producing a tremendous noise.

Not long afterward, a bright yellow Soul Ring rose from its corpse and hovered quietly in the air, emitting a gentle glow.

After putting away his short blade, Xiao Hongchen walked beneath the Soul Ring and sat down cross-legged.

He closed his eyes and circulated his Soul Power, slowly guiding the Soul Ring toward his body. The bright yellow Soul Ring drew nearer and nearer before finally descending onto him.

Once the Golden-Pattern Iron Rhino's Soul Power entered his meridians, it quickly resonated with Xiao Hongchen's martial soul. The phantom of the Three-Legged Golden Toad appeared behind him, while golden motes of light gathered from every direction and slowly circulated around him.

Absorbing a Soul Ring took time. Meng Hongchen took out a small stool for Xu Tianming to sit on. Xu Tianming glanced at Jing Hongchen before sitting beside Meng Hongchen and watching Xiao Hongchen. It was his first time seeing someone absorb a Soul Ring, so he was extremely curious.

Three hours later, Xiao Hongchen opened his eyes.

His aura had clearly grown much stronger, and the fluctuations of his Soul Power had become more solid. There was also a sharp, metallic quality to them.

"It worked!"

Meng Hongchen jumped up happily. After Xiao Hongchen stood, the second yellow Soul Ring on his body lit up as well, and he extended his right hand.

Golden light surged from his palm. Free metal particles in the surrounding air were drawn over and quickly gathered in his hand, forming a dense cloud of golden dust.

With a gentle wave of his hand, the metal dust transformed into dozens of tiny golden needles. They hovered in midair, shifting flexibly with his thoughts.

"Metal Boiling."

Xiao Hongchen looked at the golden needles, a gleam flashing through his eyes. His martial soul had always allowed him to control metal, but his second soul skill had brought that control to an entirely different level.

Previously, controlling metal required his utmost concentration, like trying to grasp flowing water with one hand. The slightest lapse in focus would let the water slip away.

But now, it felt as though the metal itself had become part of his body. The moment a thought arose, the golden needles responded at once.

With another wave of his hand, the golden needles scattered, forming a ring in the air before immediately changing into a thin metal shield.