In the blink of an eye, it was afternoon.
A streak of sword light tore through the sky and landed steadily in Lin Xiao's courtyard.
Chen Xin looked at Lin Xiao, who was coaxing Rongrong in the courtyard, and spoke with an amused smile.
"Little Lin, it's about time. Let's go."
"Alright, Sword Grandpa."
With a thought, all the Gugas playing in the courtyard transformed into streams of light and entered his body.
Hiss... Just as I thought, recalling the Gugas actually consumes my Soul Power...
He shook his head. This Martial Soul trait really was the complete opposite of everyone else's.
After finishing all that, he took a light step and stood atop the flying sword beneath Chen Xin's feet.
Just as the two were about to set off.
Ning Rongrong came running over, her face full of urgency.
"Sword Grandpa! Brother Lin Xiao! I want to go too!"
"Alright, my little princess. Come aboard."
Chen Xin raised a hand and pulled Ning Rongrong to stand before him.
Who would have thought that the little girl would toss her head?
"I don't want to stand here. I want to stand with Brother Lin Xiao!"
"..."
Chen Xin felt as though his heart had taken a hit.
He shot Lin Xiao a resentful look, then reached out and lifted Ning Rongrong behind him.
Lin Xiao helplessly rubbed her little head, holding her shoulders to keep her from moving around.
Flying at high altitude was dangerous. Even with Sword Douluo there to guarantee their safety, it was better to avoid risks where possible.
Without another word, the Soul Power beneath Chen Xin's flying sword surged.
Wrapped in sword light, the three figures shot into the sky, cleaving through the air as they sped toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
Along the way, both Lin Xiao and Ning Rongrong craned their heads to look down beneath the flying sword.
Lin Xiao smacked his lips, feeling deeply moved.
This is the kind of flying I want~
Not darting around like some skyrocket in Guga Armor.
After flying for roughly two hours.
They finally caught sight of the dense Star Dou Great Forest below.
Chen Xin slowed down slightly and guided the flying sword to hover above the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
He swept his gaze over the forest below, patiently searching for a Spirit Beast suitable for Lin Xiao, examining the area inch by inch.
After searching for some time, he finally stopped beside a secluded little lake.
On a bluestone by the lakeshore lay a small turtle Spirit Beast, faint white light lingering around its body.
"Little Lin, that's the one." Chen Xin pointed at the Spirit Beast and said, "This Soul Gathering Turtle has around four hundred years of cultivation. Its age is just right, enough to serve as your first Spirit Ring."
Lin Xiao gave it a look.
Doesn't this Soul Gathering Turtle seem a little dumb?
Someone had come, yet it did not even know to run. It was still lying there sunbathing.
"Sword Grandpa, can I give it a try? I want to test the Gugas' strength."
Chen Xin nodded slightly. This was only the outer region anyway.
There were no powerful Spirit Beasts here, so delaying for a while would not matter.
Besides, he also wanted to see just how powerful this kid's Martial Soul really was.
The flying sword descended. Lin Xiao stepped forward and summoned an Evil Fat Guga.
"Guga, target that big turtle! Get it!"
"Understood, Guga!"
Evil Fat Guga ran over on her short little legs.
When the Soul Gathering Turtle saw a little penguin approaching with hostile intentions, it swiftly pulled its head and limbs into its shell.
"Guga!"
Evil Fat Guga raised her hand to gather strength, then smashed her fist into the turtle shell.
Crack—!
The hard turtle shell instantly exploded, caving inward in a huge dent.
The Spirit Gathering Turtle's head and limbs, which had been tucked inside its shell, were forced out by the tremendous impact.
Its turtle face was filled with terror. Its limbs flailed wildly in panic as it tried to pull back into its shell, but it could not do so at all.
Evil Fat Guga looked at the slime on her hand, and her chubby cheeks immediately puffed up.
Apparently feeling that it was dirty, she decisively jogged over to a large tree nearby.
Her little hands wrapped around the trunk.
"Guga!"
The towering tree, which even two people might not have been able to encircle, was forcibly uprooted by her.
Fat Guga hoisted the tree over her shoulder, aimed at the Soul Gathering Turtle that was still struggling in panic, and smashed it down viciously.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang bang bang!!
The tree swung so fast it became an afterimage, while leaves rained down from its crown.
Ning Rongrong covered her eyes with both little hands and buried her face behind Lin Xiao's back.
She had clearly been frightened by such a brutal fighting style.
Chen Xin raised his brows slightly as well. He had not expected Lin Xiao's Martial Soul to possess such outrageous brute strength.
Even ordinary Soul Ancestors probably did not possess this much power.
Buzz—
A yellow Spirit Ring floated out from the pile of turtle paste buried beneath the leaves.
Bang!
Evil Fat Guga planted the tree into the ground beside her.
She put her little hands on her hips.
"I'm done fighting, Guga!"
"Well done!"
Lin Xiao rubbed Evil Fat Guga's head.
Chen Xin raised a hand and gave a light cough.
"Little Lin, sit cross-legged now. Calm your mind and guide the Spirit Ring onto your body."
Lin Xiao obediently did as instructed.
He began releasing Soul Power to make contact with the Spirit Ring.
The Spirit Ring slowly floated over and settled around his body.
Lin Xiao only felt a warm, gentle current of Soul Power flowing through his body. It felt so comfortable~.
The absorption process was extremely smooth.
Before long, he opened his eyes.
He moved his limbs, feeling the abundant power in his body, and could not help but feel some private regret.
That was too easy.
The four-hundred-year Spirit Gathering Turtle Spirit Ring gave me no pressure at all. I should have found a Spirit Ring with a higher cultivation age.
Wait...
Lin Xiao suddenly had a feeling.
As long as the Gugas used their skills.
His Spirit Ring would also receive a slight boost!
This is a good thing!!
As long as I have enough time, I can have nine hundred-thousand-year Spirit Rings!
By then, I don't even dare imagine how powerful the Gugas will become.
Could they shatter Douluo Continent with one punch?
That would be insanely awesome!
Seeing Lin Xiao cry one moment and smile the next, Chen Xin could not help feeling concerned.
"Little Lin, what happened? Could it be that you're dissatisfied with the Spirit Ability?"
Hearing Chen Xin's voice, Lin Xiao instantly snapped back to his senses and hurriedly waved his hands.
"Sword Grandpa, it's nothing. I just got distracted and thought about something else."
As soon as he finished speaking, he carefully sensed his First Spirit Ring before opening his mouth.
"My First Spirit Ability is exactly as I expected."
"For a certain amount of time, my defense increases by 100%. At the same time, while the Spirit Ability is active, my Soul Power recovery speed increases by 100%. Not only that, my Soul Power limit and physical strength have also improved considerably."
Lin Xiao was very satisfied with this, and these boosts were actually just additional benefits.
The main benefit was still the improvement to the Gugas' skills.
I wonder what Mechanic Guga can make now.
"Wow! Brother Lin Xiao is amazing!"
Ning Rongrong clapped her little hands excitedly, her eyes sparkling.
She bounced up and down in excitement, looking as happy as if she were the one who had absorbed the Spirit Ring.
Chen Xin nodded slightly.
"That's good. Since this is settled, we'll head back first..."
Before he could finish, his expression froze.
"Hm?"
His eyes narrowed as his sharp gaze instantly swept toward the distance.
His figure flashed, and with a whoosh, he instantly darted deep into the forest.
Only Lin Xiao and a bewildered Ning Rongrong remained at the scene.
"Brother Lin Xiao, why did Sword Grandpa run off and leave us behind? Doesn't he want us anymore?"
Ning Rongrong clutched his arm, her eyes instantly reddening as her voice took on a choked nasal tone.
"Don't be afraid, Rongrong. Your brother is here. Sword Grandpa just found something unusual. He'll be back soon."
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