Departure, Star Dou Forest!

Xu Peinian did not ask for a reward. Instead, he took a step back and said,

"Being able to help Grandpa Qian and everyone else already makes me very happy. If I really must ask for a reward, I hope that everyone close to me can stay safe and sound."

Though these words sounded courteous, they carried some of Xu Peinian's genuine feelings.

He had been abandoned by the roadside as a child. After finally being taken in by the kind-hearted Old Tom, Old Tom, who had treated him like a son, passed away only a few years later. In the years that followed, although everyone in Dihun Village lived in poverty, they had still given him food to eat.

This could not help but remind Xu Peinian of a lyric from his previous life: "We are all struggling to live."

Thus, his pursuit in life was simple. He only wanted to grow stronger and protect the people around him whom he cared about. If he had the chance, he would then climb to the heights and take in the magnificent view.

"You little rascal, why are you being so polite with Grandpa Qian? Since that's the case, come take the Whale Rubber here. Grandpa Qian will personally stand guard for you."

Qian Daoliu smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits. There was not the slightest hint of displeasure on his face; he was clearly very satisfied with Xu Peinian's answer.

"Alright, thank you, Grandpa Qian."

The warm sunlight slanted down as the old man and child walked hand in hand into the Elder Hall.

With a Peerless Douluo like Qian Daoliu guarding him, Xu Peinian no longer needed to worry about side effects or backlash when consuming Whale Rubber. He could directly take high-quality, high-age Whale Rubber at the very limit his body could withstand.

That was the benefit of having backing. If he were still an ordinary person, how would he dare do this? He would probably have to be extremely cautious even when consuming hundred-year Whale Rubber.

An hour later, Xu Peinian opened his eyes in the secret chamber, unable to suppress the smile at the corners of his lips.

Qian Daoliu, standing nearby, smiled as well and asked,

"Xiao Nian, how was it? Did you improve?"

"Grandpa Qian, look."

Xu Peinian poured Soul Power into his waist. The Qili Belt around it activated instantly, and a yellow soul ring, noticeably darker than before, emerged.

Qian Daoliu narrowed his eyes and inspected it, unable to stop a satisfied expression from appearing.

"Not bad. It looks like its age has increased by at least one or two hundred years. If you keep taking it for a while longer, it should increase quite a bit more."

After a brief pause, Qian Daoliu added,

"Xiao Nian, come to Grandpa Qian's place every few days from now on. Grandpa Qian will watch over you while you consume the Whale Rubber, so nothing unexpected happens."

"Mm! Thank you, Grandpa Qian."

Xu Peinian had not been kicked in the head by a donkey. Naturally, he gladly accepted Qian Daoliu's offer to personally protect him.

"Haha, it's nothing. Compared to your contributions, this is hardly worth mentioning."

Qian Daoliu chatted with Xu Peinian for a while longer before Xu Peinian took his leave and returned to continue practicing with his blade.

Watching Xu Peinian's departing figure, Qian Daoliu nodded and murmured to himself,

"My disciple Xu Peinian has the bearing of a god. Spirit Hall shall prosper."

Qian Jun Douluo: Was that polite?

Three months later.

Xu Peinian still looked like a child, but the muscles on his body had become much firmer, and his temperament had grown several degrees sharper.

This was all thanks to his diligent blade practice and body training over the past three months, along with taking Whale Rubber every few days.

Outside the Elder Hall.

Xu Peinian stood beside Qian Jun Douluo, seemingly waiting quietly for someone.

The benefits he gained from consuming Whale Rubber had basically reached saturation. Rather than continue taking it to slowly strengthen his body, it would be better to obtain the first soul ring for his Netherworld Blade as soon as possible.

Today was the day they would set out for Star Dou Forest to hunt a soul ring for him.

Inside the Elder Hall, Jiang Mo Douluo, who had emerged from seclusion, immediately left the hall and came to Xu Peinian and Qian Jun's side.

Once everyone had arrived, Qian Daoliu instructed the three of them,

"Qian Jun, Jiang Mo, the two of you must protect Xiao Nian well and find him a better soul ring."

"Xiao Nian, don't be polite either. If you have any requests, just tell your teacher and Grandpa Jiang Mo."

"Yes, please rest assured, Grand Worshipper. The two of us will definitely protect Xiao Nian."

"Got it, Grandpa Qian."

The three responded in turn, then set off.

Star Dou Forest, outer region.

Two men who appeared middle-aged slowly descended onto the branch of a thick tree with a six-year-old child.

They were Xu Peinian, Qian Jun, and Jiang Mo, who had come to hunt a soul ring.

Honestly, with this lineup, as long as they did not run into Di Tian or the sleeping Silver Dragon King, the three of them could slaughter their way through Star Dou Forest with ease.

He would handle the cheering, while his teacher and Jiang Mo Douluo handled the slaughter.

The forest was deathly quiet. The insect chirps that should have risen and fallen, as well as the occasional rustling from the bushes, vanished the instant Xu Peinian arrived.

"Teacher, Grandpa Jiang Mo, let's take a look over there."

Xu Peinian casually pointed in a direction and spoke to the two men standing on either side of him.

"Alright, we'll listen to Xiao Nian."

Qian Jun Douluo grabbed Xu Peinian in one hand. The three then moved rapidly yet silently in the direction he had indicated.

"Xiao Nian, have you decided what type of soul ring you want?"

While they traveled, Qian Jun Douluo asked with concern.

"Teacher, I plan for my Netherworld Blade to follow a strong assault route, perhaps with a bit of agility added in. A shadow-type or death-type soul beast would be perfect."

"Alright. Your teacher and I will definitely help you find a soul beast that satisfies you," Jiang Mo Douluo said from the side.

To avoid alarming other soul beasts, the three concealed their auras as they moved through the forest.

Two or three hours later.

Xu Peinian and the two Worshippers had reached the mixed zone of Star Dou Forest.

They had searched the outer region for a long time, but the soul beasts they encountered either had ages that were too low or species that were too poor. Before Xu Peinian could even say anything, Qian Jun Douluo had rejected every one of them for him.

The three then headed deeper into the forest and arrived in the mixed zone of Star Dou Forest.

Compared to the outer region, the soul beasts here were indeed much stronger. They could even see some soul beasts that were several thousand or even over ten thousand years old.

However, Xu Peinian was only obtaining his first soul ring. He could not withstand the energy impact produced by a soul ring formed after a soul beast of that level died.

Moreover, the deeper they went into the forest, the more ferocious the soul beasts became. In the outer region, the soul beasts had been so frightened that they did not dare move, but after entering this mixed zone, several blind fools actually dared to attack them first.

Faced with their enthusiastic embrace, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, the two Worshippers, responded with all their hearts.

The pressure unleashed by the battle frightened many other soul beasts into scattering and fleeing.

Xu Peinian and the other two had no choice but to change locations once more in search of a suitable target.

"That's a black soul ring. Can't take it."

"That one's only a deep purple soul ring. Still can't take it."

"Oh? A little yellow treasure. Ah, what a shame, it's not the attribute I need."

After searching for so long, Xu Peinian had completely lost himself in it. In his eyes, the things before him were no longer soul beasts, but walking soul rings of different colors and attributes.

Just as Xu Peinian set his sights on a purple soul ring that looked like a Shadow Demon Spider, Qian Jun Douluo suddenly sent him a voice transmission from the side.

"Xiao Nian, there's something over there that should meet your requirements. You could even say we've struck gold this time."