Absorbing the First Soul Ring and an Unexpected Turn!

Luo Xuan did not keep them guessing. "Blade Mantis!"

When his words reached Yue Guan and Gui Mei's ears,

both of them frowned.

Yue Guan reached out and placed a hand on Luo Xuan's forehead. "You don't have a fever. Why would a pair of fists go for the agility-attack path?"

Before Luo Xuan could explain, Gui Mei also tried to persuade him from the side.

"That's right, Xiao Xuan. I know you might want the mantis's twin blades to enhance your fists, but Blade Mantises only produce agility-attack Soul Skills. They aren't suitable for you."

Neither of them approved of Luo Xuan's choice of Soul Beast.

The idea was good, but it had to be grounded in reality.

Others had entertained the same idea before, and the result had been wasting a Soul Skill slot.

They were also afraid that Luo Xuan had spent too much time buried in books and become too rigid-minded.

That he did not know how to judge things according to the actual situation.

Of course, Luo Xuan understood their good intentions. He shook his head and said with a serious expression, "Uncle Yue, Uncle Gui, I've considered it all. My Martial Soul fights in close combat, and the most important thing is closing the distance."

If he could not get close and his enemies kept kiting him,

he would die an ugly death.

Therefore,

what he needed now was not an offensive method. He only needed a Soul Skill that could get him close.

Besides, even if his first Soul Skill were an offensive Soul Skill, by the time he reached Soul Saint or Soul Emperor, its killing power would practically be nonexistent.

It would be better to rapidly close in on the enemy.

After explaining his thoughts to them,

the two exchanged glances. Luo Xuan had actually convinced them.

"Fine. We'll follow your idea for the first Soul Skill. But if it doesn't work out, you'll have to listen to Old Ghost and me from now on."

Listening to Chrysanthemum Douluo's nagging, Luo Xuan did not feel impatient.

He merely felt something was strange.

Chrysanthemum Douluo was really like an old mother, while Ghost Douluo was quiet and reserved.

If their genders were different, they would truly make a fine married couple.

Shaking off the strange thoughts in his mind, Luo Xuan agreed.

With the Soul Beast decided, they had to go search for it.

Fortunately, Yue Guan and Gui Mei had already requested leave from Bibi Dong.

Otherwise,

she would not have easily let her two trusted generals leave her side.

Without taking a carriage, the two Titled Douluo brought Luo Xuan and sped toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

At the same time,

on a country road not far from the Star Dou Great Forest,

a little girl with a scorpion braid skipped about, her hands on her hips as she arrogantly stared at a group of bruised and battered men.

"You dared lay hands on me? If I see you again, I'll slaughter you!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Thank you for showing mercy, Miss. We'll leave right away!"

"Go... go, go."

After they left, Xiao Wu picked up a document from where they had departed.

"Huh? A Spirit Hall certificate? And a letter headed for Noding City?"

Some unlucky person must have been targeted by bandits and dropped these things.

Without giving it another thought, Xiao Wu headed toward Noding City.

A transformed Soul Beast had to interact with humans to improve, and she was preparing to avenge her mother.

The two Titled Douluo traveled at full speed without stopping and soon arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest.

After stopping at its outskirts, Yue Guan looked solemnly at Luo Xuan. "Xiao Xuan, Old Ghost and I will help you hunt your first Soul Beast."

After a pause, he continued, "For future Soul Beast hunts, we won't help unless it is a life-or-death crisis."

He was doing this for Luo Xuan's combat experience.

Which strong person had not fought their way through slaughter?

A good seedling had to be cultivated from a young age.

Seeing Yue Guan's seriousness, Luo Xuan nodded solemnly as well.

"I'll remember that!"

Afterward, they entered the Star Dou Great Forest.

It was Luo Xuan's first time seeing Soul Beasts, and he cautiously observed his surroundings.

Even with two Titled Douluo beside him, he could not develop the habit of being careless.

His behavior made Yue Guan and Gui Mei nod repeatedly.

"Xiao Xuan, we'll try to find you a Soul Beast that's just over 1,000 years old." Yue Guan's eyes were filled with concern as he said this.

His physical condition was indeed sufficient.

The problem was that quite a few greedy people had died trying to absorb a Thousand Year Soul Ring as their first ring.

When it involved family, even a Titled Douluo could not make up his mind.

On the other hand, Luo Xuan was fearless like a newborn calf, thumping his chest loudly.

"Don't worry, Uncle Yue, Uncle Gui. You both know that only Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings have spiritual shock. As long as my physique is strong enough, a Thousand Year Soul Ring won't be a problem!"

Just as Yue Guan was about to say something else, Gui Mei stopped him. "Enough. Xiao Xuan is confident, so stop fussing like an old woman. Blade Mantises aren't rare Soul Beasts, but they aren't easy to find either."

Especially when they had to find one within a specified age range.

That made the difficulty several times greater.

Yue Guan shot Gui Mei a glare but said nothing more.

The sun gradually set, and the Star Dou Great Forest grew dim.

It was only near nightfall that they found a Blade Mantis of the appropriate age.

"Xiao Xuan, this beast is already 1,200 years old. How about we find another one?"

Yue Guan glanced at the Soul Beast, somewhat worried.

Luo Xuan stared resolutely at the Blade Mantis. "This one, Uncle Yue. If we keep looking, we won't find one more suitable."

However, he always felt that this Blade Mantis looked somewhat different from other mantises.

With a sigh left behind, Yue Guan vanished from where he stood.

It was only a Thousand Year Soul Beast.

Very soon, Yue Guan returned, carrying the barely living Blade Mantis.

"Hurry up and do it. It's about to die."

Luo Xuan did not waste any time. The dagger in his hand viciously stabbed into the Blade Mantis.

With this stab, his path to becoming stronger began.

The strong preyed on the weak. He wanted to become one of the strongest!

His mindset changed without him realizing it, and Luo Xuan became more aggressive.

Of course,

outsiders had no way of knowing about that change in mindset.

A purple Soul Ring slowly emerged from the Blade Mantis's body.

This was Luo Xuan's first time coming into contact with a Soul Ring.

"What are you standing around for? Absorb it quickly, before it disappears."

Luo Xuan hurriedly sat cross-legged, and the Soul Ring was drawn onto his body.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei, who had already been worried, instantly turned grim.

In unspoken coordination, they looked toward a patch of rustling grass.

Three grown men and a child.

Among them, an elegant man held a delicate little girl in his arms.

"Ning Fengzhi..."

Yue Guan and Gui Mei looked at the newcomers as if facing a formidable enemy, shielding Luo Xuan, who was absorbing the Soul Ring, behind them.

They were not afraid of Ning Fengzhi.

They were wary of Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo beside him.

"Oh, isn't this Bibi Dong's two trusted generals? What are you doing here?"

Bone Douluo spoke in a mocking tone as he and Sword Douluo stepped forward to protect Ning Fengzhi.

Ning Fengzhi was not worried about his own safety. Instead, he looked toward Luo Xuan behind Yue Guan.

The purple Soul Ring lingered around Luo Xuan.

It looked utterly out of place around his child-sized body.

On the Douluo Continent, absorbing Soul Rings promoted physical development. Someone capable of absorbing a Thousand Year Soul Ring

could not possibly be this short.

"The Pope's disciple? I hadn't heard that she had taken another disciple."

He had never expected that simply coming out to obtain Ning Rongrong's first Soul Ring would lead him to discover something like this.

(Tang San had spent some time between awakening his Martial Soul and starting school. Ning Rongrong had innate soul power rank nine, and with enough good resources, reaching rank ten was not difficult. The timing was about right.)

"Hehe, there's no need to be so hostile. You two elders are here to obtain a Soul Ring as well, aren't you?"

Ning Fengzhi stepped out from behind them and calmly looked at Yue Guan and Gui Mei.

Yet most of his attention remained on Luo Xuan behind them.

Sensing his gaze, Yue Guan blocked it. "Ning Fengzhi, you're here to obtain a Soul Ring too? Then we won't disturb you. Hurry up and leave."

He had no intention of letting this deeply calculating man learn Luo Xuan's details.

That conspicuous purple Soul Ring was far too eye-catching.

Bone Douluo was displeased. "Watch how you talk. Bibi Dong didn't come out with you. Be careful—"

Ning Fengzhi stopped him before he could continue.

If they truly fought, both sides would definitely suffer. It was not worth it, and there was nothing to gain.

"Uncle Bone, don't say that. We have no conflict with the two elders."

Ning Fengzhi's words stunned Yue Guan and Gui Mei.

Rather than relaxing, they became even more worried.

Who did not know Ning Fengzhi's cunning nature? They were currently at a disadvantage.

Yue Guan would not believe that Ning Fengzhi had no ulterior motives.

"What do you want? You'd better not get any crooked ideas. We may not be your match, but the little one in your arms might not be so fortunate."

When Gui Mei spoke, he was shocking as ever.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

With his daughter Ning Rongrong involved, Ning Fengzhi's expression also darkened.

His eyes fixed on Luo Xuan behind them, while a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Don't threaten me. If we truly fight, you won't be able to protect that genius behind you, who can absorb a Thousand Year Soul Ring at such a young age."

Ning Fengzhi said it himself!