First Soul Ring, One Thousand Years!

"Come to think of it, your father's Ning Fengzhi, right?" Xiao Ran raised an eyebrow at Ning Rongrong.

"That's right. Looks like you know a thing or two after all. Now come with me to hunt a Soul Beast," Ning Rongrong replied.

"Hey, what's your follower's name?" Xiao Ran asked, turning his head.

"His name is Ye Fan. He's a talented inner disciple of our sect." Ning Rongrong didn't look back.

"Ye Fan? Then I'm Shi Hao."

Xiao Ran scratched his head and looked back at the cold-faced young man. "Brother Ye, what's your Martial Soul?"

"My Martial Soul is called the Ruinous Army Sword," Ye Fan said evenly.

"The Ruinous Army Sword? Hahaha!" Xiao Ran froze for a beat, then doubled over laughing. "Then I'm Thornmail! Omen of Disaster! Witch's Cloak!"

"This continent really has everything," Xiao Ran marveled.

Ye Fan and Ning Rongrong stared at him, utterly baffled by what was so funny.

"What's gotten into you? What's so funny?" Ning Rongrong demanded.

"Nothing, nothing." Xiao Ran wiped the corner of his eye and finally got his laughter under control. "It's just such an aggressive name. All offense, no defense. Nice, nice."

The three left Nuoding City together. A carriage had been waiting outside for some time. Ye Fan took the driver's seat, while Ning Rongrong and Xiao Ran climbed into the carriage. The horses kicked up dust as they raced toward the Soul Hunting Forest.

A little over four hours later, the carriage slowly came to a stop.

"We're at the edge of the Soul Hunting Forest," Ye Fan said from the front of the carriage. "Stay close to me, and don't wander too far from the young lady."

The three entered the forest. About two hours later, Ye Fan suddenly raised a hand, and they all stopped.

In the shadows some thirty yards ahead, a pitch-black leopard-shaped Soul Beast crouched low.

"A Shadowblade Nether Leopard," Ye Fan said quietly. "It's not young. Judging by the glow of its markings, it should be a thousand-year Soul Beast."

"What, scared?" Xiao Ran asked with a crooked smile.

"What would I be scared of? I'm not the one absorbing it!" Ning Rongrong snapped, though her small hand tightened around the hem of her skirt.

Ye Fan looked at Xiao Ran. "Let me make this clear. A thousand-year Soul Ring isn't something someone at your level can handle. Even my Third Soul Ring was only a thousand years old. Trying to absorb one at level ten is no different from suicide."

"To hell with being scared. Let's give it a shot. That's the one—Ye Fan, take it down! It's coming to hunt us anyway. You'll have to kill it whether you want to or not!"

Before the words had left his mouth, the leopard sprang from its hind legs. It became a streak of black lightning and lunged straight at Ning Rongrong!

Ye Fan reacted instantly. The Ruinous Army Sword flashed from its sheath and slashed across the leopard's path. The Shadowblade Nether Leopard twisted in midair, its claws trailing three dark-blue blades of light that slammed into the sword.

Boom!

The shockwave burst outward, shredding the surrounding bushes.

Unwilling to give up, the leopard wheeled around and lunged at Ning Rongrong again.

Ning Rongrong's face went deathly pale. As she backed away, she stepped on a dead branch and stumbled. The black leopard seized the opening and pounced.

The leopard's earlier feint had drawn Ye Fan half a step out of position. He couldn't get back in time. His expression changed sharply. "Young lady!"

Xiao Ran stopped fooling around.

His eyes flashed. He reached into his clothes and pulled out something he had collected not long ago: a Soul Beast doll—a Netherworld Wolf!

"Let's go! Super Fusion, Netherworld Wolf!"

He became a streak of black light. The light dispersed, and Xiao Ran used the Netherworld Wolf's speed to rush at the Shadowblade Nether Leopard.

"Netherworld Wind-Rending Claw!"

The strike knocked the leopard back, but it still refused to relent.

Now the leopard had made Ye Fan furious. "Get back." His voice was ice-cold, his gaze locked on the black leopard.

This time, he held nothing back. The Ruinous Army Sword traced a thin line of sparks across the ground.

"First Soul Skill: Blood Moon Sky-Splitting!"

With a low shout, he swept the Ruinous Army Sword diagonally upward. A massive dark-red sword arc flew from the blade, bearing a murderous force as it slashed toward the Shadowblade Nether Leopard.

The leopard tried to dodge, but it was half a beat too slow. The sword arc struck its spine hard.

Slash!

"I'm not done!"

"Second Soul Skill: Baleful Shadow Deathblow!"

The Ruinous Army Sword thrust forward and pierced the Shadowblade Nether Leopard through the chest and abdomen, leaving it barely alive.

"My turn."

Xiao Ran stepped forward and finished the Shadowblade Nether Leopard with one swipe of his claws.

A purple Soul Ring slowly rose from its corpse.

System, tell me if I can absorb this Soul Ring, Xiao Ran asked silently.

Ding! This Soul Ring is one thousand years old. The host is level ten. Standard assessment: cannot absorb.

However, the host's Martial Soul, Dark Silver Spark, is a special devouring-type Martial Soul capable of forcibly refining Soul Rings above the host's level.

Assessment: forced absorption is possible, but the risk is extreme.

Xiao Ran's eyes flew open, gleaming brightly.

"Going all in is its own kind of wisdom! So let's gamble! I have to absorb this Soul Ring!"

Ning Rongrong stared at him. "Have you lost your mind?"

Ye Fan gave a slight nod. "If you pull this off, you'll earn some respect from me."

"Just some?" Xiao Ran closed his eyes. "When I wake up, you'll be calling me Grandpa. Enough talk. You two, guard me!"

He took a deep breath and slowly began absorbing the Soul Ring.

Boom!

His consciousness was swallowed in an instant. Xiao Ran felt every inch of his meridians being torn apart and burned. His skin cracked.

"Aaah... Make it stop!"

The agony left Xiao Ran capable of nothing but instinctive cries.

Seeing this, Ning Rongrong summoned the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Its radiance surged toward Xiao Ran.

His teeth chattered from how hard he clenched them, and blood filled his mouth. The Shadowblade Nether Leopard's resentment kept circling through his mind.

Then dark-purple gas suddenly burst from Xiao Ran's body and swiftly enveloped him. At the same time, it dissolved the black leopard's resentment in an instant. But Xiao Ran couldn't hold on. He passed out on the spot.

Ding! Soul Ring absorption complete!

Soul Power Level increased from 10 to 12!

Dark Silver Spark's first-stage evolution complete!

Item obtained: Shadowblade Nether Leopard Spark Replica Doll ×1!

Galaxy Form's First Soul Skill unlocked: Galaxy Flash Slash!

Dark Lugiel Form's First Soul Skill unlocked: Falling-Light Rending Blade!

Storage device obtained: Twenty-Four Bridge Moonlit Night!

Xiao Ran heard only the words "absorption complete" before passing out. When he woke again, five days had passed.

He opened his eyes to pale-blue gauze curtains. The scent of medicine hung in the air.

"Well, damn. Where the hell did I end up? Am I even in the same country?"

Xiao Ran couldn't help grumbling. He recalled absorbing the Soul Ring a few days earlier, then felt the Soul Power coursing through him.

"Holy shit, I went straight to level twelve! Two levels at once, plus two Soul Skills, a replica doll, and a storage device. System, you really thought of everything!"

Xiao Ran got out of bed and walked around. His body was far stronger than before.

"He's awake! He's awake! That kid's awake!"