Once Ning Chuan and Sword Douluo entered the forest, they had little to worry about. After all, Sword Douluo was only looking for a hundred-year soul beast.
Their luck was good. Less than an hour after entering the forest, they encountered a Cloud-Eared Deer with over three hundred years of cultivation. Sword Douluo captured it with a casual wave of his hand.
"Chuan, your Creation Exquisite Pagoda is presumably a support-type martial soul, just like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. This Cloud-Eared Deer has roughly three hundred and eighty years of cultivation, already very close to the safe upper limit for a first soul ring, and its attributes are an excellent match for a support martial soul. Go ahead and kill it, then absorb its soul ring. Grandpa Sword will guard you!" Sword Douluo said, holding the Cloud-Eared Deer down with one hand.
Ning Chuan released his martial soul, but did not kill the Cloud-Eared Deer. He held the Creation Exquisite Pagoda beside his ear, pretending to hear something, then said to Sword Douluo, "Grandpa Sword, my martial soul seems to think this Cloud-Eared Deer's cultivation is too low!"
Sword Douluo froze at his words. He had never heard of a martial soul communicating with its soul master.
But recalling how Ning Chuan had said the Creation Exquisite Pagoda's name had suddenly appeared in his mind, Sword Douluo believed him.
After all, the Creation Exquisite Pagoda was a martial soul that could inspire awe in both the Seven Kill Sword and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. It was only reasonable for it to possess a few extraordinary abilities that defied common sense.
Sword Douluo released the Cloud-Eared Deer and led Ning Chuan deeper into the forest.
He knew the Creation Exquisite Pagoda was of an exceptionally high grade, so he agreed with Ning Chuan's wish to hunt an older soul beast.
Still, the most he would accept was five hundred years.
After all, absorbing a soul ring older than one's current realm could withstand was dangerous. Sword Douluo would never let the future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect take that risk.
As they ventured deeper, they encountered several soul beasts between five and six hundred years old. However, their attributes were not a particularly good match for support-type soul beasts, so they never made a move.
Ning Chuan was happy to keep going deeper. After all, his target was an even older soul beast.
System, do you have any good suggestions for my first soul ring's attributes? Ning Chuan asked inwardly as they traveled.
The system replied, "The Creation Exquisite Pagoda can accommodate any soul ring!"
Ning Chuan was delighted. That meant he would not have to consider anything else when hunting for a soul ring. He only needed to make sure the soul beast was old enough.
While Ning Chuan was pondering this, Sword Douluo suddenly stopped and gestured for him to halt.
"Some soul masters are approaching. They seem fairly strong!" Sword Douluo said, looking toward the dense woods ahead.
Before he finished speaking, a dark shadow darted out of the trees. It was not a soul master, however, but a soul beast.
"A Purple-Eyed Swift Shadow Snake!"
Sword Douluo murmured its name, then immobilized it with a wave of his hand.
Just then, three figures burst out of the dense woods one after another.
When Ning Chuan saw their attire, he immediately guessed their identities.
These three must be the Peerless Dragon Snake and Meng Yiran. I didn't expect them to still be in the Star Dou Great Forest! Ning Chuan thought.
He knew Ning Rongrong and her companions had left the Star Dou Great Forest only two days earlier. Since Tang San had snatched two soul beasts from Meng Yiran in succession, it was perfectly normal for her to leave a few days later.
The Peerless Dragon Snake couple really have rotten luck. With strength like theirs, they actually let soul beasts around two thousand years old escape three times! Ning Chuan struggled to keep himself from laughing.
Seeing the Purple-Eyed Swift Shadow Snake immobilized by Sword Douluo, Meng Yiran immediately grew anxious.
She had already had two soul beasts snatched away. Now, after finally finding a third, it had fallen into someone else's hands again. How could she not be anxious?
"Senior, we were the ones who wounded that Purple-Eyed Swift Shadow Snake. Please return it to us!" Meng Yiran said to Sword Douluo.
The moment Dragon Duke saw Sword Douluo, his expression changed drastically. He pulled Meng Yiran behind him, then cupped his hands and bowed in solemn greeting. "Dragon Duke Meng Shu greets Your Eminence. May I ask which Titled Douluo stands before us?"
Sword Douluo had not released his aura. Ordinary soul masters might not have sensed the pressure unique to a Titled Douluo, but Dragon Duke, a Soul Douluo himself, could feel it clearly.
Hearing Dragon Duke's words, Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran were both astonished. Neither had expected to encounter a Titled Douluo in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Meng Yiran glanced at Ning Chuan. Seeing that he was about her age, she knew this Purple-Eyed Swift Shadow Snake would probably be snatched away too.
After hearing Dragon Duke introduce himself, Sword Douluo nodded slightly. "So, you are the Peerless Dragon Snake!"
Dragon Duke hurriedly cupped his hands, his tone respectful. "To think Your Eminence has heard of my wife and me! We are truly honored. May I ask who you are, senior...?"
"Sword Dao Chen Xin!" Sword Douluo said calmly.
Dragon Duke was startled. He had never expected to encounter Sword Dao Chen Xin. He had been thinking that he and his wife could contend with a Titled Douluo together, but against Chen Xin, he had little confidence!
"To think it is His Eminence Sword Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect! I have long admired your great name!" Dragon Duke said flatteringly.
Sword Douluo had no wish to linger with them. With a wave of his hand, he tossed the Purple-Eyed Swift Shadow Snake to Dragon Duke.
Dragon Duke had already been ready to give up. He had never expected Sword Douluo to turn down this soul beast.
Sword Douluo called to Ning Chuan and prepared to leave with him.
Seeing that Sword Douluo was about to leave, Dragon Duke immediately thanked him. "Thank you for graciously yielding it to us, Your Eminence! My wife and I will never forget this kindness!"
Sword Douluo waved a hand. "It was yours to begin with. There is nothing to thank me for!"
Hearing this, Dragon Duke promptly said, "Your Eminence may not know, but we have already had two soul beasts snatched from us this way!"
Sword Douluo immediately became interested. He asked curiously, "With your strength, someone actually snatched them from you? Which Titled Douluo did it?"
"It wasn't a Titled Douluo!" Dragon Duke shook his head helplessly, then recounted their encounter with Shrek Academy.
After hearing the whole story, Sword Douluo's opinion of Dragon Duke and Snake Granny improved considerably.
He knew perfectly well that if Dragon Duke and Snake Granny joined forces, Zhao Wuji would be no match for them.
Yet they had been willing to let a contest between the younger generation decide who would get the soul beast, and afterward, they had not used their superior cultivation to bully the others and go back on their word.
Sword Douluo held a measure of respect for people who acted so honorably.
He smiled and said, "What a coincidence. The little princess of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is a member of Shrek Academy! You must have met her already!"
Hearing this, Dragon Duke felt profoundly relieved that he had not attacked Shrek Academy earlier.
"Yiran, come here and thank His Eminence Sword Douluo for graciously yielding it to us!" Dragon Duke immediately told Meng Yiran.
Meng Yiran hurried forward with a respectful expression. She had long heard the name Sword Dao Chen Xin and already deeply admired powerful figures like him. She promptly bowed and expressed her thanks to Sword Douluo.
Sword Douluo raised her with a wave of his hand. "There is no need for such courtesy!"
Dragon Duke smiled, then gestured toward Ning Chuan. "Your Eminence Sword Douluo, this young gentleman seems close to my granddaughter in age. Why not let the two youngsters get acquainted?"
Although he did not know Ning Chuan's identity, he knew that anyone personally guarded by Sword Douluo must have an extraordinary background.
That was why he wanted Meng Yiran to introduce herself. He also hoped to pave the way for his granddaughter to gain a valuable connection.
Sword Douluo did not refuse.
In his eyes, Ning Chuan was ultimately a support-type soul master.
Meng Yiran had reached rank thirty at such a young age, which already marked her as exceptionally talented.
Letting them get acquainted would benefit Ning Chuan as well.
After all, support-type soul masters lacked offensive abilities. Only with reliable companions helping them could they unleash the full power of their support abilities.
Before you continue