Found one at last

Early the next morning, Chen An had just reached the carriage when he saw Ning Rongrong standing beside it, looking up as she spoke to Chen Xin.

At this hour, the little girl usually had yet to get out of bed. Today, she had made a rare effort.

Seeing him approach, Ning Rongrong immediately ran over.

"Brother Chen An, come back as soon as you get your Soul Ring."

"I know. We'll come back once we find a suitable one."

Chen An answered with a smile. He had meant to reach out and ruffle her hair, but the moment he raised his hand, the little girl dodged away.

"I just combed it."

Hearing that, Chen An withdrew his hand. He glanced at the neatly tied ribbons in her hair and refrained from messing them up.

Ning Rongrong followed him to the carriage, only stepping aside once Chen Xin had taken him aboard and settled in.

As the carriage left the sect, Chen An lifted the curtain and glanced back. The little girl was still standing there, and when she saw him turn back, she waved hard.

Chen An waved back. Only when she disappeared from view did he lower the curtain.

This time, they were heading to Sunset Forest.

With Chen Xin accompanying him, there was little to worry about along the way. Sometimes Chen An watched the scenery outside; sometimes he cultivated inside the carriage. Whenever they stopped to rest, he got out to stretch his limbs, so the journey was not particularly trying.

Only after they actually entered the forest did he realize he had thought things a little too simple before coming.

There were indeed plenty of Soul Beasts, but finding a suitable one was not so easy.

Some were too young. When they finally encountered one that looked promising, Chen Xin took one look and led him onward again.

It was over a thousand years old.

His body's current ability to withstand a Soul Ring nearly a thousand years old was already the result of nurturing it little by little every day. Chen An was not about to think he could absorb a ring of whatever age he pleased.

Since it was unsuitable, they would keep looking.

Yet they searched from morning until afternoon, and even as the sky began to darken, neither had found a satisfactory target.

Chen An followed him around a patch of shrubs into a clearing and could not help stretching his slightly aching calves.

A whole day of walking was far more tiring than preparing a meal in the Kitchen.

At least cooking had something definite to work toward. He knew how many people were eating, how much meat to cut, and when to put it in the pot.

Now, though, they simply went wherever the search took them. He did not even know how many more days they would have to look.

Noticing his movements, Chen Xin stopped and surveyed their surroundings.

"We'll stop here for today and look again tomorrow morning."

Chen An naturally had no objections. He took out the things they needed for their rest, then gathered some dry branches to light a fire and boil water.

By the time Chen Xin returned from checking the surrounding area, Chen An had already set the water over the fire and was crouching there, adding wood.

"You've walked all day. Aren't you going to rest?"

"I'm boiling some hot water. It'll make eating a little more comfortable later."

The forest was cooler than outside. He had not noticed while walking, but once he stopped, his clothes clung to his back, which really was rather uncomfortable.

Having something hot was better than simply gnawing on dry rations.

Chen Xin did not stop him. He sat down nearby and watched him finish boiling the water and offer him the first bowl.

Grandfather and grandson ate a little food with the hot water. After cleaning up, Chen An leaned against a tree trunk to rest.

Before setting out, he had thought that, with some luck, they might find one shortly after entering the forest.

Now it seemed he had better resign himself to staying another couple of days.

Seeing him grow drowsy before long, Chen Xin told him to sleep and kept watch beside the fire himself.

Chen An had wanted to keep him company and chat for a while, but he could barely keep his eyelids open. In the end, he merely reminded him that the water was beside him, wrapped his outer robe snugly around himself, and lay down.

With Grandpa Sword there, he slept soundly.

When he woke the next morning, some warmth still lingered in the fire. Chen Xin remained seated in the same spot, and when he saw Chen An open his eyes, he handed him the waterskin.

They washed, ate, packed everything away, and continued deeper into the forest.

Perhaps they had used up all their bad luck yesterday. This time, Chen Xin stopped before noon.

Ahead, on a patch of broken stone, a red scorpion was crawling out of a crevice. Its two pincers spread wide, its long tail arched high behind it, and a flickering mass of flame burned at the tip.

Chen An immediately stopped as well, without rashly approaching.

Chen Xin examined the scorpion's tail carefully, and at last, a smile appeared on his face.

"An Earth King. Nineteen tail segments, around nine hundred and fifty years old."

Hearing its age, Chen An perked up as well and followed Chen Xin's gaze.

The scorpion had already sensed someone approaching. Its slowly moving body turned toward them, and its pincers struck together with a series of sharp clicks.

Chen Xin did not rush to act. Only after observing it a little longer did he lower his head to look at Chen An.

"Fire attribute, and its age is suitable too. This one will do."

"Then this is the one."

Chen An answered without hesitation.

They had already spent more than a day searching. Now that both the type and age were suitable, and Grandpa Sword had checked it too, there was naturally nothing to hesitate over.

The Earth King still tried to charge at them, but the flames at the tip of its tail had barely brightened before Chen Xin was standing in its path.

A streak of sword light fell. Its raised tail was pressed back to the ground, and both pincers fell still.

Chen An had not even seen clearly how Chen Xin got there before the Soul Beast, so fierce a moment ago, lay among the broken stones with only its abdomen still rising and falling.

For a Titled Douluo, subduing a Soul Beast less than a thousand years old was hardly any trouble.

"Come over."

Chen Xin held it in check, leaving Chen An room to strike.

Chen An took out the ordinary dagger he had prepared beforehand, stepped forward, and stabbed where Chen Xin directed.

Before long, a yellow Soul Ring rose from the Earth King's body, its color considerably deeper than that of his first Soul Ring.

Found one at last.

Chen An looked at the Soul Ring before him, pleased, but he also knew this was not yet the time to relax.

Finding it and actually absorbing it into his body were two different things.

He sat cross-legged to one side, put away the dagger, and released the Dragon-Transforming Pot.

A soft jade glow shone. The dragon patterns on the pot shifted with the flow of Soul Power, and a yellow Soul Ring floated beside him.

Chen Xin stood beside him and offered just one reminder.

"Keep your Soul Power steady. Grandpa will handle things out here."

Chen An nodded and raised his hand to draw the new Soul Ring toward him.

The yellow ring slowly approached. The instant it settled onto the Dragon-Transforming Pot, a scorching force surged into his body through his Martial Soul.

Chen An's back tensed, and his previously steady breathing immediately faltered.

Good grief, this really was nothing like the first Soul Ring.

The heat came fast and fierce. His chest and abdomen swelled painfully, and even his arms tightened. Not daring to let his attention wander, he hurriedly circulated his Soul Power, guiding it bit by bit along his usual cultivation route.

The heat did not dissipate immediately, however. New power continued pouring in, and sweat soon beaded on his forehead.

Only now did Chen An truly feel that all the physique rewards he had accumulated had not been for nothing.

Uncomfortable as it was, his body could bear it.

As long as he did not lose control, he could slowly incorporate the incoming force into his own Soul Power. If one circulation was not enough, he would circulate it again.

Chen Xin stood beside him the whole time. When he saw Chen An's brows knit tightly at the start, his own heart rose into his throat.

He had assessed the ring's age and examined Chen An's body beforehand, but when it actually came to absorbing it, how could he be entirely free of worry?

Only when Chen An's breathing steadied again and the fluctuating Soul Power around him gradually settled into a rhythm did Chen Xin relax and spare some attention to watch their surroundings.

Occasional insect calls drifted through the forest, and the sun slowly shifted across the sky.

Chen An could spare no attention for any of that. His entire focus was on the force within his body.

At first there was heat. Later, as that heat gradually dispersed, a sense of ease instead spread wherever his Soul Power passed. With the final portion of power merging into him, the sluggishness that had remained when he was stuck at rank twenty vanished completely.

Only after circulating his Soul Power several more times did Chen An open his eyes.

The Dragon-Transforming Pot still hovered before him, with two yellow Soul Rings, one above the other, expanding and contracting at his will.

Soul Grandmaster.

Chen An could not help smiling. He had intended to stand immediately, but after sitting for so long, the moment he moved his legs, a tingling numbness struck first.

Chen Xin reached out to steady him and took the opportunity to examine his Soul Power. Once he confirmed there were no problems, the smile on his face broadened.

"Rank twenty-two. Not bad."

Hearing the result made Chen An even happier.

He had his second Soul Ring, and his Soul Power had risen by two ranks as well. That day and more of walking had not been in vain.

Chen Xin told him to stretch his limbs while he packed up the remaining things on the ground, preparing to find another place to rest.

Chen An followed beside him, walking as he sorted through the information that had just appeared in his mind.

As with his first Soul Ring, he had gained another new dish this time.

Sea pork hormone soup.

The name was a little strange, but as the method of preparing it became clear in his mind, Chen An no longer had any attention to spare for pondering that.

Sea pork, along with the accompanying organ ingredients, could all be generated through his second Soul Skill. Once prepared and simmered into a pot of hot soup, they could ward off the cold and restore stamina, as well as replenish some Soul Power.

That would be far more comfortable than gnawing on dry rations the whole way.

At that thought, Chen An even quickened his steps, catching up to Chen Xin.

"Grandpa, let's not have dry rations later. I'll make you some soup."

Hearing him mention his new Soul Skill, Chen Xin was naturally interested. Still, seeing the sweat he had yet to wipe clean from his forehead, he handed him the waterskin first.

"Rest first. The soup can wait."

Chen An took the water, drank a mouthful, and agreed with a smile.

That was true. He already had his Soul Ring. What difference would a little more time make?

Once they found a place to rest, he obediently sat down to regulate his breathing. Before closing his eyes, however, he still remembered to take two bowls from his belt and set them neatly beside him.