Soul Hunting

"By the way, Yanzi, did you take the elixir I gave you?"

Hearing Ning Bei's words, Dugu Yan slapped her forehead.

"Oh, right! I was just heading out to find Grandpa! I already took the elixir you gave me, and I've reached level 40 now. I was planning to ask Grandpa to help me find a spirit ring. Let's hurry."

With that, she grabbed Ning Bei's hand and headed straight for Sunset Forest. Dugu Bo was currently cultivating at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Honestly, this girl was far too bold. She dared to cross Sunset Forest alone, one of the three great soul beast gathering grounds. It was said that Pope Bibi Dong had once hunted a hundred-thousand-year Death Spider Emperor here.

Dugu Yan's reckless behavior made Ning Bei shake his head inwardly.

Summoning the Pill Pagoda, Ning Bei called out A Bao to guard them from the front.

Seeing the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear appear before them, Dugu Yan jumped in fright and tightly clutched Ning Bei's arm.

Ning Bei found the nervous girl amusing. Where had that fierce boldness from just now gone? He gently patted her shoulder.

"Don't worry. He's my companion too. Sunset Forest is dangerous, so it's better to stay cautious."

Hearing Ning Bei's words, Dugu Yan let out a breath of relief and patted her still undeveloped chest.

"I see. Then let's hurry. I can't wait to get my fourth spirit ring."

The two continued toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Perhaps some pill fragrance had leaked out the instant Ning Bei summoned the Pill Pagoda. Before they had gone far, a Mandala Snake appeared in their path.

Seeing this, A Bao immediately bared his claws and fangs, guarding the two in front.

Ning Bei's eyes lit up when he saw the Giant Serpent before them.

"Yanzi, your spirit ring is here. This is a Mandala Snake close to 5,400 years old. It's highly venomous and perfectly suited to be your fourth spirit ring."

Dugu Yan was delighted by Ning Bei's words, but then she grew worried.

"A Bei, the Mandala Snake suits me, but isn't its age a little too high? Isn't the limit for a fourth spirit ring around 5,000 years? I'm not a freak like you."

Ning Bei looked approvingly at the cautious Dugu Yan. She had not been carried away by the spirit ring that had fallen into her lap.

"It's fine, Yanzi. Didn't I have you take Whale Rubber half a year ago to strengthen your body? Even if the time has been short and the improvement isn't too great, you're still much stronger than before."

"Besides, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has an elixir called the Meridian Protecting Pill. It's specially used to temporarily strengthen one's meridians and can slightly increase the age limit for absorbing spirit rings. So a 5,400-year spirit ring won't be much of a problem."

After hearing Ning Bei's analysis, Dugu Yan could no longer suppress the joy in her heart. Ever since Ning Bei had helped resolve the toxins in her body, she had trusted his words completely.

"Really, A Bei? Then what are we waiting for? Let's kill it quickly."

Ning Bei nodded. Then A Zhu, Yao Yao, and Chang'e appeared beside them one after another.

Dugu Yan looked at the various soul beasts surrounding her. Although she was puzzled, she knew this was not the time to ask questions.

She entered Martial Soul Possession. A pair of small horns rose from the emerald serpent head, signaling that this was no longer an ordinary Jade Scale Snake Martial Soul. Yellow, yellow, purple—three spirit rings lit up in succession.

Ning Bei did not stop Dugu Yan. As a Battle Soul Master, more battle was always beneficial.

Several pills, including Beast Strength Pills, Qi Enhancing Pills, and Power Storage Pills, appeared in his hand, and he handed them to her.

"Yanzi, take them."

Without even asking what they were, Dugu Yan, who trusted Ning Bei unconditionally, stuffed the pills into her mouth. Feeling her strength and Soul Power surge dramatically, she looked at Ning Bei with shining eyes.

"A Bei, you have such good stuff too?"

"Of course. I'll give you some more after you finish absorbing the spirit ring."

The Mandala Snake was horrified by the formation of two humans and four beasts before it. It immediately wanted to make a run for it—no, that was wrong, it had no feet. In any case, it wanted to flee.

But before it could turn around, Yao Yao's branches wrapped around its body. Although the Demon Eye Magic Tree's poison could not harm the Mandala Snake, which was itself a venomous creature—

—it would still take considerable effort for it to break free from the branches. Moreover, the Man Faced Demon Spider beside it was not idle. Opening its mouth, it shot another venom net at the struggling Mandala Snake.

Seeing how effective the two beasts were, Dugu Yan's Second Spirit Ring lit up.

"Emerald Poison Tail."

The Jade Scale Flood Dragon's tail glowed faintly and lashed fiercely at the Mandala Snake's vital point, making it shriek in pain.

At that moment, A Bao also arrived before it and swiped a claw at the Mandala Snake's body. This had been Ning Bei's instruction; otherwise, with the strength of A Bao's claws, he could have sent it straight to the afterlife in one blow, and Dugu Yan would have lost her spirit ring.

Even so, that claw strike took half the Mandala Snake's life. It lay on the ground, barely breathing.

Seeing that the time was right, Ning Bei looked at Dugu Yan beside him.

"Yanzi, that's enough. Go."

Dugu Yan nodded and used her second spirit skill again, smashing it into the bleeding wound. A purple spirit ring floated up from the now completely dead Mandala Snake.

Ning Bei took out a Meridian Protecting Pill from the Necklace and handed it to Dugu Yan.

"This is the Meridian Protecting Pill. Take it, then begin absorbing the spirit ring."

Dugu Yan had barely needed to exert herself in this Soul Hunting trip, so there was naturally no need for her to rest and recover her condition. She nodded at Ning Bei, swallowed the Meridian Protecting Pill, and sat down cross-legged to absorb the spirit ring.

Ning Bei instructed the Three Beasts to protect the area around them in a triangular formation, while the Emerald Swan circled overhead on scouting duty.

This was Ning Bei's first time watching someone else absorb a spirit ring. He was somewhat curious about what was special about witnessing the process as an observer.

Dugu Yan's already slender figure became even more alluring under the effects of the spirit ring's Soul Power. Perhaps it was an illusion, but her previously unremarkable chest seemed to swell slightly as well.

No peeking at indecent sights. Such a fine little cabbage... I wonder which pig will get to enjoy it in the future?

Ah! Me, of course. Then it's fine.

Two hours later, the spirit ring absorption gradually neared its end. The purple spirit ring had fully solidified around the Jade Scale Flood Dragon, and Dugu Yan Slowly opened her eyes.

Her excited gaze fixed on Ning Bei.

"A Bei, my Soul Power has reached level 41."

"What about your Soul Skill? What is it?"

Dugu Yan closed her eyes to sense her fourth spirit skill, then explained it to Ning Bei.

"My fourth spirit skill is called Twin Poison Fangs. It can launch venomous fangs forged from lethal poison to attack enemies. If the target is already poisoned, the damage doubles. It works wonderfully with my Third Spirit Skill, Poison Mist."

Ning Bei silently imagined what that Soul Skill would look like. Why did it feel so familiar?

"Is that so? Then this skill suits you quite well."

"That's right, A Bei. Let's hurry to the hot spring and find Grandpa. I think he'll be in for a huge surprise."

It seemed this woman was just like him—she enjoyed seeing the old man at home wear a stunned expression.