Soul Hunting

"By the way, Yanzi, have you taken the elixir I gave you?"

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

"Ah! I was just heading out to find Grandfather! I've already taken the elixir you gave me, and I've reached level 40 now. I was planning to have Grandfather help me find a spirit ring. Let's hurry!"

With that, she grabbed Ning Bei's hand and headed straight for Sunset Forest. At that moment, Dugu Bo was cultivating within 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 and had him guard the two of 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 her nervousness amusing. Where had that fierce bravado from just now gone? He gently patted her fragrant shoulder.

"Don't worry. He's my companion too. Sunset Forest is rather dangerous, so it's best to stay on guard."

After hearing Ning Bei's words, Dugu Yan let out a sigh of relief and patted her still-underdeveloped chest.

"I see. Then let's get going. I can't wait to obtain my Fourth Spirit Ring."

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

Perhaps a trace of alchemy fragrance had leaked out the instant Ning Bei summoned the Pill Pagoda, because not long after they set out, a Mandala Snake appeared before them.

Seeing this, A Bao immediately bared his claws and fangs, guarding the two of them.

Ning Bei's eyes lit up at the sight of the Giant Serpent.

"Yanzi, your spirit ring is here. This is a Mandala Snake close to 5,400 years old. It's highly venomous, making it perfect for your Fourth Spirit Ring."

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

"A Bei, although the Mandala Snake suits me, 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 Dugu Yan's cautious attitude. She clearly had not been blinded by the spirit ring that had fallen into her lap.

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

"Besides, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has an elixir called the Meridian Protecting Pill. It is specifically used to temporarily enhance the strength of one's meridians and can slightly increase the age limit for absorbing spirit rings. So a 5,400-year spirit ring shouldn'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 placed complete faith in his words.

"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 that had appeared around her. Though she was puzzled, she knew this was not the time to ask questions.

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

Ning Bei did not stop Dugu Yan's actions. As a Battle Soul Master, more combat 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 asking what kind of pills they were, Dugu Yan, who trusted Ning Bei unconditionally, stuffed them directly 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. Once you've finished absorbing the spirit ring, I'll give you some more."

The Mandala Snake was horrified by the formation of two people and four beasts, and it immediately wanted to slip away. No, that was wrong—it had no feet. Anyway, it wanted to flee.

But before it could turn around, Yao Yao's branches had 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 some effort for it to break free from the branches. Moreover, the Man Faced Demon Spider beside it had not been idle. Opening its mouth, it fired another venom net at the struggling Mandala Snake.

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

"Emerald Poison Tail."

The Jade Scale Flood Dragon's tail glowed with an eerie light as it viciously lashed at the Mandala Snake's vital spot, making it shriek in pain.

At that moment, A Bao also reached its side 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, one strike would probably have sent it straight to the afterlife, 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, breathing out more than it breathed in.

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

"Yanzi, that's about enough. Go on."

Dugu Yan nodded and used her Second Spirit Skill again, smashing it into the bleeding wound. A purple spirit ring floated up from the utterly dead Mandala Snake.

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

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

During this Soul Hunting trip, Dugu Yan had barely exerted any effort, so there was naturally no need for her to rest and recover first. She nodded at Ning Bei, swallowed the Meridian Protecting Pill, and immediately sat cross-legged to absorb the spirit ring.

Ning Bei instructed the Three Beasts to form a triangular formation around them. Meanwhile, the Emerald Swan circled overhead, carrying out reconnaissance.

This was Ning Bei's first time watching someone else absorb a spirit ring, and he was rather curious. He wondered what was special about witnessing spirit ring absorption from an observer's perspective.

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

Tsk, no peeking at indecent sights. Such a fine little cabbage—who knew which pig would get to enjoy her in the future?

Ah! It was me? Then never mind.

Two hours later, the absorption of the Soul Ring gradually neared its end. The purple Soul Ring had solidified around the Jade Scale Flood Dragon as Dugu Yan Slowly opened her eyes.

Her excited gaze fixed on Ning Bei.

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

"What about the spirit skill? What is it?"

Dugu Yan closed her eyes and sensed her Fourth Spirit Skill before introducing it to Ning Bei.

"My Fourth Spirit Skill is called Twin Poison Fangs. It launches poison fangs tempered with potent venom at the enemy. If the target is already poisoned, the damage is doubled. It works exceptionally well with my Third Spirit Skill, Poison Mist."

Ning Bei silently pictured what the skill would look like when used. 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 Grandfather. I think he'll be utterly shocked."

It seemed this woman was just like him—she enjoyed seeing the Old Fellow at home wear that stunned expression.