Encountering a Hundred-Thousand-Year Rabbit

Upon arriving at the Star Dou Great Forest, Sword and Bone still felt somewhat uneasy. After all, once the spirit rings were absorbed, they might have to deal with that 800,000 Year Black Dragon King again.

Gu Rong muttered to himself before he could not help reminding Ning Bei:

"After absorbing the spirit rings, keep a low profile when you go looking for those soul beasts, understood? Who knows if they might suddenly go feral?"

Ning Bei rolled his eyes. Watch your wording, please. Was "going feral" really appropriate here?

"Rest assured, Bone Grandfather. I won't joke around with my own life."

As they spoke, the four of them arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest.

The usual arrangement remained: Chen Xin went ahead alone to search for soul beasts of suitable age, while Gu Rong stayed behind to protect the two little supports.

The difference was that Ning Bei directly summoned three Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts to escort him this time.

Looking at the Three Beasts before him, Ning Bei felt completely safe.

Any soul beast below the hundred-thousand-year level would have to think twice about whether it could defeat those three.

Yet, just as he was thinking about soul beasts below the hundred-thousand-year level, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast appeared before the three of them. It seemed to have been drawn over by the Alchemy Fragrance released the instant Ning Bei summoned the Three Beasts.

The three were stunned as they looked at the little girl before them. Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi had seen through her true form because of their cultivation, while Ning Bei recognized the little girl herself.

Ning Bei: "Isn't this freaking Xiao Wu?"

Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi: "There's such a good thing???"

Xiao Wu and the three of them began staring wide-eyed at one another.

With just one glance, she could tell that the three soul beasts before her were not to be trifled with. Not to mention the three humans nearby, whose cultivation she could not gauge.

She silently cursed herself for sending Er Ming away so early.

That was right. Xiao Wu had only just undergone Transformation. In order to cultivate normally, she planned to hide in the human world. After having Er Ming leave her at the outskirts of the forest, she had sent him back.

Xiao Wu had not walked for more than a few minutes when a burst of fragrance suddenly drew her in. It smelled even better than the freshest carrots she had ever eaten. How could she possibly resist it?

So she followed the scent right to them.

Realizing that she seemed to have come to the wrong place, Xiao Wu timidly looked at Ning Bei and the others.

"Um... I think I came to the wrong place. Is it still too late for me to leave?"

Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong looked at Xiao Wu expressionlessly.

"What do you think?"

Two yellow, two purple, and five black spirit rings—nine in total—appeared around Gu Rong. The aura of a Titled Douluo bore down upon Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu looked at the nine spirit rings representing a Titled Douluo in utter terror, feeling as though the sky was falling. Only one thought remained in her mind: It's over. I'm barbequed.

The rabbit had died before achieving anything. She might as well cry first.

Seeing Xiao Wu collapse limply to the ground before them, crying her heart out, Ning Bei and the others were covered in black lines. Why did it look like they had done something unforgivable?

"Father, this seems to be a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Rabbit, right?"

Ning Fengzhi nodded at Ning Bei's words, confirming his guess. Then he sighed.

"That's right. I never imagined a soul beast like a Soft Bone Rabbit could cultivate to the hundred-thousand-year level. This is truly a rare sight."

Gu Rong nodded deeply in agreement. I've lived several decades longer than you, and this is my first time seeing one too.

After thinking it over, Ning Bei felt that Xiao Wu was worth more alive than dead. After all, she was the Asura Sword Sheath. Besides, her spirit ring and Spirit Bone would at most grant everyone abilities like Invincible Golden Body. Such Soul Skills were somewhat useless in comparison to Ning Fengzhi's Eighth Spirit Skill.

Her only value would be sacrificing herself to Ning Bei now, perhaps improving his aptitude. But with the Pill Pagoda, Ning Bei had no shortage of Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Rings in his future.

"Father, if we raise her, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can gain another Titled Douluo in the future. You should know that soul beasts who undergo Transformation are all geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power."

Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi looked at Ning Bei in surprise. They had also analyzed the compatibility of Xiao Wu's Spirit Bone. All they could say was that the spirit rings and Spirit Bones of Soft Bone Rabbits were truly despised by everyone.

If anyone went around saying their first and Second Spirit Rings came from ten-year and hundred-year Soft Bone Rabbits, they would probably be laughed to death.

But no matter what, this was still a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. And among them, Ning Bei was the only one who currently needed a spirit ring.

Upon hearing that her life might still be saved, Xiao Wu, who had been crying nearby, immediately stopped. She raised her pair of rabbit ears, terrified of missing even a single word of their conversation.

"You don't want this spirit ring? Besides, even if we raise her, can she guarantee that she'll remain loyal to our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"I-I... I won't betray you! Don't kill me."

"My Soul Skills are really terrible!"

"..."

Ning Bei could not help finding Xiao Wu's overwhelming desire to survive amusing. He turned to look at Ning Fengzhi.

"Father, have you forgotten the effects of my Pill Pagoda?"

"Oh? You mean..."

"That's right. As long as it's a soul beast, I'm confident I can turn it into a companion."

"Mm. Then Leave It to You."

Gu Rong had no objections either. In any case, he no longer needed spirit rings.

Ning Bei walked over to Xiao Wu. Seeing tears still glistening in her eyes, he said:

"Girl, you have two choices now. One, join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and become our companion. The other, we carve you up and take your Spirit Bone. Choose."

Xiao Wu did not hesitate for even a second after hearing Ning Bei's words.

"I choose to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect the most."

Ning Bei was covered in black lines upon hearing Xiao Wu's words. Do you even know what the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is? And you already like it? Even preserving your life should have some limits.

As though to dispel Ning Fengzhi's doubts, Ning Bei added more fuel to Xiao Wu's identity.

"Oh? You should know that the continent's greatest power is Spirit Hall, and its relationship with our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect isn't exactly good. Are you sure you only like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

The moment Xiao Wu heard the name Spirit Hall, hatred flashed through her eyes. It seemed that she had even forgotten about her own life.

"My mother was killed by Spirit Hall. Sooner or later, I'll take revenge on them."

When Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong heard that there was such a hidden matter, they immediately became interested. This also showed from another angle that Xiao Wu could never join Spirit Hall in the future, adding another layer of assurance to her loyalty. Other than Spirit Hall, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect feared no force on the continent.

"Little Girl, who from Spirit Hall killed your mother?"

Xiao Wu shook her head, indicating that she did not know those people's exact identities.

"Xiao Wu only knows that one of them had a Martial Soul that was a mass of Black Shadow. They killed my mother to make a spirit ring for a woman, and that woman could command them."

"Black Shadow? Ghost Douluo! And that woman should be Bibi Dong. Has she already broken through to become a Titled Douluo? What a terrifying cultivation speed."

From Xiao Wu's scattered words, Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi guessed those people's identities.

They were the current Pope, Bibi Dong, and Ghost Douluo.

Seeing that everything was settled, Ning Bei also planned to test the idea in his mind.

He immediately summoned the Pill Pagoda and placed it before Xiao Wu.

"You're called Xiao Wu, right? This is what drew you here?"

The familiar scent washed over her. Xiao Wu blissfully inhaled the fragrance, feeling as though the Soul Power throughout her body had risen by a notch.

"That's right, it's this scent. What is this? Why does it benefit my cultivation so much?"

Ning Bei did not answer. He exchanged a glance with Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong, then nodded.

"We'll talk about that later. For now, don't resist. I'll see if I can place you inside the Pill Pagoda. That way, your identity won't be at risk of exposure in the future. Whenever trouble arises, just enter the Pill Pagoda."

As he spoke, he put A Bao beside him into the Pill Pagoda as a demonstration.