When the two reached the lone thousand-year Ironclad Rhinoceros, it was leisurely grazing with its head lowered.
The sharp horn atop its head gleamed coldly in the sunlight. One look was enough to know it was not to be trifled with.
Perhaps because it knew it was the only thousand-year Soul Beast nearby, it had let even its most basic guard down considerably.
"It really is a thousand-year Ironclad Rhinoceros!" Wang Gang's breathing quickened. "Kid, are you sure you can kill it?"
He looked at Luo Chen with a trace of worry in his eyes. "The Ironclad Rhinoceros has extremely strong defenses, and it's very powerful too. I can't really guarantee your safety."
Luo Chen glanced at him, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. "Just watch."
As his words fell, Luo Chen unleashed his first Soul Skill, Scorpion Emperor Transformation, then leaped forward and shot toward the Ironclad Rhinoceros.
"Wait, I haven't given you..." Before Wang Gang could finish,
Luo Chen had already charged up to the thousand-year Ironclad Rhinoceros.
At the same time, sensing Luo Chen's approach, the Ironclad Rhinoceros abruptly raised its head, its dark green eyes fixed on the boy charging toward it.
"Roar!"
The Ironclad Rhinoceros let out an angry roar, pushed off with all four legs, and charged at Luo Chen with its enormous horn like a drill.
Wang Gang's heart clenched at the sight. He shouted, "Kid, dodge the Ironclad Rhinoceros's charge!" while activating Martial Soul Possession, preparing to cast his first Soul Skill, Rhinoceros Shield, on Luo Chen.
"Dodge? Why should I dodge?" Luo Chen watched the charging Ironclad Rhinoceros, a smile curling his lips. "That impact isn't even as strong as the impacts I produce when training."
As soon as he finished speaking, Luo Chen stopped concealing his strength. In an instant, the chilling, powerful presence of an apex predator erupted from within him, forcing the Ironclad Rhinoceros to stop in its tracks.
Seeing the Ironclad Rhinoceros stop and even begin to back away, Luo Chen stroked his scorpion tail with a grin. "Why aren't you charging anymore? Or do you want me to charge at you?"
Before he had finished speaking, a scorpion tail behind Luo Chen shot toward the Ironclad Rhinoceros with a whoosh.
With a bang, Luo Chen's scorpion tail knocked the thousand-year Ironclad Rhinoceros, with its formidable defenses, onto the ground, making it let out a mournful cry of pain.
At the sight, Wang Gang's mouth opened wide enough to fit two eggs.
"Am I still dreaming?" Wang Gang muttered to himself. "Why am I seeing an eight- or nine-year-old boy knock over a thousand-year Ironclad Rhinoceros with a scorpion tail?"
Wang Gang could hardly be blamed for reacting so strongly. Luo Chen's act of knocking over the thousand-year Ironclad Rhinoceros with his scorpion tail had truly turned Wang Gang's worldview upside down.
After all, Wang Gang was not only a mercenary but also a veteran scholar of Martial Soul Theory. He knew better than anyone just how formidable a thousand-year Ironclad Rhinoceros's defenses and strength were. He even dared guarantee that not even a Soul Ancestor could knock one over outright.
Yet now, the boy before him, merely a Soul Grandmaster, had knocked the Ironclad Rhinoceros to the ground. That showed just how powerful this boy was.
Luo Chen paid no attention to Wang Gang's shock. By now, his Nine Poison Scorpion Hook Sword had already struck the Ironclad Rhinoceros precisely in the eye.
"Hiss!" The Ironclad Rhinoceros let out a pained cry, feigned preparing to charge, then took to its heels.
"Want to run?" Luo Chen said. "Have you asked my scorpion tails?"
Before he finished speaking, nine whooshes rang out behind Luo Chen as all the Nine Poison Scorpion Hook Swords shot out together, stabbing toward the Ironclad Rhinoceros's belly.
All nine scorpion tails pierced the Ironclad Rhinoceros's belly simultaneously. In an instant, the Nine Poison Scorpion's deadly venom was injected into its body.
"Roar!"
The Ironclad Rhinoceros let out a piercing scream, its body struggling violently.
Luo Chen gave a wicked smile at the sight. "Go on, move. The more you move, the faster you die."
Ten breaths later, the Ironclad Rhinoceros, which had stood so proudly, fell to the ground with a thud. Its breathing grew increasingly rapid, and it was clearly on the verge of death.
Wang Gang stood in the distance, still not having recovered from what he had just witnessed.
Luo Chen waved a hand in front of Wang Gang. Seeing no response, he immediately drove a Kobe elbow strike into his shoulder. "Hey, stop spacing out! The iron rhino's about to die from my poison!"
Sent flying to the ground by the elbow strike, Wang Gang finally came to his senses at those words. The look he gave Luo Chen was no longer indifferent as before, but obsessive, fervent, and reverent, as though he were gazing at a rising sun.
Why is this guy looking at me so strangely? Luo Chen shuddered. I'd better do less Soul Master mercenary work from now on.
With that thought, Luo Chen hooked a sharp knife out of his backpack with his scorpion tail and casually tossed it in front of Wang Gang. "Go on. Take the knife, stab the Ironclad Rhinoceros in the belly, then absorb the Soul Ring."
"Understood!"
Wang Gang picked up the knife from the ground and hurried over to the Ironclad Rhinoceros.
Looking at the Ironclad Rhinoceros, which was breathing out but no longer breathing in, he drew the knife with a ruthless look in his eyes and stabbed its belly, already riddled with holes.
Already hovering on the brink of death, the Ironclad Rhinoceros finally kicked the bucket with that stab, and a purple Soul Ring gradually condensed in midair.
"I... did it!" Wang Gang said in disbelief. "My third Soul Ring is a Thousand-Year Soul Ring!"
At that, Wang Gang immediately turned to Luo Chen, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you. Thank you so much!"
"No need to thank me," Luo Chen said coldly. "Just give me the 160 Gold Soul Coins once you've absorbed the Soul Ring."
Six hours later, Wang Gang opened his eyes and let out a long breath of stale air.
"Wonderful! My Soul Power has reached rank 31!" Wang Gang said to Luo Chen with a smile. "Little brother, thank you. Here are your Gold Soul Coins. Count them."
With that, Wang Gang took a money pouch from inside his clothes and handed it to Luo Chen.
Luo Chen took the pouch, feeling its substantial weight, and a satisfied smile curled his lips.
"Not bad, not bad." He stood up and brushed the dust off himself. "Let's head back. If anyone bullies you, come find me at the Suotuo Great Soul Arena. Remember, my name is Luo Feng."
"Of course, of course!" Wang Gang nodded repeatedly. "Once we get back, I'll spread the word for you in the mercenary group. Plenty of people will definitely come asking for your help."
"No need." Luo Chen gazed into the distance and said mildly, "Originally, I planned to act as an intermediary, but I've changed my mind now."
"Don't go spreading the word about me either. Understand?"
"Understood."
Three days later, the two parted at the gates of Suotuo City.
After watching Wang Gang leave, Luo Chen hefted the money pouch with a beaming smile.
"Look, money!" Luo Chen imitated Mr. Krabs, vigorously rubbing the Gold Soul Coins in his hands. "Next comes making money breed more money."
At the Great Soul Arena in Suotuo City, Luo Chen once again approached the front desk.
The staff member raised their head and glanced at him, their expression as businesslike as ever. "The registration fee is ten Gold Soul Coins. No credit. If you don't have the money, please leave."