Han Qiu took a deep breath, and a milky white light surged toward the Silver Moon Spirit Deer.
Strands of soft, milky white light slowly flowed into the Silver Moon Spirit Deer's body.
The spirit deer, which had just collapsed to the ground, had heavy, drooping eyelids, its eyes nearly shut.
But when the gentle power of light flowed into its body, it abruptly raised its head and looked in confusion at Han Qiu, the little human child above the treetops.
Incredulous astonishment surged in the Silver Moon Spirit Deer's eyes. It could clearly feel its depleted Soul Power rapidly recovering. The power that had fallen dormant began to surge in an instant, and the crisscrossing wounds on its body healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Although it didn't know where the child came from, it was deeply grateful to him.
It slowly pushed itself up on all four legs. He was in exceptionally good condition now: not only had all his pain and injuries vanished, but his strength had even returned to its peak!
Awoo!
The Silver Moon Spirit Deer let out a long cry and charged at the Purple Lightning Mane Lion once more.
"Come on, give it more, little deer! Don't disappoint me," Han Qiu muttered to himself, hiding in the tree.
The two Soul Beasts tore into each other again, shaking the mountain forest and sending dust flying.
Before long, however, a thunderous boom rang out, and the Silver Moon Spirit Deer was sent flying once more by an incredibly savage force!
After that exchange, however, the Purple Lightning Mane Lion's exhaustion had grown much more pronounced. It let out a deafening roar at the fallen Silver Moon Spirit Deer.
The Purple Lightning Mane Lion was utterly baffled. It had clearly dealt the spirit deer grievous wounds, leaving it unable to fight, so how had it managed to get up again?
It was absolutely certain that this time, its opponent couldn't possibly get back up, no matter what.
Yet before long, the Silver Moon Spirit Deer pushed itself upright again as though injected with chicken blood. The silver Soul Power swirling around its body had grown even denser.
The Purple Lightning Mane Lion roared in fury, a trace of fear of the unknown in its voice.
How is this possible?! Not only have its wounds healed, but its strength has even increased!
Crackle!
Lightning and moonlight clashed once more, and the two Soul Beasts plunged into another brutal battle.
Han Qiu couldn't help yawning. Even watching the fight had worn him out.
Boom!
The Silver Moon Spirit Deer was slammed into a towering tree once again. The thick trunk shook violently as cracks spread across it, as though it would snap with a crash at any moment.
After those rounds of fighting, the Purple Lightning Mane Lion was unsteady on its feet and close to exhaustion.
Its eyes bloodshot, it stared fixedly at the bizarre spirit deer before it, its heart filled with terror. What on earth is going on? How can he still get up?!
In just two breaths, the Silver Moon Spirit Deer rose again, its body agile as though it had never suffered grievous injuries.
The Purple Lightning Mane Lion looked at it, a trace of despair rising in its heart.
Although the spirit deer's presence was still weaker than its own, the lion had long since severely depleted its Soul Power and could no longer sustain a prolonged fight.
Up in the treetops, Han Qiu had also expended a great deal.
After activating his Martial Soul of Light three times in succession to heal the Silver Moon Spirit Deer with all his strength, he too was approaching his limit.
He thought to himself, This is my last chance. If the Silver Moon Spirit Deer still can't defeat the Purple Lightning Mane Lion this time, I won't have the strength to heal him again.
Boom!
The great tree suddenly trembled violently.
Han Qiu cursed inwardly. This Silver Moon Spirit Deer is too useless! How did it get knocked into the tree again?!
But when he looked up, the anger that had just flared up vanished in an instant, and his face lit up with wild joy.
The one that had crashed into the trunk this time was the Purple Lightning Mane Lion!
Haha, what a heaven-sent opportunity!
Han Qiu hesitated no longer. Gripping his shortsword tightly, he leaped down from the treetops!
Cold light flashed as the shortsword plunged into the skull of the exhausted, helpless Purple Lightning Mane Lion!
Boom! In the next instant!
A vast surge of power erupted from the Purple Lightning Mane Lion's corpse!
A deep purple Soul Ring slowly rose from the lion's body, hovering in midair and quietly revolving.
At the sight, Han Qiu's heart suddenly began to pound!
Damn! Damn! Damn!
Thousand-Year Soul Ring, here I come!
But when he looked closely at the color of the Soul Ring, he hesitated.
The Soul Ring before him was probably a top-tier Soul Ring at least 5,000 years old!
A trace of concern crept into his heart.
Can I really withstand a Soul Ring of such a terrifying age?
But Han Qiu quickly suppressed the distracting thoughts, for he keenly sensed that the Silver Moon Spirit Deer behind him was watching him quietly and intently.
Han Qiu slowly turned around to face the top-tier Soul Beast with three thousand years of cultivation.
After several consecutive rounds of fighting to the death, it was already exhausted.
To be honest, if Han Qiu hadn't used a special method three times to keep it alive and heal its wounds, it would have perished beneath the Purple Lightning Mane Lion's lightning long ago.
In that battle, it had effectively used three lives to wear its opponent to death.
"Are you planning to repay kindness with enmity and attack me?"
Han Qiu's voice was cool, his eyes full of wariness.
He had anticipated this.
Humans and Soul Beasts were natural enemies to begin with.
His Soul Power was depleted and his condition was at rock bottom. If a fight broke out, he had no chance of winning.
In the worst case, all his efforts would probably come to nothing, and he would leave empty-handed.
But the attack he had expected never came.
The Silver Moon Spirit Deer slowly bent its knees and crouched down. There was only pure curiosity in its clear eyes, not a trace of ferocity or hostility.
Han Qiu remained still, prepared to wait and see what the Silver Moon Spirit Deer intended to do.
After a moment, the Silver Moon Spirit Deer rose and slowly approached him.
Han Qiu frowned and took a defensive stance, seemingly with no intention of retreating.
The Silver Moon Spirit Deer gently circled him once, then lay down docilely. It glanced at the purple Soul Ring hovering in midair before turning back to Han Qiu, as though asking:
Aren't you going to absorb it?
It was a strange feeling, and Han Qiu was momentarily stunned.
He took a long look at the Silver Moon Spirit Deer, which understood human nature, and immediately understood.
After a brief moment of thought, he hesitated no longer and sat down cross-legged where he stood.
He raised his eyes to the deep purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring, whose oppressive might was terrifying, and an irrepressible, fervent light surged in his eyes.
Mm-hm, who cares!
The bold feast to bursting, the timid starve!
Be bold enough, and a female ghost takes maternity leave; be even bolder, and she takes it twice!
Meanwhile, at the place where Han Qiu had killed the Rock Bear.
"Little San, this is a Rock Bear about 500 years old. Its defenses are astonishing!"
The Grandmaster pointed to the huge Soul Beast corpse on the ground and said gravely, "It should have been killed by a Battle Soul Master above level 30! Look at its wounds. Its head was pierced through, and there are fatal wounds on the vital points of its neck. Clearly, the attacker was extremely observant and struck with exceptional precision!"
Tang San looked at the Rock Bear, which stood over two meters tall, and nodded slightly.
He thought, Even if I used all my strength, I'd probably struggle to kill a five-hundred-year-old Soul Beast.
I wonder if that expert has left, though?
Just then, a sharp, piercing cry suddenly rang out ahead, and a vast white fog instantly shrouded their view.
"Oh no! It's a Mandala Snake!" The Grandmaster's expression changed drastically, his gaze fixed on the depths of the thick fog, where a huge green snake was faintly visible. His voice suddenly rose. "This is bad! This Mandala Snake has over four hundred years of cultivation. With my current strength, I'm afraid it'll be difficult to subdue it!"
Tang San followed the Grandmaster's gaze and saw a green snake over four meters long coiled in the fog. A strong, fishy stench hit him as its tongue flicked in and out, threatening the two of them from a distance.
"Little San, remember the theory I taught you: many rings and many bones, unleash your skills and power in one wave; few rings and few bones, turn and run. Simply put, if you have fewer Soul Rings than your opponent and are clearly outmatched, don't fight head-on. Put your own safety first and retreat decisively!" After quickly giving his instructions, the Grandmaster immediately shouted in a deep voice, "Sanpao! Farts like thunder, Earth-Shattering Luo Sanpao!"
"Luo Luo!"
Amid a thunderous rumble, two figures charged out.
After a fierce battle, a tremendous crash rang out, and the Mandala Snake's enormous body slammed heavily to the ground, moving no more.
"Little San, wonderful! We've found your Soul Ring!" The Grandmaster's face was still somewhat pale, but he could hardly conceal his elation as he looked at the snake's corpse. "It's all thanks to you striking its vital point so accurately! Quick, absorb this Soul Ring at once! Over four hundred years is exactly the age limit I calculated for the First Soul Ring!"
Excitement shone in Tang San's eyes. Along the way, the Grandmaster had repeatedly explained the relevant theories to him, and now the opportunity was right before him.
"A Soul Ring over four hundred years old! I have to absorb it successfully! I have to help teacher verify this theory!"