Over the past year, Lin Gu had also had plenty of contact with the other six Enshrined.
Most of his and Qian Renxue's training involved sparring with the Titled Douluo, and the Enshrined were all shocked by Lin Gu's shield.
With Lin Gu's shield, Qian Renxue was like someone ascending to heaven, exchanging blows evenly with Titled Douluo despite having only rank seventy Soul Power.
But since Lin Gu obtained the [Blade of the Bloodbath], he had not sparred again. Since both of them had reached the point of hunting for Soul Rings, they had stopped their sparring practice.
Qian Renxue's rank seventy Soul Ring was especially important, as it came with the Martial Soul Avatar.
Lin Gu, meanwhile, was only getting his Second Soul Ring, after all. So Qian Daoliu sent two Enshrined with them this time, both rank ninety-six Titled Douluo. Hunting down a Soul Beast would be child's play.
Thus, the two Douluo, Qian Jun and Demon Subduing Douluo, brought Qian Renxue and Lin Gu to the Star Dou Great Forest.
Qian Renxue said to Lin Gu:
"Xiao Gu! Let's hunt your Soul Beast first. I'm in no hurry. I haven't decided what kind of Soul Beast to hunt yet."
Hearing this, Lin Gu said quite naturally:
"Big Sister Xiao Xue, I've already decided!"
The two Titled Douluo and Qian Renxue all looked toward Lin Gu, who continued:
"For my Second Soul Ring, I plan to hunt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast."
Lin Gu said it as casually as a light breeze and drifting clouds, but the other three were stunned. They exchanged looks, unable to believe their ears, and froze where they stood.
Seeing this, Lin Gu spread his hands and said:
"What? Is there a problem?"
Qian Renxue pressed her lips together and swallowed. "Xiao Gu, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? You didn't misspeak, did you?"
"Nope!"
Seeing how composed Lin Gu was, Demon Subduing Douluo and Qian Jun stroked their chins and said:
"Neither of us even has a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring yet. You're only rank twenty, and you want to absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring? That probably isn't a good idea. Never mind whether we can find a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast-even if we do, we might not be able to beat it. Even if we get lucky and win, Xiao Gu, how would you absorb it? Could your body withstand it?"
"Exactly, exactly. I think you should give this more careful thought, Xiao Gu."
Demon Subduing Douluo and Qian Jun spoke, but Lin Gu shook his head. "I want a hundred-thousand-year one!"
Qian Renxue pressed her lips together, then said, "Xiao Gu, I know your Martial Soul is extraordinary and lets you absorb Soul Rings far beyond what ordinary people can, but a hundred-thousand-year second Soul Ring is still too early. I think a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring would already be excellent. That alone would be enough to baffle other ordinary Soul Masters. A hundred-thousand-year one is still too risky."
But Lin Gu smiled calmly. "Don't worry, Big Sister Xiao Xue, Enshrined Qian Jun, Enshrined Demon Subduing Douluo. I know myself very well. My shield isn't my only strength. My body is also very tough."
Lin Gu thought, With my trillion HP, absorbing a hundred-thousand-year ring would be a breeze. I even think it's too low.
HP represents vitality and constitution. Even without my shield, I can swagger across the continent now.
"Xiao Gu, you're a treasure of Spirit Hall now, just like Xiao Xue. If anything happened to either of you, the two of us couldn't bear the responsibility."
"Exactly, exactly. Pick something more sensible. Ten thousand years is already very powerful."
Qian Jun echoed Demon Subduing Douluo from beside him.
But Lin Gu merely smiled calmly without explaining. He waved a hand and walked ahead:
"Let's go. Don't worry. I can shield three people now. Even if we run into a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, it won't be able to break my current shield."
Seeing how relaxed Lin Gu was, Qian Jun and Demon Subduing Douluo did not know what to say.
And throughout their sparring over the past year, nobody had broken his shield. Even the Great Enshrined had to use his full strength to break Lin Gu's shield.
Lin Gu's current shield had over three hundred billion HP. According to Lin Gu's tests over the past year,
assuming they were all Power Attack System Soul Masters, ordinary Titled Douluo from rank ninety to ninety-five could deal at most fifty billion damage through sustained attacks.
As for Titled Douluo above rank ninety-five, a rank ninety-six could deal at most a hundred billion damage, and a rank ninety-seven two hundred billion!
A Level 98 could deal three hundred billion.
At present, only a rank ninety-nine Peerless Douluo could break Lin Gu's shield.
Even then, they could not break it immediately. These were all sustained damage totals. By the time they broke it, Lin Gu's shield would have refreshed again.
Lin Gu's defense was now invincible in one-on-one combat.
But this time, Lin Gu had come out to "steel" a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. More than five hundred hits would raise his HP by a great deal again.
By the time I get back, even a rank ninety-nine Peerless Douluo probably won't be able to break my shield.
With these thoughts, Lin Gu actually walked at the head of the group.
Seeing this, Qian Renxue knew she could not talk Lin Gu out of it, so she could only follow.
"Xiao Gu! Wait for me!"
Seeing this, Demon Subduing Douluo looked at his older brother, Qian Jun Douluo, and said:
"Brother, what should we do?"
"Let's go. We'll take it one step at a time. How could a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast be that easy to find? Once Xiao Gu can't find one, he'll naturally give up and look for something else. Come on. We only need to protect them. With their current strength, hunting on their own shouldn't be a problem. After all, with Xiao Gu's shield, they're simply too safe."
And so, Qian Jun and Demon Subduing Douluo followed behind, keeping the two safe.
Lin Gu naturally knew what the three of them were thinking. Can't find a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?
Hahaha!
I'm a transmigrator. I know where every Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast that appeared on this continent is. How could I fail to find one? Titan Giant Ape, Sky Azure Bull Python, sorry about this. Let me borrow your Soul Rings and Soul Bones. Otherwise, they'll belong to Tang San sooner or later anyway.
Help me become a god, and I'll certainly thank you properly in the future.
With that, he headed straight toward the very center of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Seeing Lin Gu walking in such a hurry, Qian Renxue chased after him:
"Xiao Gu, where are you going? We're already deep in the forest."
Lin Gu looked at Qian Renxue behind him, the corners of his mouth lifting. Thinking of how she had cared for him in every possible way over the past year, he asked:
"Big Sister Xiao Xue, you've been so good to me this past year, giving me new clothes and this Six-Snow Sky-Congealing Sash. I have a gift for you, too!"
Hearing this, Qian Renxue blushed slightly. In all my life, aside from Grandpa and the other Enshrined, this is the first time anyone else has given me something. She said:
"What gift? Why do you suddenly want to give me a gift?"
Lin Gu thought, On this trip, I'll definitely hunt both the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python. I can't absorb two right now. Should I keep one alive and bring it back?
Forget it. I don't have the time, and it's pretty cruel, too. Better make it quick and clean. Qian Renxue and I can take one each.
So he said:
"You'll find out in a little while. Come on. A little farther, and we should be there."
"There? Where?"
Qian Renxue was lost in a fog and could only follow Lin Gu, while Qian Jun and Demon Subduing Douluo guarded them from behind.
Passing through a stretch of dense forest, they faintly sensed danger coming from within.
"Xiao Gu, this is so strange. We're clearly in the deepest part of the forest, so why can't we see a single Soul Beast?"
Qian Renxue asked as Lin Gu parted the undergrowth ahead. Finally seeing Star Lake, he said:
"Big Sister Xiao Xue, get ready. It's about to begin!"