Chapter 14: Rongrong's First Soul Ring

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Bang—!

The Rock-armored Giant Bear’s enormous body was sent flying in an instant. It crashed heavily through several thick trees before finally slamming into the ground.

Its fall sent clouds of dust billowing into the air.

“Haha! Rongrong, go absorb it,” Bone Douluo laughed heartily as he hurriedly carried Ning Rongrong over to the Rock-armored Giant Bear.

This soul beast happened to specialize in strength, making it ideal for enhancing the power of Ning Rongrong’s Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

After all, Ning Rongrong had never witnessed such a bloody scene before. She could not help bursting into tears with a loud cry.

“Grandpa, I… I’m scared…”

She was only six years old and had been pampered from birth. No matter how willful she might be, she had never seen blood. Facing such a situation for the first time, she naturally felt afraid.

“Rongrong, don’t be scared. These are things you’ll have to face in the future. You must learn to adapt.”

Bone Douluo wiped away the tears in her eyes and comforted her for a while before having Ning Rongrong deliver the final blow to the dying Rock-armored Giant Bear before them.

Ning Rongrong’s eyes were rimmed with red, and the dagger in her hand trembled uncontrollably.

Sword Douluo sighed faintly. There was simply no other choice.

“Rongrong, don’t be afraid. If you were a helpless human being, a soul beast would never spare you.”

Sword Douluo could only offer such comfort to ease his own conscience. Rongrong was still far too young and could only adapt gradually.

This was merely the beginning.

Ning Xi silently watched the scene before her. In this place, there truly was no other option.

There were no spiritual-type soul masters or spirit transmision masters here, and for the time being, soul rings could not be obtained through soul spirits.

Ning Xi sighed inwardly. Even though she knew that soul spirits existed, she had no way to solve the problem at present.

In the end, Ning Rongrong followed Sword Douluo’s instructions. Closing her eyes, she plunged the dagger into the Rock-armored Giant Bear’s body. Soon, the soul beast let out one final, mournful cry.

Then it fell completely silent.

Ning Rongrong’s fingers trembled slightly. After sitting in silence for a moment, she still crossed her legs and began absorbing her first soul ring.

A yellow halo condensed from the Rock-armored Giant Bear’s body before eventually flying toward Ning Rongrong and settling around her.

The two Titled Douluo began guarding her.

Ning Xi once again surveyed the surroundings. This place was indeed somewhat different from ten thousand years later.

As she gazed into the depths of the forest, Ning Xi seemed to glimpse a beam of light. Yet it vanished almost immediately, so quickly that she instinctively wondered whether she had merely imagined it.

Ning Rongrong was still absorbing her soul ring.

“It looks like she’ll need quite some time. Xi’er, have something to eat first.” Sword Douluo took out several biscuits and pieces of fruit and placed them in Ning Xi’s hands.

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The three of them sat cross-legged on the ground. Fortunately, they had the storage soul guide device Ning Xi had crafted, saving them the expense of purchasing one from outside at an exorbitant price.

Although Ning Xi was still unfamiliar with soul-guide device crafting, having something was still better than having nothing.

With two Titled Douluo stationed there, no soul beast dared approach, making the area considerably safer.

“Xi’er, once you’ve finished absorbing this first soul ring, I’ll teach you the Seven Kills Sword Technique after we return. You must study it diligently,” Sword Douluo said.

Ning Xi nodded. “All right, Master. I’ll study it seriously.”

Sword Douluo patted her head in satisfaction. “Good. But you must also learn to relax. Whenever something troubles you, don’t keep it bottled up inside.”

“Oh, my, you old lecher! I never knew you could be so caring!” Bone Douluo gave Sword Douluo a lascivious look. Sword Douluo immediately swung a palm at him, but Bone Douluo nimbly dodged it.

“I’m showing concern for my own disciple. What’s wrong with that?”

Sword Douluo glared at him.

“Thank you for caring, Master.”

The corners of Ning Xi’s lips lifted into a faint smile, like the first thaw of an iceberg. There was a trace of aloof tenderness in it, enough to stir longing in anyone who saw it.

Sword Douluo nodded. His disciple was excellent in every way—she was simply a little too indifferent.

The three of them enjoyed themselves in harmony. After Bone Douluo instantly slew the Soft Bone Rabbit they had encountered earlier, he cleaned it, lit a fire, and roasted the meat over the roots of a tree. After sprinkling on some seasoning, an enticing fragrance filled the air.

Soul beast meat was delicious and beneficial to the body, so naturally it could not be wasted.

Ning Xi, however, was the one who roasted it.

“Ah! I never imagined Xi’er had such a talent. Your cooking is quite good!” Bone Douluo took a large bite of the roasted meat, and his eyes immediately lit up.

Sword Douluo’s interest was piqued at once. He had never cared much for food, preferring his sword above all else, but this time even he was tempted.

He took a bite. The meat was fresh, rich, and wonderfully fragrant.

Unfortunately, Ning Rongrong was still absorbing her soul ring and had no chance to taste the delicious roast.

Ning Xi smiled faintly. She had learned this skill while living outdoors in her previous life, and she truly enjoyed this sort of life.

The three of them ate the delicious food while quietly waiting for Ning Rongrong to finish absorbing her soul ring.

They waited until Bone Douluo was nearly dozing off.

“Caw—!”

A high-pitched, piercing cry rang out from the sky, instantly jolting Bone Douluo awake.

The three of them immediately assumed battle stances and cautiously fixed their eyes on the heavens.

Rongrong had yet to finish absorbing the soul ring, and now it seemed another difficult soul beast had arrived.

It was a bird-type soul beast.

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“Caw—!”

The same sharp, grating cry rang out again.

“Caw—!”

“Caw—!”

One shrill cry after another echoed through the sky. Then, from all around the forest, came the sounds of countless soul beasts fleeing in panic.

It was as though some terrifying monster were pursuing them.

Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo exchanged a glance, confusion flashing in their eyes.

What was happening?

What had frightened these soul beasts?

Even the arrival of two Titled Douluo should not have caused them to flee in such terror.

“I’ll go take a look. Old Lecher, keep a close watch over Xi’er and Rongrong here.” After speaking, Bone Douluo instantly transformed into an enormous bone dragon and flew into the sky.

The bone dragon was formed entirely from bones, without a trace of flesh. Its skeleton gleamed with a cold, ghostly light, making it appear both exceedingly strange and immensely powerful.

As Ning Xi watched Bone Douluo in this form, she could not help recalling the future.

Ten thousand years later, the Bone Dragon Martial Soul would be regarded as an evil martial soul. As a result, soul masters who awakened the Bone Dragon were often misunderstood and even hunted down.

Yet ten thousand years earlier, the Bone Dragon Martial Soul was not considered evil at all, and Bone Douluo had never committed a single wrong simply because of his martial soul.

In fact, the term “evil soul master” did not even exist here.

How could a soul master like Bone Douluo possibly be labeled an evil soul master?

Ever since arriving in this era, Ning Xi had gradually discovered many ways in which it differed from the future.

When she had first seen the Bone Dragon Martial Soul, she had nearly been frightened out of her wits. Only after learning more about it had she slowly come to accept it.

Then where had evil soul masters come from?

Ning Xi could not help pondering the question, but she could not find an answer. In the end, she shook her head and stopped thinking too deeply.

Perhaps one day, she would understand.

Before long, Bone Douluo returned from his investigation.

With an exaggerated and puzzled expression, he said, “It seems some powerful force is affecting the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, causing all these soul beasts to flee outward in terror.”

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