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After retreating to a safe location, Ning Tianchen couldn't help but remark, "This time, we've really stirred up the hornet's nest of spirit beasts."
Spirit beasts fought fiercely with each other over territory and food. However, when it came to dealing with human soul masters, they often became surprisingly united.
In just a short while, the area where Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong had been was already surrounded by numerous ten-thousand-year spirit beasts.
"Big brotherTianchen, what should we do? There are too many spirit beasts here. Grandpa Sword and Elder Ke won't be able to protect us anytime soon!"
Ning Rongrong was panicking, pacing back and forth.
From birth to now, this was her first time experiencing such a situation.
Although Ning Tianchen had lived two lifetimes, his previous life had never exposed him to such perilous circumstances. At this moment, he couldn't help but feel anxious.
"Calm down, I must stay calm," he muttered to himself. After taking several deep breaths, Ning Tianchen gradually steadied his nerves.
Soul beasts aged over two thousand years were far beyond what the two of them could handle. Their only option now was to conceal their presence and find a secure hiding spot.
After searching the vicinity for a concealed cave, Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong took refuge inside.
…
Meanwhile, within the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect
In the study, Ning Fengzhi, who was handling sect affairs, suddenly paused mid-stroke with his pen, his thoughts unsettled.
"Fengzhi, what's wrong?" Gu Rong couldn't help but ask.
Ning Fengzhi gazed out the window. "I have a feeling that something might go wrong during Uncle Sword's trip to Thunderclap Gorge with the others."
Gu Rong dismissed the concern. "Fengzhi, as much as I hate to admit it, there's no situation on this continent that Old Sword can't handle. You don't need to worry."
While Dust Heart might not be in danger, if he were delayed, Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong would be in grave peril.
Ning Fengzhi didn't believe the uneasy feeling in his heart was unfounded. After some thought, he said, "Uncle Bone, you should personally go take a look. If everything's fine, return to the sect immediately."
Gu Rong quickly objected, "No. According to the sect's ancestral rules, there must always be a Title Douluo-level elder stationed at the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. If I leave and the sect encounters trouble, it'll be disastrous."
Ning Fengzhi insisted, "Uncle Bone, you possess spatial abilities. It'll take no more than an hour to check and return. In such a short time, and given that there are no opportunists eyeing the sect nearby, there won't be any danger."
Unable to argue further, Gu Rong reluctantly set off for Thunderclap Gorge.
…
Within Thunderclap Gorge
Chen Xin was still entangled in battle with a group of spirit beasts.
This was the territory of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family, and all the spirit beasts here were raised by them.
They couldn't indiscriminately kill these spirit beasts, as doing so might provoke conflict between the two sects.
The notion that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family had plotted against them was still mere speculation. Without concrete evidence, they couldn't take action against them.
In this constrained battle, Chen Xin might be able to drive these spirit beasts away.
However, spirit beasts were tough and resilient. Once the pain subsided, they would regroup and return.
"Sword Elder, we can't keep holding back like this. If it comes down to it, we'll have to kill these guys!" Ke Jie shouted.
Chen Xin felt helpless. He wasn't the sect leader and couldn't make decisions on behalf of the sect. Wantonly slaughtering these beasts would irreparably damage relations between the two sects.
Just as he hesitated, a spatial gate suddenly appeared high in the sky.
Gu Rong emerged from it. Upon seeing the situation below, he couldn't help but remark, "Old Sword, how did you end up in this mess? With your strength, can't you even handle a few fifty-thousand-year spirit beasts?"
Chen Xin didn't bother arguing with him. "Old Bones, you're a beast-type soul master. Use your dragon aura to drive these guys away."
Without needing further prompting, Gu Rong knew what to do.
He didn't know what had happened here. But for someone as steady as Chen Xin to get into this predicament, something significant must have occurred.
"Fifth soul skill, Bone Dragon Wind-tearing Roar."
A dragon roar resounded. Feeling the suppression of their bloodline, the group of spirit beasts scattered in panic.
…
Inside the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family compound, Yu Yuanzhen sensed the dragon aura emanating from Thunderclap Gorge and immediately stepped out of the ancestral hall.
"What's going on, Luomian?"
Yu Luomian hurried over in a panic. "Big Brother, didn't you agree to let the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect enter Thunderclap Gorge to hunt for soul rings? That aura earlier should belong to Bone Douluo, right?"
Yu Yuanzhen naturally recognized Gu Rong's aura, but he also detected Sword Elder Chen Xin's presence.
What kind of soul-hunting warranted the simultaneous involvement of two of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's guardian Title Douluos?
Yu Luomian continued, "Big Brother, we shouldn't dwell on this. They didn't indiscriminately slaughter the spirit beasts in the gorge—it seems they just ran into some trouble."
Yu Yuanzhen pondered for a moment before deciding not to inquire further. "I'll need to enter seclusion for a while. Luomian, I'll entrust the sect's affairs to you. Don't disappoint me."
"Rest assured, Big Brother."
After Yu Yuanzhen left, Yu Luomian's face twisted into a sinister smile. Moments later, he sighed with regret.
…
With Gu Rong's intervention, the situation stabilized rapidly.
Not long after, Chen Xin dragged the barely alive Sword-Winged Dragon to Ning Tianchen.
"Tianchen, your vigilance is commendable. Haha, hurry up and absorb the soul ring." Chen Xin chuckled warmly.
"Old Sword, the maximum soul ring a soul master can absorb for their third soul ring is around seventeen hundred years. Are you trying to get Tianchen killed by having him absorb a two-thousand-year soul ring?" Gu Rong scolded with a frown.
Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong looked at Ning Tianchen with worry, then glared reproachfully at Chen Xin.
This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision by Chen Xin—it had been agreed upon before the soul-hunting expedition.
Ning Tianchen explained, "Elder Bone, Rongrong, don't worry. My second soul ring was also absorbed beyond its recommended limit."
"I read in the sect's library that absorbing soul rings under ten thousand years depends solely on the soul master's physical constitution. Theoretically, as long as one's physical condition is strong enough, a soul master's first soul ring could even absorb a nine-thousand-nine-hundred-year soul ring."
The fastest and most effective way to enhance one's physical condition was through absorbing spirit bones.
Theoretically, a newly awakened soul master who absorbs six ten-thousand-year spirit bones across all six slots could start with a ten-thousand-year soul ring for their first ring.
Of course, this was purely theoretical.
After all, even the Spirit Hall couldn't possibly produce six ten-thousand-year spirit bones, nor would they allow a six-year-old child to absorb one.
Seeing that Chen Xin didn't refute this, Gu Rong immediately understood. "As long as you're confident, that's fine. Rongrong, come back to the sect with me—Fengzhi has been asking about you."
Ning Rongrong didn't refuse. "Big brother Tianchen, I'll wait for you at the sect."
After the two left, Ning Tianchen entered the state of soul ring absorption. Chen Xin and Ke Jie stood guard, one in front and one behind.
The pressure from the two-thousand-year Sword-Winged Dragon soul ring wasn't too overwhelming for Ning Tianchen.
If he had a choice, he felt that at this point, he might even attempt a two-thousand-five-hundred-year soul ring.
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