Meng Bei, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, along with Liu Erlong and two guardians from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The group traveled together through the Sunset Forest, searching for suitable soul beasts.
Dai Mubai's mind had already wandered far away, unable to help but want to quickly finish hunting soul rings and return.
The reason was that he couldn't wait to see Tang San and then find a way to trade with him for one or two precious herbs to consume.
Regarding these herbs, Dai Mubai had specifically asked Meng Bei whether he wanted to take back the herbs from Tang San.
After all, when Meng Bei had agreed to Tang San's request, he didn't know these herbs had such powerful effects—it could even be said that Tang San had deceived Meng Bei.
However, Meng Bei's answer to Dai Mubai's question was: A gentleman's word is his bond. Since he had agreed, it was impossible to take it back.
Honestly, Dai Mubai was somewhat envious of Tang San.
To actually encounter such a good brother like Meng Bei.
That was a full hundred plants!
Meng Bei had just let Tang San take them all away like that.
Dai Mubai couldn't help thinking it would be great if he could switch places with Tang San. Unfortunately, his Zhuqing wasn't Xiao Wu and had no family relationship with Meng Bei.
Sigh~ Dai Mubai shook his head slightly.
The group searched everywhere when suddenly Liu Erlong, who was scouting from above, discovered something.
"Xiao Bei, go to the upstream of that river!"
Upon hearing this, Meng Bei led the group toward the location Liu Erlong indicated.
They arrived at the upstream section of a river.
The water was flowing rapidly at this time.
On a platform by the shore upstream, a pink hippopotamus was lying there.
This was a pink hippopotamus soul beast, about three to four meters long, looking quite massive.
However, although this soul beast appeared large, its appearance was very gentle, looking dull and silly. Its ears and limbs were short, it had no sharp claws, and its eyes were squinting as it looked at Meng Bei's group. Even when Meng Bei and the others walked right up to it, it showed no reaction.
"It's a Dull River Beast!"
Ning Rongrong recognized it at first glance.
The Dull River Beast was an amphibious soul beast. Although it looked cute and adorable, this type of soul beast was actually very powerful.
Among soul beasts of the same cultivation level, the Dull River Beast's attack ability was five times that of ordinary soul beasts, and its defense ability was ten times that of ordinary soul beasts. Based on these two abilities alone, a Dull River Beast could even fight against ten-thousand-year soul beasts with just thousand-year cultivation.
However, where there are advantages, there must be disadvantages.
If the Dull River Beast had no weaknesses, it would have been invincible among soul beasts long ago.
In fact, the Dull River Beast was very slow and had reaction abilities 200 times weaker than ordinary soul beasts—this was its most fatal flaw.
Therefore, this Dull River Beast's lack of attack on Meng Bei and the others wasn't due to a gentle nature, but because it hadn't reacted yet.
Due to its extremely slow reaction speed, the Dull River Beast couldn't hunt prey directly, so in its daily survival, it relied on its harmless appearance to lure enemies.
Its current silly lying by the riverside was actually to lure prey in the water.
Its defense was ridiculously high among its peers. Once a soul beast was deceived by its harmless appearance and took the bait, it was finished. As long as the cultivation didn't exceed the Dull River Beast by too much, they couldn't break through its defense.
And once the Dull River Beast slowly reacted and launched a counterattack, its powerful attack would kill the opponent in one strike.
Seeing this Dull River Beast, Meng Bei knew that Rongrong's soul ring was secured.
This Dull River Beast was only about a thousand years old, completely suitable for a third soul ring, and its powerful defensive ability could perfectly provide Rongrong with a defense-boosting auxiliary soul skill.
"Rongrong, I'll take care of it for you right now!"
Saying this, Meng Bei raised his fist and stepped forward.
However, Ning Rongrong stepped forward to stop Meng Bei:
"Xiao Bei, the Dull River Beast is so cute. Let's not kill it, okay?"
"Oh?"
Meng Bei smiled and lifted Ning Rongrong's chin: "Rongrong, you're also very cute. I won't bear to eat you tonight either. Should I go to Yan'er's room instead?"
"No!"
Ning Rongrong immediately pouted and refused:
"We agreed beforehand that it's my turn. You can't change that."
"Then what about this Dull River Beast?"
Meng Bei asked.
Ning Rongrong changed her previous stance:
"The Dull River Beast is so cute, it's perfect for my third soul ring."
Upon hearing this, Meng Bei burst into laughter.
Pointing at Ning Rongrong helplessly: "You, oh you, you're such a little glutton. Do you want me to eat you that badly?"
Ning Rongrong was greatly embarrassed by Meng Bei's words.
Her small fists hit Meng Bei's chest.
Meng Bei instead held her and kissed her several times, making Ning Rongrong feel both shy and satisfied in front of everyone.
Seeing this scene, everyone felt the uncomfortable sensation of being force-fed dog food.
Only Zhu Zhuqing nearby had a slightly red face.
This was because Meng Bei had just said "little glutton," which made Zhu Zhuqing feel like Meng Bei was alluding to her.
Suddenly, with a "puff" sound, the Dull River Beast ahead spat out a condensed water arrow.
After all this time, this silly soul beast had finally reacted—prey had appeared before it.
"White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!"
Dai Mubai roared like a tiger and spat out a milky white light orb, hitting the Dull River Beast's condensed water arrow.
The next moment, the milky white light orb was instantly shattered by the condensed water arrow, which continued flying toward Meng Bei's chest unabated.
Dai Mubai quickly warned:
"Xiao Bei, be careful! This soul beast's attack ability is very strong!"
Meng Bei chuckled lightly and directly reached out to grab and crush the ice arrow the opponent had spat out.
Although his soul power cultivation wasn't high at this time, his combat power was genuinely at Titled Douluo level. Despite the Dull River Beast's very powerful attack ability, it still had no resistance against absolute strength.
Meng Bei stepped forward, raised his fist, and condensed dense ice and snow power on his fist.
He threw a punch, hitting the Dull River Beast squarely on its back.
With a muffled sound, a clear fist print appeared on the Dull River Beast's back.
The next moment, powerful ice and snow force instantly swept through the Dull River Beast's entire body. Its limbs went soft and it collapsed to the ground.
Blood mixed with ice chips flowed from its mouth—clearly it was near death.
However, because Meng Bei had intentionally controlled his strength, the Dull River Beast could still hold on for a little while.
"Rongrong, come on!"
Meng Bei called out. Ning Rongrong walked over, took out a short sword from her soul tool, and aimed for the Dull River Beast's eyes.
With one effort, she couldn't pierce through.
Ning Rongrong looked curiously and realized that the Dull River Beast's squinting eyelids had blocked the blade—the sharp sword edge couldn't even cut through the Dull River Beast's eyelids.
Seeing this, Meng Bei grabbed Ning Rongrong's small hand holding the sword and helped her thrust hard. With a squelch, the short sword completely entered the Dull River Beast's eye, piercing straight into its brain.
The Dull River Beast completely collapsed.
A purple soul ring slowly rose.
Due to its extremely weak reaction ability, the Dull River Beast felt no pain even unto death.
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