After relocating to a safe area, Ning Tianchen couldn't help but say, "Looks like we've really stirred up a hornet's nest of soul beasts this time."
Soul beasts fought to the death over territory and food, but when it came to dealing with human soul masters, they often became very united.
In just a short while, the area where he and Ning Rongrong had originally been was now surrounded by many ancient soul beasts.
"Brother Tianchen, what should we do? There are too many soul beasts here. Grandpa Jian and Elder Ke probably won't be able to come protect us anytime soon," Ning Rongrong anxiously paced around.
This was the first time she had ever experienced such a situation in her life.
Although Ning Tianchen had lived two lives, in his previous life he had never encountered such perilous circumstances.
At this moment, he couldn't help but feel a bit anxious.
"Stay calm, you must stay calm." After a few deep breaths, Ning Tianchen gradually steadied himself.
Soul beasts over two thousand years old were far beyond what the two of them could handle. Their only option now was to conceal their aura and find a safe hiding place.
Searching nearby, they found a secluded cave and took shelter inside.
...
Meanwhile, inside the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect.
Ning Fengzhi, who was handling sect affairs in his study, suddenly paused mid-stroke, a restless feeling stirring inside him.
"Fengzhi, what's wrong?" Gu Rong couldn't help but ask.
Ning Fengzhi looked out the window. "I have a bad feeling that Sword Uncle and the others will encounter trouble in the Thunder Canyon."
Gu Rong was dismissive. "Fengzhi, as much as I hate to admit it, with Old Sword Man's strength, there is no danger on the continent that can threaten him. You needn't worry."
Perhaps Chen Xin wouldn't be in danger, but if he were delayed, Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong would be at risk.
Ning Fengzhi didn't believe his unease was unfounded. After a moment, he said, "Gu, you should go see for yourself. If nothing's wrong, come back immediately."
Gu Rong quickly protested, "No. According to sect traditions, there must always be a titled Douluo present to oversee the sect. If I leave and something happens, that would be troublesome."
Ning Fengzhi insisted, "Gu, you have space ability. Go take a quick look and come back. It'll take no more than the time it takes to burn an incense stick. The sect is nearby, and there's no threat from Xiao Xiao here, so it's safe."
Unable to refuse, Gu Rong set off for Thunder Canyon.
...
In Thunder Canyon.
Chen Xin was entangled with a group of soul beasts.
This was the territory of the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaur family, who raised all the soul beasts here.
They could not hunt these soul beasts freely to avoid provoking conflict between the two major sects.
The suspicion that the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaur family had set them up was just a guess — without solid evidence, they could not act.
In a restrained battle, Chen Xin could perhaps repel these soul beasts.
But the beasts' tough hides meant that once the pain subsided, they would come back again.
"Sword Keeper, we can't hold back anymore. If necessary, kill them all," Ke Jie shouted.
Chen Xin was helpless; after all, he was not the sect leader and could not make such decisions. Recklessly slaughtering these soul beasts would worsen relations between the two sects.
Just as he hesitated, a spatial portal suddenly opened in the sky.
Gu Rong's figure stepped out, and upon seeing the situation below, he exclaimed, "Old Sword Man, what's going on? With your strength, you can't even handle a few fifty-thousand-year soul beasts?"
Chen Xin didn't argue. "Old bone, you're a beast soul master. Use your dragon authority to drive these guys away."
Gu Rong knew exactly what to do without being told.
He didn't know what had happened. For the usually steady Chen Xin to be in such a predicament, something had to be wrong.
"Fifth soul skill, Bone Dragon Wind Ripping Roar!"
A dragon's roar rang out. Feeling the oppression of his bloodline, the soul beasts scattered immediately.
...
Inside the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaur family's estate, Yu Yuanzhen sensed the presence of dragon authority in Thunder Canyon and immediately left the ancestral hall.
"What's going on with Luo Mian?" he asked.
Yu Luomian arrived hastily. "Brother, didn't you agree to let the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect come hunt soul beasts in Thunder Canyon? That aura just now should have been the Bone Douluo's."
Yu Yuanzhen of course recognized Gu Rong's aura, but he also sensed the presence of Sword Dao Chen Xin.
What kind of soul-hunting expedition would require the simultaneous deployment of the two major guardian Douluos of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect?
Yu Luomian continued, "Big brother, we don't need to worry. They haven't been indiscriminately slaughtering the soul beasts in the canyon; it's probably just some trouble they ran into."
Yu Yuanzhen pondered for a moment, then chose not to ask further. "I need to enter seclusion for a while. Luomian, I'm leaving sect affairs in your hands—don't disappoint me."
"Big brother, you can rest assured."
After Yu Yuanzhen left, a sinister smile appeared on Yu Luomian's face, followed by a hint of regret.
...
With Gu Rong's arrival, the situation quickly stabilized.
Before long, Chen Xin dragged the barely breathing Sword-winged Dragon over to Ning Tianchen.
"Tianchen, your vigilance is commendable. Heh heh, quickly absorb the soul ring," Chen Xin said with a bright smile.
"Old Sword Man, the third soul ring of a soul master can absorb soul rings up to about 1,700 years at most. You want Tianchen to absorb this 2,000-year-old soul ring? Are you trying to make him explode?" Gu Rong frowned and scolded.
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong looked worriedly at Ning Tianchen, then gave Chen Xin a resentful glare.
This wasn't a sudden decision by Chen Xin — they had agreed on it before the hunt began.
Ning Tianchen explained, "Bone Keeper, Rongrong, don't worry. My second soul ring was also absorbed beyond the age limit."
"I read in the sect's library that absorbing soul rings under 10,000 years depends mainly on the soul master's physical constitution. In theory, if the body is strong enough, the first soul ring could absorb soul rings starting from 9,900 years."
The fastest and most effective way to improve physical constitution is by absorbing soul bones.
In theory, a soul master who has just awakened their martial soul and absorbs six soul bones of 100,000 years each can have a first soul ring starting from over 10,000 years.
Of course, this is only theoretical.
After all, even the Martial Soul Hall wouldn't have six 100,000-year soul bones available, let alone let a six-year-old child absorb them.
Seeing that Chen Xin didn't object, Gu Rong immediately understood. "As long as you're confident. Rongrong, come back to the sect with me first. Fengzhi has been asking about you."
Ning Rongrong didn't refuse. "Brother Tianchen, I'll wait for you at the sect."
After the two left, Ning Tianchen entered the soul ring absorption state, with Chen Xin and Ke Jie protecting him from front and back.
The 2,000-year Sword-winged Dragon soul ring didn't put much pressure on Ning Tianchen.
If it weren't for lack of options, he felt that at this moment, he might have been able to attempt a 2,500-year soul ring.