Ning Rongrong quickly grasped this point and immediately felt a surge of boldness.
"What are we waiting for? Hurry up and find me a Nightmare Beast—a five-thousand-year-old one! I want to push the limits for my fourth Spirit Ring!"
Ning Rongrong was brimming with arrogance. Having just absorbed the Immortal Herb and with her Martial Soul evolved, she felt incomparably powerful.
She wanted to be the protagonist.
"A five-thousand-year-old one? Rongrong, you're not being ambitious enough. It should be at least six thousand years!"
Ning Rongrong's mouth fell open in shock.
She was confident, but she wasn't suicidal.
"Listen to me, I know what I'm doing. I'll carry you to victory!" Dugu Feng said calmly.
He scooped Ning Rongrong into his arms and stepped out of the carriage. Then, riding the Emerald Dragon Snake, they swiftly made their way toward Sunset Forest.
The Nightmare Beast was a common type of Spirit Beast, adept at hiding like spiders. However, Dugu Feng had already learned about its habits from Shi Nian, making it relatively easy to track down.
Just like when he had helped Ye Lingling hunt for a Spirit Ring, the two waited atop the central mountain of Sunset Forest while the two Emerald Dragon Snakes scoured the forest below.
This time, the search took a bit longer.
Half a day later, the Nightmare Beast was finally captured.
It resembled a silkworm larva—albeit a giant one—about six meters long, with a milky-white body segmented into glowing sections. The radiant white light it emitted was dreamlike, almost hypnotic.
"It really is six thousand years old!" Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled with excitement.
The absorption limit for a fourth Spirit Ring was five thousand years. Was she about to break records?
"You still have residual medicinal energy from the Splendid Tulip in your system, and your Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda has just evolved, fundamentally altering your Martial Soul. What are you afraid of?" Dugu Feng said earnestly.
Ning Rongrong wasn't afraid. She trusted that Dugu Feng wouldn't lead her astray—and she herself was eager to push her limits.
With a determined stride, she stepped forward and finished off the Nightmare Beast with a dagger. Then, she summoned her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
After a moment's thought, Dugu Feng took out a Dragon Lichen Leaf and had Ning Rongrong consume it.
The Emerald Dragon Snake had indeed captured a six-thousand-year-old Nightmare Beast. While the residual energy of the Splendid Tulip in Ning Rongrong's body played a role, the real reason she could attempt this was the Core Pearl within her.
Even if Ning Rongrong struggled to endure, Dugu Feng could use the Core Pearl to assist her slightly. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to take such a risk.
Ning Rongrong swiftly sat cross-legged, cradling her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her hands. With a surge of Soul Power, a dark-purple energy rose from the giant silkworm's body and surged violently into her.
The sheer force of the energy instantly disintegrated her pale blue dress. However, she seemed prepared—she was still wearing an Eight Treasure Ruyi Soft Armor, identical to Dugu Feng's. Thin as a cicada's wing, the armor clung tightly to her body, rising and falling with her labored breaths.
The Nightmare Beast's energy was overwhelming, far exceeding what Ning Rongrong's body could handle.
"Tch—"
Blood seeped from the corners of Ning Rongrong's lips, and crimson beads of sweat formed on her skin as the rampant energy ravaged her from within.
Critical injury!
In an instant, Ning Rongrong was severely injured.
But it didn't matter—the medicinal power of the Splendid Tulip was still at work.
Golden light emerged once again, enveloping Rongrong like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal realm.
The injuries within her body were instantly healed.
However, the power of a six-thousand-year Spirit Beast was not so easily exhausted.
It continued to rage, causing Rongrong to sustain injuries again and again, only to be healed each time by the effects of the Immortal Herb.
Under normal circumstances, the medicinal energy accumulated in her body would have taken years—perhaps even until she reached the Soul Saint stage—to fully absorb.
But now, under the stimulation of this life-and-death crisis,
this energy had been forcibly activated, aiding her in absorbing this Spirit Ring.
Dugu Feng had yet to intervene. He was waiting until Rongrong could no longer endure before using his Core Pearl to assist her.
From their very first meeting, Dugu Feng had known that Ning Rongrong was no ordinary little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
She was cunning and tenacious.
Their subsequent interactions had only confirmed his initial impression.
Earlier, when he had suggested that Rongrong absorb the six-thousand-year Spirit Beast, she had been shocked at first—but then eager to try.
She was a little demoness who refused mediocrity.
If that was the case, then she would have to endure more.
As long as she could withstand it, she might reap extraordinary rewards.
Dugu Feng had learned from Shi Nian that his head Soul Bone had come from a Nightmare Beast.
It was called the Illusionary Wisdom Skull, and its skill allowed the creation of an illusory space.
Shi Nian's own Martial Soul, Fading Dream, excelled at crafting illusions.
Combined with this illusory space, it made him nearly invincible.
Dugu Feng believed that Shi Nian had obtained the Soul Bone because his Martial Soul was exceptionally compatible with the Nightmare Beast.
Moreover, when Shi Nian had absorbed it, he had done so at the absolute limit of his capacity.
Now, Rongrong was absorbing a Spirit Beast beyond her level, and with the terrifying adaptability of her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, her compatibility with the Nightmare Beast was no less than Shi Nian's.
Would a Soul Bone appear?
Dugu Feng was eager to find out.
He hoped he wouldn't have to intervene.
If Rongrong could persevere on her own, that would be the most likely outcome.
As time passed, Rongrong's body trembled violently.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda emitted a dazzling radiance, spinning rapidly around her as if lending its support to her absorption.
Through his Core Pearl, Dugu Feng sensed that the peak of the energy's rampage had passed—now, it was a slow, steady process of absorption.
But it would still be an arduous trial of endurance.
Dugu Feng kept his gaze fixed on Rongrong, ready to act at any moment.
Hours passed, and the fourth Spirit Ring circling the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda grew increasingly distinct. The fluctuations of Soul Power within Rongrong's body gradually stabilized.
A surge of joy rose in Dugu Feng's heart—she was about to succeed.
Finally, he turned his attention to the massive Nightmare Beast.
Its body had withered, its once luminous and dreamlike form now cracked and blackened.
The purple energy gathered above it had yet to fully dissipate.
When Dugu Feng extended his spiritual sense toward it,
he felt the sensation of entering an illusion.
His eyes widened instantly.
"A Soul Bone!"
It had truly appeared!
Bang!
With a flick of his finger, Dugu Feng shattered the Nightmare Beast's remains, revealing a Soul Bone in its head—one that shimmered with a rainbow of colors.
The bone was circular, about three inches in diameter, resembling a miniature skull.
"A head bone!"
Dugu Feng was somewhat excited.
Ning Rongrong was quite fortunate—no, it wasn't just luck. There was also her own planning involved.
With this head Soul Bone, the power of the Soul Skill Fusion Technique would increase significantly.
The skill of this Soul Bone was undoubtedly related to illusions.
With Ning Rongrong's strength as a Soul Ancestor joining the Seven Shura Illusion Realm, a Soul Skill Fusion Technique, it was already a massive boost.
Add to that her unique enhancements and the amplification from this Soul Bone.
Dugu Feng couldn't help but feel the scene was almost too perfect.
(End of Chapter)