Chapter 27 – The Disliked Taurus Gold Cloth
"Seriously? There's actually something like that?"
Demon Suppressing Douluo's expression was one of utter disbelief, as if he had just witnessed something that defied common sense. Still, when he thought about it carefully, it wasn't impossible—otherwise, Lin Beiya's body wouldn't have strengthened so rapidly in such a short time.
After pondering for a moment, Demon Suppressing Douluo's expression turned serious.
"I'll report this to the Grand Worship when I return. We'll have people collect some whale rubber from the coast and test its effects ourselves."
Then, with a teasing smirk, he added, "But you, kid, really have guts; you're willing to try anything, aren't you?"
Lin Beiya felt a chill crawl up his spine under Demon Suppressing Douluo's playful stare, yet he couldn't talk back. After all, he still needed their help to acquire more whale rubber later.
"Haha, well, young people have to be bold enough to try new things, right?"
"That's true enough."
With their soul-hunting completed, the two had no reason to linger. The coiling dragon staff beneath them shimmered to life once again, lifting them into the air as they flew back toward Spirit Hall.
…
In the palace garden, Qian Renxue and Lei Ying were enjoying dinner after an afternoon of training.
Watching the little angel resting her cheek on one hand while poking absentmindedly at her food with the other, Lei Ying rolled her eyes helplessly.
"I'm telling you, stop worrying about Beiya. That guy never does anything unless he's at least seventy percent sure of success."
"Even when he accepted my challenge, he must've already calculated his odds before agreeing."
Qian Renxue lifted her eyelids slightly, looking tired and unconvinced. She knew Lei Ying's words made sense—but the idea of Lin Beiya absorbing a thousand-year soul ring as just a Grandmaster still made her uneasy.
If something really happened to him… then where was she supposed to find another punching bag as perfect as him?
"I hope you're right. At this rate, though, even the two of us together might not be able to beat him next time."
"Eh…"
Lei Ying's smile instantly froze. She hadn't even been able to handle Lin Beiya when he was still a regular Soul Master. Once he became a Soul Grandmaster, he'd only grow stronger—meaning she'd be even more hopeless against him.
As the two girls talked, the subject of their conversation suddenly appeared. A dark shadow streaked across the courtyard and landed by their table. Without so much as a greeting, Lin Beiya dove straight into the food like a starving beast.
He had spent the last two and a half days chewing on dry rations while perched on tree branches. His stomach was practically glued to his back by now.
"Beiya!"
The little angel's eyes lit up with delight the moment she realized who it was, while Lei Ying, already used to his rough manners, wrinkled her nose in disgust once again.
"Ugh, how many days have you gone without eating? Can't you at least pretend to have table manners?"
"Beiya, did you successfully absorb your soul ring?"
Lin Beiya gave a brief nod without pausing his furious eating. The two girls exchanged a helpless glance and decided to wait until he was done.
Nearly half an hour later, Lin Beiya finally leaned back in his chair, patting his stomach with a satisfied sigh.
"So full!"
"Tch. Someone is only thinking about eating, our little princess here was worrying herself sick—couldn't eat, couldn't sleep."
"Hm?"
Hearing that, Lin Beiya half-squinted at the little angel beside him. Her cheeks instantly turned red as she glared at Lei Ying.
"Thanks for worrying, Xiaoxue."
"I-I wasn't worrying or anything! So… how did the hunt go?"
Without another word, Lin Beiya summoned his Athena Statue martial soul. Two soul rings—one yellow, one purple—rose gently beneath his feet.
Even though they had prepared themselves mentally, seeing it with their own eyes still left Qian Renxue and Lei Ying utterly stunned.
"Oh my god… You actually did it."
"Beiya, you monster. You're not human, are you?"
Lin Beiya rolled his eyes. I'll just take that as a compliment.
After the brief shock, Qian Renxue's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Beiya, does that mean… there's a new Gold Cloth for you to wear?"
"That's right. A new Gold Cloth has been born."
"Quick, quick, show me!"
There was nothing that could excite a girl more than new clothes—especially when those "clothes" were the glorious Gold Cloths of the Sanctuary.
Lin Beiya didn't hold back in the slightest. As his purple soul ring lit up, a pillar of light shot skyward, and a golden bull slowly appeared before the three of them.
"This… is that a bull?"
The little angel asked uncertainly, while Lei Ying's eyes sparkled with curiosity and excitement.
Confirming Qian Renxue's guess with a nod, Lin Beiya entered his Saint Cloth possession state. Under the brilliance of the Taurus Gold Cloth, his figure became noticeably broader and more imposing.
"That's right," he said proudly. "This is the Taurus Gold Cloth—the embodiment of pure, unyielding strength."
After a brief display, Lin Beiya transformed the armor into a golden plate and tossed it toward Qian Renxue.
"Here, you try it."
"Okay!"
Taking the plate engraved with the Taurus insignia, Qian Renxue immediately infused it with her soul power.
Just like the Aries Cloth, the Taurus Gold Cloth adjusted itself upon attachment—its waist and hip sections transforming into a skirt-like design more suitable for a female form.
Lin Beiya expected her to be delighted with the new armor. However, after examining it for a moment, Qian Renxue pursed her lips and said with clear distaste:
"Beiya, this armor looks so ugly!"
Hearing that, Lin Beiya stumbled and almost fell to the ground.
While the Taurus Gold Cloth may not be as aesthetically pleasing as the Aries Gold Cloth, it certainly isn't ugly either.
Not to mention, it increases all attributes by twenty percent and comes with an incredibly powerful battle skill! Can't she appreciate that instead of just judging by appearance?!
Qian Renxue pouted, clearly displeased by the pair of horns on the helmet and shoulders. The chest plate's bulky design only made her look more muscular and heroic—something a girl would hardly find appealing.
"Well," Lin Beiya sighed, rubbing his temple, "why don't you try using its battle skill first before judging?"
"Fine, I'll give it a try."
The three of them quickly moved to the training grounds. Naturally, Lei Ying volunteered as her sparring partner, standing across from the little angel with a smile.
Closing her eyes, Qian Renxue focused on the energy flowing through the Taurus Gold Cloth, then crossed her arms before her chest in an Iaijutsu stance.
"Giant Horn!"
A golden bull phantom roared to life, charging forward with overwhelming might straight at Lei Ying.
Feeling that terrifying pressure, Lei Ying didn't dare take it lightly—she quickly activated her second soul skill, entering her Blazing Flame Possession state.
Boom!
The golden bull slammed into Lei Ying's crossed arms like a runaway truck. She was sent flying backward nearly fifty meters before skidding another few dozen along the ground.
"Pfft!"
Coughing out a mouthful of dust, Lei Ying looked at the ecstatic little angel across from her. The power behind that attack was terrifying—her arms trembled uncontrollably, the skin at her palms split open and bleeding.
"So strong… what power!"
Seeing Lei Ying injured, Qian Renxue's excitement vanished. She hurried to her side, voice filled with concern.
"Yingying-jie, are you alright?"
"I'm fine… just a few bruises. I'll go see a healing soul master later."
"Whew…"
The little angel exhaled in relief, then glanced nervously at the Taurus Gold Cloth on her body.
"I didn't expect such an ugly armor to be this powerful…"
At that, both Lin Beiya and Lei Ying rolled their eyes in perfect unison.
Seriously, how could a soul master care so much about appearance?
"Forget whether it's pretty or not—just admit it is strong. If you really can't stand it, you don't have to wear it."
"Uh…"
Hesitation flickered across Qian Renxue's face before she timidly looked at Lin Beiya and asked,
"Then… how about you wear the Taurus Gold Cloth, and I wear the Aries Gold Cloth instead?"
End of Chapter