A dull "thud" echoed, making the ground tremble slightly and sending fallen leaves rustling and swirling into the air.
Immediately after, its massive body abruptly lowered as it turned and bolted toward the dense forest behind it.
Its limbs moved in alternating rhythm, stirring up gusts of wind while its heavy feet pounded against the ground with rhythmic "thump-thump" sounds.
In the blink of an eye, it vanished into the thick undergrowth, leaving only swaying branches and leaves as evidence of its presence.
Ning Rongrong stood frozen for a moment before trotting over to Su Yu's side. Gently tugging at his sleeve with puzzled eyes, she asked:
"Brother Su Yu, why did that Soul Beast run away so suddenly?"
Su Yu looked down at Rongrong's clear, bright eyes and gently patted her head:
"Rongrong, you see, all Soul Beasts possess the instinct to seek advantage and avoid danger."
"Just now, it sensed a life-threatening presence from me and knew it wouldn't gain anything by staying, so it fled."
He paused, then lightly tapped the tip of Rongrong's nose with his finger:
"Just like when small animals encounter skilled hunters, their first reaction is to quickly hide or run away."
Xue Na listened nearby, nodding with partial understanding while clutching Su Yu's other sleeve. She whispered:
"Then... should we chase it?"
Su Yu rubbed Xue Na's head and said with a laugh:
"No need. It can't escape. Watch this!"
Xue Na tightened her grip on Su Yu's sleeve, her small face filled with curiosity upon hearing that they didn't need to chase it and that the gorilla couldn't escape.
Su Yu brought his index and middle fingers together, pressing them lightly against his brow before uttering in a low voice:
"Soul Bone Ability: Tiger Flame Demon Light!"
As the words fell, a golden vertical eye slowly opened at the center of his forehead, its pupil swirling with blazing light.
In the next instant, a violet-red beam shot violently from the vertical eye, carrying scorching heat waves as it accurately targeted the direction where the Great Strength Gorilla had fled.
The beam sliced through the air with a faint hum, instantly reducing several leaves along its path to ashes.
Both Ning Rongrong and Xue Na stared in stunned silence, instinctively holding their breath as they watched the beam disappear deep into the forest.
A moment later, a piercing, miserable shriek erupted from the depths of the woods.
Startled birds on the treetops flapped their wings frantically, scrambling chaotically toward the forest's edge.
Immediately following, another dull "thud" echoed, as if something heavy had crashed heavily to the ground.
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong and Xue Na both jumped in surprise, instinctively turning toward the source of the sound.
Through the foliage, they could vaguely make out an earthy-yellow figure staggering as it tried to rise—the escaping Great Strength Gorilla.
"This... Brother, you're amazing!"
Xue Na covered her mouth in shock, her small face filled with disbelief.
Su Yu, however, remained calm. Withdrawing his gaze, he looked at Xue Na and Ning Rongrong and said placidly:
"See? I told you it couldn't escape."
Su Yu then took Xue Na and Ning Rongrong's hands and said gently:
"Come, let's go take a look."
Holding the two girls' hands, he led them step by step deeper into the forest, their hearts filled with inexplicable excitement.
When the trio pushed aside the branches blocking their path, the scene before them made Ning Rongrong and Xue Na instinctively hold their breath.
The previously ferocious Great Strength Gorilla lay stiffly on the ground, its massive body trembling faintly.
A fist-sized bloody hole gaped open on its lower abdomen, the edges charred black.
Severed entrails mixed with dark red blood gushed out, pooling beneath it into a glaring puddle of blood.
The thick metallic scent of blood instantly permeated the air, mingling with the forest's vegetation to create an especially pungent odor.
Xue Na instinctively shrank behind Su Yu, her small hands clutching tightly at the hem of his clothes, a flicker of fear crossing her delicate face.
Ning Rongrong also pressed her lips together. Though she knew this was unavoidable when obtaining Soul Rings, the gruesome scene still made her frown slightly.
Su Yu gently patted Ning Rongrong and Xue Na's shoulders, speaking with earnest gravity:
"Rongrong, Xue Na, you must remember—this is a process every Soul Master must undergo when obtaining Soul Rings."
"The power of Soul Beasts can help us grow, but that doesn't mean we should treat life lightly."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the fallen Great Strength Gorilla, his voice carrying solemn weight:
"Even when obtaining Soul Rings, we must maintain reverence for life."
"We cannot abuse our strength to slaughter indiscriminately. Only by holding respect in our hearts can we walk more steadily and further on the path of a Soul Master."
Ning Rongrong nodded with partial understanding, her eyes growing more solemn.
Xue Na peeked out from behind Su Yu, her small face still timid, but she firmly committed his words to memory, her grip on his clothes loosening slightly.
"Alright, Rongrong, go obtain your Soul Ring!"
Su Yu took a short knife from his Soul Guidance Device and offered it to Ning Rongrong.
Seeing the blade presented before her, Ning Rongrong's fingertips trembled slightly, and she instinctively shrank back.
She glanced at Su Yu, then at the Great Strength Gorilla on the ground, bit her lower lip, and slowly reached out to gently grasp the hilt.
The cool touch of the hilt sent a shiver through her heart, but she took a deep breath, looked up at Su Yu, and spoke with a voice both timid yet resolute:
"I... I understand."
Xue Na clenched her small fists nearby, quietly cheering her on:
"Go, Sister Rongrong."
Clutching the short knife, Ning Rongrong took small steps toward the gorilla's corpse. But before she had gone two paces—
The Great Strength Gorilla suddenly snapped its eyes open and let out a deafening roar from its throat!
Its murky eyes fixed intently on her, fangs bared as if it would tear her to shreds the next second.
"Eeek—!"
Ning Rongrong shuddered in terror, her legs giving way as she collapsed to the ground with a thud. The short knife clattered from her hand, skidding far across the dry leaves.
She curled up and scrambled backward, tears welling in her eyes, her face deathly pale, her voice trembling with sobs:
"Husband... Brother... Rongrong is scared!"
Xue Na also screamed at the sudden turn of events, clinging tightly to Su Yu's arm and burying her face behind him, too afraid to look.
Su Yu quickly stepped forward, shielding Ning Rongrong. The Great Strength Gorilla was at its last gasp—this was merely its final struggle before death.
Su Yu crouched down and embraced Ning Rongrong, gently stroking her hair as he comforted her softly:
"Don't be afraid, Rongrong. Your Brother Husband is here. It won't last much longer."
"You must remember—as a Soul Master, you cannot retreat when facing Soul Beasts. Otherwise, you'll never truly grow."
As he spoke, he bent down to pick up the short knife from the ground and handed it back to Ning Rongrong:
"Rongrong, don't be afraid. Your husband is right behind you. Don't be afraid, try again, believe in yourself!"
"Mm! Husband! Rongrong isn't afraid! Rongrong isn't afraid!"
Ning Rongrong's voice carried a sob, yet it revealed an unyielding resilience that refused to admit defeat.
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