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"What? Kill her?" Ye Feng looked at Sword Douluo Chen Xin in surprise.
"Have you developed feelings for her already?" Sword Douluo Chen Xin asked, his voice calm but probing.
"Master, Xiao Wu is not a threat. Could you...not kill her?" Ye Feng raised his brows, speaking with a pleading tone.
"Are you truly willing to protect a soul beast?" Chen Xin frowned; his gaze sharp as it settled on Ye Feng.
"Master, Xiao Wu is different. She has never harmed anyone, and I believe she is worth protecting. Moreover, she possesses innate full soul power. If she grows stronger, she could become a powerful ally in the future." Ye Feng spoke earnestly, his tone unwavering.
"Do you understand what you're giving up?" Chen Xin asked gravely. "A 100,000-year soul ring is a treasure most soul masters can only dream of. Even I, a Titled Douluo, have never had one. Are you certain about this choice?"
"If I must choose between her soul ring and our friendship, I would choose her friendship without hesitation," Ye Feng replied firmly, meeting Chen Xin's intense gaze.
Chen Xin studied him for a moment before sighing. "Very well."
He placed a hand on Ye Feng's shoulder, nodding slightly. "I will honor your decision. Xiao Wu may stay, and you may protect her."
With that, Chen Xin shifted his focus to the task at hand. This time, he would assist Ye Feng in obtaining his first three soul rings.
The maximum absorption limit for a soul master's first three rings varied:
The first soul ring could be absorbed from a soul beast up to 423 years old.
The second soul ring had a limit of 764 years.
The third soul ring could reach up to 1,760 years.
Suddenly, a wolf's howl echoed from the nearby bushes—followed by others, forming a chorus. A pack of wolves with faintly glowing white soul power emerged.
"These are Nether Wolves. Ten-year soul beasts," Chen Xin remarked, his voice steady as he released his immense soul power. The pressure of a Titled Douluo's aura was overwhelming, and the wolves quickly retreated, tails between their legs.
"Even soul beasts have the instinct to seek good fortune and avoid danger," Chen Xin explained. "Weak soul beasts will instinctively fear the strong—whether beast or human. Remember, the cultivation of soul beasts is a slow and arduous process. It can take as little as ten years or as long as a hundred thousand years for them to mature. Yet soul masters require five to nine soul rings over their lifetimes. If we continue killing indiscriminately, there will eventually be no soul beasts left. If you can avoid unnecessary killing, do so."
Nodding at his master's wisdom, Ye Feng followed him deeper into the forest, searching for a suitable soul beast.
"Master, there's a leopard over there!"
"No. Its cultivation is too low—barely ten years old," Chen Xin replied.
"Master, there's a tiger that looks like it's engulfed in flames!"
"That's a Blazing Tiger," Chen Xin explained. "It's suitable for offensive soul masters. While its cultivation is 300 years, it's not the right fit for your martial soul. Your Nine Heart Begonia is an auxiliary martial soul and requires soul beasts with specific attributes. Fengzhi has already sent people to locate the right soul beasts for your sword-shaped martial soul. For now, we'll focus on obtaining soul rings for your Nine Heart Begonia. With three rings, you'll overcome your current bottleneck and be able to cultivate further."
"I understand, Master," Ye Feng replied.
As they continued their search, Ye Feng pointed toward a large orangutan drinking from a riverbank.
"Master, is that orangutan suitable?"
The creature stood nearly four meters tall with blood-red fur and a distinctive crimson pattern on its forehead—three lines in total, with a faint trace of a fourth forming.
"It's a Violent Orangutan," Chen Xin said after a brief observation. "This one is close to 400 years old, making it suitable as your first soul ring for the Nine Heart Begonia."
"But isn't it an attack-type soul beast?" Ye Feng asked, confused.
Chen Xin nodded. "True, but it possesses a trace of ancient bloodline. This grants it the ability to temporarily boost its strength during combat, which will benefit your future growth. For your auxiliary martial soul, this compatibility is rare."
"Understood, Master," Ye Feng agreed.
Chen Xin approached the Violent Orangutan, his presence alone radiating authority. The orangutan roared defiantly but couldn't intimidate the Titled Douluo.
With a single punch, Chen Xin sent the beast flying ten meters away. Even without summoning his Seven Kill Sword, his physical strength was overwhelming. Blow after blow landed on the orangutan, leaving it battered and weakened.
The Violent Orangutan, cornered and enraged, activated its ancient bloodline. Its fur glowed crimson, and its strength surged. Despite its best efforts, it was no match for Chen Xin.
Within minutes, Chen Xin delivered the final strike, knocking the orangutan to the ground at Ye Feng's feet.
"For a soul master to absorb a soul ring, two conditions must be met," Chen Xin began. "First, the soul beast must harbor strong resentment toward the soul master who kills it. Second, the soul beast must be broken in spirit, willing to embrace death. This ensures the soul ring is of the highest quality."
He handed Ye Feng a dagger. "Finish it. End its life yourself and then follow my hand seals to absorb its soul ring."
Ye Feng hesitated briefly but took the dagger, ready to take his first step toward truly becoming a soul master.
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