Chapter 144: Soul-Devouring Beetle
In fact, Ning Bei could have directly taken out the Pill Tower or the Youxiang Qiluo Immortal Herb to lure soul beasts. With his cultivation as a Title Douluo, he could have easily helped the younger ones obtain suitable soul rings.
However, in order to train everyone's cooperative combat abilities, he had no intention of doing so.
The group advanced deeper into Sunset Forest, encountering quite a few soul beasts whose age was not suitable. They didn't kill unnecessarily and bypassed them to continue forward.
Due to taking whale glue for over a month, Zhu Zhuqing's physical fitness had already improved greatly. After arriving at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she took the immortal herb given by Ning Bei, further enhancing her physical condition.
With the aid of the Meridian Protection Pill, she planned to hunt for a soul ring close to 4,000 years, which was near her current limit. But the little cat, who wasn't in the best position, decided to take the risk—otherwise, even with the immortal herb's boost, it would be hard to compete with her sister, who was six years older.
Perhaps due to bad luck, the group had been walking for several hours without encountering a soul beast suitable for Zhu Zhuqing.
"This soul beast is just too hard to find! We've been in here for hours already."
Ning Rongrong, whose first three soul rings had been easily obtained with the help of her two Title Douluo grandfathers, pouted in complaint.
Ah Du, understanding her special background, smiled and comforted her:
"Miss, this is actually quite good already. When I was looking for my third soul ring, I wandered around Star Dou Forest for three whole days before I found a suitable soul beast."
"Three days?"
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened in surprise, completely unable to understand why acquiring a soul ring could be so troublesome.
Xiao Wu playfully patted her best friend's head.
"Rongrong, just be happy you have two grandfathers with Title Douluo strength. Do you know how many people lose their lives just to obtain a soul ring?"
Ning Rongrong was left speechless, only able to obediently follow the team forward.
As everyone chatted about their own experiences obtaining soul rings, Ye Yinzhu—who had been on high alert—suddenly shouted toward Ah Du and Long Nianbing at the front.
"Ah Du, Nianbing, watch out!!!"
Upon hearing the warning, Ah Du and Long Nianbing quickly leapt back, moving in front of Ye Yinzhu and Ning Rongrong.
A black shadow streaked past where they had just been standing. Seeing that its attack had missed, the shadow quickly burrowed into the ground to hide.
"Was that… a big black rat that just flashed by?"
Ning Rongrong looked blankly at Ye Yinzhu beside her.
Ye Yinzhu, staring seriously at the spot where the shadow disappeared, explained:
"If I'm not mistaken, that shadow was a Soul-Devouring Beetle. Its body isn't large, but it specializes in burrowing into the bodies of soul masters or soul beasts to consume their soul power!"
"Ah?! That's disgusting!"
The moment Ning Rongrong heard it was a bug that could get inside the body, she shuddered all over, feeling the instinctive fear women often have toward insects.
Just as the group was on high alert, the black shadow shot out from underground again, aiming straight for Ah Du in the front row.
Long Nianbing, who had been vigilant all along, gave a cold snort.
"Hmph, still trying to sneak attack?"
"Morning Dew Blade, Snow's Lament!"
Countless frost-covered kitchen knives formed an icy array, trapping the shadow inside. Everyone could now clearly see it.
It was a black beetle resembling a rhinoceros beetle, its body nearly ten centimeters long.
"Ah Du, this is a ten-thousand-year Soul-Devouring Beetle. Its attributes match yours, but its age is a bit of a stretch for you."
After hearing Ye Yinzhu's words, everyone turned to look at Ah Du, waiting to see what choice he would make.
While Ah Du hesitated, Long Nianbing's urgent voice rang out.
"Not good—it's about to break through my blade formation!"
Indeed, while they were talking, the beetle had begun crashing wildly inside the array, and the formation looked like it wouldn't hold much longer.
Seeing this, Ning Rongrong quickly summoned her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to buff Long Nianbing.
"Nine Treasures in name, never stop working!"
With strength, speed, and soul power boosted by forty percent, Long Nianbing stabilized the formation again and shot Ning Rongrong a look of approval.
Realizing it was time to act, Ah Du made up his mind.
"I'll take this beetle as my soul ring!"
Ye Yinzhu and Long Nianbing looked at him with concern.
"Ah Du, are you sure?"
Ah Du nodded firmly.
"I've always been the one with the weakest talent. If I don't take the risk now, I'll always be left behind by you all."
Seeing his determination, the two stopped trying to persuade him and instead gave him an encouraging glance.
Since they had decided to hunt this beetle, the next steps were clear.
Ning Rongrong buffed the entire team again—she had been practicing her Exquisite Seven Apertures Heart diligently.
"Nine Treasures in name, still working nonstop!"
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing quickly moved to positions beside the formation. Once Long Nianbing released it, they would strike immediately.
"Nianbing, once I control it with my soul skill, release the array!"
Long Nianbing didn't reply—he simply nodded solemnly.
A guqin appeared in Ye Yinzhu's hands, and he sat cross-legged on the ground.
Yellow, purple, purple—three soul rings appeared on the guqin, the third one lighting up.
"Soul-Seizing Enchantment!"
A strange melody echoed through the forest, but it didn't make the surrounding companions feel uncomfortable.
The Soul-Devouring Beetle, however, was different. Its frenzied body began to slow down, and it drifted aimlessly in midair, as if in a trance.
"Now! Don't waste the chance!"
Upon hearing Ye Yinzhu's call, Long Nianbing immediately released the formation and condensed a blazing red kitchen knife in his hand.
"Zhengyang Blade, Flaming Roar!"
The knife shot toward the beetle with fierce flames, tearing open its shell and leaving charred marks.
Not to be outdone, Xiao Wu used her Eight-Stage Throw, slamming the beetle to the ground. Zhu Zhuqing followed up with her Nether Hundred Claws, raking at the wound.
After the heavy blows, the beetle lay unconscious on the ground, making Ah Du's eyes light up.
"Ah Du, finish it! It's almost dead!"
"Alright, thank you everyone!"
Ah Du released his martial soul, his first yellow soul ring lighting up. A massive scythe swept across the beetle's wound. The beetle trembled briefly before going completely still.
A pitch-black soul ring rose from its corpse!
Ah Du thanked his companions, then swallowed the Meridian Protection Pill he had prepared in advance. Sitting cross-legged beside the beetle, he began absorbing it.
Soon, the black ten-thousand-year soul ring slowly attached itself to Ah Du's scythe, indicating the absorption had begun.
The smaller members immediately stood guard.
Ye Yinzhu and Ning Rongrong stayed close to Ah Du, while Xiao Wu, Nianbing, and Zhu Zhuqing formed a triangle to protect them.
In the sky, Ning Bei, seeing the group cooperate to kill a ten-thousand-year soul beast, nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad at all. I thought I'd have to step in."
Dugu Yan, who had witnessed the entire hunt, also let out a sigh of admiration.
(END CHAPTER)
(END CHAPTER)
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