The girls stared at Lin Chen for a long time, feeling that there was something strange hidden in his eyes, as if he was suppressing something he was unwilling to say.
But after asking him several questions, Lin Chen just laughed it off. In the end, they could only keep their doubts to themselves and look at him with concern.
Dugu Bo, who was sitting opposite him, was a seasoned veteran.
He saw through Lin Chen's unspeakable secret at a glance.
He secretly thought that this little monster must have encountered some trouble, but he didn't say anything.
After all, young people always have secrets they don't want to talk about.
So he simply picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and waited to see what would happen.
Seeing this, Lin Chen quickly changed the subject, gently twirling his fingertip on his spatial ring, and several luminous immortal herbs appeared in his palm.
He raised the corners of his mouth, his tone somewhat solemn: "The All-Continent Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies is coming soon, and I want to take this opportunity to help you improve your strength again, so that you can strive for a good ranking in the tournament."
As he spoke, he handed a bright green, clearly veined herb to Xiao Wu and said with a smile, "This is Narcissus Jade Bone and Muscle, which will greatly benefit your soft skills and physical strengthening. Here you go."
Xiao Wu's eyes instantly lit up like stars.
She skipped and hopped to take it, carefully cradling it in her hands, her face beaming with joy: "Thank you, brother! I will definitely absorb it well!"
Lin Chen then took a purple fungus from his palm, surrounded by spiritual energy, and looked at Dugu Yan: "This is a Grade Nine Purple Fungus. You have already absorbed the top-grade torso bone and swallowed the Earth Dragon Golden Melon. The power is still in your body and has not been fully digested. This immortal herb can help you better stabilize your foundation and completely absorb that power."
Dugu Yan accepted the immortal herb, her fingertips gently brushing against the leaves, her eyes filled with gratitude, and she said softly, "Thank you, Brother Lin Yuan."
Then, Lin Chen took out a fairy orchid with eight white petals and a refreshing fragrance and handed it to Ye Lingling: "The eight-petal fairy orchid can accelerate the cultivation speed of support-type soul masters. It is most suitable for you. Take it."
Ye Lingling's cheeks flushed slightly. She carefully accepted the gift with both hands, lowered her head, and whispered, "Thank you, Brother Lin Yuan."
Di Qiu'er, who was standing to the side, could no longer contain herself.
Her bright eyes were fixed on Lin Chen as she eagerly leaned closer and asked excitedly, "What about me? Do you have any suitable immortal herbs for me?"
Lin Chen shook his head helplessly, looking troubled: "Your Golden Dragon Martial Soul is an ultimate Dragon Clan Martial Soul, so the immortal herbs you need must be top-tier to perfectly match it. Originally, the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum would have been the most suitable for you, but unfortunately... I already absorbed it."
Upon hearing this, Di Qiu'er's face fell instantly. She then pounced on Lin Chen, grabbing his arm and shaking it like a spoiled kitten, her voice both coquettish and stubborn: "I don't care! You have to find a way for me! I want something that suits me!"
Lin Chen was dizzy from being shaken around, and wanted to shake her off, but as soon as he moved his arm, a memory flashed through his mind, and his eyes lit up. He quickly reached into his spatial ring again, took out a piece of bone that was golden all over and covered with dragon patterns, and handed it to Di Qiu'er: "Look at this."
Di Qiu'er curiously took the bone fragment. Her fingertips touched the warm dragon's might, and her eyes widened instantly. She exclaimed in surprise, "Golden Dragon Body Bone!" This was something she had wanted when they went to that treasure land together! But he had chosen the Destiny Pearl back then, and now she felt she had made a huge mistake! She never expected... never expected it to fall into her hands!
She held the torso bones in her hands, caressing them with obvious delight, her face practically overflowing with joy. When she looked up at Lin Chen, her eyes were filled with sparkling smiles, and she solemnly thanked him, "Thank you, brother! This is more suitable for me than any magic herb!"
Ning Rongrong, standing to the side, stared intently at the immortal herb and the golden dragon skeleton on the table, her heart filled with longing. Although she didn't understand the mysteries of the immortal herb, she knew all too well the preciousness of the soul bone. Lin Chen had just offered the rarest soul bone, which made her extremely eager to possess it.
When Lin Chen's gaze turned to her, Ning Rongrong pretended to be calm on the surface, but in her heart she was already screaming wildly: Lin Yuan! Give me something good! One thing is not too little, two things are even more than enough!
But what she got in return was Lin Chen's amused smile and silence, clearly teasing her.
Ning Rongrong puffed up her cheeks instantly, angrily pointing her finger at him, the tip almost poking his nose, but she swallowed back the words of her curse, her little face turning bright red.
She felt a surge of resentment whenever she thought about what had happened to her family.
A few days ago, she was peacefully staying at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School when her father, Ning Fengzhi, suddenly returned. He immediately berated her for betraying the sect and revealing its secrets to outsiders. The Sword Douluo, standing nearby, simply sipped his tea leisurely, observing coldly the entire time without offering any support. If it weren't for Grandpa Bone's concern for her and his desperate intervention to stop her father, she would have undoubtedly been severely punished.
She only learned later that Lin Chen had clearly pinned the blame on her!
He must have used the opportunity of trading with the sect to secretly spread the message, and because she was close to Lin Chen, she naturally became the "traitor," leaving her with no way to defend herself.
Ning Rongrong was both angry and aggrieved. She secretly ran away from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School with a sum of pocket money in her pocket.
She wanted to rush over and confront Lin Chen, but when she thought about his strength—even a Title Douluo couldn't do anything to him—she realized that going up against him would only make her suffer. So she could only suppress her anger, which only grew angrier the more she thought about it.
Ning Rongrong finally couldn't hold back any longer and found Dugu Yan, blushing as she asked softly, "Dugu Yan, I... I'd like to stay at your residence for a while, is that convenient?"
Dugu Yan didn't think much of it, assuming that she was just tired of being outside and wanted some peace and quiet, so she immediately agreed: "Of course it's convenient! You can stay here as long as you want!"
Ning Rongrong's plan was simple: since she couldn't beat Lin Chen, she would stay at Dugu Bo's residence, eating and using his things. Since she couldn't return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School anytime soon, she might as well find a comfortable place to live in peace. Today, hearing that Lin Chen had returned, she came along to see him.
Seeing his dejected appearance, Ning Rongrong gently comforted him along with the others, but inwardly she was overjoyed, thinking to herself that this guy finally had a moment of dejection.
But in the blink of an eye, Xiao Wu got the Narcissus Jade Bone, Dugu Yan got the Ninth Grade Purple Ganoderma, Ye Lingling accepted the Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid, and Di Qiu'er even took away the rare and precious Golden Dragon Body Bone. Only he himself was empty-handed from beginning to end, with nothing at all.
Ning Rongrong's face fell instantly, her eyes quickly filled with tears, and she glared at Lin Chen with a mixture of anger and grievance.
How can you bully people like this!
This caused her to be misunderstood by the sect, preventing her from returning home. Now, they are distributing treasures to everyone in front of her, leaving her to watch helplessly. This is blatant murder and a betrayal of her spirit!
She bit her lower lip hard, desperately trying to hold back her tears, silently repeating in her mind: He's deliberately trying to upset me, I can't cry, I need to calm down...
Just then, Lin Chen suddenly spoke, feigning realization, his tone full of "regret":
"Oh, by the way, Rongrong, I did have a magical herb that could directly evolve your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul, but unfortunately, I consumed it myself long ago. I'm really sorry, I don't have anything suitable for you right now. How about this, next time I find a good treasure, I'll save it for you, okay?"
He spoke sincerely, but the barely concealed smile on his face clearly said, "I was just teasing you."
These words completely shattered Ning Rongrong's last bit of patience.
She could no longer hold back; her nose tingled, and tears streamed down her face. She wiped them away, sobbing uncontrollably.
"You're bullying me! It's not enough to just kill me and break my spirit, you keep making me angry... You're not even human!"
Hearing Lin Chen's hurtful words and seeing Ning Rongrong's tearful and red-rimmed appearance, Di Qiu'er, Xiao Wu, and the others could only sigh helplessly, secretly feeling that Lin Chen's teasing was too much, making a perfectly good girl cry.
Looking at Ning Rongrong, her face streaked with tears, Lin Chen felt all the frustration, embarrassment, and disappointment that had been weighing on him all day vanish as if blown away by the wind. He felt instantly refreshed and much more at ease. He thought to himself, "Smiles don't just disappear; they just transfer from yourself to others. Seeing others having a tiff makes my own bad mood completely disappear."
Seeing that he had teased her enough, and fearing that further teasing might truly anger Ning Rongrong, Lin Chen stopped joking. He lightly touched his spatial ring and immediately took out a celestial herb, entirely gilded, with layered and unfurled petals, exuding a gentle spiritual energy. Its elegant fragrance instantly filled the air; it was the Qiluo Tulip, which could assist in the evolution of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. He handed the herb to Ning Rongrong, smiling as he said, "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. This is for you."
Ning Rongrong was still sobbing with tears in her eyes, but when she saw the ethereal herb shrouded in magical energy, her tears stopped instantly, and a surprised and delighted smile immediately bloomed on her face. She took the herb and hugged it to her chest, her cheeks puffed out slightly, showing a hint of her lingering temper, but unable to hide her joy. She said in a soft, pouty voice, "Th-thank you!"
With the farce over, the women didn't linger any longer. Knowing the immortal herbs possessed immense spiritual energy and required focused absorption, they each took their herbs and found spacious spots in the courtyard to sit cross-legged. They closed their eyes, concentrating entirely on absorbing the herbs' power. Lin Chen and Dugu Bo stood guard beside them, their auras calm and restrained, constantly watching their surroundings, protecting them from any external disturbances and ensuring they could safely absorb the vast spiritual energy within the herbs.
This protection continued from dawn until nearly noon. As the last wisp of the immortal herb's spiritual energy was absorbed, the group opened their eyes one after another. Their soul power fluctuations underwent a tremendous increase, and their temperament also transformed.
The most astonishing change was in Ning Rongrong. She subconsciously summoned her martial soul, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, which originally had seven layers of radiant light, had been completely transformed. The pagoda now radiated nine dazzling streams of light, crystal clear and full of spiritual energy, evolving into the legendary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, which countless soul masters dreamed of!
Ning Rongrong stared at the Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda before her, her whole body trembling slightly with excitement, her voice shaking uncontrollably. This was a heaven-defying transformation that could rewrite the fate of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect! Overwhelmed with joy, she didn't have time to think further, quickly stepped forward, stood on tiptoe, and swiftly kissed Lin Chen on the cheek.
The sudden kiss stunned everyone present. Ning Rongrong belatedly realized what was happening, her cheeks instantly turning bright red, from her ears to her neck. She hurriedly pushed Lin Chen away, stammering, "I...I'm just...repaying you!" As soon as she finished speaking, she covered her face, turned around shyly, and ran away.
Seeing this, Di Qiu'er's eyes flashed with a sly smile. She stepped forward and planted a kiss on Lin Chen's other cheek, raising her chin and smiling brightly: "This is your reward!"
Before Lin Chen could recover from the series of unexpected events, an even more lively scene unfolded. The vivacious Dugu Yan followed closely behind, lightly touching his lips before laughing and running away; the gentle Xiao Wu also tiptoed and planted a soft kiss on his cheek; even Ye Lingling, who usually seemed well-behaved, shy, and not good with words, blushed, timidly approached Lin Chen, kissed him, and then quickly stepped back, lowering her head and nervously twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingertips.
Standing alone to the side, Dugu Bo watched the intimate scene unfold before him, his lips twitching repeatedly. He helplessly stroked his gray beard, feeling like he had been force-fed a mouthful of dog food, becoming a completely superfluous bystander. He secretly cursed these young people, saying they had no sense of restraint and were utterly inconsiderate of others' feelings.
Lin Chen touched his burning cheeks, feeling helpless. Looking at the shy girls in front of him, he wanted to say something, but in the end, he could only laugh helplessly.
After everyone finished a lively lunch at the mansion, Lin Chen prepared to set off for the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for spirit rings. Before leaving, Xiao Wu specifically sought him out alone, her eyes filled with concern for her family, and softly instructed him, "Lin Chen, if you happen to see Da Ming and Er Ming on your journey, please be sure to give them my regards. Tell them that I am safe in the human world, that everyone is taking care of me, and that they should not worry about me and should not leave the Star Dou Great Forest easily."
Seeing Xiao Wu's worried expression, Lin Chen nodded solemnly, firmly accepting the entrustment: "Don't worry, when I see them, I will definitely convey your words exactly as they were."
After bidding farewell to everyone, Lin Chen turned and walked out of Dugu Bo's residence. Once outside the gates of Tiandou City, he activated his movement technique and sped straight towards the Star Dou Great Forest.
After several days of enduring wind and rain, traveling day and night, Lin Chen finally entered the territory of the Star Dou Great Forest. Looking up, towering ancient trees blocked out the sun, their thick branches reaching straight into the clouds. The forest was filled with spiritual energy, and the roars of soul beasts and the chirping of birds could be heard from time to time. Everywhere exuded a primitive and wild atmosphere, truly worthy of being one of the top soul beast habitats on the Douluo Continent.
Upon landing, Lin Chen did not venture further. He immediately took out the Vast Ocean Universe Cover from his spatial ring. A pale blue, crystalline halo instantly enveloped him. He focused his mind and activated his soul power, using the Vast Ocean Universe Cover's dual skills of invisibility and aura concealment. The next second, his figure completely disappeared into the forest, and all the fluctuations of his soul power and the aura of the dragon race were completely concealed, without even a trace leaking out.
His caution stemmed from a clear purpose—he had come specifically to cause trouble for the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger or the three Thousand-Pound Ant King brothers, and to thoroughly punish these powerful soul beasts. His aura, now fused with dragon blood and awakened the Dragon God Martial Soul, was far too domineering and fierce. If he were to reveal himself directly, any soul beast with even a modicum of cultivation would sense the danger, either scattering in all directions or entering a state of full alert, making it difficult to attack.
Using his invisibility, Lin Chen focused his mind and silently crept deeper into the forest. He thought he would have to go deep into the core area to find his target, but after only half an hour of stealth, as soon as he spread his mental energy, he instantly detected three closely connected, powerful, and familiar auras!
"They are the three brothers, the King Ants!"
Lin Chen's eyes instantly lit up with intense joy. He hadn't expected his luck to be so good; he hadn't even ventured deep into the core of the Star Dou realm before he stumbled upon the target he was looking for. Without further hesitation, he followed the three auras and slowly approached. Passing through layers of dense bushes, a wide clearing in the forest came into view. In the very center of the clearing stood a giant anthill, several meters high and entirely black. The outer walls of the anthill were as hard as iron, exuding a chillingly heavy soul power.
Not long after, a slight tremor came from the ground, and three enormous figures slowly crawled out of the giant anthill.
It was none other than the three brothers, the King Ants!
The three ant queens were nearly identical in size, their bodies comparable to small behemoths. Their dark golden carapaces were thick and hard, covered with ferocious patterns. The pincers on their heads were incredibly sharp, gleaming with a cold, chilling light. Their six compound eyes scanned their surroundings, exuding the arrogance of soul beast overlords. The soul power emanating from their bodies was extremely profound, their aura having already risen to over 80,000 years, only a step away from the 90,000-year level.
Hidden within the invisibility aura, Lin Chen looked at the three Thousand-Pound Ant Kings before him and instantly recalled the description from the original novel. These three Thousand-Pound Ant Kings were originally ordinary soul beasts. By cruelly devouring the ant kings among their own kind, constantly plundering power and consuming their own kind, they gradually grew stronger, eventually reaching the top level of 95,000 years, becoming one of the most ferocious soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest.
But he had no time to care about any of that; his mind was completely focused on dealing with these guys. He held his breath, suppressed all unusual movements around him, and slowly approached the three ant queens, his footsteps as light as falling leaves, making no sound whatsoever.
The three mighty ant queens were waving their antennae, exchanging messages with each other, clearly plotting to continue searching for and devouring other ant colonies. They were completely unaware that a powerful enemy was lurking nearby, ready to attack them.
Seeing that the distance was sufficient, Lin Chen's eyes suddenly sharpened, and without the slightest hesitation, he immediately decided to use his third martial soul—the Dragon God Martial Soul!
In an instant, a dazzling nine-colored radiance erupted from his body, shooting straight into the sky! Fine nine-colored dragon scales covered his entire body at a speed visible to the naked eye, each scale radiating the majestic aura of the supreme dragon race, hard and full of power; his hands quickly transformed into incomparably sharp nine-colored dragon claws, the tips gleaming with cold light, exuding the power to tear everything apart; behind him, a pair of broad nine-colored dragon wings suddenly unfolded, the veins on the wings clearly visible, and with a gentle flap, the surrounding air instantly became turbulent, stirring up gusts of wind.
A supreme dragon's might, unmatched and surpassing all beasts, suddenly swept out from his body, instantly enveloping the entire forest clearing!
Without hesitation, Lin Chen immediately deactivated the invisibility skill of the Vast Ocean Universe Cover. His figure transformed into a sharp nine-colored lightning bolt, rushing towards the three unsuspecting Thousand-Pound Ant Kings with a whistling sound!
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