“Eight hundred it is!”
After a long moment of deliberation, Su Daqiang finally relented.
He chose to trust Lu Yuan.
This student had already given him enough shock over the past two months—a little more wouldn’t make much difference.
There was another reason that solidified Su Daqiang’s decision: Lu Yuan carried within him the confidence of a true strongman.
His words were inherently persuasive.
But before Lu Yuan could revel in his joy, Su Daqiang added: “Though I’ve agreed to your proposal, if anything goes wrong while you’re absorbing the spirit ring, I will intervene—even if it means your spirit power regresses, that’s still better than dying from a ruptured body.”
“I understand.
Thank you for trusting me.
I won’t let you down!”
Lu Yuan knew that every decision Su Daqiang had made so far was for his own good.
He saw it all and remembered it all.
Lu Yuan’s principle in dealing with others was simple: if someone treats me with respect, I’ll repay them tenfold.
With everything settled, the two continued on their way.
Lu Yuan had previously researched the Ironclad Rhino.
This type of spirit beast inhabited the zone between the outer perimeter and the central area.
The predators there weren’t too powerful, and there were plenty of high-aged plant-type spirit beasts as well.
To avoid unnecessary killing and to conserve their spirit power and stamina, Su Daqiang led Lu Yuan on a winding path through the forest.
As dusk approached, they finally reached the fringe area where the Ironclad Rhinos lived.
Pointing at a footprint larger than both of their feet combined, Su Daqiang, not giving Lu Yuan a chance to show off, said directly:
“This is an Ironclad Rhino’s footprint.
Looks like we’re getting closer to your first spirit ring.”
Looking up at the darkening sky, Su Daqiang added: “It’s getting late.
The forest at night is a bit dangerous for us.”
“We need to find a safe place to rest for the night.
We’ll talk about obtaining the spirit ring tomorrow morning.”
“Alright.
I’ll follow your arrangements.”
Hearing this, Su Daqiang looked at Lu Yuan with a knowing smile and said in a teasing tone: “You little rascal—when it came to choosing the spirit ring’s age, why didn’t you say you’d follow my arrangements then?”
Lu Yuan scratched his head awkwardly, thinking helplessly to himself.
“I can’t exactly tell you that my martial soul is a god-level one and that I have innate level-twenty spirit power.”
“Haha…” Seeing Lu Yuan’s embarrassed expression, Su Daqiang couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
After playing the background figure all day, he’d finally found the joy of being a teacher again.
“Alright, enough teasing.
Let’s go find a safe zone.”
“Mm-hmm.”
From Su Daqiang’s behavior just now, he could tell that Su Daqiang had been hoping to ask something Lu Yuan couldn’t answer, so he could play the wise teacher once more.
Unfortunately, Lu Yuan had previously thought Su Daqiang was simply testing him.
Relying on years of experience leading students on soul-hunting trips, Su Daqiang quickly found a relatively spacious and safe spot.
Unpacking their supplies, they took out the smoked jerky and flatbread, brushed on some sauce, rolled them up, and ate.
After they’d eaten their fill, Su Daqiang watched Lu Yuan scattering beast-repelling powder nearby and couldn’t help but praise him: “This flatbread with meat is really delicious!”
“In the past, when I brought students out to hunt, we’d always gnaw on dry rations and drink cold water.
Even if we occasionally brought some jerky, the taste couldn’t compare to yours.”
Hearing this, Lu Yuan kept working but said in a serious tone: “As long as you like it.
After we get our spirit ring, we can take some Ironclad Rhino meat.
When we get back, I’ll cook it up and bring some to you.”
“Great!
I’m in for a treat then.
Too bad we don’t have a storage soul tool—otherwise, we could take the whole Ironclad Rhino carcass back with us, and you could sell it for some money.”
“It’s alright, Teacher.
When I have money in the future, I’ll definitely get you a big storage soul tool.” After scattering the last bit of beast-repelling powder, Lu Yuan puffed out his chest and promised.
“Hahaha, good—I’ll be waiting!” Hearing Lu Yuan’s vow, Su Daqiang simply couldn’t suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth.
After chatting a while longer and setting their watch schedule, Lu Yuan was urged by Su Daqiang to get some sleep.
…
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.
After a simple meal, the two set off again toward the Ironclad Rhino’s territory.
Since they had scouted the area the day before, it didn’t take long before they spotted an Ironclad Rhino out foraging.
Su Daqiang pulled a gleaming dagger from his boot and handed it to Lu Yuan.
“I don’t have many valuable things.
This dagger has been with me for years—I’ll give it to you today as a gift for obtaining your spirit ring.”
“This Ironclad Rhino is probably between eight hundred and nine hundred years old.
We’ll follow it for now.
Once we’re far enough from the herd, I’ll beat it half to death, and you can finish it off with this dagger.”
“Got it.
I’ll remember.” Lu Yuan nodded seriously.
Neither of them spoke further.
They followed the Ironclad Rhino from a distance.
When he felt the timing was right, Su Daqiang nodded at Lu Yuan, then immediately activated his martial soul possession.
In Lu Yuan’s eyes, after activating his martial soul, a figure of a crimson lion wreathed in flames materialized behind Su Daqiang.
Credit where it was due—Su Daqiang was indeed an experienced spirit master who frequently led students on soul-hunting expeditions.
Both his strength and his decisiveness in striking were impeccable.
The moment his martial soul was possessed, without the slightest hesitation, Su Daqiang launched a spirit ability directly at the Ironclad Rhino.
“Second Spirit Ability—Furious Lion’s Roar!”
As Su Daqiang’s voice fell, an ethereal lion over two meters tall charged at the Ironclad Rhino at incredible speed.
The moment the lion’s phantom passed through the Ironclad Rhino, the beast froze in place as if struck by a paralysis spell. The source of this chapter is g.com.
But Su Daqiang gave it no time to react.
The previous spirit ability had barely ended, and the next attack was already charging.
“Third Spirit Ability—Flame Lion’s Fist!”
As Su Daqiang executed his third spirit ability, he stomped down hard with his right foot, cracking the ground beneath him, and his entire body shot forward like a cannonball.
When he reached the Ironclad Rhino’s side, he gathered power in his right fist and slammed it into the beast’s back.
Bang!
Between the collision of fist and bone, a crisp cracking sound rang out.
The Ironclad Rhino’s back was caved in, with shards of bone piercing through flesh and exposed to the air.
But Su Daqiang didn’t stop.
After steadying himself, he threw another punch.
Wind howled as his spirit-ability-enhanced iron fist smashed directly into the Ironclad Rhino’s jaw.
The beast crumpled backward like a pile of mud, collapsing to the ground.
The entire process was fluid and seamless, without a trace of hesitation.
From immobilizing the Ironclad Rhino to critically injuring it, less than half a minute had passed.
“Incredible!” Lu Yuan couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
Seeing this, Su Daqiang called out: “Xiao Yuan, come over and deliver the final blow!”
“Coming, coming!”
Lu Yuan jogged over to Su Daqiang’s side.
“This Ironclad Rhino only has one breath left.
Take the knife and stab directly next to its ear.”
“Alright!”
Following Su Daqiang’s instructions without hesitation, Lu Yuan drew the dagger and plunged it down.
His decisiveness and ruthlessness left even Su Daqiang, standing nearby, momentarily stunned.
He had thought he might need to offer words of encouragement if Lu Yuan couldn’t bring himself to do it.
But who would have expected Lu Yuan to act so resolutely?
Then again, when he remembered the roasted meat he’d eaten before, he suddenly understood.
Beasts, spirit beasts—in Lu Yuan’s eyes, there was no difference.
As long as it was edible, he could bring himself to do it.
Human beings were an exception—those he found repulsive.
After driving the dagger into the Ironclad Rhino’s temple, Lu Yuan, fearing the beast might still have some fight left, pressed down on its head and twisted the dagger twice.
With a series of whimpers and convulsions, the Ironclad Rhino’s life had come to an end.
Only after a deep yellow spirit ring floated up from the Ironclad Rhino’s corpse did Lu Yuan stand up and walk over to Su Daqiang.
Gulp!
Watching Lu Yuan’s entire process, Su Daqiang swallowed instinctively.
What shocked Su Daqiang was that he never would have imagined that the always gentle and refined young gentleman before him harbored such a ruthless and violent side.
And when he looked at Lu Yuan again, the boy before him was no longer the naive child he’d first met—but a seasoned slaughterer who had been hunting souls for years.