Chapter 2: Hunting Soul Beasts
Days passed...
Tian Mucheng sat on the bed and opened the box the old man had left him. Inside the box was a soul bone, and it was an external soul bone—the left palm bone of a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.
When he first opened the box, he discovered it was an external soul bone, feeling both surprised and unexpected. He had originally planned to absorb it after he became stronger, but now that there was a more suitable owner, it should naturally be absorbed by his clone.
He held the soul bone in his hand, looked at Jin Tianming, who was cultivating, and asked, "Tianming, do you want to absorb this external soul bone?"
One more thing to note: whether he himself absorbed the soul bone or his clone absorbed it, both would provide feedback to each other through the Engulfing Sky Dragon. Simply put, with the Engulfing Sky Dragon as a medium, the two could freely use each other's soul bones.
Upon hearing this, Jin Tianming stopped cultivating, stood up, and sat down next to Tian Mucheng. He looked at the soul bone, pondered for a moment, and then said, "This soul bone happens to be of the gold element, which suits me, and its abilities will also feedback to you. I'll absorb it."
Tian Mucheng did not object when he saw that Jin Tianming was willing to absorb it.
After all, he was his own clone, so there was nothing to worry about. He handed the soul bone to Jin Tianming.
Jin Tianming took the soul bone, sat cross-legged, and began to absorb this external soul bone.
Tian Mucheng closed the box, sat on the bed, and watched Jin Tianming absorbing the soul bone, falling into deep thought: Who killed the old man? Was it because of this soul bone, or for other reasons? He probably wouldn't find the answer until he became stronger.
"Level 10."
Jin Tianming's voice interrupted Tian Mucheng's thoughts. Tian Mucheng came back to his senses and asked, "What time is it now?"
"I've been absorbing for about half an hour," Jin Tianming replied, glancing at the sun outside the window.
"Is that so?" Tian Mucheng nodded. "Do you want to go hunt a Soul Beast today, or in a few days?"
"Let's go early and return early. Also, let's see if absorbing a Soul Ring will have any effect on your body," Jin Tianming expressed his thoughts. He had split from the Engulfing Sky Dragon Martial Soul, and he was curious if absorbing a Soul Ring would cause any feedback or changes to the main body. He was full of anticipation.
"Then let's go!" Tian Mucheng nodded in agreement. He was also curious about what changes would occur to his body after the gold element clone absorbed a Soul Ring.
Without further ado, the two immediately took action.
"Engulfing Sky Dragon, your body is really weak!" Jin Tianming said with a hint of disdain, looking at Tian Mucheng, who was far behind him. How could this Engulfing Sky Dragon be so frail? What would he do when he looked for a girlfriend in the future?
Tian Mucheng felt helpless upon hearing this. His body was indeed like that. To change it, he had to seize destiny, otherwise he would always be so weak.
Although Jin Tianming spoke with disdain, he still stood there waiting for him. After a few minutes, Tian Mucheng finally caught up. He leaned on Jin Tianming's shoulder, panting, and said, "This body is just like this, there's nothing I can do."
Upon hearing this, Jin Tianming squatted down and said, "Come on, I'll carry you."
Tian Mucheng didn't say much and directly sat on his back. Just like that, Jin Tianming carried Tian Mucheng and began to travel.
Outskirts of Star Dou Great Forest
Jin Tianming carried Tian Mucheng to the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Fortunately, Tian Mucheng's residence was not far from the Star Dou Great Forest, which greatly reduced travel time.
Jin Tianming slowly put Tian Mucheng down, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "We still don't seem to know the timeline of this era."
"You're right!" Tian Mucheng was reminded by Jin Tianming and only then remembered the timeline issue.
He had been too busy recently and had completely forgotten such an important matter.
"After we finish hunting Soul Beasts this time, let's go to Shrek City to confirm it," Jin Tianming said to comfort him.
Tian Mucheng nodded, agreeing with Jin Tianming's suggestion. "Then let's act quickly!"
The two immediately entered the Star Dou Great Forest. This time, Tian Mucheng walked in front because he had a Soul Ring and was slightly stronger than Jin Tianming's clone.
"By the way, what age of Soul Beast do you want to absorb?" Tian Mucheng asked. He still didn't know what kind of Soul Ring Jin Tianming planned to absorb.
Jin Tianming thought for a moment and replied, "At least an 800-year-old or above gold element or power-type Soul Beast."
"Engulfing Sky Dragon, if you can't handle it, I can choose a lower-level Soul Ring." Jin Tianming remembered that Tian Mucheng's Soul Power was only level 12. Although it had increased by one level because of him, in his opinion, it was still too weak. After all, if he died, he could return to the Engulfing Sky Dragon, but if the Engulfing Sky Dragon died, then he would truly be finished.
Upon hearing Jin Tianming's words, Tian Mucheng walked directly behind him and said, "Let me see the power of your external soul bone."
Jin Tianming: "..."
He was a bit speechless by Tian Mucheng's actions, but he still stepped forward. As a clone, protecting the Engulfing Sky Dragon was also a responsibility.
The two walked into the forest, one after the other.
The Star Dou Great Forest was the largest Soul Beast gathering place on the Douluo Continent, with a wide variety of Soul Beasts.
They quickly arrived at the place where Tian Mucheng had previously hunted the Gold Armor Ape, wanting to see if there were any other Gold Armor Apes here.
Although this Soul Beast's power was average, its gold element attribute was quite good.
"It seems there are no other Gold Armor Apes," Jin Tianming observed the surroundings and turned to Tian Mucheng, saying, "Should we continue deeper?"
"Continue." Tian Mucheng nodded without hesitation. "My body isn't that frail."
Jin Tianming obtaining a Soul Ring was the most important thing at the moment. As for what feedback he would receive, he would only know after absorbing the Soul Ring.
He could not delay Jin Tianming's and his own development because of his physical condition.
Body: "..."
Jin Tianming nodded and immediately summoned his external soul bone to clear the way. Tian Mucheng, on the other hand, vigilantly observed his surroundings.
The two walked for a long time. Along the way, Jin Tianming killed several Soul Beasts that were only a dozen years old. Jin Tianming didn't even look at these white Soul Rings; for him, only Soul Rings of eight or nine hundred years were worth absorbing.
"They're here!"
Jin Tianming's heart sank. He felt a dangerous aura coming from ahead and immediately shielded Tian Mucheng behind him, his eyes sharply fixed on what was in front.
A huge gorilla appeared before the two of them.
"This Soul Beast has a gold element within it." Jin Tianming's perception of the gold element was very keen.
The aura emanating from this gorilla made him detect the presence of the gold element.
Tian Mucheng was startled upon hearing this. He didn't expect their luck to be so good. He had previously encountered a gold element ape, and this time Jin Tianming encountered a gold element gorilla.
This gorilla's strength should not be weak; at least, it was stronger than his first Soul Ring Soul Beast.
"Can you handle it alone?" Tian Mucheng asked with some concern. If Jin Tianming couldn't handle it alone, he could also summon the Dreadclaw Bear's external soul bone to assist in battle.
"Engulfing Sky Dragon, protect yourself. I'm enough alone."
Jin Tianming possessed a powerful physical body and was confident he would not lose to the Soul Beast in front of him. He put away his soul bone, clenched his fists, and charged towards the large gorilla.
The massive, densely furred gorilla, which had been standing quietly, suddenly seemed to sense Jin Tianming's hostility.
Its large, brass-bell-like eyes widened, gleaming with anger.
Immediately after, the gorilla let out a deafening roar, as if it wanted to shatter the entire mountain forest.
It fiercely pounded its chest with its thick arms, producing dull thudding sounds like booming war drums. With its movements, surrounding branches and leaves were shaken loose, flying through the air. Then, the gorilla pushed off the ground with its feet, and its massive body leaped high, pouncing towards Jin Tianming like a small mountain.
It swung its boulder-like fists, accompanied by whistling wind, smashing down on Jin Tianming with overwhelming force. Facing this Soul Beast's attack, Jin Tianming's expression remained calm.
He clenched his fists, which gradually became covered with a layer of golden scales. Immediately after, he threw a punch.