Chapter 58: The Arrival of Sword Douluo

The Duke of Long and the other two were filled with doubt. Although they knew about soul bones, they had never seen this kind before.

"This is an external soul bone. Unlike other soul bones that drop from soul beasts of a specific age and have fixed years that basically cannot be changed—just like the soul bones of some Title Douluo which are merely thousands or barely tens of thousands of years old—"

"External soul bones can evolve as the owner's strength increases. Perhaps in the future, with your efforts, this soul bone might even evolve into a hundred-thousand-year one," Ling Xiao said, and the three of them finally understood.

The Duke of Long and the Serpent Grandmother looked at Meng Yine in astonishment. They had never expected their granddaughter to have such great fortune to obtain such a wonderful treasure!

However, this was a good thing!

"Thank you very much for your help, Senior!"

The Duke of Long took a deep breath and bowed solemnly to Ling Xiao.

If not for the person before them, they would likely have panicked, and might even have accidentally injured Meng Yine. Moreover, if others were to discover such a precious treasure, they would inevitably come to seize it.

"It is nothing, merely a matter of convenience while passing by!" Ling Xiao waved his hand and looked at Meng Yine, who was still kneeling on the ground, tightly covering her delicate body.

Her face was already somewhat pale, as using a soul bone required soul power to sustain it.

"Hurry and retract the soul bone now! Otherwise, your soul power will be exhausted. Now, gather your soul power and channel it into your spine, concentrate your mind, and take the soul bone back."

Hearing this, Meng Yine hurriedly concentrated her mind to perceive the connection between the soul bone and herself.

Finally, after a moment had passed, Meng Yine's pretty face was covered in sweat, and those eight spider legs slowly began to retract. The extended spider legs gradually folded, their curved ends pressing together before slowly fusing back into Meng Yine's body.

After another short while, all eight spider legs completely retreated into Meng Yine's body.

A golden light flickered in Ling Xiao's eyes, piercing through Meng Yine's physical body and observing the situation inside her.

Those eight spider legs had transformed into eight streams of strange energy, taking her spine as the starting point and adhering to her eight ribs.

Meng Yine's back became smooth as jade once more, and seeing this, the Serpent Grandmother hurriedly draped a garment over her.

Seeing this, Ling Xiao produced a set of light cyan garments, tossed them to Meng Yine, and said, "Just wearing a wrap is not enough. Put this on; it should fit you well."

"Thank you!" Meng Yine said softly with a blushing face, taking the dress handed to her by Ling Xiao.

After changing into the clothes, Meng Yine shyly hid behind the Duke of Long, looking at Ling Xiao with a gaze full of shyness and a hint of curiosity.

"Senior, you have helped us such a huge favor. Please come to our home for a visit," the Duke of Long said, and anticipation flashed in Meng Yine's eyes as well.

"There is no need. I merely helped out of convenience. I still have matters to attend to, so I will not travel with you. Until we meet again by fate!" With those words, before the three could reply, Ling Xiao took a single step and vanished right before their eyes.

Sigh!

Seeing this, the Duke of Long let out a sigh, and a look of disappointment lingered in Meng Yine's eyes.

"Yine, let's return. You have just broken through the thirtieth rank and need to properly consolidate your soul power. Furthermore, this external soul bone also requires careful study. Since Senior said we might meet again by fate, perhaps there will still be a chance to see him in the future," the Duke of Long said, gently patting Meng Yine's small head.

"Yes, Grandfather," Meng Yine nodded.

The three of them then embarked on the journey back.

Ling Xiao glanced back at the three figures.

An external soul bone—truly an interesting thing, but useful only to soul masters. Once one reached the level of a deity, it held nothing special.

After trekking along their journey, the group finally returned to Shrek Academy the following day.

"Teacher, we are back."

As soon as they stepped into Shrek Academy, Tang San and the others spotted Flender and the others waiting at the academy gates.

"Good, good, good! Now our Shrek Academy has two more little monsters who are soul masters of the third rank!" Flender stepped forward and said.

At that moment, a crew-cut middle-aged man also approached them, and Tang San felt a wave of happiness upon seeing him.

"Teacher!"

"Little San, you truly did not disappoint me. A thirteen-year-old soul master of the third rank is an extremely prodigious genius even in the history of Douluo Continent!" Yu Xiaogang said with a gratified expression.

"It is all thanks to your proper guidance, Teacher!"

Hmph!

Seeing this scene, Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu rolled their eyes in unison. These two were truly sick!

Right at that moment, Flender looked at Ning Rongrong with a strange expression and said, "Rongrong, someone has come to see you!"

"Who?" Ning Rongrong tilted her head and looked at Flender.

"Hahaha, Rongrong, long time no see!"

A hearty laugh drifted from afar, and upon hearing this voice, a flash of pleasant surprise crossed Ning Rongrong's eyes.

The next moment, a figure with the hair of a crane and the complexion of a child stepped upon a sword through the air, descending right before the crowd.

"Sword Grandfather!" Ning Rongrong shouted happily, instantly charging into the embrace of the Sword Douluo.

"Greetings, Your Excellency Sword Douluo!"

Faced with a powerhouse at the Title Douluo level, Zhao Wuji did not dare to put on airs and hastily bowed in salute.

"Rongrong, have you suffered any bullying in this place? If so, tell Grandfather, and Grandfather will teach them a proper lesson!"

Ignoring Zhao Wuji entirely, the Sword Douluo spoke to Ning Rongrong, his gaze filled with boundless warmth and pampering.

Seeing that Ning Rongrong actually possessed a grandfather at the Title Douluo level, Ma Hongjun and the others were so frightened that they hastily stepped back, wishing they could become entirely invisible.

After all, their initial attitude toward Ning Rongrong had been far from good, and they terrified themselves at the prospect of settling accounts—this was a Title Douluo!

Even if he slaughtered every single one of them, no one would dare to seek revenge. The two deans were merely soul saints, and before a Title Douluo, death was the only outcome.

"No, Sword Grandfather! Look, this is my good friend, Xiao Wu!"

Ning Rongrong said nothing about how the Shrek group had treated her; after all, she had never regarded these people as friends in the first place, so naturally, she did not care.

The only person in the entire academy who mattered to her was Xiao Wu.

"Greetings, Your Excellency Sword Douluo!" Xiao Wu stepped forward and addressed the Sword Douluo, her expression neither servile nor overbearing.

The Sword Douluo looked at Xiao Wu with satisfaction, and upon discovering that her soul power had reached the thirty-ninth rank, a surge of astonishment arose in his heart.

This person's soul power was actually even higher than Rongrong's.

"Rongrong's friend is also a monster!" the Sword Douluo exclaimed with emotion. Were there really so many monsters nowadays?

"Sword Grandfather, has that big villain returned?" At that moment, Ning Rongrong released her hold on the Sword Douluo, asking with a hint of bashfulness, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Hearing this, the expression of the Sword Douluo suddenly stiffened, and from this, Ning Rongrong instantly knew the answer. Disappointment and sorrow were difficult to conceal in her eyes.

A pang of heartache struck the Sword Douluo; he detested seeing Ning Rongrong sad the most, so he hurriedly comforted her, "Rongrong, he will definitely come back to find you. After all, he dotes on you so much, have you forgotten?"

"But he hasn't come to see me for three whole years!" Ning Rongrong said with her head lowered.

Seeing this, Xiao Wu wanted to step forward to offer some comfort, but right at that moment, a sound akin to shattering glazed glass echoed from the sky, instantly drawing everyone's gaze.

With doubtful expressions, the crowd looked up into the air, only to see a figure shrouded in a black cloak slowly walking toward them from above.