Ning Rongrong, on seeing a figure slightly taller than herself emerge from behind, instinctively retreated a few steps. Her feet failed to react in time, tangling together, and she fell backwards...
Quick to react, Xu Sheng rushed forward to catch her coveted waist just as she was about to fall...
The comfortable sensation flowing beneath Xu Sheng's fingertips made him take in a sharp breath, "Hiss... such a slender waist, could she also be a beauty that brings disaster to the nation?"
Then he caught a whiff of a fragrant scent assaulting his nostrils... was that the residual smell of shampoo?
Ning Rongrong, with her head bowed, felt her sensitive waist being firmly grasped, and her face flushed red, though the night shrouded it well.
Once she regained her composure, she broke away from Xu Sheng's warm embrace like a scared rabbit, clasping her hands together tightly and asked anxiously, "Who... who are you? Did my father send you to rescue me?"
Xu Sheng gently shook his head, "No, I just happened to be hunting soul beasts in Sunset Forest."
Ning Rongrong's face revealed a hint of disbelief, and with a light laugh she covered her mouth and said softly, "Hunting soul beasts? You look about my age, how could you possibly hunt soul beasts alone in Sunset Forest!"
Sunset Forest was rife with ten-thousand-year soul beasts, and she didn't believe that someone her age could hunt soul beasts on their own strength.
Perhaps even Ning Rongrong herself didn't realize that while talking to Xu Sheng, there was less arrogance in her tone...
Just as Xu Sheng was about to speak, his spiritual power suddenly sensed dozens of soul beasts rapidly approaching their location...
With a furrowed brow, he warned Ning Rongrong, "Come and stand by my side quickly, besides the Man-Faced Demon Spider, dozens more soul beasts have gathered around! They seem to be targeting us."
In theory, they hadn't done anything to attract soul beasts, so why were they suddenly surrounded by so many?
Upon hearing Xu Sheng's words, Ning Rongrong, who had just relieved some of her fear, went pale again, completely believing his words in her heart...
Thinking back to that Man-Faced Demon Spider, if it weren't for her good luck, she might've already fallen prey to its claws...
Ning Rongrong hurriedly covered her still-bleeding right arm, moving closer to Xu Sheng with a worried look, "Can you... can you handle this?"
Xu Sheng nodded gravely, "Yes, just be careful not to stray from my side..."
Then, noticing Ning Rongrong holding her right arm, he squinted and could barely make out the blood dripping from it...
It seems these soul beasts were attracted by the scent of blood!
...
As expected, in the time that followed, the soul beasts lurking around closed in from all directions, surrounding Xu Sheng and Ning Rongrong.
Among these beasts, there were even two with a cultivation level of about thirty thousand years!
Under the immense pressure, Ning Rongrong couldn't help but grip Xu Sheng tightly, which provided her with a faint sense of security.
Standing behind Xu Sheng, she felt as if countless pairs of eyes were staring at her, daring not even breathe too loudly.
Her body pressed tightly against Xu Sheng, she asked in a trembling voice, "Hey, with so many soul beasts, what do you plan to do?"
Feeling the slight warmth pressing against his back, Xu Sheng coughed a bit, "We'll just have to kill them!"
To him, these soul beasts were nothing but creatures he could kill without effort, but for the safety of the girl behind him, he knew he had to be cautious.
Xu Sheng stepped lightly, releasing the Nine-Hearted Begonia which spread its influence on the ground in a circular pattern, enveloping both of them.
The next moment, four pitch-black Soul Rings suddenly appeared beneath his feet...
Ning Rongrong behind him quickly covered her mouth in shock, staring at those four Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings around Xu Sheng's feet...
She thought in amazement, "He's actually a Soul Ancestor! And, his first to fourth Soul Rings are all Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings? That's simply impossible!"
Even she, the favored daughter of the Seven Treasures Glaze Sect, could only withstand a Centennial Soul Ring. Who on earth was this person!
Xu Sheng looked at the surrounding soul beasts eager to try and said coldly, "Third soul skill! Blood Begonia's Command."
Around Xu Sheng and Ning Rongrong, strands of the Nine-Hearted Begonia slowly coalesced around them, subsequently forming what appeared to be a fragile barrier of light.
"Aoouuu!"
"Puchi"
Dozens of soul beasts extended their claws and massive teeth, impatiently rushing in from all sides.
But when they collided with the barrier of light, they were all ruthlessly repelled by the tremendous rebound force…
Having grown accustomed to it, Ning Rongrong pursed her lips, unable to help herself as she reached out and gently touched the seemingly weak barrier of light…
Where her fingers touched, the barrier dimpled outward, just like a membrane...
She could hardly believe that this barrier was actually holding off the simultaneous attack of dozens of soul beasts...
Gradually, she began to grow curious about Xu Sheng's identity...
The cunning Man-Faced Demon Spider suddenly shifted its gaze and spat out a web straight from its mouth, accurately covering the area where the two were...
The other soul beasts that had been repelled got back up, and seeing the spider web around Xu Sheng and Ning Rongrong, they didn't take it seriously...
Once again, they launched a new round of attacks on the two...
...
Ning Rongrong fought the urge to vomit, trembling as she pointed at the Man-Faced Demon Spider in front of her that was gnawing away at a soul beast stuck firmly on the web, having expended its energy.
She did not conceal the disgust in her eyes, "This Man-Faced Demon Spider is so cunning, it's even scheming against its own kind."
Xu Sheng glanced indifferently at the Man-Faced Demon Spider, continuing to gnaw on the other soul beasts and ignoring them, "It probably knows it's no match for me, so it's reaping the rewards."
He then looked at Ning Rongrong, his eyes on her blood-streaked arm, "Does your arm still hurt?"
Ning Rongrong looked down at it, clenched her teeth and shook her head through the pain...
"It's no longer an issue."
Xu Sheng felt a bit amused as his first soul ring suddenly lit up, "First soul skill, Begonia Blossoming!"
Petals of the Nine-heart Asiatic Apple clung to Ning Rongrong's wounded arm, with a tingling sensation gradually spreading...
The injured area immediately began to scab over, then slowly flaked off...
Ning Rongrong's eyes brightened as she gently rubbed the wound, realizing the injured area had completely healed...
Afterward, Ning Rongrong looked on with puzzlement, "Is this a healing soul skill? Aren't you a control-class Soul Master?"
Xu Sheng chuckled and lovingly ruffled her hair, saying affectionately, "I'll tell you about it later. Let's get out of here first to avoid attracting other soul beasts."
Ning Rongrong's heartbeat fluttered, sensing an unusual emotion rising from the bottom of her heart...
Certainly, she absolutely detested other men touching her...
But... why, when this man touched her, did she not only feel no disgust, but her heart also raced so fast...
She silently acknowledged with a soft "Mm!"