"Old Monster, while these Armored Rhinos are decent, don't you think there are a bit too many here? I suspect that quite a few of them are at the ten-thousand-year level. How are you planning to get the one we need? Surely you're not planning to kill them all at once, right?" Tian Lin asked. "Also, they all look pretty much the same. How are you even going to determine their age?"
There were dozens of Armored Rhinos here. While killing them all wouldn't be difficult for Dugu Bo, it wasn't necessary to go that far just to harvest a single spirit ring.
Moreover, Armored Rhinos were very special. Their age wasn't reflected in their size but rather in their outer defensive strength. In other words, unless you fought them, it was impossible to accurately judge their age just by their appearance.
"Hehe, Sword Brother, you're so dumb!" Ning Rongrong suddenly laughed.
"Little monster, you're sharp when it comes to swordsmanship, and your talent for cultivating soul power is extraordinary. But why don't you know basic common sense? All your skill points have been spent on cultivation, and you're a complete mess in every other aspect," Dugu Bo finally found something Tian Lin was clueless about and took the opportunity to mock him mercilessly.
Tian Lin, overwhelmed by the teasing from the two, looked confused. Just then, Skydream Iceworm communicated telepathically with him: "Xiao Tian, you're embarrassing me. You're my host, and my reputation is tied to you. Don't you know that rhinos are solitary animals? Even as soul beasts, they're the same. Right now, it's their drinking time. Once this period ends, they'll scatter."
"The Poison Douluo picked the perfect timing. While they're gathered, he'll choose a target, and when they disperse, he'll hunt the selected one individually. How could such a simple method not occur to you?"
"As for determining their age, you can easily judge based on their position and drinking order. The first batch that drinks is usually the rare ten-thousand-year soul beasts. The second batch falls between five thousand and ten thousand years. Even if you pick the wrong one, it doesn't matter—they're solitary creatures. If it escapes, just choose another. You have a Titled Douluo here, what's there to fear?"
Tian Lin's mouth twitched after being ridiculed by three different people in a row. It was the first time he'd been mocked like this. But he had to admit, he didn't know. In his previous life, he'd been a tech-loving shut-in and had no interest in studying animals.
Since reincarnating, none of his cheat-like abilities had included knowledge in this area. Even the soul beast encyclopedia Qian Renxue had given him only listed what attributes soul beasts had. He had completely ignored their habits and behavior.
Thinking carefully, Tian Lin realized that all the soul beasts he had hunted so far had been chosen with the help of others. He had never found one on his own. In this regard, he was indeed a soul beast dunce.
"Damn it, I'm not Yu Xiaogang, who has nothing to do all day. I have to practice swordsmanship, train multitasking, refine pills, inscribe talismans, and cultivate soul power. Where would I find the time to study something like this?" Tian Lin muttered to himself, sulking in the corner.
At that moment, the Armored Rhino herd began to move. The strongest ones claimed the best drinking spots, and after they had drunk their fill, they began to disperse, just as Skydream Iceworm had said. They were indeed solitary beasts.
"The ones that just left are all ten-thousand-year-old rhinos. The next batch will be the thousand-year ones, between five and ten thousand years. That one will do!" Dugu Bo pointed to an Armored Rhino near the edge. "That guy didn't get a great spot. I estimate its age to be around five thousand years. But we'll confirm its exact age in battle. If it's under six thousand years, we'll settle for it. Otherwise, we'll come back and choose again."
Just as he finished speaking, the second batch of rhinos finished drinking and began to scatter. Dugu Bo immediately activated his martial soul. "Get ready for battle, little monster who knows nothing."
"Good luck! My soul ring is counting on you, Grandpa Dugu, and Sword Brother who knows nothing!" Ning Rongrong teased with a smile.
"Can you stop using those insulting modifiers before my name?" Tian Lin, holding his magic sword, looked completely awkward, lacking his usual fighting spirit.
"No time for chit-chat. Let's move. First Spirit Skill: Serpent Strength!" Dugu Bo's massive snake tail lashed out, grabbing the isolated Armored Rhino and dragging it over.
A mere thousand-year soul beast was no match for Dugu Bo, a Titled Douluo, in terms of strength. It had no chance to resist.
"First Spirit Skill: Frozen Snow!"
Tian Lin stepped forward, slashing his sword at the Armored Rhino's iron armor. A sharp clang rang out, and though the armor didn't shatter, fine cracks appeared.
The Armored Rhino's defense was indeed formidable. Even Tian Lin couldn't break through it in one strike.
However, he didn't need to. The magic sword's damage was all true damage. Without using spirit skills, relying solely on spirit power or physical defense was useless against it.
The Armored Rhino trembled from the freezing cold. Its iron plating couldn't stop the icy energy of Tian Lin's sword, and its body was already invaded by the frost.
"Old Monster, I used about forty percent of my strength in that strike. Can you estimate this rhino's age now?"
Dugu Bo nodded. "Got it. If it can withstand forty percent of your power, this Armored Rhino is about 5,500 to 6,000 years old. It's suitable—this one will do!"
"Alright then. Myriad Sword Technique!" Hearing Dugu Bo's confirmation, Tian Lin didn't hesitate. His magic sword split into thousands, all targeting the crack he had just created.
The Armored Rhino sensed danger, but Dugu Bo's snake tail held it tightly, leaving it no room to move. It could only watch helplessly as thousands of swords rained down.
Using the principle of breaking through at a single point, Tian Lin's sustained attacks shattered the Armored Rhino's tough armor, exposing the soft flesh beneath. Tian Lin quickly stopped his attack—it had to remain alive for Ning Rongrong to finish it.
"Fifth Spirit Skill: Illusory Water Thunderstorm!"
Tian Lin cast his skill, simultaneously amplifying both Ning Rongrong and the Armored Rhino. Using his multitasking ability, he adjusted the amplification levels. Ning Rongrong's soul power was boosted to just meet the requirement for absorbing the soul ring, while the Armored Rhino's cultivation was raised by 4,500 years, making it a newly-minted ten-thousand-year soul beast.
Unfortunately for the rhino, even with its cultivation boosted, it couldn't recover from its injuries. Its shattered armor remained its fatal weakness.
"Rongrong, now!" Tian Lin shouted.
"Got it!" Without hesitation, Ning Rongrong stepped forward, pulled a longsword from her soul tool, and stabbed it directly into the exposed, unarmored spot on the Armored Rhino.
The Armored Rhino let out a final cry before collapsing. Since it had reached ten-thousand-year cultivation before dying, the soul ring it produced was naturally black.
Tian Lin helped Ning Rongrong over, and the two sat cross-legged. Ning Rongrong drew the soul ring toward her while Tian Lin used his Holy Spirit Domain to aid her absorption.