Soul Hunting Forest (4)

Tang San suddenly thought of an important question. A puzzled look appeared on his face as he asked:

"Boss, how do we distinguish a soul beast's strength—or rather, its age?"

"Determining a soul beast's strength isn't difficult. Look at that Solitary Bamboo ahead. It's also a soul beast, a plant-type soul beast.

"It would be useful to you. Solitary Bamboo itself is tough. Though it isn't very aggressive, its defense is quite good.

"This is a ten-year Solitary Bamboo, because it is no more than ten meters tall. Anything over ten meters can be considered a hundred-year one.

"Likewise, generally speaking, the main ways to judge a soul beast's age and strength are by its size and the color of the Soul Power it uses when attacking. The color of its Soul Power corresponds to its strength.

"In other words, the Soul Power used by ten-year soul beasts is white, while that of hundred-year soul beasts is yellow, and so on.

"Of course, when facing an unknown soul beast, it's best not to wait until you see its Soul Power. If it is far stronger than you, you will be facing the danger of death.

"Actually, these are all things the academy will teach us over the next few years. How to identify a soul beast's age and strength is often overlooked, but it is extremely important. You must not neglect those lessons in the future."

Tang San nodded, committing Qian Bing's words to memory before continuing to observe the bamboo-like plant soul beast ahead of them. He asked:

"Boss, are we going to hunt this Solitary Bamboo?"

The Solitary Bamboo did not look particularly conspicuous. It only drew attention because it stood among tall trees rather than in a bamboo grove. Its body swayed gently, its bamboo branches moving with the wind.

"No. If you were an ordinary Blue Silver Grass martial soul master, it would be a suitable choice, but I have already thought of the most appropriate Soul Ring for you.

"When you choose Soul Rings for yourself in the future, you must also be very cautious. Once a Soul Ring is absorbed, it basically cannot be changed. When a Soul Scholar advances to a Soul Master, they can absorb the Soul Ring of a hundred-year soul beast.

"But even among hundred-year Soul Rings, although a Soul Ring produced by a hundred-year soul beast and one produced by a nine-hundred-year soul beast are the same color, the difference in the attribute boosts they provide is enormous.

"Pursuing the limit of a Soul Ring while ensuring safety as much as possible is a required lesson for every outstanding Soul Master.

"Strictly speaking, the maximum age for a Soul Master's first Soul Ring is one produced by a soul beast with around four hundred years of cultivation.

"However, if a Soul Master's physical constitution is especially strong, they may be able to slightly exceed that limit. This time, I intend to find you a first Soul Ring as close to that limit as possible."

Tang San could tell that there was not the slightest bit of affectation in Qian Bing's tone. Hearing it only filled him with even greater emotion.

Having such a good boss was truly a blessing!

As they talked, the two continued onward. With Pidgeotto's sharp eyes, even soul beasts hidden in the shadows would be detected in advance.

Since most of these soul beasts were only around the ten-year level and were not very aggressive, Qian Bing selected some with potential for development and introduced Tang San to their names, traits, and years of cultivation.

Soon, the sky gradually darkened. Seeing this, Qian Bing said:

"Looks like we'll be spending tonight in the Soul Hunting Forest. Come on, let's find a place to camp first."

The two stopped searching for soul beasts. Before long, Qian Bing chose a depression surrounded by many towering trees and with complicated terrain nearby as their campsite.

He took the bundle Tang San had been carrying, pulled out a large glass bottle, and handed it to Tang San.

"Scatter this around the area. Make sure to spread it evenly."

"Alright."

Tang San took the bottle and found that it contained powdered medicine with a somewhat pungent smell. A sniff was enough for him to identify it as something similar to the realgar of his previous life.

He silently marveled that his boss was not only powerful, but also thoughtful and meticulous. He truly was no ordinary person.

After scattering the powder, he handed the bottle back to Qian Bing.

Qian Bing did not go on at length about the purpose of the powder or common knowledge such as not lighting a fire in the forest at night.

He knew perfectly well that Tang San, who came from the Tang Sect, was surely a hundred times more capable than himself in wilderness survival and identifying medicine.

The sky gradually darkened, but the forest was far from quiet. Insect chirps, bird calls, and even the roars of wild beasts rose and fell one after another.

Everything around them was pitch-black. After the two simply ate some dry rations from their bundle, they leaned against a large tree to rest.

With nothing to do and no good way to go out and move around, Qian Bing simply continued passing on the knowledge he remembered to Tang San.

"Xiao San, do you know why cultivation is most important for Soul Masters when they are young?"

Tang San shook his head and waited for his explanation.

"A Soul Master's cultivation before the age of twenty is an extremely important process. It can be said that one's achievements before twenty determine one's future accomplishments.

"Level thirty is a threshold separating heaven and hell. If you cross that threshold before turning twenty, your future prospects will be limitless.

"If you cannot cross it by twenty, then you basically will never be able to cross it.

"Youth is an advantage; youth is where potential lies. So we cannot waste even a minute. That is why, although my strength is not great, I still brought you out early to hunt for your first Soul Ring.

"I don't want to delay your progress. I hope that in the future, we can grow together into the strongest Soul Masters.

"In every battle, every trial, and every hunt for a Soul Ring from now on, we will support each other from behind."

Hearing this, Tang San felt as though all the emotion he had accumulated throughout the day was about to overflow from his heart. His eyes warmed, and just as he was about to say something...

Chirp!

Pidgeotto, which had been perched in the tree, suddenly let out a sharp cry. Qian Bing instantly sprang to alertness, leaping to his feet and looking in one direction.

In the pitch-black night, more than ten faint green points of light were drawing closer toward them.

"Netherworld Wolves."

Qian Bing's tone was somewhat low, but he was not overly alarmed.

"Xiao San, be careful. Move back and hide."

Pidgeotto had already flown above Qian Bing's head. Its wings whipped up a violent gust of wind, while its cries rang out continuously, as though warning and intimidating the pack of Netherworld Wolves, which were four or five times smaller than it.

Before long, six wolf-shaped soul beasts, each between one and one-point-six meters long and covered in iron-gray fur, emerged from the dense forest. They slowly approached, surrounding the two in the center.

Pidgeotto's size and imposing presence clearly made them uneasy. As they drew closer, they maintained a semicircular formation and did not attack rashly.

Qian Bing snorted coldly.

"A few little wolf pups barely more than ten years old dare to disturb me? Pidgeotto, don't hold back. Use Gust!"

Chirp!

Pidgeotto cried out with fighting spirit blazing in its voice. Its wings beat fiercely, and two currents of air like hurricanes swiftly began to take shape.

Qian Bing grabbed Tang San and rapidly retreated.