Zhu Qing's Little Scheme, Soul Hunting

As Ling Qianyue had expected, Zhu Zhuyun, his wife's sister, came knocking that very night, her face full of menace as she pressured him to explain what they had bought the Whale Rubber for that day.

After he handed over the ancient text he had forged in advance, Zhu Zhuyun left with the Whale Rubber, half-convinced and half-skeptical. The next day, she delivered two portions of dissolved Whale Rubber, including Ling Qianyue's share.

After discussing it with Ling Qianyue, they set Zhu Zhuqing's First Soul Ring at six hundred years. As her sister, Zhu Zhuyun did not want Zhu Zhuqing taking too great a risk.

Ling Qianyue likewise chose six hundred years as the upper limit for his First Soul Ring. He had truly felt the physical enhancement brought by the Whale Rubber, but since he had never absorbed a soul ring before, he chose to play it safe.

Ling Qianyue's dormitory.

"Zhu Qing, time to take your medicine."

Zhu Zhuqing accepted the small jar with a slight tremble. She glanced at Ling Qianyue, then resolutely drank it all in one gulp.

Ling Qianyue, who had finished taking his Whale Rubber the previous night, took a massive chest filled with ice from his storage ring, silently shut the bedroom door, and waited quietly in the living room.

"It's so hot."

Zhu Zhuqing's face was flushed, her body covered in a rosy sheen. Her lips parted slightly as she exhaled hot breaths.

Her gaze gradually became unfocused. After pressing ice against herself and recovering a trace of clarity, Zhu Zhuqing turned her eyes to the doorknob. Then, decisively, she twisted it open and walked out of the room.

"What are you doing?" Ling Qianyue raised an eyebrow.

"Qianyao, I... feel awful." Zhu Zhuqing staggered forward. When she reached Ling Qianyue, she finally toppled over, falling squarely into his arms.

A hint of mischief flashed through her eyes. She buried her head against Ling Qianyue's shoulder and breathed hotly against him.

Her little hands were not at all well-behaved either, wrapping around Ling Qianyue as her lovely face rubbed continuously against him.

Ling Qianyue fell silent for a moment, then wrapped an arm around Zhu Zhuqing's waist. Soul Power circulated through his Zhongshu Acupoint, helping her suppress her mind and regulate her Soul Power.

Two and a half days later, Ling Qianyue left the academy under the dean's guidance to hunt a soul beast.

Their destination was a soul beast forest in the Star Luo Mountain Range west of Star Luo City, rather than the Soul Hunting Forest under Spirit Hall's jurisdiction.

Most soul beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest had been captured and raised by Spirit Hall personnel, provided for novice Soul Masters below the Soul Elder rank to gain combat experience and obtain soul rings.

This reduced the odds of Soul Masters dying in the novice stage,

but the variety of soul beasts there was far too limited. For Soul Masters pursuing the ultimate, it was not the best choice.

Moreover, after the elementary academy had determined that Ling Qianyue's martial soul was an acquired mutation, a sword-type martial soul connected to the stars, the soul beasts in such Soul Hunting Forests had nothing to do with him at all.

The Starlight Deer was an exceedingly rare soul beast. Rumor had it that a trace of Sacred Unicorn blood flowed within its body.

Its soul ring could grant a Soul Master a pure and powerful boost in Soul Power, perhaps even bestowing special abilities related to the sacred.

This soul beast only appeared when the night sky was ablaze with stars, and its whereabouts were elusive and unpredictable, making it exceptionally difficult to find.

More than half a month passed before Ling Qianyue and Dean Su finally discovered traces of a suitably aged Starlight Deer one night in the northern Star Luo Mountain Range.

Its antlers were like crystal branches set with starry gemstones, its fur speckled with starlike markings, and its entire body gave off a faint silver glow.

Several Starlight Deer drinking leisurely beside a small lake became the prey in Ling Qianyue and Dean Su's eyes.

"Three hundred years, three hundred years, six hundred years..." Dean Su frowned. "If the Zhu Family had not discussed this with me, and if Starlight Deer were not so mild in nature, I truly would not want you trying to absorb a soul ring beyond your limit.

"Whale Rubber can only improve your physique so much. By the time you reach Soul King and above, when you can absorb Ten-thousand-year spirit rings, the difference of a few hundred years in your first and second soul rings will not amount to much."

Ling Qianyue shook his head. "The advantages accumulated over time often determine how far one can go in the future. Every bit of purity and strength in Soul Power reinforces the foundation for the future. I've made my decision. Please."

Dean Su glanced at Ling Qianyue, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes. "A practical combat assessment, then. These soul beasts are not particularly powerful in actual combat. That two-hundred-year one is yours. Let me see what this year's top student can do."

"Alright!"

The moment Ling Qianyue spoke, the two of them charged at the Starlight Deer drinking leisurely by the small lake.

Dean Su moved like lightning, pouncing on the six-hundred-year Starlight Deer, while Ling Qianyue targeted the two-hundred-year one.

The Starlight Deer sensed danger and instantly scattered in all directions.

Ling Qianyue's steps were light and swift. Relying on his superb movement technique and speed, he rapidly closed the distance to his target.

A flash of sword light shot from his hand, striking its vital point with precision. The Starlight Deer let out a terrified cry. Starlight rippled from the antlers on its head, rays of light falling over its wound and restoring it slightly.

Ling Qianyue raised an eyebrow and struck its abdomen with the flat of his sword. The tremendous force sent it flying.

Before the Starlight Deer could rise, he pressed it to the ground and landed several punches on its head, knocking it unconscious.

"Very good." Dean Su walked over, carrying the six-hundred-year Starlight Deer in one hand. "Your strength and speed are nothing like those of a Soul Master who has yet to obtain a soul ring. What a powerful martial soul."

Dean Su looked at the Starlight Deer lying beside Ling Qianyue. "Why didn't you kill it? Have you never done something like this before? Are you afraid? As a Soul Master, you will encounter far more bloodshed in the future than you can imagine."

"Not at all." Ling Qianyue shook his head. Then, with absolute decisiveness, his Shattered Star Sword sliced straight through the throat of the Starlight Deer Dean Su had thrown to the ground. Blood sprayed everywhere as a yellow soul ring slowly rose.

"I was only testing my strength. I don't need its soul ring, so naturally there was no need to kill it. Under the laws of heaven and earth, soul beasts and humans are natural enemies, but there is a word called 'moderation.' Indiscriminately slaughtering every soul beast will only bring disaster upon both races. Humans don't want to have no soul rings left to obtain in the future, do they?"

Ling Qianyue had already sat cross-legged. He lightly tapped the three Star Acupoints at his Spirit Platform, Supreme Yang, and Divine Path, then drew in the soul ring and guided it onto the Shattered Star Sword.

At the same time, the Star Concealment skill activated.

Dean Su was briefly stunned by his words. If Ling Qianyue were truly a softhearted saint, he would not have so swiftly slain that six-hundred-year Starlight Deer just now. His opinion of Ling Qianyue rose another notch.

Glancing at the two-hundred-year Starlight Deer on the ground, he circulated Soul Power through his hand and woke it.

The Starlight Deer awoke in terror. Seeing its dead companion beside it, it fled blindly into the distance.

Dean Su refocused on Ling Qianyue before him, his heart beginning to pound. Yet to his surprise, Ling Qianyue seemed to be absorbing the soul ring with extraordinary ease; not even the slightest change appeared on his face.

No way. When I absorbed my First Soul Ring, I was sweating from the pain. Why does this kid look like he's getting a massage?