Blue Silver Emperor's First Soul Ring (Part One)

Blanklin led Zu Zong deeper into the forest and immediately went on alert. Although Soul Hunting Forest was not dangerous for a Soul Elder like him, he did not dare let his guard down with the still very "weak" Zu Zong in tow.

Zu Zong casually pulled out a kunai and summoned his Martial Soul, the Blue Silver Emperor.

A plant bearing strange patterns, utterly different from other Blue Silver Grass, appeared in his right hand.

He released the Blue Silver Domain and sensed everything around him through the Blue Silver Grass in the forest.

There were solitary Variegated Cats, pack-dwelling Netherworld Wolves, and many other soul beasts.

Without a doubt, all the soul beasts within Zu Zong's perception range were ten-year soul beasts. Hundred-year soul beasts were almost nonexistent, and the few that were present were plant-type soul beasts of little use to him.

After half an hour, Zu Zong shook his head.

"Is my luck really that bad? There isn't even a single hundred-year soul beast nearby. Looks like we'll have to go deeper!"

Zu Zong was not confused about his choice for his first Soul Ring. With his foreknowledge, he could avoid many troubles. Rather than rely on unknown luck, it was better to make a purposeful choice. For example, the nearly four-hundred-year Datura Snake Tang San had chosen in the original story was quite good.

Blanklin's face stiffened as he sensed a surging, dense aura of life suddenly spreading through the area—and it was right beside him. He could not help growing tense.

He glanced from the corner of his eye at the Blue Silver Emperor in Zu Zong's hand, clearly shocked. "Your mutated 'Blue Silver Grass' is truly extraordinary in quality."

"Though I am not a plant-type Soul Master, I know a little about plant-type Martial Souls. The stronger the life aura, the better the Martial Soul will be. This is the plant-type Martial Soul with the strongest life aura I have ever seen."

"A Soul Master cannot replace a Soul Ring after absorbing one, so you must be extremely cautious. A soul beast with cultivation around four hundred years is the limit. Do you have any ideas?"

Zu Zong smiled at that. "Maybe the 'Blue Silver Grass' I mutated is the king among Blue Silver Grass! As for the Soul Ring, I want to find a snake-type soul beast with cultivation around four hundred years. It would be best if it were highly venomous."

Blanklin was deeply shocked to hear that Zu Zong, a plant-type Soul Master, wanted to absorb a Soul Ring from an animal-type soul beast. "Did you go see Grandmaster again?"

Zu Zong pretended not to understand and asked, "Who is Grandmaster?" Pah! As if I would know that scumbag!

"N-No, it's nothing! If you ever hear someone call himself 'Grandmaster,' stay far away from him. It won't do you any harm!"

When Blanklin heard Zu Zong say he did not know "Grandmaster," he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Good, he had not been poisoned by that man.

He then continued, "Choosing a first Soul Ring close to the limit is certainly good, but tell me, why did you choose a snake-type soul beast?"

"Isn't it simple? After a Soul Master kills a soul beast and absorbs its Soul Ring, there is a high chance of obtaining a soul skill with the soul beast's traits.

"Even though my 'Blue Silver Grass' became ten or even dozens of times tougher than ordinary Blue Silver Grass after mutating, Blue Silver Grass is still Blue Silver Grass. Its toughness is still limited.

"But snake-type soul beasts are different.

"They are not only extremely tough, but also very agile, and most of them are venomous. If my 'Blue Silver Grass' gains greater toughness, faster extension speed, and potent venom, it will definitely become a deadly weapon against Soul Masters of the same rank."

Zu Zong thought, Mm! That should be right. It's more or less the same as the original story's setting, anyway.

After Zu Zong finished, Blanklin was dumbfounded. Was that really something a child should be thinking? He was practically a genius, far better than that Grandmaster who shouted "invincible theory" every day without anyone knowing what exactly was invincible about it.

Trembling, he asked, "Child, you only arrived at Nuoding Academy yesterday. Who told you all this?"

"An old man named Tom told me," Zu Zong answered without even blushing.

Zu Zong thought, Can I tell you that your brother here transmigrated?

Tom? He did not know him. Logically speaking, any powerful Soul Master should not be unknown. Could he be a fraud like that "Grandmaster"?

Still, out of politeness, Blanklin asked, "Senior Tom must be a very powerful Soul Master, then!"

When he said the words "Senior Tom," his tone was extremely respectful.

Zu Zong waved his hand. "I don't know either. I only saw six rings circling around him. The first two were yellow. Oh, they were like the two yellow Soul Rings on you, Director. The middle two were purple, and the last two were black."

Old Tom thought, So the Soul Emperor from Emperor Soul Village was me!

Blanklin cried out in shock.

"My heavens! A Soul Emperor—and one with a top-tier Soul Ring configuration!"

The Dean of Nuoding Academy was only a Soul Ancestor, and the master of the Spirit Hall branch in Nuoding City seemed to be merely a Soul King!

Senior Tom really was a big shot. Why could he never meet such a powerful person?

Blanklin continued asking, "Th-Then where did that senior go?"

Figuring there was no cost to telling lies, Zu Zong made up nonsense. "I don't know. After drinking water at my house, he spread huge wings and flew away. Is a Soul Emperor very powerful?"

"Powerful, of course he is! Even our Dean is far from being Senior Tom's match! It seems this senior possesses a rare flying-type Martial Soul."

Zu Zong's eyes shifted, and the corner of his lips curled into a faint smile, wearing the look of someone whose scheme had succeeded.

"But this morning, you were bragging that you were the strongest!"

Blanklin: I have a damn sentence I don't know whether I should say!

The two continued deeper into the forest. Though they encountered several hundred-year soul beasts, they still did not find one suitable for Zu Zong.

Night Curtain descended, and Yue Guang replaced the setting sun, spilling across the earth.

With no other choice, the two set up camp to rest.

Blanklin scattered a medicinal powder similar to realgar around the camp.

"All right, I'll keep watch tonight. You go get some rest, kid!"

Zu Zong nodded and did not refuse. However, he did not sleep. Instead, he entered a half-meditative state, opening his Blue Silver Domain every two hours to check for traces of soul beasts nearby.

Having lived two lives, Zu Zong had never entrusted his life entirely to anyone else.

At three or four in the morning the next day, less than four hours remained before dawn. Blanklin, who was keeping watch, was already drowsy.

Zu Zong released the Blue Silver Domain once more.

He felt the area within several miles suddenly fall silent. Through the Blue Silver Grass, at the very edge of his Blue Silver Domain's perception—

A faint rustling sound traveled clearly into Zu Zong's ears through the Blue Silver Grass on the ground. The air seemed to carry a few more traces of a fishy smell. It was not strong; it even contained a faint sweetness and the fragrance of tea.

"It sounds like a venomous snake. Could it be that Datura Snake from the original story?"

Zu Zong walked out of the tent, glanced at the drowsy Blanklin, and silently left the camp. With a flip, he leaped onto a tree trunk, then vanished from sight after a few flashes.

The man and the snake sensed each other, each treating the other as prey.

After the time it took to burn half an incense stick, they finally met.

A giant python covered in black, gleaming scales appeared before Zu Zong beneath the moonlight.

"Why doesn't it look quite like the one mentioned in the original story? System, check this venomous snake's status panel."

[Ding, after four chapters, Host finally remembered this baby]

"Cut the crap. Check it for me now."

[Ding, opening soul beast panel.]

[Soul Beast: Black-Scaled Poison Python

Cultivation: Five hundred and sixty years

Traits: Strength, speed, toughness, deadly venom, defense

Soul Skill: Poison Dragon Bind—Its enormous body coils around its prey, then corrosive toxins seep out through its skin.

]

Seeing the soul beast panel, Zu Zong exclaimed, "Is this fucking a Datura Snake?"

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