Soul Beast

Biodata

Cultivation Classification

Soul Beast “year count” reflects cultivation rather than strictly chronological age; exceptional creatures can increase it through means such as devouring stronger Soul Beasts or consuming rare resources. 66

Soul Ring Indicators

Ecology and Society

• Soul Beasts encompass vastly different species, attributes, bloodlines, and diets; their differences can be greater than those between humans. 65
• Predation and competition between Soul Beasts are intense. Qing Mu theorizes that devouring prey with a higher year count is a particularly efficient way for a Soul Beast to raise its cultivation. 66
• Soul Beasts may cooperate against human encroachment, but they lack the unity and social organization needed to consistently act as a single race. 65 107
• Their overall numbers and high-level combatants greatly exceed humanity’s, but internal division has allowed humans to continuously reduce their territory. 107
• Powerful Soul Beasts can shape a forest’s ecosystem simply through their presence. The Flying Silver Wolf drives away other carnivorous Soul Beasts in its territory, while Qing Mu and Venusaur’s hunts cause high-level beasts to flee their original territories. 27 103
• Forest rulers may intervene when repeated hunting threatens the local ecosystem. The Titan Giant Ape confronts Qing Mu after his prolonged hunting in the Star Dou Great Forest. 162

Intelligence and Communication

• Most Soul Beasts are expected to gain intelligence approaching that of humans only after reaching ten thousand years of cultivation. 66
• Exceptional individuals can be intelligent much earlier. The Thousand-Year King Kong Bear understands Qing Mu’s commands, while the five-thousand-year Three-Eyed Golden Lion can speak. 66 166
• Defeated creatures may submit according to their species’ hierarchy. The Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Wolf accepts Qing Mu and Bulbasaur as its “bosses” after being defeated and becomes their guide. 178
• Qing Mu can understand Soul Beasts through Psychic Powers, allowing him to interpret their thoughts despite language barriers. 178

Interaction with Spirit Masters

Soul Rings and Soul Bones

• A Soul Beast killed by a Spirit Master can leave behind a Soul Ring, as shown by the Shadow Leopard, Green Wood Vine, and Vajra Frog King. 7 12 174
• Particularly powerful Soul Beasts may leave Soul Bones. The Earth Dragon King produces a Thirty-Thousand-Year Right Leg Soul Bone, while the Cave Demon Spider Emperor leaves another Right Leg Soul Bone. 99 167
• Soul Beasts cannot absorb Soul Bones in beast form, though they can do so after taking human form. 167
• Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bones are extraordinarily rare and normally require the death of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. 173

Qing Mu’s Experience System

• Bulbasaur gains experience from defeating Soul Beasts, converting their defeat into Soul Power feedback for Qing Mu. The system is not dependent on killing: defeated creatures provide nearly the same experience as slain ones. 7 13
• The experience gained diminishes sharply when the target is too weak relative to Qing Mu’s cultivation. After reaching Soul Elder, defeating more than a hundred Hundred-Year Black Water Buffaloes yields barely any increase. 26
• Qing Mu sometimes heals defeated Soul Beasts with Grassy Terrain rather than killing them, enabling repeated combat or avoiding unnecessary deaths. 13 26 65

Notable Soul Beasts