Huang Quan's Gift and First Entry into the Soul Hunting Forest

Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's study, sunlight streamed through the carved windows and fell across the spread-out atlas of soul beasts. Ning Fengzhi had specially arranged for the sect's most experienced soul master to teach Wang Chuan the theoretical knowledge of soul beasts and cultivation. Holding a thick tome, the soul master explained everything in meticulous detail, from the classification of soul beast attributes to the compatibility between soul ring age and a soul master's cultivation, from the countering relationships among elemental soul beasts to the differences in soul ring selection for Beast Martial Souls and Weapon Martial Souls.

Wang Chuan sat straight-backed in a wooden chair, clutching a charcoal pencil as he occasionally noted down key points. Whenever he encountered something he did not understand, he promptly raised his hand to ask, "Uncle, besides increasing control over the water element, can a water-attributed soul beast's soul ring provide other effects?" "What happens if a soul beast's age exceeds one's limit and is forcibly absorbed?" His focus was so intense that even the soul master giving the lecture could not help nodding in praise.

Wang Chuan immersed himself in study for the entire afternoon. From his initially vague understanding of "soul beast attributes," he gradually became able to clearly distinguish the combat traits of strength-type, speed-type, and elemental soul beasts. He could even consider the compatibility of soul ring choices in conjunction with his "Nothingness" and "Ambrosial Arbor" martial souls. His understanding underwent a qualitative leap. As the sun set and the lesson ended, a disciple led Wang Chuan to his room, reminding him with a smile, "We're going soul hunting tomorrow, so make sure you get plenty of rest tonight and keep your spirits up."

After returning to his room, Wang Chuan did not immediately lie down. He sat at the table under the oil lamp's glow, writing and drawing on paper. On the left, he wrote the traits of the "Nothingness" martial soul: powerful attack, accompanied by void erosion. On the right, he wrote Ambrosial Arbor's abilities: restoring Soul Power, purifying Soul Power, and strengthening the body. He bit the end of his pencil in thought. Nothingness's erosion is already domineering enough. If I can pair it with an attribute that softens its power and improves control, wouldn't it be more balanced?

Just then, a light patter of footsteps sounded outside, followed by Ning Rongrong's voice. "Wang Chuan! Open the door!"

Wang Chuan rose and opened it. Ning Rongrong stood outside with her hands on her hips, two little followers behind her. "Rongrong... little sister, it's so late. What do you need me for?" Wang Chuan asked.

"Who said you could call me little sister?!" Ning Rongrong pouted, her tone carrying a trace of spoiled arrogance. "In the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, all the other children call me 'Boss Rongrong.' You have to call me that too!"

Wang Chuan paused, then seriously shook his head. "Sorry, Rongrong. Uncle Ning told me to call you Rongrong or little sister. He never told me to call you Boss, so I can't agree to that."

"You... you're so annoying!" Ning Rongrong was left speechless for a moment and stomped her foot. "Fine, you won't listen to me, right? Just wait! I'll go find someone to teach you a lesson right now!"

"Alright, I'll wait." Wang Chuan responded calmly. Ning Rongrong had only meant to scare him, but seeing that he was not afraid in the slightest, she suddenly had no idea what to do. She snorted, turned around, and ran off with her little followers.

After that small incident, Wang Chuan returned to his table, but his thoughts had become even clearer. Water attribute! Water can contain all things and overcome hardness with softness. It can balance Nothingness's domineering nature while improving my control over its power. Having settled on a direction, he put down his pencil, blew out the oil lamp, lay down on the bed, and soon drifted into sleep.

In his dream, Huang Quan slowly approached through a hazy curtain of rain and mist, dressed in purple. She looked at Wang Chuan with gentle yet somewhat solemn eyes. "Wang Chuan, there is no need to worry. We are fellow travelers chosen by Him. Without sufficient strength, we would not even be qualified to contend against Him." She extended a hand, and a pale purple glow merged into Wang Chuan's brow. "This is a Meditation Method, along with techniques for using Void Power. Consider it compensation for dragging you into this fate."

Early the next morning, Wang Chuan abruptly opened his eyes. Every step of the Meditation Method surfaced clearly in his mind, along with the secrets to controlling the Power of Void—how to gather Void Power around a blade, how to control the intensity of its erosion, how to rapidly restore Soul Power with the Meditation Method. Even the vague path known as the "Self-Extinguisher" had taken shape in his heart.

He did not dare delay and immediately went to find Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong. After listening to Wang Chuan's account, Chen Xin and Gu Rong exchanged a glance before immediately releasing their Soul Power to carefully inspect Wang Chuan's soul state. Soul Power flowed from their fingertips around the edge of Wang Chuan's sea of consciousness, but they found nothing unusual—no trace of soul invasion, no lingering curse mark. It was as if last night's dream had been nothing but an illusion.

"Feng Zhi, there's nothing wrong with Xiao Chuan's soul." Chen Xin withdrew his hand, his tone grave. "Either that young lady's strength far exceeds ours, or her concealment techniques have reached an unimaginable level, to the point that even we cannot detect her." Gu Rong nodded in agreement beside him. Yet both of them subconsciously could not recall the name "Huang Quan," and could only refer to her as "that young lady."

Ning Fengzhi frowned, wariness rising within him. Someone who could evade the senses of both Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, while silently imparting cultivation methods, was definitely no ordinary person. Without revealing anything, he returned to the main hall, picked up a brush, and wrote the two characters "Huang Quan" on paper, along with the matter of her teaching Wang Chuan those methods and mentioning "Him" and the "Self-Extinguisher." He feared that he too would forget this crucial information, just like Chen Xin and Gu Rong.

Afterward, Chen Xin took Wang Chuan and prepared to head to the Soul Hunting Forest. Before setting out, Chen Xin looked at the energetic Wang Chuan and asked with a smile, "Xiao Chuan, you're in good shape today. Have you decided what kind of soul beast you want to hunt?"

"Yes, I have!" Wang Chuan nodded forcefully. "My 'Nothingness' martial soul has powerful attack and erosion, so I want to find a water-attributed soul beast. Water's softness can improve my control, and it can also overcome hardness with softness."

"Just as I thought." Chen Xin patted his shoulder approvingly. "Though water is soft, it can wear through stone. Paired with Nothingness's domineering power, the two will complement each other perfectly."

As they spoke, the two had already flown to the entrance of the Soul Hunting Forest. This forest had not formed naturally; it was an area specifically enclosed for raising soul beasts. Most soul beasts within were between one hundred and five hundred years old, making it ideal for low-level soul masters who had just awakened their martial souls. When the guards at the entrance saw people flying toward them, they immediately stepped forward and raised a hand to signal them to stop.

Chen Xin said nothing. He merely took a golden token from his Storage Soul Tool. Complex patterns were engraved upon it, with Spirit Hall's emblem on the front and the words "Heaven Dou" on the back. This was the highest-grade token issued by Spirit Hall. Only a handful of people across the entire continent possessed one, and each of the Upper Three Sects had one.

The instant the guard recognized the token, his expression changed drastically. He immediately withdrew his hand and bowed respectfully, not daring to ask a single question. Anyone who could hold such a token possessed a status so exalted that he could not possibly afford to offend them. Asking even one extra question would only bring trouble upon himself.

Chen Xin put away the token and led Wang Chuan into the Soul Hunting Forest. The moment they entered, the fresh scent of grass and trees washed over them, accompanied by the chirping of insects and birds. Chen Xin slowed his pace and explained to Wang Chuan, "The soul beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest are generally quite young, which makes it suitable for you. Our target this time is a water-attributed soul beast around four hundred and twenty-three years old. Your body can just barely withstand a soul ring of that age now, and the soul skill it grants will also be maximally compatible with your martial soul."

Wang Chuan nodded and followed closely behind Chen Xin, his eyes brimming with anticipation. He knew that acquiring his first soul ring would be the first step toward becoming a true soul master.