Lin Mengzhui: Auxiliary Soul Hunting, 20 Gold Soul Coins

Lin Mengzhui: Auxiliary Soul Hunting, 20 Gold Soul Coins

By general principles, the choice of Soul Rings and Soul Skills should complement one's martial soul.

For example, Tang San's martial soul was Blue Silver Grass, and his early Soul Skills included Binding, Parasitism, Blue Silver Prison, and so on. Ma Hongjun's martial soul was the Evil Fire Phoenix, with Soul Skills like Phoenix Fire Line and Phoenix Wing Heaven Soaring.

Su Yuntian's martial soul was... the Key of Royal Law, the key to the Gate of Babylon.

Then, he spent a minute thinking about Gilgamesh's abilities.

What was Gilgamesh good at?

—Pleasure.

Then there was laughing out loud, or else calling people mongrels.

Other than pulling Noble Phantasms from the Gate of Babylon and throwing them around, did Gilgamesh have any combat abilities?

...Apparently not.

Su Yuntian fell silent.

Because of that, he did not even know what Soul Skill he ought to develop.

Seeing Su Yuntian's dumbfounded expression, Xue Qinghe could not help smiling. "Don't tell me you were so happy about reaching level 20 that you lost your mind. It's only level 20."

Su Yuntian came back to his senses and suddenly wanted to ask what level Qian Renxue was at now.

"And Your Highness? What is your Soul Power Level now?"

"Level 32."

Xue Qinghe answered readily. Two yellow and one purple Soul Rings lit up beneath his feet, though he did not summon his martial soul.

—Because he was lying.

For "Xue Qinghe," who was sixteen this year, a Soul Power Level of 32 could not be called exceptionally gifted, but it was already quite good.

Of course, Su Yuntian knew it was all fake.

So he smiled faintly. "Your Highness cultivates remarkably quickly. I'll have to work twice as hard."

Seeing Su Yuntian's smile, Xue Qinghe somehow felt a little guilty, as though he had been seen through. It made him very uncomfortable.

"We'll see how you perform."

After tossing out those words, Xue Qinghe was about to leave when Su Yuntian stopped him. "I don't have any ideas for my second Soul Skill yet. What does Your Highness think?"

Su Yuntian could not think of any reliable Soul Skill himself, so he simply sought help from "Xue Qinghe." She had seen grand occasions and possessed broad insight, so perhaps she could offer a very reasonable suggestion.

This time, Xue Qinghe did not respond immediately and spent some time thinking.

Su Yuntian discovered, somewhat unexpectedly, that when Xue Qinghe thought seriously, his lips pouted ever so slightly. It was rather cute.

"Your first Soul Skill, 'Gate of Babylon,' combines offense, utility, and mobility. But considering that teleportation cannot be used without limit, I suggest you add a control skill." After some thought, Xue Qinghe stroked his smooth, hairless chin. "A control skill can be used to open an attack or to protect your life while retreating. It is extremely practical. However, Soul Beasts with control skills are relatively rare, so keep a close eye out if you encounter one."

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness."

The day after Su Yuntian reached level 20, Xue Qinghe began tirelessly preparing for the New Year celebration.

At Xue Qinghe's orders, the person assigned to escort Su Yuntian in hunting a Soul Beast was a level 45 Soul Ancestor.

Soul Ancestors occupied an awkward rank. To ordinary people, they were already immensely powerful experts, but within Heaven Dou City, especially the imperial city, they were not considered particularly sought-after.

This Soul Ancestor was not old, appearing to be around thirty. His looks were utterly ordinary, the kind of person who would vanish into a crowd and never be found again.

Upon seeing Su Yuntian, the Soul Ancestor said excitedly, "Sir Yuntian, you're Sir Yuntian, the one who often accompanies His Highness the Crown Prince! Come to think of it, we've met before."

When Su Yuntian heard the title "Sir Yuntian," he froze for a moment before realizing who the man meant.

A few days ago, he had just been granted the titles of knight and baron. He could now be considered a noble.

But... this plain-faced Soul Ancestor claimed they had met before. Why did Su Yuntian not remember?

Seeing Su Yuntian's confused gaze, the Soul Ancestor patted his chest. "I'm Lu Renjia, captain of a squad in the Imperial City Guard. Have you forgotten? Two years ago, His Highness the Crown Prince accompanied you to hunt Soul Beasts. We met when you returned to the city."

His name was Lu Renjia?

Su Yuntian racked his brains and finally remembered that day.

"Oh... I remember now. That time, you came to invite the Crown Prince back to the city to attend the Second Prince's funeral, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"So it was you!"

Su Yuntian smiled, because he truly could not remember Lu Renjia at all... He really was the sort of person one forgot as soon as one saw him, with an astonishingly weak presence.

After exchanging pleasantries, Su Yuntian and Lu Renjia rode out of the city. That afternoon, they arrived at the market on the edge of Heaven Dou City's Soul Hunting Forest.

Almost every Soul Hunting Forest had such a spontaneously formed market town at its edge.

There were rows of houses and shops, with lodgings and restaurants, but even more stores selling goods and agencies providing hired Soul Masters. Even though it was winter, the place was still crowded and bustling.

Last time, because Xue Qinghe had been in a hurry, Su Yuntian had not had time to look around.

This time, Lu Renjia had brought him here, and they had plenty of time. No matter what, he had to mingle with the common people and experience life.

Lu Renjia was equally eager, pulling Su Yuntian toward the mercenary groups.

"Have permits, forming a group to hunt a Power Type Soul Beast. Need two more!"

"Hunting an Agility Type Soul Beast! Seven waiting for permits, ten Gold Soul Coins!"

Cries rose and fell one after another, creating a deafening clamor.

The so-called permits were like passes or green cards. Naturally, Su Yuntian and Lu Renjia had them.

They also did not lack supplies such as tents, food, and Core Flames. Lu Renjia had brought all of those.

The main reason Lu Renjia had dragged Su Yuntian here was to look at people!

"Yuntian, look at those people over there waiting to form a group for permits. Their Soul Power is generally between levels 19 and 20, but they're nearly twenty years old already. Their cultivation speed is poor, so they're destined to have no future. At most, they'll become Soul Elders in this lifetime."

"Now look over here. These two are both Soul Grand Masters above level 25. They're here to work as hired muscle."

...Listening to Lu Renjia's explanations, Su Yuntian found that the previously noisy, chaotic market had unexpectedly become clear and orderly.

It seemed Lu Renjia really had some skill!

Lu Renjia led Su Yuntian around, looking and pointing things out, before finally stopping in front of a female Soul Master.

The female Soul Master wore a shabby gray fur coat and covered her face with a black scarf, revealing only a pair of lively eyes.

A wooden sign was planted at her feet, bearing the words: "Control Type Soul Grandmaster, auxiliary Soul Hunting, 20 Gold Soul Coins."

Clearly, she was hired muscle, commonly known as a mercenary.

The price was 20 coins per trip—very expensive! After all, a one-ring Soul Master's monthly subsidy was only 1 Gold Soul Coin.

Lu Renjia took out a badge from his waist and placed it before the female Soul Master. "I am the captain of the Imperial City Guard's Third Division, a level 45 Soul Ancestor. I am formally inviting you now. Are you willing to come back with me and join the Imperial City Guard?"

Su Yuntian was stunned.

He had never expected Lu Renjia to be here recruiting people.

Unexpectedly, the female Soul Master did not even glance at Lu Renjia. She merely tapped the wooden sign with her hand. "Auxiliary Soul Hunting, 20 Gold Soul Coins."

Note 1: A reader cameo character, Lin Mengzhui, a level 28 Control Type Soul Grandmaster. Her martial soul is the Thirteen String Sword Style Qin. She is currently twelve years old, one year younger than the protagonist Su Yuntian and two years older than Tang San.

Note 2: The author's cameo character, Lu Renjia, a level 45 Soul Ancestor. His martial soul is the Sun Chasing Bow.