Lin Ran: What, I'm a shapeshifted Soul Beast?

With a thought, he began to narrow the range of his perception. Soon, its range shrank step by step until it encompassed only himself. Then, the image in his mind shifted, revealing a new scene.

This was the inside of his body. Scarlet spread throughout him, most concentrated around his heart. Centered on the heart, several distinct crimson lines extended to every part of his body. These must have been the arteries and veins. Using them as the main axis, countless fine crimson lines covered his entire body.

Lin Ran slowly focused his perception, and the image of his whole body gradually contracted, concentrating on his heart. His heart beat powerfully, but compared to the previous image, it seemed somewhat different.

It was shrouded in a hazy crimson glow, mingling with his blood and flesh.

"Is this blood qi?"

Lin Ran narrowed his perception further. His awareness of the blood qi became increasingly clear, but at the same time, his Soul Power was being rapidly consumed as his perception grew more precise.

Not long afterward, his perception was cut off as his Soul Power ran dry.

Lin Ran rubbed his brow, excitement flashing in his eyes.

"This first soul skill really is far from simple. I may not know what use sensing blood qi has for now, but being able to observe it means I can control it!"

"And I feel that my perception can become even more detailed. Perhaps I might even discover something else hidden deep within my bloodline?"

On Douluo Continent, martial souls were connected to bloodlines. The innate strength of Soul Beasts, especially those of the Dragon Clan, was likewise related to bloodlines. Clearly, enormous potential lay hidden deep within them.

It was only that his current level was too low, and his control over Soul Power was not refined enough, so he could not accomplish it for the time being.

Still, there was great potential for the future.

"I'll call my first soul skill Blood Silk Net." Lin Ran named his first soul skill.

In the blink of an eye, night had fallen.

Dark, heavy clouds obscured the sky. The stars and moon were dim, making the already murky night even blacker.

Silence blanketed the entire Duke's Mansion. In the darkness, a few faint lamps outlined the silhouette of the estate.

Amid the stillness, a child silently climbed over the high wall, his figure vanishing into the vast forest of the back mountain.

Inside a cramped room in the Duke's Mansion, Lin Ran suddenly opened his eyes, as though he could see Dai Yuhao leaving through the endless darkness and shadowy forest.

A yellow soul ring pulsed beneath his feet, while Dai Yuhao's figure grew farther and farther away within his perception.

Lin Ran quietly went next door and lowered his voice.

"Aunt Huo, it's me."

"Xiao Ran, what is it?"

Huo Yun'er's gentle voice sounded from within. After a brief rustling, the door opened, and Huo Yun'er ushered Lin Ran inside.

"Aunt Huo, I'm leaving the Duke's Mansion." Lin Ran looked at Huo Yun'er.

Huo Yun'er froze. Her expression dimmed, yet she asked nothing, as though she had expected this all along. Forcing out a smile, she said, "Wait here."

She hurriedly turned around, pulled several Copper Soul Coins and a short dagger from beneath the bed, and pressed them into Lin Ran's hands.

"Take this money and this Soul Tool. This is all Auntie can give you. You've always been mature, steady, and full of your own ideas, but you're still young. You must be careful from now on."

Huo Yun'er crouched down, lowered her eyes as she straightened Lin Ran's clothes, and quietly advised him.

Lin Ran fell silent for a moment. Looking at the money and the White Tiger Dagger in his hands, he suddenly felt a heavy weight in his heart.

He looked at Huo Yun'er. "Aunt Huo, come with me."

Huo Yun'er gently shook her head. "I would only become a burden to you. The Duchess won't let me go."

Lin Ran remained firm. "Aunt Huo, come with me. If you stay in the Duke's Mansion, once those people discover tomorrow that Yuhao is gone, your life will likely be in danger."

"I have to repay the kindness of raising me. I'll get you out safely. If you want to stay with me afterward, I'll take good care of you in the future. If you don't, I'll safely send you to Yuhao, and then—we'll be even."

Hearing Lin Ran's solemn and resolute words, Huo Yun'er took a deep breath and said in a muffled voice, "Alright, we'll leave together! Wherever you go, I'll go!"

Lin Ran was somewhat surprised that Huo Yun'er had agreed so readily. He had originally planned to knock her out and carry her away if she refused.

The night was bleak. Relying on Blood Silk Net's detection, Lin Ran avoided every watcher in the Duke's Mansion.

The two of them likewise disappeared into the deep forest of the back mountain, heading in a different direction from Dai Yuhao.

Early the next morning, inside the luxurious hall of the Duke's Mansion.

The Duchess was leisurely enjoying breakfast as maids attended to her.

At that moment, a guard hurried inside and dropped to one knee. "Reporting to the Duchess."

The Duchess merely glanced at him and continued eating at an unhurried pace.

Only after a long while, when she had finally finished breakfast, did the Duchess wave her hand. The maids cleared away the meal, and only then did she slowly speak.

"Go on. What is it?"

"Reporting to the Duchess, Huo Yun'er and Dai Yuhao have both disappeared," the guard said cautiously.

"What did you say?" The Duchess's expression changed drastically, her face turning grim. "That bitch actually dared to run away?"

"Heh, I'd like to see where you can run to! Once I catch you this time, I'll make you wish you were dead! Go, summon Bai Shi Yi and the steward."

The Duchess sneered, her gaze cold and sinister.

"Yes." The guard hurried away.

Before long, two people arrived one after the other and waited quietly to the side.

"Eleven," the Duchess said blandly.

"At your service." One of the armored men answered.

"How long can your martial soul, the Tracking Hound, follow a lingering scent?"

"Reporting to Your Grace, as long as it has been no more than two days, I can trace the target's whereabouts through the remaining scent."

"Very good. Take a small squad of White Tiger Guards and bring Huo Yun'er back to me. If she's alive, I want to see her. If she's dead, I want to see the body," the Duchess said flatly.

"Yes." Bai Shi Yi accepted the order and left.

The Duchess then looked at the remaining Steward. With a flick of her hand, she tossed out a sheet of paper.

"Go. Take this Slave Contract to Star Luo City and register it. Say that a household slave from our Duke's Mansion has escaped."

The Steward picked up the document. It was unmistakably Huo Yun'er's Slave Contract.

Perhaps it would not help much in tracking Huo Yun'er down, but she simply wanted to humiliate her thoroughly.

After traveling through the night, Lin Ran and Huo Yun'er had already gone far from Star Luo City. Yet neither of them dared to take the main roads, and could only proceed along small paths.

"Xiao Ran, where are we going?"

Huo Yun'er looked somewhat exhausted, and traces of worry flickered through her eyes from time to time.

Although their escape from the Duke's Mansion had gone very smoothly, she still felt as though it was all unreal.

Lin Ran, on the other hand, remained full of energy. "We're going to Heaven Dou City in the Heaven Dou Empire. Aunt Huo, bear with it for now. Once we're far enough from the Duke's Mansion in a couple of days, we'll rent a carriage."

"I'll listen to you," Huo Yun'er said softly.

Lin Ran stopped, summoned his soul ring, and used his first soul skill to inspect the surroundings.

Ever since they had set out, he had used the Blood Silk Net every few minutes to check the area, guarding against pursuers.