Simulation Panel, Xiao Chenyu's Martial Soul Evolution

"Is this... my Golden Finger?"

With a thought, he activated the absorption probability. The next moment, Wang Qi's vision blurred, as though he had fallen into an illusion.

Wang Qi used his short knife to slit the Soft Bone Rabbit's throat, and a translucent white soul ring slowly rose up.

In the illusion, he guided the white soul ring into his body and fused with it. In less than ten minutes, the absorption was complete, as easy as eating or drinking.

When his consciousness returned, Wang Qi stared at his hands in astonishment, then looked at the Soft Bone Rabbit. He could not hide the shock in his eyes.

Was it the success rate for simulating soul ring absorption? If that was really the case, it would be immensely helpful in pushing the limits of soul ring absorption in the future and breaking through the shackles of talent.

With that thought, Wang Qi tapped Martial Soul Compatibility again. The illusory scene reappeared, but this time, there was no process of hunting a soul beast or absorbing a soul ring.

Instead, it showed Wang Qi demonstrating the soul skill he would gain after obtaining the soul ring: running fast. When he felt fear, his escape speed increased.

Wang Qi was neither speechless nor silent. Setting aside whether the soul skill itself was good or bad, the mere fact that he could see its effects in advance was already absurdly overpowered.

Other soul masters hunted soul beasts for soul rings as though drawing a lottery—whatever soul skill they received was entirely up to chance. Wang Qi, however, could learn the soul skill beforehand. It was like taking an exam with the answer sheet in hand; it would be hard for him not to become powerful in the future.

Now, not only could he push his soul rings to the limit, but he could also create the ultimate combination of soul skills. How could Wang Qi not be excited?

"Hm? What's wrong, Wang Qi? The Soul Hunting Forest is extremely dangerous. While it can't compare to wild soul beast forests like the Star Dou Great Forest or Sunset Forest—"

"—it still cannot be underestimated. Due to human intervention, the density of soul beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest is far higher than in the outer regions of wild soul beast forests."

"If you remain this careless, then go back now. The path of a soul master is not suitable for you."

Seeing Wang Qi spacing out, Yu Xiaogang spoke up with a warning. Rather than making Wang Qi feel touched, this sort of teacherly reprimand only struck him as noisy.

Wang Qi believed that whether words were kind or cruel had nothing to do with how they were said, but rather with who said them and their reasons for doing so.

Yu Xiaogang was not speaking out of concern for Wang Qi's safety, but to establish his authority. Being treated like a tool left Wang Qi deeply displeased.

He silently followed the group, checking the information on the surrounding soul beasts without arguing with Yu Xiaogang.

Yet, in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, this meant Wang Qi had been cowed. Pleased with himself, he began talking at length within the Soul Hunting Forest.

The Soul Elder guards beside him frowned as they listened. Earning this little bit of money was really not easy.

Soul Beast: Green Leaf Bamboo. Forty-five years. Compatibility: 3%.

Soul Beast: Flame Mouse. Eighty-seven years. Compatibility: 52%.

Soul Beast: Flame Wolf. Two hundred and thirteen years. Compatibility: 57%.

Soul Beast: Diamond Tiger. Ninety-eight years. Compatibility: 45%.

In the blink of an eye, the group of five had spent more than half a day in the Soul Hunting Forest. As the sun set at dusk, they finally crossed the outer region and arrived at the Mixed Zone.

Whether it was an artificially managed soul beast forest like the Soul Hunting Forest or a wild soul beast forest like the Star Dou Great Forest, humans divided them into three regions: the outer region, the Mixed Zone, and the Core Zone.

The deeper one went, the older the soul beasts encountered became, and the stronger their bloodlines were.

After entering the Mixed Zone, they could clearly sense that hundred-year soul beasts had become more numerous. As for ten-year soul beasts or those close to a hundred years old, they would inevitably possess exceptionally strong bloodlines.

Take the two soul beasts before them, for example. As night fell, a nearly hundred-year-old Diamond Tiger was fighting a Flame Wolf with two hundred years of cultivation in the forest, startling the five who had been preparing to rest.

Watching the two soul beasts battle in the woods ahead, Wang Qi knew that if he had not awakened his Golden Finger, this Flame Wolf would have been perfectly suitable as his first soul ring.

But now, Wang Qi could see his limits and success rate for absorbing soul rings, so he was somewhat unimpressed by this Flame Wolf.

On the other hand, Xiao Chenyu's Wolf Martial Soul was quite compatible with the Flame Wolf. Wang Qi turned to Xiao Chenyu and said, "Xiao Chenyu, I think this two-hundred-year Flame Wolf is highly suitable for you, both in terms of its age and its species. Stop staring at that Diamond Tiger. Do you really want to waste your first soul ring just because you're being spiteful?"

Seeing Xiao Chenyu keep staring at the Diamond Tiger, Wang Qi suddenly felt like he did not want to bother anymore. Still, he helplessly patted Xiao Chenyu's shoulder and pointed at the Flame Wolf and Diamond Tiger fighting nearby.

"Of course, this is only my guess. The final decision is yours to make. But likewise, you need to be prepared to face the consequences in the future."

Xiao Chenyu was still hesitating when Yu Xiaogang's voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Xiao Chenyu, choose the Flame Wolf. The three of us will act shortly; this Flame Wolf certainly won't escape. You two, please make your move and capture the Flame Wolf." Yu Xiaogang gave Xiao Chenyu no chance to object and directly ordered the two Soul Elders to take down the Flame Wolf.

Seeing the two Soul Elders preparing to act, Wang Qi hurriedly stopped them. "Hey, uncles, please wait a moment. Xiao Chenyu is the one obtaining a soul ring this time. Whether the soul beast is suitable for him or not, we should respect Xiao Chenyu's opinion."

As soon as Wang Qi finished speaking, Yu Xiaogang shouted in agitation, "What do you mean, respect Xiao Chenyu's opinion? What does Xiao Chenyu know? Does he understand soul beasts better than me, the Martial Soul Theory Master? I said this two-hundred-year Flame Wolf suits Xiao Chenyu, so it definitely suits Xiao Chenyu. Ignore them. You two, go capture the Flame Wolf."

The Flame Wolf and Diamond Tiger that had been fighting nearby also noticed the commotion. Both began backing away, looking ready to flee at any moment.

"Xiao Chenyu, make your decision. Otherwise, you won't get either soul beast." Wang Qi noticed the movements of the two soul beasts. Keeping his eyes fixed on them, he could not help urging Xiao Chenyu.

Wang Qi and Xiao Chenyu had merely hired the Soul Elder guards; there were no personal ties between them. Asking them to chase soul beasts through the forest in the middle of the night? There was no need to think about how that would end.

Perhaps Wang Qi's words had an effect, or perhaps Xiao Chenyu had truly come to his senses. Pointing at the Flame Wolf, he shouted to the two Soul Elders, "The Flame Wolf! I want the Flame Wolf! Wang Qi, I believe you!"

Xiao Chenyu's voice was like the starting gun at a track meet. Almost the instant he spoke, the two soul beasts fled in opposite directions.

Wang Qi added to the two Soul Elders, "Please, gentlemen. If this hunt goes smoothly, Xiao Chenyu is the son of Nuoding City's lord. You will certainly be generously rewarded afterward."

Soul Elders corresponded to thousand-year soul beasts. The two Soul Elders each had one white and two yellow soul rings in their Soul Ring Configuration. They might have struggled against a thousand-year soul beast, but joining forces against a two-hundred-year Flame Wolf—even at night—was more than enough.

As for the master? Who cared about him anymore? Even though Yu Xiaogang was furious and glared at Wang Qi as if he wanted to kill him, Wang Qi did not care in the slightest.

Martial Soul Possession. The three soul rings beneath their feet lit up at once, and in the blink of an eye, the two Soul Elders appeared beside the Flame Wolf. They unleashed their soul skills, and two claws slammed directly into the Flame Wolf's waist.

The rest was simple. Xiao Chenyu ended the Flame Wolf's life with a single slash. Watching the yellow soul ring rise into the air, he circulated his Soul Power to draw it in and began absorbing it.

Ten minutes later, Xiao Chenyu's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Thirty minutes later, Xiao Chenyu's complexion began to look off, as if he had suffered heatstroke.

After one hour, then two, Xiao Chenyu's breathing gradually steadied. As the soul ring was fully absorbed, his Soul Power rose with it.

Level ten, level eleven, late level eleven—only a single step away from breaking through to level twelve.

"Wang Qi, I succeeded. My first soul ring is a hundred-year one. I almost—I almost missed out on such a powerful soul skill. I'm truly so grateful."

Yu Xiaogang cut off Xiao Chenyu's excitement and directly told him to release his Martial Soul. "Xiao Chenyu, release your Martial Soul and let me observe the changes in it."

Xiao Chenyu had just finished absorbing the soul ring and was still reveling in the joy of obtaining such a powerful soul skill. He did not catch whose voice it was and instinctively released his Martial Soul.

After absorbing the Flame Wolf's Martial Soul, the originally ordinary Wolf Martial Soul now had a small patch of red wolf fur on its chest, similar to the Flame Wolf's coat.

"This is different, Xiao Chenyu. Your Martial Soul evolved?"