Devil Training

Ye Tianming led the two of them through the forest in search of their target.

They were looking for a hundred-year Soul Beast.

As they walked, Ye Tianming suddenly stopped.

A lizard-like Soul Beast, a meter long and covered in emerald scales, came into view.

"It's a 300-year Green Scaled Lizard!"

Ye Tianming said quietly, a flicker of delight in his eyes.

Lizard-type Soul Beasts could regrow their tails and had good healing abilities, making them well suited to becoming a healer's Soul Ring.

The Green Scaled Lizard wasn't particularly rare, but its 300 years of cultivation meant it could produce a decent Soul Ring Quality.

"Lingling, that Green Scaled Lizard has good regenerative abilities. It would make a great Soul Ring for you."

Ye Lingling nodded, nervous and expectant.

Ye Tianming sprang into action, appearing beside the Soul Beast like a ghost. His Golden Eagle Claw instantly seized the Green Scaled Lizard by a vital spot.

The Green Scaled Lizard immediately went berserk, whipping its tail in an attempt to break free.

But Ye Tianming was far stronger than it. No matter how fiercely it struggled, it couldn't escape.

"Lingling, get ready!"

"Okay!"

Ye Lingling took a deep breath, drew the Sharp Dagger, and stepped up to the Green Scaled Lizard. She plunged the blade into its neck.

The Green Scaled Lizard's body shuddered violently a few times, then fell limply to the ground.

Staring at the motionless lizard's body, Ye Lingling looked dazed.

She had imagined this moment countless times, but killing a Soul Beast for the first time left her with a complicated feeling she couldn't put into words.

Seeing this, Long Chen gently patted her shoulder.

"Lingling, you did well. Take a moment to compose yourself, then get ready to absorb the Soul Ring."

"Okay."

Long Chen's encouragement dispelled the gloom in Ye Lingling's heart.

Then Ye Lingling sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and focused as she prepared to absorb the Soul Ring.

Wisps of yellow mist slowly rose from the Green Scaled Lizard's body, gradually gathering into a Soul Ring that glimmered with a pale yellow light.

Ye Lingling slowly extended her right hand. An invisible force drew the yellow Soul Ring toward her, and it drifted to her side.

Then she began absorbing the Soul Ring's energy.

Ye Tianming stood quietly guard nearby, making sure nothing from outside interrupted Ye Lingling as she absorbed the Soul Ring.

Long Chen looked around, as if searching for something.

Suddenly, a plant caught his eye.

Its leaves were long and slender, and it gave off a faint green glow in the dim light.

"It's a Ghost Orchid Spiritual Grass!"

Long Chen's attention was immediately drawn to the plant.

Ghost Orchid Spiritual Grass was a rare medicinal herb found only in Soul Beast Forests.

It grew in extremely secluded places with harsh conditions. It usually took decades or even a century to mature, and was an invaluable ingredient for refining high-grade pills.

Long Chen approached slowly, carefully dug up the plant, and placed it, roots and all, in a specially made jade box to preserve its medicinal properties.

Seeing this, Ye Tianming smiled.

"Xiao Chen, you look so happy. Is that some kind of precious medicinal herb?"

"Yeah. It's one of the ingredients used to refine spirit pills, and it only grows where Soul Beasts often roam."

"I see. Soul Beast Forests do have quite a few plants you can't find elsewhere. Still, you don't need to be so excited. For the next two or three years, we'll be spending a few days in a Soul Beast Forest every month."

Long Chen was taken aback by Ye Tianming's words, unsure what he meant.

"Xiao Chen, Aunt Bai and I will take you to train in the Soul Beast Forest. I'll explain the details of the plan once we're back."

"Okay."

Long Chen carefully tucked the jade box containing the plant into his Storage Artifact.

He didn't know what Ye Tianming had planned for his training, but he was looking forward to it.

Being able to visit the Sunset Forest regularly was a good thing for him.

He had been studying medicinal herbs for over half a year. Once he learned more, he could put his next plan into action.

Books were full of knowledge, but it was all theory, without any practical experience.

Long Chen wanted to find opportunities to put his knowledge to use, mixing medicines and refining pills.

It took both theory and skill, so he would need to learn from a professional Pharmacist.

Heaven Dou City had plenty of pharmacies and clinics.

Some Medicinal Herbs could only be found in Soul Beast Forests, and they were rare and expensive.

In addition, the hides and bones of some Soul Beasts were also used as medicinal ingredients.

Long Chen planned to trade these resources with pharmacies in exchange for a chance to learn, and maybe earn a little money along the way.

Time passed minute by minute.

Ye Lingling woke from absorbing the Soul Ring and slowly opened her eyes.

Seeing this, Long Chen asked with concern,

"Lingling, how did it go? How much did your Soul Power increase?"

Ye Lingling smiled faintly and replied,

"My Soul Power increased by two levels."

"Great. Lingling, you're now a level-twelve Soul Master. You have a bright future ahead of you."

Ye Tianming nodded with satisfaction, pleased with her progress.

The three of them gathered their things and set off on the journey back.

Ye Tianming and Long Chen escorted Ye Lingling back to the Royal Academy.

Afterward, the two of them returned to their home in Heaven Dou City.

One night a few days later, Long Chen was cultivating in his room when Ye Tianming came to see him.

"Xiao Chen, in addition to Soul Skills, combat techniques and Movement Technique are also important for a Soul Master. Soul Power is limited, so you can't keep using Soul Skills throughout a fight. Sometimes, you'll have to fight at close quarters, too.

"Your Martial Soul isn't suited to close combat, so having a strong body and extensive close-combat experience is even more important for you.

"In a few days, I'll start taking you out to train and help you improve your overall strength."

Long Chen was excited by the news and quickly asked,

"Uncle Ye, what will the training involve?"

"Every month, we'll spend a week in a Soul Beast Forest. We can go to either the Sunset Forest or the Star Dou Great Forest. First, we'll build your strength and endurance. Then you'll fight Soul Beasts to improve your combat skills."

"That sounds great."

Ye Tianming smiled.

"Don't get excited too soon. The training I have in mind will be like Devil Training. Your first Soul Skill has the Devour Ability, but you're not allowed to use it when fighting Soul Beasts. You'll understand why later."

Long Chen was startled.

Without Soul Skills, even a Soul Master would be helpless against powerful Soul Beasts, let alone a child like him.

It would certainly be a huge challenge for him.

But the greater the challenge, the more it could bring out his potential.

"Uncle Ye, when do we start?"

"In a few days. We'll take you to a Soul Beast Forest and begin with physical training."

"Okay."

Cultivating at home could help him improve, but after a while, it became a little dull.

Long Chen knew the Devil Training ahead would be grueling, but he was looking forward to it.

A few days later, Ye Tianming and his wife took Long Chen to the Sunset Forest again.

Under their supervision and protection, Long Chen completed his first training session.

This time, the training involved climbing a mountain. Long Chen was exhausted every day, and he even got hurt in a few falls.

Fortunately, Ye Susu was a powerful healer, and she could completely heal even his most serious injuries.