Crimson Blood Wolf, First Soul Ring

Sha Sha crouched down and briefly examined the Earth Fire Rat. "It won't live much longer. It's a shame it has six hundred years of cultivation. If it were a little younger, it could have served as your first soul ring, Qin Ming."

Qin Ming shook his head. "Although Earth Fire Rats are suitable for me too, the most suitable soul beast for me in the Soul Hunting Forest is still the Crimson Blood Wolf."

Nuo Si nodded, agreeing with Qin Ming. "Crimson Blood Wolves should live nearby. Let's keep looking."

"Since it's what little brother Qin Ming wants, A Nuo and I will find one for you no matter what." Sha Sha smiled as she promised Qin Ming. Both she and Nuo Si had been forced by various circumstances to settle for ten-year soul rings as their first soul rings. Naturally, they did not want Qin Ming to compromise as well.

The Soul Hunting Forest was only so large. As long as they were willing to search, they would eventually find one. Most people chose a suitable soul beast rather than the one best suited to them because the longer they stayed in the Soul Hunting Forest, the more dangerous it became.

But they had two Soul Elders with them. In a beginner's area like the Soul Hunting Forest, they would basically encounter no danger. Even if a Millennium Soul Beast appeared, they could handle it calmly.

Nuo Si controlled his Willow Vine Martial Soul, wrapped up the dying Earth Fire Rat, and tossed it into the nearby lava. The Earth Fire Rat struggled only a few times before sinking beneath the surface.

Not long afterward, a dark yellow soul ring floated atop the lava.

Yet none of the three paid it much attention. They continued their carpet search through the area.

After another day of searching, Qin Ming's group finally spotted a Crimson Blood Wolf.

A five-meter-long Giant Wolf lay crouched atop a hill made of dark-red, unusual ore. A thick ring of red mane grew around its neck, with tiny sparks burning across it.

Nuo Si held the Soul Hunting Forest Soul Beast Overview in his hand, his gaze shifting between the soul beast before him and the illustration of a Crimson Blood Wolf in the book.

"A Nuo, stop looking. This is a Crimson Blood Wolf!" Sha Sha knocked Nuo Si on the head with her fist, seemingly dumbfounded by his airheadedness.

Nuo Si pursed his lips. "I'm just being cautious, aren't I? This is Qin Ming's first soul ring, after all." He then looked toward Qin Ming, as if asking for his opinion.

"This is a Crimson Blood Wolf!" Qin Ming confirmed. Part of the Giant Wolf's fur along its back was golden, the key to judging a Crimson Blood Wolf's age.

When that small patch of golden fur spread across its entire spine, it meant the Crimson Blood Wolf had reached a thousand years. The golden fur on the back of this Crimson Blood Wolf did not even cover half of it.

It was probably around four hundred years old. Its age was high enough, making it perfect for Qin Ming.

"Brother Nuo Si, Sister Sha Sha! I want this one!"

"All right, leave it to me!" Nuo Si summoned his Martial Soul. His white soul ring flashed as his First Spirit Skill activated, directly giving the Crimson Blood Wolf the same treatment as the Earth Fire Rat.

"Every bone in its body has been crushed. It has no way to attack or resist now. Hurry and finish it off," Nuo Si urged.

Qin Ming hurriedly entered Martial Soul Possession and slapped the wound on the Crimson Blood Wolf's head. In an instant, red and white splattered across the ground. The Crimson Blood Wolf convulsed a few times before falling still.

A moment later, a yellow soul ring emerged from the wolf's corpse, radiating the soul pressure of a Hundred Year Soul Ring. Qin Ming was thrilled. This was his first time absorbing a soul ring.

He immediately sat cross-legged and used his Martial Soul to draw the yellow soul ring toward himself.

The Crimson Blood Wolf's soul ring slowly drifted above Qin Ming's head. The next moment, he felt a vast surge of Soul Power pour into his body.

Qin Ming quickly began circulating the Angel Meditation Method, converting the Soul Power injected into him by the soul ring into his own Soul Power.

Nuo Si and Sha Sha, the two Soul Elders, stood on either side of Qin Ming to protect him. A Spirit Master could not be disturbed while absorbing a soul ring.

Once the absorption of a soul ring was interrupted, not only would all previous effort be wasted, but the Vessels would also suffer irreversible damage.

An hour later, Qin Ming finished converting the Soul Power, which meant he had successfully absorbed the soul ring. Nothing unexpected had happened during the process.

"Success!" Qin Ming sprang to his feet and looked at the yellow soul ring rhythmically bobbing beneath him, a smile rising on his lips.

Just as he had expected, the Crimson Blood Wolf's soul ring had given him the soul skill he wanted. His Soul Power Level had also risen to level eleven.

Seeing that Qin Ming had completed the absorption, the two guarding him nearby also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Qin Ming, what's your First Spirit Skill?" Nuo Si leaned closer curiously.

Qin Ming smiled smugly and said unhurriedly, "My First Spirit Skill is called Crimson Blood Body. For ten minutes after activation, all attributes increase by fifty percent, and Fire Attribute damage increases by fifty percent."

After explaining it, Qin Ming immediately used it once.

"First Spirit Skill, Crimson Blood Body!"

After activating the soul skill, Qin Ming felt as though the blood in his body were boiling, endlessly supplying him with strength. At the same time, the flames surrounding him changed from orange-red to dark red, and their temperature rose noticeably.

"Activating it once consumes roughly one-tenth of my Soul Power," Qin Ming muttered as he sensed the changes in his body.

Trading one-tenth of his Soul Power for ten minutes of all-around explosive power, with no side effects, left Qin Ming extremely satisfied with his First Spirit Skill.

Qin Ming estimated that if he used this soul skill, he could completely face off against the six-hundred-year Earth Fire Rat from before and might even kill it.

Now, with his First Spirit Skill active, his flames could reach an utterly terrifying level.

He picked up a fist-sized stone from the ground. Flames instantly wrapped around it, and within only a few breaths, its surface showed signs of melting.

Nuo Si and Sha Sha exchanged a glance, both stunned by Qin Ming's display.

Nuo Si swallowed. He did not dare imagine how it would feel for such ordinary flames to strike a person's body, but the scene would probably be very beautiful.

"An increase to all attributes, plus enhanced flames—your First Spirit Skill is practically the finest among Hundred Year Soul Rings!" Nuo Si wiped the fine sweat appearing on his forehead and spoke with complete seriousness.

Then Nuo Si could not help complaining, "Kid, when you activate your Martial Soul, you're basically a human-shaped furnace!"

Qin Ming smiled awkwardly. In truth, even while in Martial Soul Possession, he did not have to keep the flame effects around him. He could dismiss them.

Qin Ming then drew the flames surrounding him back into his body.

"You can even pull back the flames without canceling your possession?"

"You didn't know?" Qin Ming asked.

"My Martial Soul doesn't just start spitting fire on its own..."

"That's enough, you two!" Sha Sha flicked each of them on the forehead with both hands.

Qin Ming did not feel much after entering Martial Soul Possession, but Nuo Si beside him was in so much pain that tears welled at the corners of his eyes.