Successful Hunt (Please Keep Reading)

After hearing Su Yu explain the entire sequence of events, Qian Renxue could not suppress the curve of her lips at all.

She truly had not expected that fool Orlando to be so cooperative.

Qian Renxue immediately made the decision and dispatched She Long, along with four Soul King guards who worked seamlessly together.

Seeing such a lavish lineup, Su Yu's mouth twitched. "We're only hunting a century-old soul beast. Isn't this a bit excessive?"

Qian Renxue shook her head. "Killing a random century-old soul beast is easy. The real trouble lies in finding one."

"Did you forget? The last time we hunted a soul beast for you, our target was even a herd-dwelling soul beast that was easier to find. Even after sending so many people, it still took us a full two hours."

"Once we reach Sunset Forest, Guard She can stay close and protect you, ensuring your safety. The other four guards can spread out to search for the target soul beast."

"If I weren't worried about drawing attention, I'd have arranged even more people."

Su Yu had no choice but to let Qian Renxue make the arrangements.

Once the guards had finished preparing, Su Yu and Aornia boarded the carriage together and headed out of the city.

During the journey, Su Yu handed everyone the guide he had prepared, letting them pass it around and familiarize themselves with the targets of this trip.

After several hours of travel, the carriage finally reached its destination and slowly came to a stop outside the forest.

Su Yu lifted the carriage curtain, jumped down, and said to Snake Lance, "Once we find the target soul beast, I hope you can watch over the fight for me and let me try hunting it myself."

Snake Lance did not refuse Su Yu's request.

In his view, as long as they kept their distance in advance and set suitable rules, let alone a soul beast that was merely four hundred years old, even a thousand-year soul beast would meet its end on the spot!

The four guards then plunged into the forest and began searching for the soul beasts Su Yu had named.

Snake Lance stayed with Su Yu and Aornia beside the carriage, quietly waiting.

Time passed bit by bit, but even after night fell, the four men had yet to return.

Aornia tugged on Su Yu's sleeve and asked, "It's already so late. If I don't go back..."

Su Yu patted her hand and reassured her, "It's fine. Before we left, Brother Xue had someone notify the academy."

"The academy will send someone to tell your father that you were taken by one of the academy's teachers to Sunset Forest to hunt a soul beast. He doesn't need to worry."

Seeing the gentleness in Su Yu's eyes, the panic on Aornia's face faded, and she nodded firmly.

After eating the dry rations prepared beforehand, Su Yu and Aornia returned to the carriage compartment, intending to make do there for the night.

The Full Moon hung high in the sky, and rustling sounds rose not far from the carriage.

A guard emerged from the bushes and reported the results of his investigation to Snake Lance.

It was a pitch-black vine, topped by an eerie flower shaped like a crown and colored like blood.

Several dozen drops of "dew" on its petals gave off a strange fragrance that made one salivate.

It was unmistakably a Blood Crown Flower!

After confirming the target, one person stayed behind to prevent anything from happening to it, while the other returned along the original route to report back.

Snake Lance asked, "What is the age of that Blood Crown Flower?"

The guard replied, "According to Young Master Su's records, once a Blood Crown Flower becomes a century-old soul beast, its flower reaches a diameter of one meter."

"After that, for every additional hundred years, it blooms another smaller flower elsewhere on the vine, apart from the top."

"That soul beast currently has four flowers in bloom, one of which is smaller than the others. It should be around three hundred and eighty years old."

Seeing how confident his subordinate was, Snake Lance nodded.

He listened to the sounds inside the carriage, then said, "On nights with a full moon, the 'dew' that condenses when a Blood Crown Flower blooms not only attracts soul beasts, but also holds some appeal for Soul Masters."

"To be safe, we should wait until daytime before letting Young Master Su make his move."

Time flew by. The moon set, and the sun rose.

The gentle morning sunlight filtered through the curtain and spilled into the carriage compartment.

Su Yu's eyelids trembled slightly as he slowly opened his eyes.

Lying on his side, he looked straight across from him. Aornia was curled up on the seat, lying on her side with her eyelids faintly fluttering, seemingly half-awake.

Hearing the change in breathing inside the carriage, Snake Lance said, "Young Master Su, we've found a soul beast suitable for Miss Aornia."

The moment she heard this, Aornia, who had still been bleary-eyed, immediately widened her eyes and straightened up with a forceful twist of her waist.

Su Yu rolled over and stood, lifted the curtain, and stepped outside.

By then, aside from the man guarding the target, all the other guards had returned.

After leaving one person behind to watch the carriage, everyone else entered the forest.

After walking for roughly half an hour, they finally caught sight of the target.

Not far away stood the pitch-black vine, crowned with four scarlet flower buds.

Su Yu stopped. Under everyone's watchful gaze, he summoned his martial soul.

A brass-colored glow rose up, and a book made of brass appeared in his palm.

The yellow soul ring beneath Su Yu's feet lit up. The Brass Book abruptly flipped open to its middle, revealing a blank page with no writing.

[Before the law, everyone is equal.]

[Plant soul beasts are beneath humans.]

[Those who violate the following rules shall be punished!]

[1. Insubordination]

The instant the words took shape, the sound of something slicing through the air rang out.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

After three lashes, three of the Blood Crown Flower's buds split open, spraying juice everywhere and releasing a strange fragrance.

[2. Seducing a superior]

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The same familiar sounds rang out again. Wounds appeared across the black vine, and blood-red liquid flowed from them, dripping onto the ground.

At last, the Blood Crown Flower reacted. Its vines rapidly grew and lashed toward Su Yu.

[3. Harming others or Attempting to Injure]

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Before the newly sprouted vines could touch Su Yu, they were snapped apart and fell to the ground.

More wounds appeared across the Blood Crown Flower, and the splattered juice left the surrounding area in a mess.

[4. Polluting the surrounding environment]

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Despite the repeated lashings, the Blood Crown Flower still refused to give up and continued struggling fiercely.

Having violated every rule and suffered punishment, the Blood Crown Flower still did not "repent." Thus, harsher punishment followed close behind.

Whoosh!

An invisible sword flash swept through the air, instantly severing the once-thick vine and knocking it to the ground.

Despite suffering such a severe blow, it was still alive. As a plant soul beast, it possessed tenacious vitality.

Then, with a thought from Su Yu, the words on the Brass Book immediately vanished.

"Stop staring. It's time for you to give it the final blow."

Only then did Aornia recover from her shock. She hurriedly accepted the oil can and torch from Su Yu.

Aornia threw the oil can, smashing it against the enormous flower bud.

Immediately afterward, she threw the torch in her hand.

Amid the crackling flames, a yellow soul ring slowly took shape and hovered in midair.