Fallen Soul Master

"A Soul Master wanted notice?"

Yan's interest was immediately piqued. "Tell me, Teacher."

"It started in the Balak Kingdom half a year ago."

Resak began, "The Spirit Hall Main Temple in Soke City discovered that murders had been occurring continuously in the city's subordinate towns and villages.

According to the investigation, the culprit was not an ordinary person, but a Fallen Soul Master.

Spirit Hall Main Temple subsequently launched a pursuit, but this Fallen Soul Master was extremely cunning and never stayed in one place for long.

He drifted from place to place committing crimes. Over the past two months, he seemed to have reached a bottleneck in his strength and began frantically killing innocent villagers and low-level Soul Masters.

He had already caused the deaths of several hundred people. His cultivation had risen from that of a Soul Grandmaster to a level thirty-seven Soul Elder."

As he spoke, Resak feared Yan might not understand what a Fallen Soul Master was, so he explained it to him.

"Fallen Soul Masters rely on evil cultivation methods such as slaughter and devouring flesh and blood, which allows their cultivation to rise extremely quickly.

Moreover, their combat strength is exceptionally high. In battles between those of the same rank, Fallen Soul Masters generally emerge victorious.

But because their cultivation methods are so vicious, Fallen Soul Masters are not only more evil and ruthless by nature, but also have terrible reputations. Calling them enemies of the entire continent would not be an exaggeration.

One of Spirit Hall's primary responsibilities is to hunt down and kill these Fallen Soul Masters."

"Fallen Soul Masters."

Yan nodded. Weren't they the predecessors of the Evil Soul Masters from Douluo Continent Two?

Or rather, this was simply what Evil Soul Masters had been called in Douluo Continent One.

It was only because Spirit Hall maintained the continent's stability in Douluo Continent One, tirelessly hunting down these Fallen Soul Masters.

Along with Slaughter City, that enormous repository for Fallen Soul Masters, they had not been allowed to ravage the continent as they did in Douluo Continent Two.

"So, do you dare take this mission?"

Resak looked at Yan.

Yan's strength did indeed far surpass that of others at his rank. He could hold his own against four Soul Ancestors and already possessed the combat power of a Soul King.

But Fallen Soul Masters were far more dangerous than ordinary Soul Masters, and their combat strength was greater as well.

Even with the cultivation of a Soul Elder, they could rival Soul Ancestors in combat. Their soul skills were also strange and difficult to deal with.

"What's the reward for this mission?"

Rather than immediately saying whether he would accept it, Yan asked about the reward.

"A piece of Ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber carefully refined by Spirit Hall."

"That really is generous." Yan smiled. Still, against a Fallen Soul Master with such a high danger rating, a moment of carelessness could mean death or injury. A generous reward was only natural.

"Are Xie Yue and Nana on similar missions?" Yan asked another question.

"How could that be?"

Resak laughed and looked at Yan. "Not everyone has your current strength.

Xie Yue and Nana's mission is to obtain Gold Soul Fighting Badges from the Soul Arena within two months, mainly to improve their practical combat abilities and solidify their foundations.

Your strength has long surpassed the limit of the Soul Grandmaster realm. Your practical combat ability has also been strengthened through training. Entering the Great Soul Arena would no longer serve any purpose in tempering you.

Only by truly seeing blood can you pave the path toward becoming a real powerhouse in the future."

"I understand." Yan nodded in realization. "I choose to accept the mission."

"Good. Then I'll explain the mission intelligence."

Resak did not waste any time and spoke directly. "The target's codename is Blood Bat. He is level thirty-seven, an Agility Attack Type Soul Elder, and his Martial Soul is a mutated Vampire Bat.

He is bloodthirsty, cruel in his methods, and skilled at concealment and spreading panic.

Balak has pursued him for nearly half a year. They lost three Soul Elders and had one Soul Ancestor severely injured, yet he still escaped.

Recent clues point to the outskirts of a primeval forest bordering the Star Luo Empire. The terrain there is complex, and few people venture into it.

However, after a careful search, Spirit Hall has roughly determined the area where he is hiding.

Your objective is to enter the hiding area, locate Blood Bat, and kill him.

The mission deadline is one month. If you fail to complete the assassination within a month, other Soul Masters from Spirit Hall will take over and kill Blood Bat."

One month was fairly ample time.

Yan looked up at Resak. "Do you have detailed information? His soul skills, his habits when committing crimes, the exact location where he was last seen..."

Approval flashed through Resak's eyes. He returned to his room, then came out carrying a sealed dossier and handed it to Yan.

"Inside is all the information currently held by Spirit Hall, including records of every encounter, as well as Blood Bat's Soul Rings and soul skills.

His last confirmed trace was near Grey Stone Town, on the outskirts of the primeval forest.

A reminder: that area is close to the border of the Starfall Empire, and the situation is complicated. It would be best not to make too much noise while pursuing Blood Bat, lest the Star Luo authorities become alert and cause unnecessary trouble."

Yan accepted the dossier and examined it carefully, already forming a rough plan. "Since we only have one month, we should set out as soon as possible and finish this quickly."

"Of course. When do you plan to leave?" Resak asked.

"The sooner, the better," Yan said.

"Then we'll leave this afternoon." Resak patted Yan on the shoulder. "I'll go with you—not only to supervise you, but also to watch your back.

The rate at which Fallen Soul Masters grew in strength could not be judged by common sense. With Resak there, even if Yan ultimately could not defeat Blood Bat, at least his safety would be guaranteed.

"Go make your preparations. We'll set out this afternoon."

Resak waved his hand, indicating that Yan could return and prepare the things needed for the operation.

Yan did not waste words. He bowed to Resak and withdrew.

After returning to the dormitory, Yan did not actually have much to pack. He took several changes of clothes, exchanged for some healing medicine at the academy's resource department, and returned.

At lunch, Yan told Xie Yue and Hu Liena that he would be carrying out a mission.

Amid their concern and reminders, Yan left the Advanced Academy with Resak early that afternoon, hurrying toward Grey Stone Town.

In the afternoon, the sun tilted westward.

After Yan and Resak left the rear mountain of Spirit City, two Hybrid Horses specially bred by Spirit Hall carried them along the main road toward the southeast.

Resak had changed into gray-brown leather armor suited for movement. His aura was restrained, but he constantly scanned their surroundings with sharp eyes.

Yan was also dressed in dark, fitted clothing, with a cloak over it, a short blade at his waist, and a small pack on his back.

Soul Tools were rare on Douluo Continent. At present, aside from Hu Liena, neither Yan nor Xie Yue had a personal Soul Tool, so they could only carry some of their luggage with them.

Spirit Hall's specially bred horses were extremely fast. By evening, they had already left behind the prosperity of Spirit City and entered the hilly region in the southeastern Balak Kingdom.

The road gradually grew desolate. The forests on both sides became denser and darker, and the air carried the damp, earthy scent of vegetation and soil.

"There's a small town fifty li ahead. We'll rest there for the night and continue tomorrow morning."

Resak spoke.

It was Yan's first time leaving Spirit City, and everything beyond it was unfamiliar to him. Naturally, he had no objection.