Second Soul Skill

"Xu Yuan! You jerk!" Xiao Wu covered her burning cheeks, stomping her feet in a mix of anger and shyness, though the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

The worry in her eyes seemed to be diluted by that light kiss, leaving behind only a heart full of anticipation.

She looked forward to him returning with carrots, and even more, she looked forward to him returning safe and sound.

After leaving Nuoding City, Xu Yuan flew rapidly toward the direction of the Soul Hunting Forest.

It took only half a day for Xu Yuan to arrive at the Soul Hunting Forest.

Xu Yuan found a spot to sit down and took out the dry rations he had prepared to eat.

Just as Xu Yuan took a bite of the dry, hard wheat cake, he heard the sound of light footsteps behind him, like some small animal leaping across fallen leaves.

He turned his head to look and saw a snow-white Moon-Marked Rabbit crouching not far away, its ruby-like eyes fixed intently on the wheat cake in his hand, its three-petaled mouth moving slightly as if swallowing saliva.

"Hungry?" Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow and tore off a small piece of the wheat cake to offer it.

The Moon-Marked Rabbit hesitated for a moment, then hopped over on its short legs, snatched the wheat cake, and retreated to the side.

It crouched under a tree root, nibbling in small bites while its ears remained alert, occasionally lifting its eyes to glance at him.

Xu Yuan chuckled and continued eating his rations.

After finishing his meal, Xu Yuan headed deeper into the forest.

It was impossible to find a suitable soul beast on the outskirts; only by venturing deep into the forest could he find one that was right for him.

He searched for an entire afternoon, but Xu Yuan did not find a suitable soul beast.

"Tsk, this is really hard to find." Xu Yuan built a small campfire and remarked.

God King Tang San appeared and sat down opposite Xu Yuan, saying, "It's normal. Some people don't even find a suitable soul beast after searching for months."

"Months? Xiao Wu's carrots will probably dry out into sticks by then." Xu Yuan thought of Xiao Wu's wide-eyed expression when she left and couldn't help but let out a low laugh.

God King Tang San raised an eyebrow: "But in all seriousness, since your Blue Silver Grass follows a life-attribute path, the compatible soul beasts are naturally rare. Such beasts tend to hide deep and are much more vigilant."

Xu Yuan pulled a water skin from his backpack and took a sip of warm water: "I know."

"What's the rush?" God King Tang San leaned back, his tone carrying the nonchalance of someone who had been through it all. "Back then, I spent quite a long time in the Star Dou Forest just to find a suitable soul beast. You've only been at it for half a day; what does that count for?"

Xu Yuan didn't respond, merely gazing at the dancing flames.

A few muffled roars echoed from the depths of the forest, and the night wind blew through with a damp chill, sweeping a few fallen leaves into the fire and causing them to crackle softly.

God King Tang San felt a bit puzzled. Having absorbed quite a bit of Tang San's luck over the past two and a half years, logically speaking, it shouldn't take long to find a suitable soul beast.

Could it be that a soul beast perfectly suited for Xu Yuan was waiting for him?

The next morning.

Xu Yuan woke up, finished his breakfast, and continued his search for a soul beast.

After walking for about two hours, the sound of gurgling water suddenly drifted from ahead.

Xu Yuan pushed aside the vines blocking his path, and the view before him suddenly opened up.

A clear, limpid lake came into view, its water as green as a mirror, reflecting the towering ancient trees on the shore.

And in the water plants by the lake, a swan was floating leisurely.

Its entire body was covered in emerald-green feathers; as the sunlight spilled over them, they refracted a jade-like, lustrous glow, with even the edges of its wings tinged with a faint golden rim.

Its long neck was curved into an elegant arc, and its beak was bright red. It occasionally lowered its head to peck at algae in the water, its movements as graceful as a painting.

"That's a thousand-year Emerald Swan. How could something like this exist in a godforsaken place like this?" God King Tang San was stunned when he saw the Emerald Swan.

The Emerald Swan was a soul beast extremely well-suited for Xu Yuan—or, more accurately, for any healing-type soul master.

The population of Emerald Swan-type soul beasts was extremely scarce.

They were nearly extinct and incredibly rare.

The Emerald Swan itself was too fragile, especially in its youth, making it an easy target for other soul beasts.

Yet, they themselves condensed the pure life force of nature.

The life force contained within a hundred-thousand-year Emerald Swan could even rival Life Gold a thousand times smaller than its own body.

For any soul beast, it could be considered a supreme tonic.

Therefore, before an Emerald Swan reached adulthood, it was far too easily killed.

There was no issue with the target being a thousand-year soul beast; given the unique nature of Xu Yuan's body, absorbing a thousand-year Emerald Swan was perfectly fine.

"Kill it and absorb its soul ring," God King Tang San said.

Xu Yuan nodded to show he understood; he naturally grasped why God King Tang San was so surprised.

First Soul Skill: Life Entanglement

The emerald-green Blue Silver Grass, like a nimble jade ribbon, extended silently along the mist of the lake, winding toward the Emerald Swan by the shore as if it possessed a life of its own.

The grass blades brushed across the water surface, stirring up imperceptible ripples, yet they did not startle the creature floating leisurely there.

The Emerald Swan seemed immersed in the comfort of pecking at food, its bright red beak lightly tapping the water, creating tiny splashes.

It was not until the Blue Silver Grass had quietly closed in that it seemed to notice, its elegant neck lifting slightly as its ruby-like eyes held a hint of wariness and confusion.

Dozens of crystalline Blue Silver Grass suddenly tightened, acting like the gentlest of shackles to bind the Emerald Swan's wings and neck.

The Emerald Swan let out a clear, resonant cry, seemingly panicked, and struggled violently.

Where the vines coiled, small white flowers bloomed silently, releasing a scent that calmed the mind and soothed the Emerald Swan.

The Emerald Swan's struggles grew weaker and weaker, the wariness in its eyes gradually fading until only a near-docile stillness remained.

"My apologies," Xu Yuan said softly, his tone carrying a trace of regret.

With that, he flicked a steel needle.

The needle streaked across the lake surface like a silver bolt, piercing precisely into the vital point of the Emerald Swan's neck.

There was no violent struggle, only a very faint, mournful cry, and then the emerald-green body drifted slowly upon the water.

Xu Yuan came to the shore and sat down to absorb the thousand-year soul ring of the Emerald Swan.

God King Tang San noticed something and muttered to himself, "Hmm? An unexpected surprise, it seems. Let Me give you a hand."

Having said this, a blue light entered Xu Yuan's back.

Half an hour later, Xu Yuan slowly opened his eyes.

Having absorbed the thousand-year soul ring of the Emerald Swan, Xu Yuan's level had reached 23 directly.

Furthermore, there was an unexpected surprise; he truly had not anticipated that the Emerald Swan would provide him with an External Soul Bone.

God King Tang San asked, "What soul skill did you obtain?"

Xu Yuan replied, "My Lord, the second soul skill I obtained is called Emerald Protection. It is an area-of-effect defensive soul skill that also converts enemy attacks into life force to heal allies or myself."

This soul skill was the very same Emerald Protection belonging to Bi Ji; Xu Yuan truly had not expected that he would actually obtain this skill.

Xu Yuan felt that this soul skill was excellent.