Heavenly Thunder Bead and Golden Light Talisman

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, Li Han was on his way to the Soul Hunting Forest.

Host: Li Han
Age: 7
Martial Soul: Heavenly Thunder Bamboo
Cultivation: Level 20
Techniques: Azure Essence Sword Art, Elephant Armor Skill, Blinking Sword Technique, Smoke-Drifting Steps.
Items: Bamboo Bone Pen, Fireball Talisman (15), Golden Light Talisman (3), Heavenly Thunder Bead (1), Soul-Nurturing Wood Bead.
Pills: Yellow Dragon Pill (2), Golden Marrow Pill (2), Essence Nourishing Pill (37), Energy Recovery Pill (50).
Wealth: 137 Gold Soul Coin, 19 Silver Soul Coin, 78 Copper Soul Coin.

Over these three months, aside from his cultivation, Li Han had made various preparations.

The Golden Light Talisman and the Heavenly Thunder Bead were his greatest gains.

Some time ago, he had purchased a bottle of essence blood from a century-old Golden Armored Beast at the Nuoding City market, successfully crafting three Golden Light Talisman.

The function of the Golden Light Talisman was to form a golden protective barrier upon activation, which century-old soul beasts could basically not break.

Even if he encountered a thousand-year soul beast, it could hold out for a while.

With these Golden Light Talisman, Li Han could rest assured even without anyone guarding him while he absorbed a soul ring.

As for the Heavenly Thunder Bead, Li Han had used quite a lot of Heavenly Thunder Bamboo leaves to barely manage its creation.

Because of this, Xiao Wu had not been able to eat any Heavenly Thunder Bamboo leaves for several days.

However, after eating a hundred Heavenly Thunder Bamboo leaves, Xiao Wu discovered that she could not eat any more for the time being; it seemed her body had reached a limit and could no longer absorb the power of the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo leaves.

She would need to wait until her strength improved to the next level before she could continue consuming them.

Therefore, Xiao Wu had been focused on bitter cultivation lately and barely moved at all.

Otherwise, Li Han doubted he would even be able to go to the Soul Hunting Forest by himself.

Because Xiao Wu would definitely have followed.

After returning this time, perhaps I will be able to see Xiao Wu's evolved form.

I am truly looking forward to it.

Soul Hunting Forest.

Returning to the Soul Hunting Forest after several months, Li Han was already familiar with the terrain.

He found an uninhabited area, put on a mask made of Lone Bamboo, and then changed into a set of black clothes.

Although the probability of being recognized by the forest guards is extremely low, it is better to be safe.

From now on, when I go out, I will keep a different identity.

Li Han arrived at the entrance of the Soul Hunting Forest and presented the token Yu Xiaogang had given him.

The guard took the token, inspected it, and immediately bowed respectfully without asking a single question.

Having a token is truly convenient.

Li Han smiled with satisfaction and then stepped into the Soul Hunting Forest.

Compared to the last time he came with Mo Hen and felt restricted, Li Han's freedom this time was absolute.

He searched everywhere for medicinal herbs while simultaneously looking for a suitable soul beast.

With my current strength, I should be able to withstand a soul ring of over a thousand years.

Then I will set my target between 1,500 and 2,000 years, with a soul beast rich in wood-attribute energy as my first choice.

Thinking this, Li Han's gaze swept back and forth across the soul beast forest.

Soon, he arrived at a pool of water.

That is...

Li Han's gaze landed on the pool, where a serpentine soul beast was coiled.

Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent?

Pale red wings, a blood-red fleshy crest, a fan-shaped tail—every characteristic matched.

Judging by its size, it should be around three hundred years old.

The age is not high, and it is not a wood-attribute beast, so it is not suitable for me.

Li Han shook his head slightly and was about to leave when he suddenly heard footsteps.

Someone is coming.

Seeing this, Li Han instantly used the Breath Concealment Art from the Blinking Sword Technique to suppress his aura, hiding himself within the jungle.

Before long, three soul masters walked over.

The three were all men; two were slightly older, appearing to be around thirty and dressed in grey robes, while one wore blue and looked to be about twenty, appearing quite wealthy.

"It's a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent! It looks to be a century-old one."

"Great! This is perfect to serve as my second soul ring!"

"Quick, capture it for me!"

The young man was overjoyed upon seeing the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent and hurriedly gave the order.

"Understood, boss."

The men in grey robes responded immediately, then proceeded to manifest their Martial Soul and soul rings.

Both were Soul Grand Masters, each displaying one white and one yellow soul ring; one man's Martial Soul was a blade, while the other's was a wolf.

Without hesitation, the two immediately charged at the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent in the pool.

It seems to be a mercenary team hunting for a soul ring. The man in blue is the employer, and those two are the Soul Grand Masters he hired, Li Han thought to himself.

Such occurrences were not uncommon in the world of soul masters.

Not everyone had an academy to help them hunt soul beasts; if they didn't, they had to rely on themselves.

Hiring a few powerful soul masters to assist in hunting soul beasts was considered an optimal solution.

Two Soul Grand Masters against a century-old Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent shouldn't be a problem.

No sooner had Li Han thought this than he heard a scream.

"What?"

Li Han looked toward the pool in surprise, only to see the two men in grey robes tightly coiled by the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

Most bizarrely, several vines had emerged from the body of the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, binding the two men firmly.

In mere moments, the two Soul Grand Masters were strangled to death.

"Ah!"

The man in blue was terrified at the sight and scrambled away, rolling and crawling.

"This... this isn't a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent!"

Li Han realized it instantly. He narrowed his eyes and examined it carefully, discovering that the vines were actually covered in scales.

"Scales? Could it be... a Chameleon Vine!"

The Chameleon Vine, also known as a Mimic Vine, is a plant-type soul beast, but it can imitate any creature that approaches it, achieving an identical appearance.

It is a rare master of disguise among soul beasts.

It seems this Chameleon Vine grew in the habitat of the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, so it transformed to look just like one. Although its body has changed, it doesn't possess the soul skills of a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent and can only use its own vines to kill enemies. Those two Soul Grand Masters completely misjudged their opponent, which is why they were taken out in an instant.

Thinking this, Li Han looked at the scales on the Chameleon Vine's vines.

He saw that there were as many as eighteen scales!

No, they didn't just misjudge the enemy; they also misjudged its strength. Although this Chameleon Vine is imitating a three-hundred-year-old Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, its actual strength has reached a millennium! A single scale takes a hundred years to form; this Chameleon Vine has eighteen scales, meaning it has a cultivation of eighteen hundred years!

Li Han's eyes lit up.

This age was exactly within the range he could accept.

Most importantly, the Chameleon Vine was also a plant-type Martial Soul, making it highly compatible with his Heavenly Thunder Bamboo.

To think I almost missed such a suitable soul ring; heaven truly favors me.

Li Han did not hesitate any longer, closing the distance with his Smoke-Drifting Steps and opening with a Fireball Talisman!

Whoosh!

The Fireball Talisman was thrown directly, slamming into the Chameleon Vine.

The Chameleon Vine had just killed the two Soul Grand Masters and was in a relaxed state, yet it reacted instantly to the sudden Fireball Talisman.

It whipped its vines forward to block.

BOOM!

The Fireball Talisman exploded against the Chameleon Vine's vines, severing them instantly!

Dust and smoke billowed, completely enveloping the Chameleon Vine.

"Hiss!"

From within the smoke, the painful screech of the Chameleon Vine rang out. Its body shifted incessantly, and a pair of serpent eyes glared fixedly at Li Han, filled with rage!