The outskirts of Sunset Forest.
As one of the two great wild Soul Beast habitats within the Heaven Dou Empire, this was a perilous place full of danger and death for any commoner Soul Master.
When ordinary Soul Masters wanted to obtain a suitable Soul Ring, they often had to form a Soul Hunting team and search cautiously. Many times, even if they risked their lives, they might not find a Soul Beast whose age and attributes were a perfect match.
But all that hardship and cruelty simply didn't exist for the heir of the Farak Kingdom, Xue Yao, the Heaven Dou Empire's newly elevated Viscount Sky Wind.
What did power mean?
Power meant that by the time the lavish purple-and-gold carriage carrying Xue Yao rolled into this clearing on the outskirts of Sunset Forest, the area had already been cleared into an absolutely safe zone a hundred meters across!
Five hundred Royal Knights had sealed off the camp, surrounding it so tightly that not even a drop of water could escape.
The carriage came to a stop.
A guard respectfully lifted the gold-threaded curtain.
Xue Yao stepped down slowly, using the carriage step. Two maids immediately came forward and lit the finest, most expensive incense, known for its calming and insect-repelling effects.
"Viscount, you've had a long journey."
The chief guard of the Farak Kingdom Mansion, who had been sent ahead to scout the area, was a sixty-two-level Soul Emperor. He approached with a broad smile.
"Following His Majesty's orders and your instructions, we've spent the past few days searching the outskirts of Sunset Forest day and night. We've prepared several candidates for your First Soul Ring."
"Lead the way."
Xue Yao's tone was calm, as if he were strolling through his own garden.
Surrounded by the chief guard and a general in purple-gold armor, Xue Yao made his way to the center of the camp.
If the commoner Soul Masters struggling at the bottom saw what lay before them, they'd probably be so jealous they'd spit blood on the spot.
Three enormous Refined Steel and Black Iron Cages stood in the middle of the camp!
Each bar was as thick as an infant's arm, and formations that suppressed Soul Power had been engraved upon them. Inside were three top-grade wind-attribute Soul Beasts, all on their last legs, clearly having been given a thorough "beating" by the experts!
"Please take a look, my lord."
The chief guard pointed to the first cage and respectfully introduced its occupant. "This is a Wind Baboon. It's around three hundred and ninety years old, extremely strong, and can spit out Wind Blades. If you absorb its Soul Ring, your first Soul Skill will most likely either strengthen your physical power or let you fire Wind Blades."
Xue Yao glanced at the baboon, which lay in the cage covered in blood and looked hideous, then shook his head in distaste.
He was a noble Royal Griffin. Absorb the Soul Ring of a baboon that reeked of musk? Never mind whether their attributes matched. The beast's looks and status alone weren't good enough for him.
If it had been the one from ten thousand years later that had almost slain a god, perhaps he'd have considered it.
Just kidding. That nearly god-slaying beast was only a ten-year hybrid. There was no way he'd consider it.
Seeing that Xue Yao wasn't satisfied, the chief guard immediately pointed to the second cage.
Inside was a giant azure wolf, about the size of a calf. Even with all four legs broken, its dark green eyes still gleamed with savagery, and low growls rumbled in its throat.
"A Gale Demon Wolf with four hundred and ten years of cultivation," the chief guard continued. "A classic wind-attribute Soul Beast, incredibly fast, with a fearsome bite."
Xue Yao remained unmoved and rubbed his chin. "Not bad, but wolves are land animals. My Griffin Martial Soul was born to rule the skies. The traits of a ground-dwelling Soul Beast would limit my Martial Soul's agility in the air, to some extent."
The general of the Heaven Dou Royal Knights, who had accompanied them, couldn't help but click his tongue in private at this sort of treatment—like "choosing a consort at the supermarket."
An ordinary wind-attribute Soul Master would have been overjoyed to find a Gale Demon Wolf just over four hundred years old. Only this peerless genius, whom the emperor valued beyond measure, could make Soul Emperors run themselves ragged, beat top-grade Soul Beasts half to death, and serve them right to his door!
"My lord is wise! I knew the beasts of the ground wouldn't catch your eye."
The chief guard laughed, a hint of pride in his eyes.
He strode over to the third cage and whipped off the black cloth covering it.
"Whoosh—!"
The instant the cloth came away, an extremely piercing eagle cry rang out from the cage!
With the cry, a green whirlwind slammed hard against the bars of refined steel.
Xue Yao's eyes finally lit up.
It was a magnificent bird of prey!
Its entire body was covered in feathers like green metal, its eagle eyes sharp as lightning. Its beak and talons gleamed with a chilling light. Most unusual of all, four long, deep-green tail feathers, each like a sharp sword, grew from its tail.
"A Mutated Soul Beast, an Azure Wind Falcon!"
The chief guard spoke as if claiming credit. "Ordinary Azure Wind Falcons have grayish-green feathers. But this one has not only mutated, its feathers are hard as refined steel, and it's a full thirty percent faster than other flying Soul Beasts of the same level!"
"Even more remarkable is its age." The chief guard pointed to the four tail feathers. "Each tail feather represents a hundred years. The fourth has already grown to one-fifth of its full length, which means it's around four hundred and twenty years old!"
"The Grandmaster from Spirit Hall proposed that the limit for a First Soul Ring is four hundred and twenty-three years. This Mutated Green Wind Falcon's age is right on the mark. It'll maximize your gains without any risk of your body exploding! It's practically a top-grade Soul Beast tailor-made for your Griffin Martial Soul!"
Four hundred and twenty years old, mutated, and a wind-attribute bird of prey!
Perfect!
Flawlessly perfect!
As Xue Yao gazed at the unruly Mutated Green Wind Falcon in the cage, the Royal Griffin blood in his veins began to seethe. A powerful urge to devour it stirred within him.
"This one."
Xue Yao snapped his fingers, sounding as casual as if he were ordering a steak at a restaurant.
"Right away!" The chief guard turned to his men. "Open a small gap in the cage and hold it down. Don't let it hurt the viscount!"
Two guards at the Four-Ring Soul Ancestor level immediately stepped forward. One released a heavy earth-attribute Martial Soul to press down on the Azure Wind Falcon, while the other carefully opened a small door in the cage.
Under the pressure of a Soul Ancestor, the once-frantic Mutated Green Wind Falcon, four hundred and twenty years old, was pinned firmly to the bottom of the cage.
"Viscount, please."
The general in purple-gold armor held out a gleaming refined steel spear in both hands and respectfully offered it to Xue Yao.
This spear was for the final "finishing blow."
Xue Yao took the spear. His eyes shifted in an instant from lazy to cold and sharp.
He walked slowly toward the cage.
The moment Xue Yao drew near, the Mutated Green Wind Falcon seemed to sense death approaching. It struggled with all its might, fixing its sharp eyes on him as it tried to make one last stand.
But the instant its eyes met Xue Yao's—
"Buzz—"
Xue Yao didn't release his Martial Soul, but a flash of brilliant gold flickered deep in his eyes.
It was the Royal Griffin's divine might!
How could an Azure Wind Falcon compare to a mythical creature like a Griffin?
"Creee—!!!"
Just a moment earlier, the Mutated Green Wind Falcon had been ferocious beyond compare. Now, sensing this terrifying bloodline pressure that towered over all living things, it let out a scream of utter terror. Its green feathers shot straight up, then it seemed to lose its nerve completely. It abandoned all resistance and slumped trembling in the cage, too afraid even to raise its head!
It was absolute submission, born from the depths of its soul!
"Hiss—"
The guards and Royal Knights around them all sucked in a sharp breath at the sight.
A mutated Ferocious Beast over four hundred years old had been scared limp by a glance from a six-year-old child?! Just how overwhelming was his Martial Soul's suppression?!
Xue Yao paid no heed to everyone's shock.
He stepped up to the cage and raised the refined steel spear in his hand.
Thwack!
The spearhead cut through the Azure Wind Falcon's artery and nerves with deadly precision. There was no unnecessary suffering; the strike was swift and clean.
Blood gushed out, staining the iron floor of the cage red.
The Azure Wind Falcon's body twitched a few times. The life faded quickly from its eyes, and it died.
Xue Yao casually pulled out the spear and tossed it to a nearby guard.
Faint Soul Power light began gathering above the Azure Wind Falcon's corpse.
A few seconds later, countless yellow specks of light came together, forming a bright yellow ring with a faintly profound glow.
A four-hundred-and-twenty-year-old top-grade Mutated First Soul Ring had been born!
"Guard me."
Xue Yao wasted no time. He turned around and sat cross-legged on the soft carpet in the center of the camp.
"Boom!"
The five hundred Royal Knights raised their spears with a single sharp motion and turned to face outward, forming an impenetrable wall of steel.
The general in purple-gold armor and the chief guard stood ten paces to either side of Xue Yao, like two guardian deities, alert to the slightest stir in their surroundings.
Xue Yao closed his eyes and stirred his thoughts.
"Creee—!!!"
A miniature Royal Griffin emerged proudly amid the light and circled above Xue Yao's head!
"Come here!"
Xue Yao gave a low shout and thrust his right hand toward the yellow Soul Ring in the air.
The absorption officially began!
Before you continue