"Oh? Tell me about it. Maybe I know it." Tian Meng became interested too.
Huo Yuhao nodded and began to explain.
"That Soul Beast is called the Seven-Colored Elk. It has two extremely unusual abilities. One can amplify its own spiritual power, and the other lets it ignore spiritual attacks from anyone with weaker spiritual power."
"That ability is incredible! How could it have gone extinct in the future?" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm asked in confusion.
"Although this Soul Beast has powerful spiritual defenses, its body is extremely fragile. Even a ten-thousand-year-old one could be said to be on par with a Hundred-Year Soul Beast..."
"According to the records, every part of the Seven-Colored Elk was a treasure. Even eating its meat could increase spiritual power, which led countless Soul Masters to hunt them in the Star Dou Great Forest. But despite being so valuable, almost no one had hunted this Soul Beast before, and yet it went extinct in just a few hundred years..."
Remembering Wang Yan's words, Huo Yuhao felt a little sympathy for Tian Meng.
He, too, belonged to a race that couldn't even swat a chicken. They could only languish at the very bottom of the food chain. Even as a million-year-old being, in the eyes of those Ferocious Beasts, he was nothing more than a slightly larger meal.
Ice Empress seemed to notice Tian Meng's dejection and quietly went to his side.
"The survival of the fittest is simply the law of the Soul Beast world. At least you've already changed your own fate."
"Mm, thank you, Bingbing. I knew you were the best to me. If I could just get a kiss, I'd be back to full health."
"Get lost!"
"Right away..."
Now that they had a goal, all they needed to do was prepare and wait for the holiday.
The next morning, Xiao Wu looked at Huo Yuhao expectantly.
"The holiday starts in a couple of days. What are your plans this time?"
Last year, everyone had been free, so they'd decided to stay at the academy. Huo Yuhao had gone back for two days to give Old Jack the Soul Tools he'd made, in case he ran into danger.
With a Level 4 Soul Guidance Shield, a Level 4 Sealed Milk Bottle, and some other equipment, Old Jack was practically armed to the teeth. With no more worries, Huo Yuhao no longer needed to go back every year.
"I'm planning to go to the Star Dou Great Forest and get my third Soul Ring," Huo Yuhao said with a faint smile.
Xiao Wu's eyes widened.
"When did you reach level 30? You're progressing way too fast! Then I'll go with you."
"Just these past few days. What about you, Xiao San? What are you planning to do?" Huo Yuhao asked Tang San.
"I only got my Soul Ring not long ago. You and Xiao Wu go ahead. I'll stay at the academy."
The only relative he had in the village was gone, so Tang San had no reason to return. He might as well stay at the academy and learn from Grandmaster.
Looking at Huo Yuhao, he couldn't help sighing to himself. I thought becoming a Soul Grandmaster would close the gap between us, but it's only getting wider...
Grandmaster had told him to spend time with Xiao Wu, but it hadn't helped at all. To outsiders, the two of them looked so close, laughing and play-fighting together. He felt like the odd one out.
A few days later, the two arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest. It had been only three years since their last visit.
The forest's outskirts hadn't changed much. The familiar warning sign made it seem as if nothing had changed at all.
"Xiao Wu, I need to ask you something. Do you know the Seven-Colored Elk clan?" Huo Yuhao asked as they walked.
"Hmm... I think I've heard of them. What? Are you looking for them?"
Xiao Wu was curious, then added,
"I'm not sure, but I can ask Da Ming and Er Ming."
"Hmm? Who are they?"
"Two Soul Beasts my mother raised. You could say they're my younger brothers. If we go a little farther in, they'll be able to sense me."
Xiao Wu didn't hide anything. After their last conversation, she had come to trust Huo Yuhao completely. The moment he'd said those words, she had sensed where he stood.
The two continued deeper into the forest. Before long, the earth trembled, and the trees directly in front of them toppled to either side. Some enormous creature was rushing toward them!
Huo Yuhao's expression tightened. He immediately grabbed Xiao Wu's hand and stared ahead, his gaze solemn.
Seeing how tense Huo Yuhao looked, as if he were ready to run off with her at any moment, Xiao Wu's eyes curved with amusement.
She gently squeezed the hand Huo Yuhao was holding. "Don't worry. I can sense him. It's Er Ming."
Huo Yuhao felt slightly relieved, and a trace of curiosity flickered in his eyes. What does Xiao Wu's family look like?
When the enormous commotion reached them, Huo Yuhao saw a giant ape as huge as a mountain, its pitch-black fur gleaming with a metallic sheen.
"The Titan Giant Ape?"
"You actually know what he is? Let me introduce you. This is Er Ming."
Xiao Wu was slightly surprised, then smiled as she introduced him to Huo Yuhao.
The moment the Titan Giant Ape saw a human standing beside Xiao Wu, he let out a furious roar and swung a fist at Huo Yuhao.
Xiao Wu hurriedly cried out, "Er Ming, stop! He's my friend. If you keep this up, I'll get angry!"
The Titan Giant Ape spoke in a halting voice.
"Sister Xiao Wu... humans... can't be trusted."
"Trust your Sister Xiao Wu's judgment."
Xiao Wu wrapped her arms around Huo Yuhao's arm and spoke to the Titan Giant Ape.
"Human, what do you want?"
Though he had listened to Xiao Wu, the Titan Giant Ape still didn't care for him. His gaze was full of hostility.
Huo Yuhao stated his purpose directly. There was no need to beat around the bush with Soul Beasts.
"I'm looking for the Seven-Colored Elk clan, preferably their king. I want to make a deal with them."
The Titan Giant Ape scratched his head, looking confused. He didn't quite understand what a deal was.
Just then, another voice spoke.
"Human, I can introduce you to them, but you have to tell me what the deal is. I need to make sure it won't harm the Soul Beasts."
A flash of azure light appeared beside the Titan Giant Ape, revealing a huge figure with the head of a bull and the body of a serpent. It was the one who had just spoken.
Huo Yuhao's eyes narrowed slightly. The Sky Azure Bull Python? And a hundred-thousand-year-old one at that!
"Yuhao, this is Da Ming."
Huo Yuhao nodded in greeting. Without showing any sign of panic, he calmly explained his purpose.
"I've reached level 30, so I need a Soul Ring..."
When he heard that much, killing intent filled the Sky Azure Bull Python's eyes. So he was after a Soul Beast after all.
What deal could matter more than their lives? Sister Xiao Wu really has been deceived by this human!
However, when Huo Yuhao continued to explain the effects of Soul Spirits and finally laid out the terms of the deal,
he said he hoped to make injured Soul Beasts, or those nearing the end of their lives, his Soul Spirits. In return, they could extend their lives, and might even have a chance to ascend to godhood alongside him.
"Ridiculous! How can you prove you have this ability? I've never heard of anything called a Soul Spirit."
The Sky Azure Bull Python's voice was full of scorn. He didn't believe this shoddy lie and was about to refuse, when his pupils suddenly contracted.
His gaze fell on the scorpion tattoo on Huo Yuhao's back and the Ice Empress's spiritual form that had appeared beside him.
"I've already succeeded once..."
A faint smile appeared on Huo Yuhao's face. The proof was right before their eyes, more convincing than any explanation.