Danger

"You, how do you know that?!" The girl was struck with alarm; she truly could not fathom how this handsome youth had discovered her secret.

She had snuck out this time precisely to prove that she could obtain her first soul ring on her own, without the protection of her clan's elders!

"If I'm not mistaken, you're also here to hunt for a soul ring, aren't you?"

"That's right. Don't tell me you are too?" The girl stared at him in shock.

"All of you, get lost!" A rough voice interrupted their conversation.

Chu Qing turned his head in annoyance. Looking up, he saw a youth in his late teens with a vicious expression and a scar running down the left side of his face to the corner of his mouth. He led a group of men into the inn, driving away the customers who were seated there.

This inn was a modest establishment in a small town. Most of the people eating here were commoners who made a living selling daily necessities to those heading into the forest, so they scrambled to their feet the moment they saw the scarred man.

Yet, Chu Qing remained unmoved, and the girl showed no fear, watching the scarred man with interest instead.

At this moment, a customer hurried to say to the two of them, "You two kids, run! This gang is lawless; they're the bullies of this town. The leader is called Zhang Dabiao, and he's always been brutal."

Without waiting for a reply, the man hurried out on his own.

The innkeeper watched awkwardly, not daring to make a move.

Seeing that everyone else had left while Chu Qing and the girl remained seated, Zhang Dabiao walked toward them impatiently and said, "Are you two looking for death? I've booked this entire inn for today! Get out, now!"

As he spoke, he reached out to grab Chu Qing's arm.

Chu Qing merely let out a cold snort, ignoring him and continuing to eat his meal.

Zhang Dabiao paused, then extended his muscular arm and pulled with all his might! Contrary to his expectations, Chu Qing didn't budge, his right hand still using chopsticks to pick up food from his bowl.

"Hmph, you're courting death!" Zhang Dabiao roared. He immediately summoned his martial soul, revealing a beast-like phantom of a white wolf, with a single white soul ring circling his body.

"Hmph, this brat really doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth! Daring to provoke the boss!"

"I think he's not far from death!"

Level 13 soul master, Zhang Dabiao! Martial soul: White Wolf!

He looked triumphantly at the boy before him. He was only seventeen and had already achieved this level of success, making him one of the top geniuses in the nearby villages. By his estimation, this wet-behind-the-ears brat was at most a soul master who had just awakened his soul power.

Without waiting for Chu Qing to react, he began to circulate his soul power.

First Soul Skill! White Wolf Assault!

His body underwent beastification, his hands transforming into wolf claws. He struck with ruthless intent, aiming straight for Chu Qing's heart.

"Beastification? Who doesn't know how to do that?"

Chu Qing circulated his soul power, and his left hand instantly transformed into a wolf claw. However, unlike Zhang Dabiao, his claw was wreathed in black flames.

With a matching punch, Zhang Dabiao's wolf claw shattered inch by inch, his entire hand turning charred as if it had been scorched in a raging fire.

At the same time, Chu Qing revealed his own martial soul. Black flames flared up, shrouding the entire inn in a scorching heat, while a yellow soul ring circled his body, rising and falling.

Level 20 battle soul master, Chu Qing, martial soul: Nihility Devouring Flame! Please, enlighten me!

"This kid can't be more than ten years old, yet he has such strength?"

"What kind of martial soul is Nihility Devouring Flame? Why have I never heard of it?"

Zhang Dabiao spat out a mouthful of blood, staring at him with a grave expression. He struggled to his feet and, using his remaining good hand, lunged toward the girl at the side.

The girl was terrified and prepared to circulate her soul power, but Zhang Dabiao was faster, reaching her in an instant!

How could Chu Qing give him such a chance? He had already circulated his soul power, and the Nihility Devouring Flame instantly split off a cluster of sub-flames, forming a shield in front of the girl. The moment Zhang Dabiao's hand touched the flames, they latched onto him, instantly turning his hand into charcoal.

This was a new property he had been researching lately: he could split off sub-flames for attack or defense. As for other uses, they remained to be discovered.

"Ah!!!! My hand!!!" Zhang Dabiao shrieked in pain and scrambled backward. Only then did he realize he was no match for this youth, and he turned to flee toward the door.

"Hmph, want to leave? It's not that easy!" A ruthless glint flashed in Chu Qing's eyes. Zhang Dabiao had aimed for his life twice; he was clearly a desperate criminal. How could he let him leave alive?

First Soul Skill, Flame Devouring Heaven Burning!

A cluster of black flames erupted from Chu Qing's body, striking Zhang Dabiao squarely in the heart. With a single blow, Zhang Dabiao coughed up a massive mouthful of blood!

The attack did not end there. The flames did not dissipate but instead centered on Zhang Dabiao's chest, gradually wrapping around his entire body. Soon, he let out a shrill, miserable scream.

"Save me! Save me! Save..."

His subordinates watched this scene, their faces pale with cold sweat and their legs trembling; some had even wet their pants.

They wanted to run but dared not, forced to stare blankly at Zhang Dabiao as he was consumed by the black flames.

Soon, the screams came to an abrupt end. Zhang Dabiao's body turned into a pile of gray ash in an instant, and his soul ring gradually faded, being refined and absorbed by Chu Qing!

The soul ring dimmed as it was refined by the Nihility Devouring Flame, eventually vanishing. Simultaneously, a surge of pure soul power entered Chu Qing's body. He broke through to level 20 on the spot!

Due to the increase in strength, the expected mental backlash did not occur, leaving only a slight sense of discomfort, which confirmed his hypothesis.

Indeed, the Nihility Devouring Flame could not only devour soul beasts to strengthen itself but could also devour the soul rings of enemies!

The girl at the side watched this scene in astonishment. She hadn't expected that this youth, who looked even younger than her, possessed such formidable strength!

He had even saved her. Her beautiful eyes sparkled with wonder, and her perception of the youth shifted entirely.

Just as the battle ended, on a rooftop not far away, an old man with white hair, sharp eyes, and a vigorous spirit sheathed his sword.

"It seems you were right, Old Bone. Letting Rongrong gain some experience isn't a bad thing; it's good for her to see how cruel the real soul master world is."

"Indeed. Rongrong insisted on coming out to obtain her first soul ring herself. Letting her see the reality of things won't hurt."

"This boy is quite something. Young, yet powerful and decisive. He's also quite kind—a good seedling."

"Are you thinking...?"

"Let's observe him a while longer before we decide."