Finalizing Plans, Setting Out to Hunt Soul Beasts

"Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard? I never expected you to choose that Soul Beast for your first Soul Ring. You've really given me a difficult problem."

After hearing Yu Yan name the Soul Beast, Yu Qingfeng's attitude and tone made it obvious that he had encountered an Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard before.

"I found it in the school's introduction to Soul Beasts across the continent. It's the Soul Beast best suited to me."

That was no lie. Yu Yan had gone through all the books in the library that recorded information on Soul Beasts, considered and ruled out quite a few of them, and only then settled on the Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard.

It needed ice and fire attributes, and the purer its dragon bloodline, the better. Among the many Soul Beasts, only the Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard perfectly met those requirements.

Judging from Yu Qingfeng's tone that he had seen this kind of Soul Beast before, Yu Yan looked at him and asked, "Brother Yu, have you seen one of these Soul Beasts?"

"Yes. Two years ago, I followed a Soul Beast hunting team to help a noble's child obtain a Soul Ring. We saw an Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard on the outskirts of Sunset Forest. It had very distinctive features: a single horn on its head, streaked red and blue. It was extremely fast and powerful, and someone in our team got injured..."

Yu Qingfeng admitted that he had encountered an Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard and briefly explained what had happened.

Listening to Yu Qingfeng, Yu Yan recalled what the books had recorded. Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizards were highly territorial and powerful in battle. If they were not the target Soul Beast, one had to stay as far away as possible upon encountering one.

"Brother Yu, if that kind of Soul Beast is difficult to deal with, I have several backup choices."

Seeing Yu Qingfeng describe the Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard so fearsomely, Yu Yan assumed that Yu Qingfeng might not be able to handle one and prepared to mention some alternatives after he finished recounting the past.

As someone who always planned for the worst and prepared contingencies, Yu Yan had found three Soul Beasts as backup choices in addition to the ideal Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard.

Those three backup Soul Beasts could also be found in Sunset Forest.

Given the large number of ice- and fire-attributed Soul Beasts in Sunset Forest, Yu Yan guessed it might be connected to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well or the remains of the Ice and Fire Dragon King.

Before Yu Yan could name his alternatives, Yu Qingfeng waved a large hand. "No need to mention your backup choices. No other Soul Beast can be better than the Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard. Besides, I only said it would be difficult to handle, not impossible. Leave this matter to me."

The importance of a first Soul Ring went without saying. Since Yu Yan's first choice was the Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard, there was no need to consider any other Soul Beasts.

Difficult was difficult. If he put in a little more effort and called in a few favors, the important thing was making Yu Yan, this genius, remember his goodwill and grow closer to him.

Helping someone in their hour of need would always leave a deeper impression than adding flowers to brocade.

"Thank you, Brother Yu."

Yu Yan thanked Yu Qingfeng once again. Naturally, being able to choose the Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard was for the best.

As for owing a favor, it did not matter. So be it if he owed one.

Even if he did not owe Yu Qingfeng a favor, Yu Yan would still lend a hand if anything happened in the future, considering that he was Old Man Yu's son.

"With our relationship, of course I'll help you."

With the target Soul Beast decided, all that remained were minor details.

Yu Yan sat at the table eating while listening to Yu Qingfeng and Li Rong discuss which friend they should invite to help. He truly could not get a word in on that subject.

After confirming whom to invite, Li Rong looked at Yu Yan, who was quietly eating. "Little Yan, how old an Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard are you planning to absorb?"

"As close to the age limit of a first Soul Ring as possible."

Yu Yan answered Li Rong's question. It was something Yu Qingfeng had never asked him before.

The age limit for a first Soul Ring was exactly 423 years. That was part of the Martial Soul theory published by Yu Xiaogang, and it could not possibly be false.

As for why, Yu Yan could only say that those who knew, knew.

With such a precise number, if Yu Xiaogang had not copied it from somewhere, Yu Yan would have to eat something in the toilet.

"Little Yan, don't blame me for being nosy, but the stronger the Soul Beast, the harder its Soul Ring is to absorb. Absorbing an Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard's Soul Ring already carries a certain amount of risk, and you're even choosing one at the age limit. The risk is far too great. You should have learned this at school. Are you really confident you can absorb a Soul Ring produced by an Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard at the age limit?"

Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizards were not weak. Li Rong had originally intended to choose one around two hundred years old, which would be easier for them to handle and easier for Yu Yan to absorb.

Who would have thought that Yu Yan's target would actually be an Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard at the age limit?

Li Rong's concern was perfectly normal. Many Soul Masters from commoner backgrounds died from all kinds of accidents when absorbing high-age Soul Rings.

Especially after Yu Xiaogang published the age limit for the first Soul Ring, there were always people who overestimated themselves and died when their bodies exploded after choosing high-age Soul Rings. She was worried that Yu Yan might suffer an accident while absorbing an Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard's Soul Ring.

"My Ice and Fire Twin Fish Martial Soul is not low in quality. I've always trained my body, and I haven't taken shortcuts in cultivating Soul Power, so my foundation is very solid. Absorbing an Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard's Soul Ring should be no problem."

Yu Yan's Martial Soul quality, physical condition, and Soul Power quality were all excellent. He had also absorbed Sun and Moon Essence twice to strengthen himself.

With all those conditions accumulated, he had absolute confidence that he could absorb the Soul Ring produced by an Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard at the age limit.

As for absorbing a Soul Ring beyond that limit, Yu Yan had not considered it for the time being.

"Little Yan, why don't you think it over again? A Soul Ring at the age limit isn't so easy to absorb. Safety is the most important thing."

After hearing Yu Yan out and finishing the food in his mouth, Yu Qingfeng also spoke up to persuade him.

Although Yu Qingfeng often regretted not absorbing a hundred-year Soul Ring now, if one had truly been placed before him back then, he might not have dared to absorb it.

"Brother Yu, Sister Li, don't worry. I had a teacher at Balak Junior Soul Master Academy test me. Absorbing a Soul Ring at the age limit definitely won't be a problem."

Yu Yan used a well-intentioned lie to end this difficult-to-explain matter.

Upon hearing that a school teacher had approved Yu Yan absorbing a Soul Ring at the age limit, Yu Qingfeng and Li Rong were completely reassured and resumed discussing whom to invite as support.

After lunch, Yu Qingfeng went to find friends to assist them, Li Rong sent her son to her parents' home in Balaque City, and Yu Yan headed to the northern gate of Balaque City to wait.

Balaque City, northern gate.

Standing beneath the city wall by the gate, Yu Yan saw Yu Qingfeng approaching in a horse-drawn carriage.

"Come on, Little Yan. Get in."

Yu Qingfeng had spotted Yu Yan before Yu Yan saw him. A Soul Master's eyesight was far better than that of an ordinary person.

Yu Qingfeng drove the carriage before Yu Yan and extended a hand toward him.

Yu Yan grasped Yu Qingfeng's hand and was pulled directly into the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Yu Yan saw Li Rong and a middle-aged man dressed in black.

"This is Yu Yan, the genius I told you about from Qingfeng's village. We're making this trip to help him obtain a Soul Ring."

Li Rong motioned for Yu Yan to sit beside her. After introducing Yu Yan to the middle-aged man, she introduced their friend to Yu Yan.

"This is a friend of mine and Qingfeng's, Ma Zhiyu. He's a two-ringed assault-type Battle Soul Master."

Yu Yan greeted him, but he merely nodded indifferently, looking as though he did not want to speak.

Two two-ringed assault-type Battle Soul Masters, plus a one-ringed Support-type Soul Master—such a lineup could definitely help Yu Yan hunt a suitable Ice and Fire Sub-Dragon Lizard.