Crystal Shadow Beast and Red Gold Bear [Please Recommend, Invest, and Collect!] / Blood Flame Bees

Ran Yuming looked at Su Luoheng, his deep gaze distant and profound.

"Luo Heng, do you know why I went to such lengths to take you as my disciple? I even came out of retirement for you and took on a second-year teaching post for the first time."

After a moment's thought, Su Luoheng ventured, "My... Soul Skill?"

"Mm."

Ran Yuming nodded slightly. "Your Analysis Soul Skill is very unique. The hardest part of becoming a Soul Engineer is having the Mental Power to inscribe Soul Tool runes and form magic arrays. Yet both come as easily as breathing to you. You could even say this Soul Skill was made specifically for Soul Engineers. I'd already decided to retire for good, but then you appeared."

"Perhaps the dream I couldn't achieve myself might come true through you. That's why I decided to take you as my disciple at any cost."

Su Luoheng nodded in understanding. It was more or less what he'd expected.

"..."

After a brief pause, Ran Yuming gave a self-mocking smile. "Luo Heng, do you... think I'm too calculating?"

"I don't." At that, Su Luoheng shook his head.

"Oh? Why not?"

Su Luoheng replied, "Teacher, everyone has their own goals and ideas. Back then, I showed enough talent because I wanted the academy to give me special attention and train me, didn't I? By that logic, I became your disciple for the same reason. Everyone has their own motives, but that won't affect the bond between us as master and disciple."

"..."

At his words, Ran Yuming first froze, then his eyes suddenly lit up.

He laughed heartily and patted Su Luoheng on the shoulder. "Hahaha! I really am getting old. I'm so much older than you, yet I still can't see things as clearly as a child!"

Su Luoheng smiled faintly. "You flatter me, Teacher."

Ran Yuming looked at Su Luoheng with a pleased smile. The more he looked at him, the more he liked him.

This disciple was not only exceptionally talented, but also remarkably clever. Those words had truly lifted the knot from his heart.

Ran Yuming gazed intently at Su Luoheng. "Luo Heng, I'll make you the finest Soul Engineer in the Sun Moon Empire!"

"I won't let you down." Su Luoheng's gaze was resolute.

Chapter 52: Crystal Shadow Beast and Red Gold Bear [Please Recommend, Invest, and Collect!]

"Good! Hahaha~~"

"..."

After their heartfelt conversation, their bond as master and disciple grew closer, and the last barrier between them finally fell away.

"..."

Ran Yuming made arrangements. "All right, Luo Heng, it's getting late. You still have to hunt for a Soul Ring tomorrow, so go back to the tent and get some rest. You'll need to be in top condition. I'll keep watch tonight."

"Mm."

Su Luoheng nodded and returned to the tent to rest.

Before absorbing a Soul Ring, he needed to be in the best possible condition.

Early the next morning, at the Jingyang Mountain Range.

A thin layer of mist shrouded the forest, lending it a hazy, dreamlike air.

The tall trees were thick with leaves, their dense canopies blotting out the sun and blanketing the entire mountain range in overlapping layers of shade.

Two figures hurried through the dense forest. They were none other than master and disciple, Su Luoheng and Ran Yuming. Whenever they happened upon a few Soul Beasts, they dispatched them with ease.

They weren't searching at random.

Before setting out, Ran Yuming had carefully surveyed the area. The Jingyang Mountain Range was vast, and many kinds of Soul Beasts there suited Su Luoheng.

For example, Silver Wolves, Crystal Shadow Beasts, Single-Horned Crystal Snakes, Mirror Jade Rhinos, Red Gold Bears, Thunder Cloud Leopards, Phantom Tigers, and others. These Soul Beasts all possessed some degree of Mental Attribute ability, making them a good match for Su Luoheng's Martial Soul. Any of them could be a candidate for his Second Soul Ring.

Of them all, Ran Yuming favored the Crystal Shadow Beast and the Red Gold Bear most.

The Crystal Shadow Beast was a Mental Attribute Soul Beast, slender and agile, with swift, nimble movements. It excelled at mental attacks such as illusions. However, its physical combat ability was poor, and it was rare. Its saving grace was its incredible speed. Combined with its illusions, that made it nearly impossible to catch, even for someone lucky enough to spot one.

Its mental abilities were an exceptionally good match for Su Luoheng.

The Red Gold Bear was a Soul Beast unique to the Jingyang Mountain Range. It fed on a material called Red Sun Gold. Large and powerfully built, it had formidable defenses and thick, tough skin. Besides its fierce attacks, it also possessed some Mental Attribute abilities, using its battle roar to disrupt its enemies' minds.

Given its traits, it was very likely to provide Su Luoheng with a powerful combat Soul Skill. That was extremely important for Su Luoheng, who needed to develop his abilities as both a Soul Master and a Soul Engineer in balance.

That was why Ran Yuming considered these two Soul Beasts the best choices for his Second Soul Ring.

He planned to search every part of the Jingyang Mountain Range where either of these Soul Beasts had been sighted. He was determined to find one for Su Luoheng's Soul Ring, come what may.

"..."

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Ran Yuming had taken Su Luoheng through roughly a third of the Jingyang Mountain Range.

They'd encountered many suitable Soul Beasts during that time, including Thunder Cloud Leopards, Single-Horned Crystal Snakes, and Mirror Jade Rhinos. All had been within the ideal age range for a Second Soul Ring.

They had come across Crystal Shadow Beasts and Red Gold Bears, too, but the ones they found were either too old or too young.

Unwilling to settle, Su Luoheng had passed them by.

Still, to be safe, Ran Yuming had marked down where they'd found those Soul Beasts. If they couldn't find a suitable Crystal Shadow Beast or Red Gold Bear, they could choose from among the ones they'd already located.

Whether it was bad luck or something else, no one could say.

The master and disciple had spent half a month in the Jingyang Mountain Range. Aside from seeing these two kinds of Soul Beasts during the first couple of days, they hadn't found a single Crystal Shadow Beast or Red Gold Bear since—not even one whose age was unsuitable! They couldn't help wondering if the two kinds of Soul Beasts were deliberately hiding from them.

After so long without a single gain, Su Luoheng was starting to think about giving up.

Ran Yuming, too, began to wonder whether they should keep searching.

They had plenty of time to look for Soul Beasts, but endlessly wasting it here without results wasn't a solution...

After discussing it, the master and disciple made their decision.

They would search for three more days. If they still found nothing, they would have to give up.

Suddenly, Ran Yuming stopped in his tracks.

He stared at a spot up ahead, a glimmer of delight flashing in his eyes.

"It's that!"

Ran Yuming tugged sharply at his beard and murmured, "I really am getting old. How could I have forgotten something so important..."

"Hm?"

Curious, Su Luoheng followed his gaze. He saw an ancient tree nearly a hundred meters tall, its crown reaching the clouds and its gnarled branches twisted around one another. It looked close to a thousand years old.

It was rare to find such a whole, untouched ancient tree in the mountains.

But even if it was rare, surely that wasn't enough to make his teacher marvel at it?

Unable to hold back, Su Luoheng asked, "What are you talking about, Teacher?"

"Your Second Soul Ring is within reach, Luo Heng!" Ran Yuming said, pointing at the ancient tree, his voice tinged with excitement.

"Huh?"

Su Luoheng was momentarily stunned, but his thoughts quickly began to race. From his teacher's words, could this ancient tree have something to do with his Second Soul Ring?

He began to study the tree carefully, but couldn't spot anything unusual.

Su Luoheng looked puzzled, completely at a loss.

"Look up, at the very top of the canopy." Ran Yuming took a deep breath to calm himself, then raised a hand to point out the spot.

"Up there..."

Su Luoheng murmured softly.

Following the direction of his teacher's finger, he lifted his eyes to the treetop.

He narrowed them slightly and studied it carefully.

The ancient tree's crown was thick with leaves, its branches sturdy.

But about ten zhang up, nestled among the tree's forks, hung a huge, dark brown, cylindrical beehive.

A number of large red bees buzzed around it.

The tree's enormous crown and crisscrossing branches had hidden most of the hive. Without his teacher pointing it out, it would have been hard to find.

"That's... a beehive?"

Su Luoheng's mouth fell open slightly, surprise showing in his eyes.

"Mm."

Ran Yuming nodded and explained, "That's a Blood Flame Bee nest. These bees are extremely unusual. Their venom is two to three times as potent as that of ordinary bees. A hundred-year-old Blood Flame Bee has venom as potent as that of an ordinary three-hundred-year-old venomous bee. And once you're stung, it feels as if your body is being scorched by flames. The pain is unbearable."

After a brief pause, Ran Yuming grew serious. "Luo Heng, don't underestimate these Blood Flame Bees. They only get one chance to attack in their entire lives, but with the venom they've accumulated over four or five hundred years, even a Soul Ancestor could be caught off guard!"

"Their venom is really that powerful?!"

Su Luoheng jolted, shock flashing through his eyes.

He'd underestimated these bees.

A Soul Master at the Soul Ancestor level was already comparable to a Soul Beast of more than three thousand years. And even they could be brought down by Blood Flame Bee venom!

Ran Yuming turned back to the hive, his gaze shifting.

"But, as a rule, the more potent a bee's venom, the finer the honey it produces."

Chapter 53: Blood Flame Bees

"Blood Flame Bees are no exception. Their venom is potent, but their honey is just as exceptional. Judging by the size of the worker bees outside, the queen in charge of the whole hive should be nearly a thousand years old... The Royal Jelly of a thousand-year-old Blood Flame Bee can increase Soul Power and improve one's constitution. It also has impressive healing properties, making it a rare treasure for Soul Masters."

"..."

Su Luoheng couldn't help interrupting.

"Teacher, I understand what you're saying, but... what does this have to do with my Second Soul Skill?"

"You're in a hurry. I haven't finished yet~"

Ran Yuming chuckled, then changed tack. "Luo Heng, what do bears like to eat?"

"Honey."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Su Luoheng's eyes lit up.

He was quick to catch on and immediately understood what his teacher meant.

"You mean... the Red Gold Bear likes Blood Flame Bee honey?"

"Mm."

Ran Yuming nodded slightly, smiling. "Besides devouring metal, the Red Gold Bear's favorite food is honey made by Blood Flame Bees. And most importantly, they have thick, tough skin. Blood Flame Bees of the same level can't pierce it. It's hard to find a Blood Flame Bee hive in the Jingyang Mountain Range because the Red Gold Bears have emptied eight out of ten of them. It wouldn't be wrong to say that Red Gold Bears are the Blood Flame Bees' natural enemy."

After a brief pause, Ran Yuming examined the hive before them. "I think this hive survived because it's so high up that the Red Gold Bears couldn't reach it."

"So..."

Following Ran Yuming's train of thought, Su Luoheng guessed, "You want to use the honey in there to lure a Red Gold Bear?"

"Exactly!"

"The Red Gold Bear has an exceptionally keen sense of smell. It can pick up the scent of honey from a hundred li away. As long as we have Blood Flame Bee honey, finding one will be a breeze."

Ran Yuming pointed at the hive in the treetop and smiled. "That's why I said your Second Soul Ring is within reach now."