"Scarlet King," Di Tian said in a low voice. "You'll be in charge of this mission.
"Head to the Far North at once. Use this scale to find the target, then bring it back to the Star Dou Forest safe and sound!
"Remember, the target's safety comes first. Do not fail!"
All three of the Scarlet King's heads took on a solemn expression. The middle head lowered, carefully receiving the precious silver scale with its energy. He replied in a deep voice, "Understood!!!"
At this, Bi Ji added softly:
"The Far North is bitterly cold, and it's Snow Empress's territory. Scarlet King, you must be careful and avoid conflict if possible."
Zi Ji spoke coldly as well:
"If some fool gets in the way, I can come to your aid if necessary."
Though she didn't say it outright, the murderous intent in her words made it clear that she could become a terrifying force in battle at any moment.
Xiong Jun snorted. Though he was a little displeased that he hadn't been sent, he knew how important this matter was and muttered:
"Go and come back quickly. Don't hold things up."
The Ten Thousand Demon King's projection of will rippled faintly, as though he were calculating something, but he said nothing.
Di Tian nodded in acknowledgment of Bi Ji and Zi Ji's offers, then gave the Scarlet King his final order:
"Time is short. Leave at once!"
"Yes!"
The Scarlet King said no more. After determining which way was north, he raced off at tremendous speed.
By the lakeside, the remaining Ferocious Beasts each had their own thoughts, but they all understood that the peace of the Star Dou Forest might soon be shattered by this journey to the Far North.
Di Tian gazed into the distance, his golden eyes unfathomably deep. Now all that remained was to protect and wait.
In the Far North, upon a boundless frozen plain.
Xiao Bai had returned to her true form, a Titan Snow Demon Bear as enormous as a mountain. Every step made the ice tremble faintly.
Xue Chen sat on her broad, level-as-the-ground shoulder, his little legs swinging lightly in the air. His clear eyes carefully scanned the vast white world below, searching for the target of his hunt—the Thunder Wing Dragon Lizard.
This was the target he had chosen for his first Soul Ring.
The Thunder Wing Dragon Lizard belonged to a branch of the Thunder Dragon bloodline. It was powerful, and a rather unusual and notorious Soul Beast of the Far North.
It wasn't an ice-type creature, but a rare thunder-type one. A pair of phantom wings formed from condensed lightning energy grew from its back, making it incredibly fast and elusive.
More importantly, it was vicious by nature and a nightmare to the young of many Soul Beasts in the Far North. It preyed specifically on their young, making it a public enemy of the Far North.
Choosing it had undoubtedly taken careful consideration.
Xue Chen had, in truth, felt a faint inner conflict.
Though he yearned for power and needed a Soul Ring, Snow Empress, Aunt Ice Empress, and Xiao Bai were all Soul Beasts—the guardians and keepers of order in the Far North.
Though they supported his growth and had never stopped him from hunting Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings, since that was the rule of this world, he could sense that deep down, they still felt a trace of reluctance when one of their kind was hunted.
He didn't want to make them feel troubled or sad because of him.
As it happened, the appearance of this Thunder Wing Dragon Lizard perfectly resolved that burden on his conscience.
"It specifically hunts Soul Beast young... What a nasty piece of work."
Xue Chen muttered under his breath. The last trace of hesitation in his eyes vanished, replaced by a firm resolve to rid the people of a scourge.
"By hunting it, I can get a thunder-type Soul Ring suited to me and improve my strength. I'll also be ridding the Soul Beasts of the Far North of a menace. It's killing two birds with one stone!"
With that thought, all his misgivings disappeared, leaving only eager anticipation and excitement at the prospect of obtaining his first Soul Ring.
If his Thunder Dragon Emperor Martial Soul and Radiant Thunder Dragon Spear absorbed a Soul Ring of the same thunder attribute, the results would surely be excellent.
"Xiao Bai, which way should we look?"
Xue Chen patted Xiao Bai's thick, warm fur and called out.
Xiao Bai lowered her enormous bear head and twitched her nostrils, sensing the faint currents of scent in the air. She answered in a muffled voice:
"According to the direction Mother gave us, Thunder Wing Dragon Lizards like to roam around Ice Rift Valley. The terrain there is complicated, making it easy to hide and ambush prey.
"We'll head that way. Xue Chen, carefully sense the fluctuations of the surrounding lightning elements. That creature's aura should be very distinctive."
"Okay!"
Xue Chen nodded firmly, calmed his mind, and began to sense his surroundings.
He possessed twin thunder-type Martial Souls and was far more sensitive to lightning elements than ordinary people. That would undoubtedly make the search much more efficient.
The bear and boy set off toward Ice Rift Valley with a clear destination, making steady progress over ice that had lain frozen for countless years.
The snowstorm raged on, but a blazing fire burned in Xue Chen's heart. His journey as a Soul Master was about to begin its first chapter.
Following Xue Chen's keen perception of the thunder element, Xiao Bai carried him deeper into Ice Rift Valley.
Steep ice cliffs rose on either side. At last, after rounding a massive pillar of ice, they came upon a relatively open ice platform.
"Over there!" Xue Chen whispered, pointing to the front left.
Xiao Bai followed his gaze. A lizard-like Soul Beast several meters long, its body covered in dark blue scales, lay quietly on a flat slab of ice, apparently dozing.
On its back was a pair of structures made of pure lightning energy, like wings of light. Electricity occasionally crackled across them. It was their target—the Thunder Wing Dragon Lizard!
Xiao Bai gently set Xue Chen down on the ice. Then her enormous body suddenly reared up on its hind legs, and the gentle look in her eyes was instantly replaced by a ferocious glare!
She drew a deep breath, her chest swelling, then unleashed a deafening roar at the unsuspecting Thunder Wing Dragon Lizard!
"Roar—!!!"
The sound wave struck like a tangible force, carrying freezing air as it slammed into the Thunder Wing Dragon Lizard!
It didn't even have time to react. Its long body stiffened, jerked once, then went completely limp.
Blue foam spilled from its mouth, nose, and eyes. The terrifying roar had knocked it unconscious!
Just then, two rumbling sounds came from outside the canyon...
"Huh... What was that sound?" Xue Chen looked up at the sky, puzzled, but didn't give it any more thought.
Xiao Bai had clearly held back most of her strength. Otherwise, that single roar would probably have made the Thunder Wing Dragon Lizard explode on the spot.
The Soul Beast had truly drawn the short straw. It had been taking a nap and run into Xiao Bai, one of the three rulers of the Far North.
Xue Chen stared in amazement, then clapped excitedly.
"That was incredible, Xiao Bai! You took it down with one roar!"
At his praise, Xiao Bai immediately reined in her ferocious look. Her enormous bear head swayed bashfully as her massive body began to shrink, returning to a more compact form.
Then she walked over to the unconscious Thunder Wing Dragon Lizard and sniffed it.
She studied its size and the energy fluctuations it faintly gave off. A trace of worry appeared on her bear face.
"Judging by its size and aura, it's around three thousand years old.
"Xue Chen, this is your first Soul Ring. The usual limit for human Soul Masters is around four hundred years.
"Are you... really able to absorb it? This is far too dangerous! Why don't we look for another one..."
Before you continue