First Soul Skill (Part 2)

"There's nothing much to prepare. It's just too noisy outside, or I wouldn't have come to disturb you."

Stepping out of the carriage, Lin Qiuyu gave the middle-aged man who had been following behind them a calm glance.

"May I ask why Madam has come here this time...?"

The middle-aged man was named Yang Chengwen. Already a Five-Ring Soul King, he was the strongest person Spirit Hall had stationed in Nuomi City. Even Gu Liangong had to defer to him.

His martial soul was the Five-Colored Lizard, a beast martial soul with an exceptionally keen sense of danger. He could feel a power from the woman who had just stepped out of the carriage that filled him with dread. That power surpassed even his master, who was already a Seven-Ring Soul Sage.

Spirit Hall now held a dominant position, but it was not without rivals. The Seven Great Sects, led by the Clear Sky Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, remained forces not to be underestimated. Tang Chen of the Clear Sky Sect was roughly equal in strength to Qian Daoliu, the master of Spirit Hall.

Thus, at this time, someone from the Wind Sword Sect, vaguely regarded as the head of the Lower Four Sects, appearing before him naturally gave him much to consider.

Could it be that the Wind Sword Sect was dissatisfied with its current standing?

Yang Chengwen's teacher was one of Spirit Hall's elders, so his information network was far better than that of ordinary Spirit Hall members. As far as he knew, the Wind Sword Sect's people were active only around the Chuyun Principality, with vague intentions of claiming the land as their own.

Whether it was the Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, or the principalities between them, there had never been any activity from the Wind Sword Sect. Now, a noblewoman carrying the Wind Sword Sect's token had appeared, and he truly could not relax.

"Isn't everyone who comes here here to hunt spirit beasts and obtain soul rings? What, do you think I have some other purpose?"

Lin Qiuyu looked at the speaking middle-aged man with a faint, teasing smile.

"If it is to hunt spirit beasts, then I believe Spirit Hall can offer some assistance. What kind of spirit beast does Madam wish to find for the young master? Spirit Hall can handle it entirely on your behalf."

Yang Chengwen lowered his head, his eyes discreetly sweeping over Yang Dong. A six-year-old child naturally was not worth much attention, but one brought here by the Wind Sword Sect deserved much closer scrutiny.

A young genius?

Yang Chengwen thought to himself. Only that possibility could explain why someone from the Wind Sword Sect had appeared in the Heaven Dou Empire. He just did not know what this young genius's martial soul was.

"Then I'll have to trouble you. What strength-type spirit beasts around four hundred years old are there?"

Lin Qiuyu chuckled. She could not be bothered to expose Yang Chengwen's little schemes. At this time, the relationship between Spirit Hall and the Seven Great Sects was somewhat tense, but they were generally still cooperating.

"There are quite a few. However, Madam arrived at just the right time. Yesterday, a Bronze Tiger that was a little over three hundred years old happened to break through to four hundred years. What does Madam think?"

Tiger-type spirit beasts held the status of kings among beast-type spirit beasts. Though the Bronze Tiger was not especially powerful, among hundred-year spirit beasts, it was likewise a king-class spirit beast. Thus, in Lin Qiuyu's eyes, this four-hundred-year Bronze Tiger was indeed a fine choice.

"That will do. We'll take it. It's getting late, so capture it tomorrow."

Lin Qiuyu nodded, extremely satisfied with the Bronze Tiger.

The night passed quickly. Yang Dong was so excited that he barely slept, his mind filled with the First Soul Skill that was about to arrive. Moreover, he had a feeling that the four panels that had once appeared and then vanished might show up again.

"Young Master, the Bronze Tiger has already been captured. We're only waiting for you to deliver the final blow. When would you like to go?"

Yang Chengwen did not show himself the next day. Someone else came in his place.

"Let's go."

Lin Qiuyu walked to Yang Dong's side and spoke calmly. She knew that her son had not slept well the previous night.

Led by this person, the mother and son soon entered the Spirit Hunting Forest, where dense vegetation grew.

"Spirit beasts produce different soul rings depending on their age. The weakest are Ten-Year Spirit Beasts, which produce white Ten-Year Spirit Rings. After that come yellow hundred-year soul rings, purple thousand-year soul rings, and black Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Rings."

"The one we found for you today is a four-hundred-year Bronze Tiger. Absorbing its soul ring will give you a yellow hundred-year soul ring."

As they walked, Lin Qiuyu explained spirit beast knowledge to Yang Dong. Before long, the three arrived at the place where the Bronze Tiger was being held.

"Roar!"

Seeing more humans appear, the Bronze Tiger's eyes filled with an almost humanlike fear. It knew that its death was near.

"So this is a Bronze Tiger?"

Yang Dong's gaze landed on the dying Bronze Tiger. It was no different from the South China Tigers he had seen on Earth. It could even be said that they were identical.

"The Bronze Tiger got its name because it likes to absorb an underground mineral called bronze. According to Spirit Hall's records, the Bronze Tiger is known to possess three skills: Strength Amplification, Defense Amplification, and Tiger Roar. All three are quite good."

Yang Chengwen walked to a spot not far from Lin Qiuyu and spoke respectfully.

One night was enough for him to learn the identities of the two before him.

The daughter of Nuomi City's lord, the wife of the Wind Sword Sect's sect master, and an eight-ring Soul Douluo—he had no choice but to be respectful.

"Dong'er, go. Kill it with the knife and absorb its soul ring."

Several figures around the Bronze Tiger restrained it, leaving it no choice but to await slaughter.

Hearing Lin Qiuyu's voice, Yang Dong stepped forward. In just a moment, he stood before the Bronze Tiger.

"Die!"

The knife in Yang Dong's hand easily pierced the Bronze Tiger's defenses, as simply as slicing tofu with a blade.

After the Bronze Tiger died, a yellow soul ring emerged from its corpse. Yang Dong stood very close and could feel the surging power contained within it.

"Dong'er, absorb it!"

There was a trace of anticipation in Lin Qiuyu's eyes. Although Yang Dong did not possess Innate Full Spirit Power, he had cultivated to level ten so quickly. So what if he did not have Innate Full Spirit Power? The next sect master of the Wind Sword Sect could only be Dong'er!

Yang Dong sat cross-legged on the ground. The members of Spirit Hall's Enforcement Group who had been restraining the Bronze Tiger quickly retreated and spread out around him, protecting Yang Dong from disturbance.

Though Lin Qiuyu felt this was of little use, Spirit Hall's actions still made her feel rather comfortable.

The Ghost Hand Martial Soul attached itself to his left arm. The instant it appeared, the hundred-year soul ring floating above the Bronze Tiger's body was immediately drawn over, appearing at his left arm.