Obtaining a Soul Ring

Notting Junior Soul Master Academy—Seven House

Tang San and Xiao Wu arrived at Seven House together. Unlike in the original story, Wang Sheng did not challenge Tang San.

After Gu Hengzhi met Tang San at the academy gates, he went to the Academic Affairs Office to request leave. Naturally, it was because he had broken through to rank ten soul power and needed to hunt a soul beast for his first soul ring.

Early the next morning, dawn had barely broken, and most of Notting City's residents were still immersed in sweet dreams. In that tranquil moment, two figures, one tall and one short, slowly emerged from the residential district like meteors streaking through the night. They were Gu Hengzhi and Su Yuntao.

"Hengzhi, we're about to set out for the Spirit Hunting Forest north of Notting City. Have you thought about what kind of soul beast you want to hunt?" Su Yuntao wore the uniform of a Spirit Hall deacon, standing tall and heroic, like a champion stepped out of a painting.

Gu Hengzhi's gaze was firm. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Yes, I have. My martial soul is the Stone Statue. If I can obtain a soul ring from an earth-element soul beast, that should be an excellent choice." His voice was low and powerful, as though it contained endless strength.

"That's true." Su Yuntao nodded, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes. "I looked through some records at the Spirit Hall Branch. A martial soul like yours should have quite impressive defensive power. If you can obtain a soul ring with a certain degree of defensive ability, you may be able to develop in the direction of a defense-type Soul Master. Back then, when I went hunting alone, I was short on money and couldn't afford to hire other Soul Masters to help. After narrowly escaping death again and again, I finally killed a ninety-year Lone Wolf. But with me here, I won't let you repeat my mistakes and absorb some useless ten-year soul ring."

"Brother Tao, thank you!" Gu Hengzhi's gratitude was plain to see. He knew just how precious Su Yuntao's kindness was.

As the sun gradually rose in the east, the shops throughout Notting City opened their doors to welcome the new day. Su Yuntao carefully selected two sharp daggers from the market and handed one to Gu Hengzhi. He also bought two waterskins, a large bundle of fragrant cured meat, and several large golden, crispy flatbreads, making thorough preparations for their soul-hunting journey.

Once everything was ready, Su Yuntao quickly hired a coachman in Notting City. This was Gu Hengzhi's first time riding in a horse-drawn carriage across both his lives. At first, the novelty captivated him, but as time passed, the constant jolting tortured his backside. Fortunately, Su Yuntao was thoughtful enough to bring two soft cushions, easing the uncomfortable ride somewhat.

He should have set off too, right? A trace of concern rose in Gu Hengzhi's heart, and his thoughts drifted into the distance...

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Tang San and Yu Xiaogang also boarded a carriage. Unlike them, however, a ragged drunk reeking of alcohol some distance away suddenly gulped down his liquor, then furtively followed the carriage carrying Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, as if concealing some unspeakable secret.

The journey of more than four hundred li stretched like a winding dragon. It was not particularly long, but it was far from short. Only when night fell like spilled ink did Gu Hengzhi finally reach the end of their journey—a small town beside the Spirit Hunting Forest. There were two reasons they had arrived so quickly. First, unwilling to delay Gu Hengzhi's cultivation, Su Yuntao generously gave the coachman several Silver Soul Coins, and the coachman naturally did not dare slack off, driving the horses at full speed. Second, the earth-element soul beasts Gu Hengzhi sought mainly appeared in the northernmost part of the Spirit Hunting Forest, which was a considerable distance away. Su Yuntao had prepared in advance, allowing them to arrive so swiftly.

As for Tang San and Yu Xiaogang—oh, and that drunk—they would not reach their destination until noon the following day.

Near the Spirit Hunting Forest, people had built houses and set up businesses like industrious bees, turning the area into a bustling market. Su Yuntao rented a room at an inn in town for the night. Yet the excitement of soon hunting soul beasts, coupled with the occasional low roars of soul beasts and cries for help from Soul Masters drifting from the forest, lingered around Gu Hengzhi's ears like demonic music and made it difficult for him to sleep.

In the morning, cries of vendors rose and fell like surging tides. Simple man-made paths crisscrossed the area like a chaotic web, tightly enveloping the entire market. The clamor was like a pot of boiling water, churning and leaping about, making Gu Hengzhi frown repeatedly as irritation welled up within him.

"Young brother, are you hunting soul beasts? Our Firecloud Spirit Hunting Group has two Great Soul Masters. Our reputation is absolutely guaranteed..."

"Forming a team to hunt a Netherworld Ghost Cat! Twenty Gold Soul Coins to invite capable experts to join us..."

Similar cries continued without end, buzzing around Gu Hengzhi's ears like a swarm of hungry flies. His gaze swept over the rows of shops, where all manner of weapons, armor, food, and supplies filled the displays in dazzling abundance.

Su Yuntao led Gu Hengzhi into the market, which could practically be called a small town, and asked with a smile, "Do you know why I bought everything back in Notting City?" Gu Hengzhi shook his head blankly, his face full of confusion.

Su Yuntao pointed at the marked prices in those shops, a sly smile curling across his lips. "Because once you get here, the prices at least double. Back then, I came to the Spirit Hunting Forest without preparing anything, and I was nearly fleeced down to my underwear." A hint of anger flashed in his eyes, as though he had recalled an unpleasant experience.

Looking toward a shop in the distance, Su Yuntao's gaze sharpened, as if a flame burned in his eyes. His voice lowered slightly, carrying a trace of resentment. "And try not to trust those spirit hunting groups outside. They're just people gathered together for profit, and for profit, they'll do anything. Not long ago, someone joined a team to hunt soul beasts. Before they had gone far, he was killed by members of the so-called spirit hunting group, and his remains were eaten by soul beasts. His family wanted to recover a complete body for burial, so they had no choice but to sell their house to hire Soul Masters to search for his remains. In the end, the whole family was ruined..."

As Gu Hengzhi listened to Su Yuntao's account, a chill rose in his heart. His expression turned grave, and his eyes revealed fear and vigilance.