Entering the Soul Hunting Forest

Warmth welled up in Chu Heng's heart as he listened to Su Xianling's sincere words.

He had never expected her to take him to the Soul Hunting Forest early just for his first Spirit Ring, much less prepare to spend however long it took to find him a suitable Soul Beast.

"What? Feeling touched?"

Seeming to sense the shift in his mood, Su Xianling chuckled and ruffled his hair.

Chu Heng only grinned without answering.

At dawn the next day, sunlight pierced the thin mist.

Chu Heng was so excited about entering the Soul Hunting Forest and seeing real Soul Beasts that he had not slept a wink.

Fortunately, he had spent the night circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill to regulate his breathing. He was hardly brimming with energy, but he felt well enough.

As usual, Su Xianling arrived outside his room early. This time, however, she made a rare choice not to come through the window. Instead, she entered through the ground-floor lobby, climbed the stairs to his floor, and knocked on his door.

"Coming!"

At the knock, Chu Heng knew Su Xianling had arrived.

He straightened his collar one last time, slung his packed bag over his shoulder, and opened the door.

Su Xianling leaned against one side of the corridor.

Today, she wore a silver-trimmed Spirit Hall uniform, its sharp cut making her already tall, straight figure look all the more capable. Her black hair, usually left loose, was tied back. The habitual ease in her expression had given way to a touch of stern focus.

"Packed? We leave now."

Her voice was even, without a word to spare.

Chu Heng nodded and turned to show her the bag on his back, indicating that he was ready.

Most of his supplies had been issued by Spirit Hall.

Apart from those, he carried only a bow and a dozen or so arrows, which Su Xianling had specifically told him to bring.

Su Xianling glanced at the eager Chu Heng, said nothing, and headed downstairs.

"Lady Xianling, here's the Special Hunting Writ."

When they reached the ground-floor lobby, a staff member hurried over and handed Su Xianling the writ.

The Soul Hunting Forest was a stretch of primeval woodland jointly managed by the Heaven Dou Empire and Spirit Hall. Its interior was divided into several zones according to danger.

An ordinary hunting writ allowed its holder to enter only the outermost zone.

Soul Beasts there were generally weak, and their variety and numbers were limited. Finding one suited to you came down largely to luck.

A Special Hunting Writ, however, allowed its holder to enter the middle zone farther in.

Soul Beasts were both more numerous and more varied there, so the chances of finding a suitable Spirit Ring were naturally much better.

Of course, greater opportunity meant greater danger.

Even Su Xianling would have to tread carefully if she encountered one of the dominant Soul Beasts in the middle zone.

Unless they had no other choice, the two of them would not go looking for trouble with such a creature.

The Soul Hunting Forest lay northeast of Nott City.

Since Chu Heng's Soul Power had only just reached level ten, Su Xianling chose not to take a carriage straight to the forest. Instead, she led him there on foot.

As she put it, "Traveling on foot is training too."

Chu Heng had no objection to the arrangement.

After all, even Tang San had spent a full month and a half preparing. There was no need for Chu Heng to rush.

So they traveled by day and trained by night. A full week passed before they finally reached the edge of the Soul Hunting Forest.

After presenting the Special Hunting Writ at the entrance, they entered without trouble.

"Keep going."

Su Xianling surveyed their surroundings.

"Most Soul Beasts in the outermost zone are under a hundred years old. They aren't suitable for you."

She could not yet say which type of Soul Beast would best suit Chu Heng's Martial Soul, but she certainly would not settle for one less than a hundred years old.

"Okay!"

Chu Heng hurried after her.

He was intensely curious about the Soul Hunting Forest.

As they ventured deeper and traces of human activity grew scarce, he felt as though he were stepping into the heart of a primeval forest.

It was broad daylight, with the sun blazing overhead, yet the forest grew abruptly dim. Ancient trees dozens of meters tall interlocked above them, their dense crowns forming an almost impenetrable canopy that shut out the fierce sunlight. Only a few stray rays slipped through the leaves, scattering mottled patches of light across fallen foliage that had piled up for who knew how many years.

Even the "ground" beneath his feet was unusually soft. With every step, his shoes sank into thick layers of rotting leaves and soil, making a faint, damp rustle.

The air smelled of earth, decaying leaves, and plant sap. Beneath it lurked the musky stench of wild beasts.

This was a paradise for Soul Beasts.

Chu Heng followed Su Xianling deeper into the forest until they stopped at a certain spot.

"We'll search around here for the time being."

Su Xianling closed her eyes and sensed the presences around them.

Most of the Soul Beasts nearby were only a few decades old. A small number had reached a hundred years, but she sensed no sign of any thousand-year Soul Beasts for now. For Chu Heng, this was a relatively safe place.

If they found a suitable Soul Beast at this depth, all the better. If not, they would have to head farther into the forest.

But in the deeper zones, they might encounter thousand-year or even ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts. Even she would have a hard time dealing with those.

"Okay, Sis!"

Chu Heng understood why Su Xianling had chosen this place. The Soul Beasts nearby were not especially strong. Even if a fight broke out, he had enough strength to hold his own for a while, making an uncontrollable disaster less likely.

Besides, what mattered most now was raising his Soul Power as quickly as possible. Otherwise, even if they found the right Soul Beast, he could only stand by and watch longingly.

Fighting Soul Beasts in the forest would benefit him in several ways at once.

It would strengthen his nerve and courage, hone his control over Soul Power, and give him real combat experience.

Chances like this were rare.

"For the next few days, you can move around this area on your own."

Su Xianling looked at him, her tone calm.

"Until we find a suitable Soul Beast, I won't step in."

With that, she pushed off lightly and sprang onto a thick branch.

A few more leaps carried her swiftly away through the layers of foliage.

Within a few breaths, she vanished completely from Chu Heng's sight.

"Wait—"

Chu Heng had only just reached out. He had not even finished speaking.

Su Xianling was already gone.

"..."

Hold on.

Weren't the two of them supposed to adventure through the Soul Hunting Forest together?

How had this suddenly turned into a solo survival trial?

Chu Heng did not understand, but he had no choice but to accept it.

And just as Su Xianling's presence faded completely, a dangerous presence emerged.

Gulp...

Chu Heng swallowed.

The next instant.

Behind a thick ancient tree not far away, two dim green lights slowly appeared. Then a low, restrained growl came from behind the trunk.

"Grrr..."

Chu Heng's gaze sharpened.

A decade-old Soul Beast: a Wind-Chasing Leopard.