Xianling Returns

As soon as the system announced that the rewards had been issued, Chu Heng examined them.

Jade Hands needed no introduction. Chu Heng had coveted this Tang Sect technique for ages. Mastered to a high level, it could make his hands as hard as metal and jade, resistant to blades and spears, and impervious to all poisons.

Unfortunately, although Jade Hands came from the same tradition as Mysterious Heaven Skill, Chu Heng had not received it alongside the skill.

He had never expected the system to reward him with it this time.

As when he had acquired Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, a wealth of insights into cultivating Jade Hands and circulating its power flooded his mind. All he needed now was practice to make that knowledge his own and fully master the technique.

But the second reward—the Soul Ring Blessing—interested Chu Heng even more.

"Soul Ring Blessing..."

Chu Heng's heart stirred.

Could it be something like a God-given Spirit Ring?

His hopes rose as he read the reward's description. Once he understood its effects, though, some of his excitement faded.

The Soul Ring Blessing did not grant a Spirit Ring outright. Instead, when Chu Heng absorbed one, it would increase the ring's age to a certain extent while making it easier to absorb.

"I see..."

Chu Heng rubbed his chin. It was not as extraordinary as he had imagined, but on reflection, it was still quite useful.

That was especially true for him right now. His problem was not just finding a suitable Soul Beast; even if he found one, it might not be the age he wanted.

With the Soul Ring Blessing, he would no longer have to pursue older Soul Beasts at all costs. As long as the species suited him, the blessing could make up for a somewhat younger one.

That would give him a much wider range of options.

Chu Heng felt considerably better at the thought.

Both rewards were excellent. Jade Hands, in particular, would give his combat ability another substantial boost if he could master it quickly.

With his next steps decided, Chu Heng moved on.

He left the camp where Tang San and Yu Xiaogang were staying, found a sturdy tree nearby, and settled cross-legged on a relatively level branch.

This would do for tonight.

In fact, Chu Heng's best option right now would have been to leave Soul Hunting Forest with Tang San and Yu Xiaogang.

Then, even if Su Xianling returned from the inner forest and found him gone from his original shelter, she would likely ask after him near the outskirts.

But...

Chu Heng had no intention of leaving just yet.

Soul Hunting Forest was an excellent place for him to train. At least in this area, most Soul Beasts were still within the limits of what he could barely handle.

Fighting them would rapidly build his combat experience and help him spot his weaknesses sooner. A place that was reasonably safe yet still offered constant challenges was hard to find.

Over the next few days, Chu Heng found another spot with favorable terrain. Having built a shelter before, he had a much easier time of it this time, then stocked up on food and clean water.

With everything in place, Chu Heng was ready to train here for the long term.

Meanwhile...

The Beast Tide in the inner forest gradually subsided. As soon as the suppression mission was complete, Su Xianling returned to Chu Heng's original shelter.

But when she landed in the familiar clearing, she frowned.

Su Xianling crouched and touched the ashes of the fire. They were completely cold. It must have gone out long ago.

At first, she was not too worried. She assumed Chu Heng had put out the fire before going out that morning.

But dusk fell, and Chu Heng still had not returned.

Only then did Su Xianling realize he was probably no longer nearby.

She checked the area around the shelter. There were no obvious signs of a fight, which suggested Chu Heng had left of his own accord.

Su Xianling stood and looked toward the outskirts of the forest.

"Has he already left Soul Hunting Forest? Or..."

Another possibility occurred to her.

Could Chu Heng have found a suitable Soul Beast and left for that reason?

The thought eased her worries a little. As she knew him, Chu Heng could be bold, but he was not reckless.

On the contrary, during their time together, she had seen that he had ideas of his own and thought many things through in advance.

Unless something beyond his control had happened, he was unlikely to put himself in danger deliberately.

Even so, she needed to find out where he had gone.

Su Xianling wasted no more time. In a flash, she sped toward the edge of Soul Hunting Forest.

At her speed, she reached the entrance again in just two hours.

"Have any of you seen a little boy about six years old leave Soul Hunting Forest alone in the past few days?"

Su Xianling questioned a number of guards nearby.

Their answers were almost all the same.

No. None of them had seen him.

Just as Su Xianling's frown deepened, a carriage that was about to leave stopped not far away.

Then someone lifted the curtain, and a small blue-haired head poked out.

"Miss, are you from Spirit Hall?"

Su Xianling turned instinctively at the voice. Before she could answer, a middle-aged man's sharp voice came from inside the carriage.

"Little San!"

The blue-haired boy ducked back inside. A few hushed words followed, and after a moment, he poked his head out again.

Su Xianling had already walked over to the carriage.

"I am from Spirit Hall."

She nodded.

"What is it?"

Tang San looked at her and asked,

"Is the person you're looking for named Chu Heng?"

Su Xianling's gaze sharpened.

She studied the boy. He looked familiar, but she could not remember where she had seen him.

He was around six, yet his Soul Power had already surpassed level ten. His talent was no less impressive than Chu Heng's.

Was he a prodigy raised by some faction?

And how had Chu Heng met him?

The questions flashed through her mind.

Su Xianling did not pursue them. Instead, she answered directly,

"Yes."

"Do you know Chu Heng?"

"I do."

Tang San nodded.

"We're friends. I saw him in Soul Hunting Forest a few days ago."

Su Xianling relaxed considerably at that.

At least she knew Chu Heng had not met with an accident.

"Oh? Where did you see him?"

Su Xianling pressed.

"It was..."

Tang San thought back. But there were no clear landmarks inside Soul Hunting Forest, and he struggled to describe the exact location.

In the end, he could only give Su Xianling a general area based on the direction he had traveled, the surrounding terrain, and the approximate distance from the entrance.

Even so, that was enough for her.

"Thank you."

Having gotten the information she needed, she thanked Tang San.

She did not linger and soon entered Soul Hunting Forest again.

Tang San watched her quickly vanishing figure, deep in thought.

Yu Xiaogang's voice came from inside the carriage once more.

"Little San, it's time to go."

"Mm."

Only then did Tang San lower the curtain.

The carriage slowly set off.