First Encounter with Soul Tools

Half a year later, at Starlight Auction House.

"Our next lot is a fifth-level Soul Tool from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy: the Extreme Cold Ray Soul Tool. By channeling Soul Power into it, the user can fire a beam of freezing light with power equivalent to a strike from a Five-Ring Soul King. Bidding starts at eight thousand Gold Soul Coins. Let the auction begin."

The auctioneer's clear voice carried across the hall. In the end, the fifth-level Soul Tool sold for thirty thousand Gold Soul Coins.

In a private box, Huo Yuhao stared at the auction stage, lost in thought. Suddenly, a delicate hand waved before his eyes.

Xu Jiujiu's bright, pleasant voice reached his ears. "Little Yuhao, what are you looking at? Do you already like looking at older girls?"

Her teasing made Huo Yuhao's face flush. "No! I was just curious about that Soul Tool."

His answer piqued Xu Jiujiu's interest. "Oh? Why are you interested in Soul Tools, little Yuhao?"

Huo Yuhao scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "You know my Martial Soul is the spiritual-type Spirit Eyes, Sister Jiujiu. Unless something unexpected happens, I won't have much fighting power. I want some Soul Tools to give me ways to attack."

He fixed his big blue eyes on her. "Could you help me find a Soul Tool teacher, Sister Jiujiu?"

Perhaps unable to withstand that look, Xu Jiujiu waved a hand helplessly. "All right! I'll find you a Soul Tool teacher when you get back. But—"

Her tone changed, and she looked at him sternly with her violet eyes. "Yuhao, you have Innate Full Soul Power, and you're at the best age for cultivation. His Majesty and I don't reject Soul Tools the way some people do, but I still hope you won't waste your talent."

Huo Yuhao answered just as earnestly. "I know, Sister Jiujiu. I won't let you down."

"All right. If that's what you've decided, I won't stand in your way."

Only then did Xu Jiujiu take a good look at Huo Yuhao. After more than half a year of recuperation, he was no longer as frail as before. His cheeks were fair, his hair was smooth, and he had grown considerably taller—he now stood a full 1.7 meters.

He wore a fitted blue outfit and a cloak woven from Extreme North Ice Silkworm Silk. The storage bracelet she had given him was on his right wrist.

"Are you planning to get your Spirit Ring today?"

"Yes, Sister Jiujiu. Aunt Ye told me a week ago that my body had recovered enough for me to get one."

Xu Jiujiu turned a reproachful look on her subordinate. "What happened? Why wasn't I told?" Then she turned back to Huo Yuhao. "And you, Yuhao—why didn't you tell me?"

Huo Yuhao said sheepishly, "I didn't want to bother you. You work so hard managing Starlight Auction House every day."

"You're too considerate for your own good. This is a major event in your life."

As she spoke, Xu Jiujiu stroked Huo Yuhao's head with a pained look.

"How about this? I'll send Uncle Li with you to help you obtain your Spirit Ring."

"Really? Thank you so much, Sister Jiujiu."

Uncle Li's full name was Li Jun, and he was the captain of Xu Jiujiu's Royal Guard. Huo Yuhao had seen him many times over the past half year. His Martial Soul was the Mountain-Cleaving Saber, and Huo Yuhao had heard that he was already a level 66 Soul Emperor despite being only in his forties. His prospects were boundless. With someone that powerful accompanying him, obtaining his first Spirit Ring should be easy.

Five days later, on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

A stern-looking middle-aged man led Huo Yuhao past a warning sign and toward the forest.

"Young Master Huo, the Outer Zone of the Star Dou Great Forest lies ahead. From here on, please follow my instructions."

Huo Yuhao nodded seriously.

"I understand, Uncle Li."

Li Jun breathed a little easier at his answer. He didn't know Huo Yuhao well; he only knew the boy was a talent the Princess had brought back. He had worried Huo Yuhao might be as arrogant as other gifted youths, but it seemed his fears were unfounded.

As they headed into the forest, Li Jun told him about the Star Dou Great Forest.

"Young Master Huo, the Star Dou Great Forest is the largest Soul Beast habitat on Douluo Continent, bigger than any of the others. You can find everything here from ten-year Soul Beasts to Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts."

After glancing back several times to make sure Huo Yuhao was listening, he continued his explanation.

"The Star Dou Great Forest is divided into the Outer Zone, the Mixed Zone, the Core Zone, and..." His voice grew grave. "And the Land of Great Evil, where countless Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts dwell."

"Which part are we going to, Uncle Li?"

"The border between the Outer Zone and the Mixed Zone. There's a wider range of Soul Beast species and ages there, so we're more likely to find a suitable Spirit Ring for you."

Just then, Huo Yuhao felt a sudden chill. He was about to use Martial Soul Possession to survey the forest when—

Li Jun, who was leading the way, roared, "Trying to ambush us? Die!" A huge Mountain-Cleaving Saber appeared in his hand. Six Spirit Rings—two yellow, two purple, and two black—circled him as blade arcs flew from his Martial Soul in every direction.

Where the blades passed, branches snapped and blood sprayed. Dark shapes tumbled from the trees one after another, hitting the ground with a series of thuds.

By the time Huo Yuhao came to his senses, Soul Beast corpses littered the ground. More than a dozen white Spirit Rings rose from them, making for a spectacular sight.

The beasts looked like some kind of monkey. Their vicious faces were made even more frightening by two huge fangs jutting from their mouths.

"Young Master Huo, these are Wind Baboons."

"Wind Baboons?"

"Yes. They're among the most common Soul Beasts in the Outer Zone of the Star Dou Great Forest. Lone Bamboo Soul Beasts are common here too, though they're plant-type Soul Beasts. But Wind Baboons differ from the other Soul Beasts in the Outer Zone in one important way."

Huo Yuhao looked at Li Jun in confusion. "Aren't they all Soul Beasts? Do Wind Baboons have some special trait?"

"They do. Most common Soul Beasts in the Outer Zone flee when they encounter humans. Wind Baboons, on the other hand, actively attack them—even humans who have done nothing to provoke them, and even Soul Masters far stronger than they are."

Huo Yuhao was filled with respect. "Their will never wavers in the face of superior strength. Is this the Wind Baboons' Will of Tyranny?"