The First Job

Li Changqing waited at the hotel for several days.

During that time, he bought a few books about Soul Beasts from vendors in Soul Hunting Town. If he was going to help people obtain Soul Rings, he could not remain ignorant of Soul Beasts.

The fusion of Kunpeng True Blood with Li Changqing's soul had given him an excellent memory. He could remember almost everything he read at a glance, and soon learned how to identify the types and ages of Soul Beasts.

On the sixth day, Wu Guangcai came to see him.

Li Changqing asked, "Boss Wu, does someone need my help obtaining a Soul Ring?"

Wu Guangcai nodded. "Yes, Brother Changqing. The client is waiting at my Hundred Beasts Hall. Come with me."

After packing a few things, Li Changqing followed Wu Guangcai toward the Hundred Beasts Hall.

On the way, Li Changqing asked, "Boss Wu, who is the client? What kind of Soul Beast does he need, and how old must its Soul Ring be?"

"The client is a viscount from a nearby town named Lou Minghao," Wu Guangcai said as they walked. "He's here to find someone to help his ten-year-old youngest son obtain his First Soul Ring. You'll have to discuss the exact requirements with him yourself."

Wu Guangcai knew this was Li Changqing's first time making a living by hunting Soul Beasts. Figuring he probably did not know the trade's customs or rates, Wu Guangcai took the opportunity to explain. "Since this is your first job of this kind, Brother Changqing, let me tell you how the trade works."

Li Changqing nodded. He had been about to ask.

"There are generally two ways to set payment when hiring someone to obtain a Soul Ring in the Star Dou Great Forest."

"The first is to enter the Star Dou Great Forest and hunt a Soul Beast. Payment depends on the beast's type and age. A Ten-Year Soul Ring pays less than a hundred Gold Soul Coins. Once the Soul Ring reaches a hundred years, the price rises with the tide: it starts at two hundred Gold Soul Coins and goes up by another two hundred for every additional hundred years. A Thousand-Year Soul Ring works much the same way, except the starting price is two thousand Gold Soul Coins, with another two thousand added for every additional thousand years."

"As for the price of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, I don't know. Of course, an especially powerful or rare Soul Beast would cost more."

Wu Guangcai continued, "With the second method, the client specifies the type and age of the Soul Beast beforehand. You then enter the Star Dou Great Forest to search specifically for what the client needs. It pays more than the first method."

"Either way, the client pays a deposit up front and settles the balance once you've hunted a satisfactory Soul Beast."

Li Changqing listened, nodding now and then.

Wu Guangcai paused, and his tone suddenly grew serious. "Also, apart from the Soul Ring, which belongs to the client, all Soul Beast Materials—fur, flesh, and the like—belong to the hired hunter. That includes any Soul Bone."

He put particular emphasis on "Soul Bone," then lightened his tone. "Of course, a Soul Bone is something you can only hope to stumble upon. In all my years in Soul Hunting Town, I've never heard of anyone getting one."

The corner of Li Changqing's mouth lifted. Of course you wouldn't know. Even a mere hundred-year Soul Bone would draw countless people into a fight for it. Anyone who got one would hide it, then either absorb it in secret or quietly sell it to some major power. I can't imagine anyone shouting in the street that they'd found a Soul Bone.

As they talked, the two soon reached the Hundred Beasts Hall. An elegant carriage stood outside. Its body was made of metal, and an unknown gemstone set into its roof glittered in the sunlight. One glance told Li Changqing it was worth a fortune. Whoever owned it was plainly rich or noble.

Wu Guangcai said, "Brother Changqing, I sell some of the Soul Beast Materials I buy to that viscount, so we're business partners of a sort. I know his steward fairly well, too. He came to Soul Hunting Town and asked me to recommend a Soul Hunting team to obtain a Soul Ring for the young master."

"I told him right away that you'd killed a six-hundred-year Thunder Wolf on your own. He agreed to consider you, but he wants to see your strength first."

"Thank you, Boss Wu," Li Changqing said. "If this works out, all the Soul Beast Materials will go to you."

Wu Guangcai smiled. "Then here's to Brother Changqing landing his first job and winning his first battle."

Li Changqing entered the Hundred Beasts Hall and saw a ten-year-old boy pinching his nose as he looked curiously this way and that. He was clearly intrigued by the Soul Beast Materials on display.

The boy wore splendid clothes and a valuable jade pendant at his waist. An air of privilege surrounded him. He was probably the viscount's young son and Li Changqing's client.

A middle-aged man in formal attire remained close beside the young master. He looked calm and dependable.

Wu Guangcai stepped forward. "Steward Yun, sorry for the wait."

At the sound of his voice, the young master and Steward Yun turned together. When Steward Yun saw how young Li Changqing was, his brow furrowed slightly.

The young master looked curiously past Wu Guangcai and asked, "Boss Wu, where's the expert you mentioned?"

He clearly did not consider Li Changqing an expert. After all, Li Changqing looked only a few years older than him.

Wu Guangcai respectfully gestured toward Li Changqing. "Brother Li Changqing here is the expert I mentioned. Don't underestimate him just because he's young."

Steward Yun's frown deepened. Li Changqing looked far too young. He still could not believe someone that age could kill a six-hundred-year Thunder Wolf alone.

He was responsible for the young master's safety. If this young man was not strong enough and anything happened to the young master, he would die too.

Seeing that Steward Yun remained unconvinced, Wu Guangcai thumped his chest. "We've known each other for years. When have I ever lied to you?"

"It's not that I don't believe you. This young man is simply too young," Steward Yun said, shaking his head.

Young was an understatement. Li Changqing's body was only seven years old, younger even than the young master.

Li Changqing knew that if he did not show his strength, this job would go down the drain.

He moved and suddenly appeared behind Steward Yun, tapping him on the shoulder.

Steward Yun started and spun around. When he saw Li Changqing, his eyes widened. How did he get behind me?

Steward Yun was an agility-type Soul Grandmaster himself. His Martial Soul was a Cheetah, renowned for its speed. The viscount had assigned him to accompany the young master precisely because he could carry the boy away if danger arose.

Yet as an agility-type Soul Master, he had not even seen Li Changqing move. More importantly, Li Changqing had not used his Martial Soul. How fast would he be if he did? How could Steward Yun not be shocked?