Six Years

The young master stared in astonishment as Li Changqing suddenly vanished, then just as suddenly reappeared.

He had seen Soul Masters fight in the Soul Fighting Arena, but none of them had come close to Li Changqing's speed.

Li Changqing grinned at the stunned Steward Yun. "Now you believe I'm strong enough, don't you?"

What Li Changqing had shown was enough to convince Steward Yun. He steadied himself and said, "I do. You're more than capable, sir. I misjudged you earlier. Please forgive me."

Li Changqing smiled. That was how a world where strength ruled worked. Show that you were stronger than someone else, and their respect would follow.

Just look—even Steward Yun had changed how he addressed him.

"What sort of Soul Ring does the young master need? Any requirements for its age?" Li Changqing asked.

"The young master's Martial Soul is the War Tiger," Steward Yun said. "There's no particular requirement for the type of Soul Beast. As for age, a Hundred-Year Soul Ring would be best."

The young master chimed in. "Right, a Hundred-Year Soul Ring. The older, the better."

Li Changqing nodded. "Very well. Pay a deposit of two hundred Gold Soul Coins first. I'll calculate the final fee based on the Soul Beast we hunt."

Without hesitation, Steward Yun took out a pouch and handed it to Li Changqing. He clearly knew the rules for hiring a Soul Hunting group. "You may count it, sir."

Li Changqing quickly swept the pouch with his spiritual power. Exactly two hundred Gold Soul Coins. He gave a slight nod. "It's all there. Let's go."

"I'm finally going to get a Soul Ring and become a real Soul Master!" the young master cried happily.

That was how things were on Douluo Continent. Any Soul Master would be excited when they could obtain a Soul Ring and advance to the next rank—especially when it was their first.

By this day, Li Changqing, Steward Yun, and the young master had been in the Star Dou Great Forest for two days.

The young master was plainly growing impatient. "Steward Yun, it's been two whole days. Why haven't we found a suitable Soul Beast yet?"

"Young master, don't worry," Steward Yun reassured him. "It's only been two days. Some Soul Masters spend an entire month looking for a single Soul Ring. Your requirements aren't especially strict, so we should find a suitable one soon."

Every Soul Beast they had encountered over those two days had been only ten years old. Li Changqing had killed every one he came across, without exception. The reason was simple: they were worth money.

A cloth sack hung from Li Changqing's back, filled with materials from the Soul Beasts he had killed over the past two days—pelts, teeth, and the like.

As for hunting Soul Beasts so recklessly—what if they were all killed off, leaving other Soul Masters without Soul Rings to help them break through?

Li Changqing's answer was that it had nothing to do with him. He, at least, would never lack Soul Rings for his own breakthroughs.

They had encountered six Soul Beasts in those two days. Each time, Li Changqing had ended the fight with a single thrust to the throat, without a wasted movement.

The last trace of doubt in Steward Yun's heart had vanished, and his respect for Li Changqing had only grown.

The three continued searching for another hour. Suddenly, a tiger's roar rang out.

Li Changqing immediately raised the Thunderblade Sword and went on guard. A moment later, a pitch-black tiger emerged.

It was a Black Tiger. Not especially rare, it was a common tiger-type Soul Beast in the Star Dou Great Forest.

This Black Tiger stood around two meters tall and measured three meters long. Its cultivation was roughly three hundred years.

Behind Li Changqing, Steward Yun shielded the young master. Judging by his posture, he was ready to flee with him at any moment. Li Changqing was speechless. Did he really have that little faith in me?

Li Changqing did not hesitate. He moved and appeared right beside the Black Tiger.

His Second Soul Ring lit up instantly. The once-fine arcs of electricity along the Thunderblade Sword thickened, crackling with a sharp zzzt.

Before the Black Tiger could react, Li Changqing severed both its front legs. It crashed to the ground with an agonized, piercing roar.

Then Li Changqing sent lightning through the Thunderblade Sword and knocked the Black Tiger unconscious.

Steward Yun and the young master watched him dispatch the enormous tiger so cleanly. Both swallowed hard.

Li Changqing raised an eyebrow. "A three-hundred-year Black Tiger isn't rare, but its Soul Ring would suit a War Tiger Martial Soul well enough. You'd better decide quickly whether to absorb it. If it bleeds to death, we'll have to find another Soul Beast."

Steward Yun finally came to his senses. He handed the young master a dagger and urged him on. "Quickly, young master. A Soul Master can only absorb a Soul Ring from a Soul Beast he kills himself. A three-hundred-year tiger-type Soul Beast is an excellent match for your War Tiger Martial Soul. If you miss this chance, who knows when we'll find another Soul Ring this good?"

The young master wasted no time. He took the dagger, approached the unconscious Black Tiger, gathered his courage, and drove the blade into its head.

A moment later, a Yellow Soul Ring appeared. Steward Yun taught the young master how to absorb it. Once he had begun, Steward Yun took out a pouch and handed it to Li Changqing. "I know the rules. Here's the balance."

Li Changqing swept it with his spiritual power and was a little surprised. It held five hundred Gold Soul Coins—a hundred more than the rules called for. From Steward Yun's expression, the extra payment was clearly deliberate.

Li Changqing smiled faintly. Whatever Steward Yun wanted, only a fool would turn down money. He accepted it without a qualm, then went to the Black Tiger's carcass to strip it for materials. Once again, there was only the pelt and teeth.

He glanced at the tiger meat on the ground. Leaving it behind seemed a shame; it was worth money too.

But his sack was already full with the tiger pelt. Carrying the meat as well would be awkward.

I need to find a way to get a Storage Soul Tool. Lugging bags everywhere is too much trouble, Li Changqing thought.

Once the young master had finished absorbing the Soul Ring, the three headed straight out of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Back at the Hundred Beasts Hall, Steward Yun and the young master boarded their splendid carriage and left.

Li Changqing sold the spoils from this Soul Hunting trip to Wu Guangcai for a total of one hundred and fifty Gold Soul Coins.

After that, Li Changqing gradually made a name for himself. Though he worked alone, he was stronger than some Soul Hunting teams, and more and more people sought him out to hunt Soul Beasts for them.

Li Changqing's life settled into a routine. He hunted Soul Beasts for clients, cultivated and refined his Soul Power to deepen it, and bought Whale Rubber to strengthen his body further.

As he grew stronger, the fusion of his soul with the Kunpeng True Blood progressed. He had a feeling that once they fused completely, he would gain benefits beyond anything he expected.

Time flew. Six years had passed since Li Changqing first arrived in Soul Hunting Town.

Over those six years, his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds, and his reputation had spread far and wide. People throughout the surrounding region knew of the powerful young man in Soul Hunting Town, outside the Star Dou Great Forest, whose Soul Hunts almost always succeeded.