The Fourth Soul Ring

Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest, a boy covered in wounds sat beside a ten-thousand-year leopard soul beast, absorbing its soul ring. How could one tell it was a ten-thousand-year soul beast? Because the ring he was absorbing was black. This was our protagonist, Yang Xiu. As for why he was injured—and covered in wounds, at that—it wasn't because he had the strength to fight a ten-thousand-year soul beast. He had merely encountered thousand-year soul beasts along the way. Hua Xiong had specially selected them at his request so he could hone his combat skills, starting with beasts a thousand years old and eventually moving up to those seven or eight thousand years old. That was how he had ended up battered all over. Still, his strength had improved tremendously, thanks to his powerful martial soul.

"Phew, it worked. If my spiritual power hadn't reached level 59, I probably couldn't have absorbed this fifteen-thousand-year soul beast's ring."

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the mission. The ages of your first three soul rings have increased by 1,000 years."

"System, open my status panel."

Name: Yang Xiu (15 years old)

Soul power: Level 43

Martial souls: Divine Shadow Leopard (purple, purple, purple, black), Dragon Soul Spear

Defense: Level 56

Spirit: Level 61

"My soul power actually went up three levels! Looks like increasing the ages of my earlier rings also gives me soul power. Otherwise, a single ten thousand year soul ring wouldn't give me this much." "Hmm, let's see what my fourth soul skill is, and whether my first three have changed." Apart from becoming more powerful, his first three skills hadn't changed. But his fourth soul skill was rather strong. As expected of a ten thousand year soul ring—or perhaps it was because a leopard soul beast was particularly compatible with him.

Shadow Clone Technique: Summons two clones while increasing speed by 150% and attack by 200%. Duration depends on the user's soul power. Clones disappear when attacked. The user can swap places with a clone within 50 meters; clones automatically disappear beyond that range. Afterward, the first attacks of both the clones and the original body are guaranteed critical hits. This also applies to skill attacks. (Critical damage: n × 250%)

"This soul skill improves my strength and my ability to stay alive so much. It's practically heaven-defying. Compared to this, my first three thousand-year soul skills feel pretty ordinary."

First soul skill: Berserk. Increases all attributes by 100% for one minute.

Second soul skill: Emperor of Luck's Claw. Transforms both hands into leopard claws, increasing attack speed and attack by 50%. Hits have a 20% chance of dealing critical damage. Duration depends on the amount of soul power. This skill doesn't consume much soul power. With what I have now, I can basically use it fifteen to twenty times, Yang Xiu thought.

Third soul skill: Pursuit of Fate. Increases speed by 150% and guarantees evasion of one small-area attack (spirit level 61 × 10%). If the opponent's soul power level exceeds the user's spirit level, evasion depends on the user's own strength. Well, there's another lifesaving skill.

"One trip to the Star Dou Great Forest has practically remade me from the inside out. Hua Xiong, let's go." Without bothering about anything else, Yang Xiu headed straight toward the forest's outer edge. After he had walked fifty meters, Hua Xiong jumped down from a tree back where Yang Xiu had been sitting and followed him. Who knew what had happened to make the once insufferably arrogant Hua Xiong so quiet and reserved? Perhaps it was because Lord Guan had cut him down with a single stroke. Who knew? They hadn't walked far before stopping again, though by then they were already at the forest's outer edge. Yang Xiu and Hua Xiong watched quietly from a rather tall tree.

"Why is there a ten-thousand-year soul beast here? This is the forest's outer edge!" someone roared indignantly. Yang Xiu didn't hear him. If he had, he would certainly have told him, Little brother, who said ten-thousand-year soul beasts couldn't come to the outer edge?

Fifteen to twenty people lay dead on the ground, all from the same team judging by their matching clothes. A middle-aged man wearing the same outfit was still alive, though wounded. A thin man and a boy had also survived. The thin man was more badly injured than the middle-aged man, but his wounds weren't fatal. He kept the boy shielded behind him, his breathing somewhat labored.

What had happened was this: the thin man was Hong Tian, and the boy was his son. Hong Tian had just broken through to Soul Ancestor, while his son had just reached level 20.

He had hired a team specializing in hunting soul beasts, led by a level-47 Soul Ancestor, to obtain soul rings for himself and his son. Who could have expected them to encounter a ten-thousand-year soul beast? Not only had he nearly gotten the entire team wiped out, but he and his son might also die here. His own death wouldn't matter, but his son was only ten! His innate soul power had reached level seven, and he had such a bright future ahead of him! "Little Wu, look for a chance to run," Hong Tian said.

"Father, no. If we're going to die, we'll die together," Hong Wu said, his gaze resolute. His father was both touched and furious, but anger still colored his reply. "Enough of that nonsense! You're my son. When I tell you to leave, you leave! I can die, but you can't die here. Otherwise, who will tend your mother's grave?" At those words, Hong Wu thought of his mother, who had died giving birth to him and whom he had never even met. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Yang Xiu was still considering whether to save them when he suddenly remembered the mission to establish a sect. Judging by the boy's age and soul power level, his innate soul power should have exceeded level six. At the same time, the system issued a mission.

"Ding! Save Hong Tian and his son. Rewards: cultivation manual, Nine Yin Manual; Detection Technique (can inspect characters and soul beasts below god-tier)."

Yang Xiu said, "There's a mission and rewards, and I can get them to join the sect too. I'll save them." "Hua Xiong, save them." Originally, Yang Xiu had wanted to do it himself. With his current strength, he could defeat this ordinary ten-thousand-year soul beast, though he couldn't kill it instantly. Besides, as the future sect master, he couldn't personally handle everything. Most importantly, he could maintain an air of mystery. In truth, all those reasons just meant that Yang Xiu was lazy.

From who knew where, Hua Xiong drew a Guan Gong Saber. Without even releasing his soul rings, he appeared before the ten-thousand-year soul beast, the Glory Lizard, like a flash of lightning. One stroke of his saber brought a black soul ring rising from its head. The three survivors, who had been incredibly tense, immediately breathed a sigh of relief at the beast's death and sat on the ground, gasping for breath.

"Hah... hah... Son, I thought I was about to go see your mother," Hong Tian said as he stood up. "Thank you for saving us, Senior." Having also come to their senses, the team leader, Liu Yuan, and Hong Wu thanked Hua Xiong. Hua Xiong said nothing, merely giving a faint nod before returning to Yang Xiu's side. Only then did the three get a clear look at Yang Xiu as he slowly approached.

"Congratulations to the host for completing the mission. You have obtained the Nine Yin Manual and Detection Technique." "System, use the Nine Yin Manual." A surge of internal energy formed within Yang Xiu's body. He also silently used Detection Technique on the three of them. "Ding! Nine Yin Manual successfully used. Minor mastery achieved immediately." (Cultivation methods have four stages: beginner, minor mastery, major mastery, and perfection. Note: cultivation methods and martial techniques obtained through the system immediately reach minor mastery.)

"Hmm? System, can people whose innate soul power is below level six join the sect?" "Host, even ordinary people can join, but they will not count toward the mission to establish a sect." Yang Xiu understood. He had asked because his sect was only just getting started, and he wanted to recruit more people. Most importantly, when he had used Detection Technique just now, he had discovered that he could see people's loyalty.

Liu Yuan and Hong Tian were fifty and thirty-eight respectively, a level-47 Soul Ancestor and a level-40 Soul Elder. The difference between them was clear. Their innate soul power had been three and a half levels and five levels respectively. Both displayed a loyalty of 20, perhaps because Hua Xiong had saved them. Still, Yang Xiu had no intention of letting Liu Yuan join. He was too old to be worth nurturing. Meanwhile, Yang Xiu carefully examined Hong Wu's information.

Name: Hong Wu (10 years old)

Soul power: Level 21 (yellow, yellow)

Martial soul: Forest Wolf

Loyalty: 30 (this value applies only to the host)

After reading this, Yang Xiu spoke calmly.

"You and your son share a bond of fate with me. How about joining our sect?" His words, and how direct they were, left Hong Tian and his son rather bewildered. But Hong Tian quickly recovered. This senior had killed a ten-thousand-year soul beast without even releasing his martial soul. He had to be a Soul Saint or stronger. What had just happened, along with his many years of experience, had taught Hong Tian the importance of having a powerful backer. Even if not for himself, joining a sect offered far too many advantages for his son's future. With that thought in mind, he spoke.

"May I ask your name, young brother, and the name of your sect? Is this senior a member of your sect? If he is, my son and I are willing to join."

Yang Xiu understood why he asked. In a world where strength reigned supreme, strength mattered. "My name is Yang Xiu, and I'm the sect master of the Flame Emperor Sect. The man beside me is an elder of the Flame Emperor Sect. You can call him Elder Hua Xiong."

Yang Xiu's age left Hong Tian, his son, and even Liu Yuan puzzled that he could be the Flame Emperor Sect's sect master. Still, father and son said nothing about it. Hong Tian pulled his son along and bowed to Yang Xiu and Hua Xiong. "Hong Tian and Hong Wu pay their respects to the sect master and Elder Hua Xiong. Thank you for saving our lives." At the same time, Yang Xiu discovered through the system that their loyalty had jumped straight to 60. According to the system, anything above 50 was a passing score. At 60, they wouldn't betray him as long as he didn't go too far. Above 85, they could basically be considered unwaveringly loyal.

"Now that you've joined the sect, you're part of it. There's no need to keep thanking us. The sect doesn't have many rules. As long as you don't betray it, whatever enemies you encounter, the sect will help you deal with them. Of course, if anyone dares betray the sect, no matter where they flee, we'll make them wish they were dead."

"Rest assured, Sect Master. We will never betray you," Hong Tian and his son hurriedly said.

Yang Xiu said, "Hong Tian, I see you've reached level 40. Let's take you to obtain a soul ring." Hong Tian was overjoyed. This was the benefit of joining a sect. He had nearly lost his life here just moments ago, and now he had the sect's help. Happiness had come so suddenly. He hurriedly said, "Thank you, Sect Master."

Liu Yuan watched them with envy. Hearing that they were leaving, he hastily said, "Young brother Yang Xiu, could I join your sect too?" Yang Xiu had already forgotten about him and only turned back when he spoke. Shaking his head gently, he said, "Your aptitude is too poor. Our sect won't accept you." Disappointment filled Liu Yuan's face. He knew his own circumstances, so he said nothing more, merely looking enviously at Hong Tian and his son.

Yang Xiu said nothing else. Taking Hong Tian and his son with him under Hua Xiong's protection, he disappeared from Liu Yuan's sight.