Entering the Forest, Mo Yuan's Martial Soul

Lin Chen listened attentively, silently engraving every word of advice in his heart, then nodded solemnly. "I will remember, Teacher. I will keep my mind steady and never act rashly."

They continued at a measured pace, accompanied by Mo Yuan's detailed instructions, and soon reached the true boundary of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Looking up, they were greeted by an awe-inspiring sight, as different from an ordinary Soul Hunting Forest as heaven was from earth.

Ancient trees towered from the ground, majestic and imposing. Even the shortest stood well over twenty meters tall, their thick trunks gnarled and twisted, too broad for several people to encircle with their arms.

Dense branches and leaves overlapped in layer upon layer, weaving an endless dark-green canopy overhead. They completely blocked the daylight above, shrouding the forest's interior in deep, dim shadows.

Shadows crowded among the trees, dark and profound. Mist drifted and swirled through the woods, hazy and indistinct, making it impossible to see into the interior through the dense growth.

The deep sea of trees resembled an ancient, colossal beast lying dormant in sleep. Beneath its tranquil surface lay endless slaughter, danger, and opportunity.

An oppressive sense of vast, primeval wilderness washed over them, inspiring involuntary awe.

Standing at the forest's boundary, they felt a heavy, oppressive primeval presence sweep toward them. The air among the trees was thick and damp, mingled with the distinctive scents of rotting leaves and vegetation.

At the same time, faint, savage beast cries, low growls, and strange rustling sounds drifted intermittently from the depths of the forest.

They proved that this seemingly lifeless sea of trees was constantly staging the brutal struggle in which the strong devoured the weak.

Mo Yuan stopped and gazed deeply into the shadowy forest. After a moment, he turned toward Lin Chen beside him and asked calmly:

"What sort of third Soul Ring do you need? Tell me its attribute, age, and suitable species so I can narrow down our search area and avoid wasting time wandering blindly into the forest."

Lin Chen answered without the slightest hesitation, having already made his decision. "Teacher, I need a Soul Ring from a fire-attribute fox Soul Beast around two thousand years old."

Naturally, this was the direction he had chosen from the beginning: Soul Rings of the five elements supplemented by special attributes, while choosing fox Soul Beasts whenever possible to increase his Martial Soul's bloodline concentration and ultimately evolve it into a nine-tailed fox.

Hearing this, Mo Yuan said urgently:

"Nonsense! The upper limit for a Soul Master's third Soul Ring is just over seventeen hundred years. You know the consequences of recklessly absorbing a Soul Ring beyond that limit. Even if I can interrupt you, you will still suffer a backlash."

Lin Chen replied:

"Thank you for your concern, Teacher. As you know, I have a detached Martial Soul. My Martial Soul will share the impact of the Soul Ring's energy with me. My physique is fairly strong, so I should be able to withstand it."

Mo Yuan nodded upon hearing Lin Chen's answer:

"Very well. Since you insist, I will interrupt you if you cannot manage it. A fire-attribute fox Soul Beast around two thousand years old—I know roughly where to look. There is an area of active geothermal activity in the southeastern outskirts of Star Dou. Its temperature remains high year-round, and it is rich in fire-attribute spiritual energy, making it a suitable habitat for fire-type Soul Beasts. Fox Soul Beast packs are active there as well, which fits your needs perfectly."

With their destination decided, Mo Yuan lingered no longer. His gaze firm, he stepped into the dark forest first.

"Follow me."

The instant they entered the forest, most of the light around them abruptly faded, and the temperature rose slightly. The wind and all outside noise were cut off, leaving only faint insect calls, beast cries, and the soft rustling of branches and leaves. The atmosphere immediately became quiet and oppressive.

The next instant, the Soul Power around Mo Yuan stirred slightly, and his Martial Soul quietly manifested through Martial Soul Possession.

Humm—

A low, faint hum sounded through the woods. There was no vast, raging display of power, yet it carried a steady, keenly cutting presence.

A long blade quietly took shape in Mo Yuan's palm. This was the first time Lin Chen had seen his teacher's Martial Soul Avatar with his own eyes.

The Flowing Cloud Blade was slender and sleek, its blade tracing an exceptionally gentle, natural curve. It discarded the rigid ferocity of ordinary battle blades in favor of an airy grace, like drifting clouds and flowing water.

Its edge was as thin as a cicada's wing and supremely sharp, its cold gleam held within rather than exposed. The blade and spine flowed seamlessly into each other, without a single abrupt angle.

Its minimalist, cloud-patterned metal guard was refined and dignified, its designs flowing like clouds and water, simple yet elegant, paired with a cloud-patterned hilt of the same material.

The entire blade bore a soft, understated moon-white hue, reflecting no dazzling light. Faint, wispy patterns lingered across its surface like clouds drifting slowly through the sky, blending stillness, sharpness, and elegance into one. Though seemingly gentle and mild, it concealed an edge capable of cleaving through all things.

This was Mo Yuan's innate Martial Soul, the Flowing Cloud Blade.

Mo Yuan rarely used his Martial Soul in everyday life, so only today had Lin Chen finally been able to glimpse the full, true form of this Soul Saint's Martial Soul.

It seemed as gentle as a cloud, yet harbored a keen edge within. Equally suited to offense and defense, it matched Mo Yuan's composed, measured fighting style, advancing while maintaining a steady footing.

With Martial Soul Possession complete, Mo Yuan's gaze sharpened. Holding the Flowing Cloud Blade, he raised his hand and released several light, crisp flashes of blade light.

Swish, swish, swish—

Several gentle yet sharp arcs of blade energy sliced through the air, sweeping precisely toward the tangled branches and vines, thick brambles, and stray trees blocking their way.

The Flowing Cloud Blade's energy was exquisitely controlled, cutting with precision and without straying. It severed every obstruction ahead with just the right force, yet left the roots of the surrounding vegetation unharmed. His movements were clean and decisive, flowing like clouds and water.

In an instant, a level, clean woodland path had been opened through the dense, tangled forest where there had been no way forward.

Mo Yuan continued without stopping, moving steadily ahead with the Flowing Cloud Blade in hand, ever vigilant. Soul Power flickered around him and spread outward continuously as he carefully sensed the fluctuations of Soul Power, beast presences, and signs of danger in the surrounding woods.

As a level-seventy Soul Saint, his perception reached far beyond that of ordinary Soul Masters. Every stirring of wind and grass, lurking Soul Beast, and shift in aura within several hundred meters registered clearly. No hidden danger could escape his scrutiny.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, they encountered quite a few low-level Soul Beasts living in the outskirts.

Most were ordinary hundred-year Soul Beasts. Sensing humans entering their territories, they had barely begun to stir and probe when Mo Yuan's spreading Soul Saint pressure instantly locked onto them.

The vast, heavy pressure of his high-level Soul Power bore down like a mountain, overwhelmingly domineering. The absolute suppression created by the difference in rank instantly crushed everything around them.

Those low-level Soul Beasts immediately stiffened and trembled all over. The savage gleam vanished from their eyes, leaving only utter terror. Not daring even the slightest provocation, they hunched their bodies and fled into hiding deep among the trees, afraid to come another step closer.

The vast majority of low-level Soul Beasts were frightened away by this natural Soul Saint pressure alone, without Mo Yuan needing to strike them down.

But the Soul Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest were, after all, different from the unremarkable creatures in ordinary Soul Hunting Forests. Their ferocity and wildness far exceeded what most people could imagine.

Their journey through the outskirts was far from peaceful. Every so often along the way, the two encountered a high-level Soul Beast barring their path, fearless in the face of death. All were fierce thousand-year Soul Beasts.

These Soul Beasts were savage and bloodthirsty by nature, with an extremely strong territorial instinct. Even though they clearly sensed the terrifying pressure of a Soul Saint, instinct still ruled them. Ignoring the difference in level, they roared and lunged to attack.

The first they encountered was a Gray-Furred Split-Toothed Wolf occupying a patch of forest alone. Its body was powerful, its sharp fangs exposed. The moment it detected strangers invading its territory, it lunged straight at their faces, bringing a biting gust of blood-stinking wind.

After dealing with this ferocious beast, the two continued onward. A little over a hundred meters later, a solitary Ironspine Thorn Boar suddenly ambushed them from the undergrowth at ground level. Farther ahead, a Poison-Scaled Lizard dwelling in a damp hollow appeared to block their path once again.

Facing these savage Soul Beasts attacking alone, one after another, Mo Yuan remained utterly unruffled, calm and composed.

He did not even need to use a Soul Skill. With only a slight flick of his wrist, the Flowing Cloud Blade in his palm released gentle yet cutting flashes of moon-white blade light. Every strike precisely targeted the lone Soul Beast's vital spot, defeating it in a single blow.