The Two-Thousand-Year Flame Spirit Fox Soul Ring (Part One)

The blade's light drifted like the wind and flashed like lightning, its path nimble and unpredictable. Not a single movement was wasted as it effortlessly met every ambushing soul beast.

Pfft!

Every slash came with a crisp, soft hiss as it cut through the air.

Not one of them made it within ten feet of the pair before falling dead in succession, their bodies twitching faintly as the last of their life drained away.

The entire process was clean, decisive, and seemingly effortless. They advanced steadily, clearing away the ferocious beasts blocking their path one by one without the slightest hesitation or wasted motion, fully displaying the absolute strength of a Soul Saint.

Once the slaughter was over, Mo Yuan did not pause or even spare the corpses another glance. He immediately raised his hand, sending a gentle surge of soul power around Lin Chen and carrying him swiftly away from the area.

Only after retreating several dozen meters and completely escaping the reach of the lingering aura did Mo Yuan slowly halt. He cautioned Lin Chen in a low voice, "Did you see that clearly? These are the soul beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest."

Lin Chen wore a solemn expression and nodded firmly, answering in a low voice, "I will remember, Master. I will never dawdle or linger in the forest. I will avoid the dangers drawn by the scent of blood and proceed with care."

He had witnessed firsthand Mo Yuan's clean, decisive kills and his disciplined, immediate withdrawal.

After personally sensing the savage bestial nature lingering in the woods, he gained a more direct and profound understanding of the Star Dou Great Forest's dangers. The caution and awe in his heart grew ever stronger.

From then on, the two proceeded with even greater steadiness and care.

Mo Yuan continued leading the way with the Flowing Cloud Blade in hand. Its light flashed lightly and cleanly as he cleared obstacles ahead, all while continuously extending his soul power to sense every disturbance around them. He drove away the weak, killed the vicious, and left immediately after each kill, never lingering.

Lin Chen followed closely behind, keeping his aura restrained and his presence subdued throughout. Utterly focused, he silently observed the forest environment and the soul beasts' habits, steadily accumulating practical experience in soul hunting in the wild.

They made their way through the woods, avoiding areas thick with beast activity, crossing gullies and fallen branches, and skirting damp, chilly lowlands shrouded in poisonous miasma. They chose only dry, well-ventilated routes with safe terrain.

As they ventured deeper, their surroundings quietly began to change.

The cold dampness of the woods gradually faded, and the air temperature slowly rose. Wisps of scorching heat mingled with the forest breeze, silently spreading all around.

The soil beneath their feet grew increasingly dry and hard, its surface faintly warm to the touch. The surrounding vegetation also gradually shifted from broadleaf trees that thrived in cold, damp conditions to unusual heat- and drought-resistant trees and herbaceous plants.

The fire-attribute energy in the air grew increasingly dense, and the warm, dry sensation became ever more pronounced, forming a stark contrast with the cold, damp woods of the outer region.

Mo Yuan paused briefly and lifted his gaze to survey their surroundings, a trace of certainty passing through his eyes. "We're nearly there. Just ahead is a geothermally active area on Star Dou's outskirts."

The two picked up their pace again and continued onward.

After an entire morning of uninterrupted trekking through the woods, avoiding countless dangers, driving off several waves of soul beasts, and killing several ferocious beasts that stubbornly resisted, they finally left the ordinary cold, damp forest behind and entered this unusual, geothermally heated dry region.

The terrain here was relatively high, dry, and well ventilated. Rocks lay exposed across the ground, the soil was hot and dry, and faintly heated walls of gray stone could be seen everywhere.

Gentle currents of warm air continually escaped from scattered geothermal fissures, steadily raising the temperature throughout the area.

Geothermal heat rose here year-round, creating a hot, dry climate. The environment perfectly suited the habits of fire-type soul beasts, naturally forming a haven where they gathered.

"This is one of the rare gathering grounds for fire-attribute soul beasts on Star Dou's outskirts."

Mo Yuan put away the Flying Flowing Cloud Blade, temporarily drawing his martial soul back into his body, and spoke quietly to Lin Chen:

"Fire-type fox soul beasts around two thousand years old most likely live in this area. We just need to search carefully. It's hot and dry here, with abundant geothermal heat. Most of the soul beasts that live here have a single, pure attribute, primarily fire. They suit your soul ring requirements, and there should be virtually no issues with conflicting attributes."

Lin Chen swept his gaze across their surroundings, clearly sensing the dense, dry heat of the area. His confidence grew, and he quietly followed Mo Yuan as they began a careful search for their target soul beast.

The two slowed their steps, patiently weaving through the dry rocky ground and trees as they investigated. They avoided scattered low-level fire-attribute soul beasts, specifically searching for traces of fox soul beasts' auras.

Before long, a faint drift of warm water vapor wafted out through a gap in the dense woods ahead, sharply contrasting with the dry air around them.

Mo Yuan's gaze sharpened. With light, measured steps, he led Lin Chen quietly closer.

After they passed through a patch of heat-resistant shrubs, the view ahead suddenly opened up.

A geothermal spring emitting faint wisps of warm white vapor appeared before them.

The spring was small, its water clear and bright. Geothermal heat continually rose from below, sending curls of white mist into the air. The endless warm vapor spread all around, making this small area far hotter than its surroundings. The hot, dry environment was ideal for fire-attribute soul beasts to settle and live in.

The rocks surrounding the spring were warm and dry, with sparse vegetation. Quiet and warm, the setting was especially well suited for agile fox soul beasts to dwell and rest.

At that moment, light, nimble figures slipped quietly among the trees and rocks around the geothermal spring, playing and resting.

They were crimson all over, their fur like burning flames. Their slender bodies were agile, their bearing light and graceful, and their fluffy tails flowed behind them. Their clear crimson eyes held the cunning and liveliness unique to fox soul beasts.

Flame Spirit Fox soul beasts occupied the warm rocks. Some rested with their eyes closed, nurturing their bodies with the geothermal heat; some chased one another playfully, stretching their limbs; and others scanned their surroundings vigilantly, guarding their clan's territory.

A thriving, peaceful, and tranquil gathering place of foxes lay fully revealed before the pair.

Looking at the large clan of Flame Spirit Fox soul beasts before him, Lin Chen's eyes brightened with understanding.

The roughly two-thousand-year-old fire-attribute fox soul ring he had searched so painstakingly for was now close at hand.

Lin Chen stood quietly behind the shrubs, calmly studying the entire clan of Flame Spirit Fox soul beasts. His gaze passed over each fox in turn as he carefully assessed their size, the strength of their aura, and the density of their soul power.

These Flame Spirit Fox soul beasts varied in size, and the differences in their cultivation were equally apparent.

Most were hundred-year-level fire fox soul beasts, small in stature, with faint, thin flaming fur and weak auras. They could only rest lazily around the edges, slowly nourishing themselves in the hot, dry environment. They were the young individuals at the bottom of the clan.

There were also some adult fire fox soul beasts with sturdy bodies and richly crimson fur. Their soul power fluctuations were stable, and most were between five hundred and eight hundred years old. Swift and highly vigilant, they patrolled the territory and protected the clan.

Lin Chen's gaze kept moving, deliberately passing over these low-level fire fox soul beasts as he focused on searching for individuals with more powerful auras and deeper reserves.

A moment later, his gaze settled on a warm boulder at the very center of the spring.

There lay a Flame Spirit Fox soul beast far larger than its kin. Its fur was crimson as flame, rich and luminous in color, as though silent flames burned all over its body. Its long, fluffy tail stretched out, every strand of fur wreathed in faint fluctuations of fire soul power.

Its bearing was graceful and agile, its limbs slender yet strong. Its crimson eyes were deep and composed, lacking the immature restlessness of ordinary fire foxes. In its place were the calm and vigilance born of long cultivation.

It rested quietly in the center of the boulder where the geothermal heat was strongest, claiming the core position with the most abundant heat and the most stable temperature in the entire area. It lay prone with its eyes closed, thick, sustained fluctuations of soul power surrounding it. Its aura was steady and restrained, yet possessed unmistakable substance.

Even the soul power aura it released far surpassed that of every member of its clan nearby.