First Soul Ring

The moment they stepped into the Soul Hunting Forest, a damp, crisp woodland breeze swept into their faces.

Towering ancient trees rose from the earth, their dense branches and leaves interlacing in layers to seal off the sky, leaving the entire forest dim and still year-round.

The air carried a mingled scent of decaying soil, fresh vegetation, and the wild musk unique to wild soul beasts. Intermittent roars and birdsong echoed near and far, thickening the atmosphere of danger in this proving ground for soul masters.

Unlike most children, who grew apprehensive on their first visit to the forest, Lin Chen remained as calm as still water, without a trace of panic in his eyes.

The thorough tempering provided by those three pieces of hundred-year whale rubber had already given him a physical foundation far beyond other soul masters of his level. His bones and sinews were resilient, his blood and vitality abundant. With his soul power at its maximum level and a maturity far beyond his peers, he remained composed and measured even deep within a forest where danger lurked on every side.

Throughout their journey through the woods, his parents, Lin Tianyu and Li Su, proceeded cautiously, their vigilant gazes sweeping in every direction. They kept Lin Chen in the very center of their group, guarding him against every potential danger.

Once she confirmed that their surroundings were safe for the moment, his mother, Li Su, slowed her steps and asked gently:

"Chen, we're already deep in the Soul Hunting Forest. You've planned your soul ring in advance, so just tell us what kind of soul beast you want."

Lin Chen had already worked everything out in detail. Without the slightest hesitation, he answered calmly, using Yu Xiaogang as his explanation:

"Mom, Dad, I specifically consulted Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang at the academy. Based on the characteristics of my White Fox Detached Martial Soul, he planned out a first soul ring suited to me. My martial soul is most compatible with the Water Element. If we can find a hundred-year water fox soul beast, it'll offer both the best compatibility and the highest ceiling for my future cultivation."

Hearing that the advice came from Yu Xiaogang, the foremost authority on martial soul theory, Lin Tianyu and his wife put all their concerns to rest.

As they saw it, Yu Xiaogang also possessed a Detached Martial Soul. With him personally planning Lin Chen's path, this had to be the safest possible choice.

Lin Tianyu immediately decided where they would search:

"Water Element fox soul beasts favor damp places near water. Most live around streams, waterfalls, and other areas rich in moisture. We'll head to those places right away."

The two were Soul Grandmasters of levels twenty-nine and twenty-seven, and their years of participating in soul hunting missions had given them extensive wilderness experience.

They moved stealthily along the way, well versed in seeking advantage and avoiding danger. Whenever they could evade a low-level soul beast, they went around it, never stirring up trouble without cause;

When they encountered a soul beast that attacked them and could not be avoided, they swiftly subdued it with a single strike, then left immediately after killing it, preventing the scent of blood from drawing higher-level soul beasts.

For an entire day, the three explored numerous pools and streams throughout the dense forest. Despite repeated searches, they never encountered a suitable hundred-year Water Element Azure Water Fox.

They found either Water Element soul beasts that were not foxes, or fox soul beasts with incompatible attributes. Each time, they missed the mark by a hair's breadth.

The sun sank in the west, and dusk settled over the wooded hills. At night, the danger in the Soul Hunting Forest multiplied, with unknown high-level soul beasts appearing frequently. Recklessly traveling after dark was far too dangerous.

Lin Tianyu made a swift decision, choosing an open stretch of high ground that was level, dry, and well ventilated for their camp. He expertly erected a portable tent and evenly scattered specially prepared beast-repelling powder around the campsite to ward off low- and mid-level soul beasts.

Li Su gathered dry branches and lit a campfire. Its warm yellow glow dispelled the woodland chill, while the drifting aroma of roasting meat slowly spread, soothing the weariness of a day spent on the move.

During their evening rest, the couple patiently taught Lin Chen about wilderness survival and hunting, explaining in detail how to recognize soul beasts' habits, avoid danger when camping, maneuver in battle, and judge the right moment during a soul hunt.

Lin Chen listened attentively, committing every lesson to memory and steadily strengthening his foundation for actual combat in the wilderness.

The night passed peacefully. At first light the following morning, the three cleaned up their campsite and ventured deeper into the forest to resume their search.

Another full day of searching brought them nothing. After two fruitless days, even the normally composed Lin Chen began to waver, privately considering whether he should lower his standards, abandon the requirement that it be a fox, and advance by absorbing any hundred-year soul beast with a pure Water Element attribute.

Just as his thoughts began to drift, the rumble of flowing water reached them from ahead, and moisture-laden air washed over their faces.

The three hurried forward, and a waterfall several dozen feet high suddenly came into view. Falling water struck the pool below, sending spray in every direction. Lush vegetation and drifting mist surrounded it, making this an ideal spot with the richest concentration of Water Element soul power in the entire forest.

Among the gray rocks and bushes around the waterfall, several foxes with deep-blue bodies and lustrous, water-slick fur were playfully darting about. They moved lightly, faint ripples of Water Element soul power surrounding them.

"Azure Water Foxes! A rare species of Water Element fox soul beast!" Li Su's eyes lit up as she instantly recognized the soul beasts that perfectly suited Lin Chen's martial soul.

The three quickly singled out the most striking Azure Water Fox in the group. Four neat, brilliant-blue markings showed clearly beneath its fur. According to the pattern of soul beast age markings, its cultivation was around four hundred years—an appropriate age that perfectly met the requirements for his first soul ring.

Lin Tianyu and Li Su suspected nothing. They exchanged a glance and instantly activated Martial Soul Possession, their crimson Red Fox and white White Fox martial souls manifesting together. One swift and the other steady, they worked in perfect harmony, silently closing in and deftly drawing the Azure Water Fox away from its pack, cutting it off from its companions' support.

The Azure Water Fox attacked nimbly and excelled at manipulating water for surprise strikes, but it stood no chance against the combined pressure of two Soul Grandmasters. Within a few exchanges, it was covered in wounds, its strength fading as it collapsed to the ground on the brink of death.

Lin Tianyu stopped in time to avoid damaging the soul beast's essence. Drawing a Refined Iron Longsword, he handed it to Lin Chen with a solemn expression:

"You must deliver the final blow. Kill the soul beast yourself and bring its soul ring into being."

Lin Chen took the sword and stepped forward. Without the slightest hesitation, he cleanly ended the Azure Water Fox's life.

A lustrous, translucent, bright-yellow soul ring slowly rose, hovering above the soul beast's corpse.

With a thought, he summoned his White Fox martial soul. An unseen pulling force immediately took effect, and the soul ring slowly drifted down, settling securely around the White Fox's body.

The next instant, vast, cool Water Element soul power surged like a raging torrent into every limb and bone in Lin Chen's body, tempering his meridians and nourishing his martial soul.

Yet just as the soul ring fully merged, Li Su, who had bent down to inspect the soul beast, suddenly turned deathly pale and cried out:

"Something's wrong! This Azure Water Fox has five and a half markings! It's over five hundred years old! Chen, a five-hundred-year soul ring is far beyond the normal hundred-year limit. Can you withstand it?"

Lin Tianyu's expression instantly tightened at her words, shock rocking his heart. He hurriedly put an arm around his wife and feigned composure as he comforted her, but the knuckles of his clenched left hand had already turned white with anxiety.

For a level-ten Soul Scholar attempting to absorb a five-hundred-year soul ring, the slightest mistake could completely destroy his martial soul and ruin his foundation.

Only Lin Chen remained as calm as still water.

His powerful body, tempered by whale rubber, and the White Fox martial soul's sharing of the energy allowed him to withstand that immense power completely.

He could clearly sense most of the soul power reinforcing his cultivation, while the remaining pure energy continuously nourished his White Fox martial soul, refining the latent Nine-Tails Bloodline.

Neither hurried nor anxious, he steadily guided and assimilated it with his soul power, suffering not the slightest backlash or damage throughout the process.

Several hours later, he had fully absorbed all the soul ring's energy. The instant Lin Chen opened his eyes, his aura surged. His level-ten soul power reached completion and broke through into the Soul Master realm.

His body also seemed to have undergone some changes from obtaining the soul ring. He appeared to have grown a little taller, his shoulders had broadened somewhat, and his skin had acquired a lustrous sheen.

He raised a hand to gently stroke his martial soul. The White Fox had grown a size larger, its snowy fur studded with translucent, Liuli-blue markings. Its bloodline concentration had risen substantially, and it brimmed with intelligence.

Delight welled up in Lin Chen's heart, and he said with a soft laugh:

"From now on, your name will be Liuli."

The White Fox, Liuli, affectionately nuzzled his palm, meekly accepting the name.

At the same time, information about two soul skills poured into his mind. They were an exceedingly rare pair of first soul skills—one offensive, one supportive, and both extraordinarily powerful.

Dripping Water Pierces Stone could deal Water Element damage to a single target; Nip Danger in the Bud could increase a single allied target's defense by 10%.

Lin Chen demonstrated the effects of his soul skills to his parents on the spot, leaving them marveling again and again. They then solemnly instructed him to keep his brilliance hidden and reveal only one skill when outside, lest his two astonishing soul skills invite disaster.

Lin Chen took their warning to heart and concealed his aura entirely. The family of three retraced their route out of the Soul Hunting Forest and returned home safely.

After a night's rest that fully stabilized his cultivation, Lin Tianyu took Lin Chen to the Notting Spirit Hall the following morning to register his Soul Master level and soul ring.