Wu Yun folded his dragon wings and brought the two of them down smoothly into a forest clearing.
The moment his feet touched the ground, soul power burst from his body. The low-level soul beasts within a hundred meters scattered like birds startled by a bowstring, fleeing without daring to look back.
"Stay close. Don't get separated."
Wu Yun retracted his dragon wings, his tone unusually serious. "The Star Dou Great Forest isn't like other soul hunting forests. The farther in you go, the stronger the soul beasts become. Especially in those unassuming old groves-there could be a ten-thousand-year soul beast hiding in one. We can't afford to be careless."
Nezha and Ning Tian nodded together, following behind Wu Yun, one on either side.
"The soul beast Tian needs is simple enough. We just need to find a strength-type soul beast," Wu Yun said as he walked. "As for you, Nezha, the sect master has decided that your first soul ring shouldn't be offensive. Instead, it should give you a percentage-based enhancement. Understand?"
Nezha nodded. "Understood."
He answered readily, but inwardly, he couldn't help marveling.
Ning Zhiyuan truly deserved his position as sect master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. His foresight was impressive.
A soul master's first soul skill was both the earliest they acquired and one they used most often. An offensive skill would certainly let them fight and kill in the early stages, making them look impressive. But once their soul power level rose and their enemies grew stronger, a low-level offensive soul skill would soon become like chicken ribs-too tasteless to eat, yet too wasteful to throw away. By then, they wouldn't be able to replace it even if they wanted to.
A percentage-based enhancement skill was different. It increased a soul master's current attributes by a percentage. The higher their soul power level, the greater the base value, and the more terrifying the enhancement became, with virtually no upper limit. Only by laying such a foundation from the start could they climb higher and travel farther in the future.
Old ginger was still the spiciest.
The trees in the Star Dou Great Forest grew thicker and thicker. Rustling sounds occasionally drifted from deep within the woods, and several indistinct figures flickered between the distant trees. Intimidated by the draconic aura radiating from Wu Yun, however, they took wide detours and dared not approach.
Wu Yun moved quickly. Clearly, he already had a destination in mind, leading the two through the forest with a definite direction and no hesitation.
The farther they went, the hotter it became. A faint smell of sulfur began to fill the air, while the soft layer of humus underfoot gradually gave way to gray-black gravel. Occasionally, they stepped on small stones that crunched beneath their feet.
The surrounding vegetation was changing quietly as well. Towering trees gradually thinned out, replaced by low shrubs and expanses of lichen and moss, their leaves coated in a dull gray layer of dust.
Suddenly, the view ahead opened wide.
Nezha looked up and froze for a moment.
It was an enormous volcanic crater.
They stood high on the outer rim. Before them stretched a vast, circular crater several li in diameter.
The crater sank downward like a funnel, its bottom unfathomably deep. Far below, dark red magma could just be seen churning slowly, its heat warping the air above it.
The rocks surrounding the crater had been scorched black by the heat, and not a blade of grass grew there. Yet fire-type soul beasts moved leisurely across this scorched earth.
With a quick glance, Nezha spotted several scarlet Fire Lizards sunning themselves on the searing rocks. Their scales gleamed dark red in the dim light, and their tails drooped lazily, occasionally flicking and scraping trails of sparks across the stone.
Beside a magma pool on the inner slope of the crater, two particularly massive beasts paced slowly.
They were two Flame Apes, fiery red from head to toe, their skin covered in closely packed scarlet scales. Their limbs were thick as pillars, and their broad chests resembled two moving city walls. With every step, fine cracks spread through the scorched rock beneath their feet.
"Ha-ha!"
Wu Yun's laughter echoed along the crater's outer rim. As he surveyed the two Flame Apes, his bell-sized eyes lit up, and a satisfied grin spread beneath his bristling beard.
"The sect's intelligence was right. There really are two Flame Apes here. Judging by their size and aura, they have roughly four hundred years of cultivation. They'll make good soul rings for you."
Before his words had faded, he stepped forward.
He unleashed the full pressure of a Titled Douluo without restraint.
The Fire Lizards that had been lounging moments earlier stiffened in unison. Then, as though an enormous invisible hand had pinned them down, their bodies went limp. They lacked even the strength to flee and could only tremble with their bellies pressed against the scorching rocks.
The two Flame Apes reacted most violently. They had just reached the magma pool when the pressure struck. Their knees buckled, and the two hulking beasts crashed to the ground, bracing themselves on their thick arms. Their scales bristled, and low whimpers escaped their mouths.
Wu Yun's expression remained unchanged as he spread the fingers of his right hand.
A tremendous surge of soul power poured from his palm, forming two enormous invisible hands that lifted the kneeling Flame Apes into the air from afar.
The two beasts had no power to resist. Wrapped in soul power, their enormous bodies sailed across the crater and landed before Nezha and Ning Tian with a boom, sending gravel flying.
They lay sprawled on the ground, their limbs splayed helplessly and their chests heaving. Wu Yun's figure was reflected in their scarlet eyes, which held nothing but instinctive terror.
"Go ahead, Tian, Nezha."
Wu Yun withdrew his pressure and stepped back, standing behind them with his arms folded.
"These two soul beasts should give you the soul skills you want."
Ning Tian nodded slightly and stepped forward. Turning her palm upward, she produced an exquisite dagger.
She turned to glance at Nezha.
Nezha met her gaze and nodded. He closed his right hand, and the Fire-Tipped Spear appeared out of thin air, its scarlet shaft humming.
There was no hesitation.
Nezha gripped the shaft with both hands, aimed at one ape's eye, and drove the spear down hard.
The spearhead pierced its body, meeting almost no resistance.
The Fire-Tipped Spear was far sharper than an ordinary tool martial soul. Combined with its ultimate fire attribute, that direct thrust easily ended the Flame Ape's life.
A yellow soul ring floated up from the Flame Ape's corpse.
Nezha quickly sat cross-legged on the ground, rested his hands on his knees, and began circulating his soul power.
As though drawn by some force, the yellow soul ring slowly descended and settled around him.
Seeing that Nezha had already begun absorbing his ring, Ning Tian hesitated no longer. She ended her chosen soul beast's life and sat cross-legged to begin her own absorption.
Wu Yun stood behind the two children with his arms folded, as immovable as an iron wall shielding them. His long scarlet hair billowed in the waves of heat, and his bell-sized red eyes with their vertical pupils remained fixed on the children's backs. Occasionally, he glanced at the distant Fire Lizards still trembling where they lay, making sure no soul beast dared take the opportunity to approach.
After an unknown amount of time, Nezha was the first to open his eyes.
A scarlet gleam flashed deep within his pupils and vanished. He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, which carried enough heat to form a faint wisp of white vapor before him.
My first soul ring-I did it.
He took a deep breath, stood, and stretched his stiff legs. When he turned his head, Ning Tian happened to open her eyes as well. Her ponytail swayed gently in the hot air, and a thin sheen of sweat covered her fair little face. Her dark eyes shone brighter than before; clearly, she had gained a great deal too.
Their eyes met. Ning Tian's lips curved slightly, and she gave him a small nod.
Nezha grinned back.
Wu Yun strode over and gave each of them a pat on the head with his rough, broad hand. He used enough force to knock Nezha's head sideways.
"Good. You both succeeded."
He grinned, showing a mouthful of white teeth, his voice filled with undisguised approval.
"Let's go. There's no hurry to show off your soul skills. We'll return to the sect first."
With that, the dragon wings on his back spread wide, and he carried the two of them soaring into the sky.
Before you continue