Soul Hunting Forest

After finishing his practice for the day, Lin Yang unconsciously looked down at his left hand.

His Second Martial Soul, Demon Blood, resided there.

Until now, he had always regarded his Demon Blood Martial Soul as a trump card with powerful regenerative abilities.

It was precisely because he had this trump card that he could temper his body without restraint, never worrying about accumulated hidden injuries or overtraining.

But as his Soul Power Level continued to rise, every use of his Demon Blood Martial Soul strengthened his craving for flesh and blood.

Before, he could forcibly suppress that craving with his willpower and Sun Breathing, keeping his reason intact.

But after reaching level ten, even without using his Demon Blood Martial Soul,

he could clearly feel that purest, most absolute craving emanating from his Martial Soul in the depths of his own soul.

It was a craving for fresh flesh and blood.

If he used his Demon Blood Martial Soul again now, this desire would very likely overwhelm his reason in an instant.

When that happened, he would no longer be Lin Yang, but a monster wearing human skin that knew only how to devour human flesh and blood.

Scorching Soul Power circulated through his body, yet could not dispel the cold and hunger rising from the depths of his soul.

Lin Yang slowly clenched his left hand, his fingertips paling slightly from the force.

It looks like I'll have to address the Demon Blood Martial Soul's flaw as soon as possible after obtaining my First Soul Ring.

To resolve that flaw, he would have to find the Blue Spider Lily.

But this was the Douluo Continent. Whether something like the Blue Spider Lily even existed here was still uncertain.

At any rate, Lin Yang had found no similar plants in the academy's library.

Still, that did not mean there was no solution.

This was a fantasy world, after all. Though it was known as the "bottom rung of fantasy," all manner of heavenly treasures and earthly marvels truly existed here.

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, all sorts of immortal herbs...

Even that Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone hidden away by Tang Hao might help him remedy his Demon Blood Martial Soul's flaw.

But those things would not be easy to get!

Looking at his left hand, Lin Yang fell into thought for a while.

Three days later,

Lin Yang requested leave from the academy and, carrying his bundle on his back, caught a ride on a vegetable cart to the Soul Hunting Forest outside Nuoding City.

Upon arriving, Lin Yang handed the driver ten Copper Soul Coins and thanked him.

After passing through the city gates and walking just a few steps, Lin Yang was drawn to the scene before him.

In front of the Soul Hunting Forest, houses and shops lined both sides of the road. Vendors' cries rose one after another, and people streamed back and forth. It was nothing short of a bustling market.

"Forming a Soul Hunting party! We have a support Soul Master..."

"Hunting Fire-type Soul Beasts! Three people, no writ! Fifty Gold Soul Coins for the right to use a writ!"

"Good sirs, have mercy! Spare a little..."

"Get lost!"

Ignoring the many faces of life around him, Lin Yang tightened the bundle on his back and followed the central road farther in.

The farther he went, the fewer shops there were, and the quieter and more solemn the atmosphere became, until he arrived before a large iron gate.

Tall iron fences extended out from either side of the gate, seemingly enclosing the entire forest.

Quite a few soldiers in standard-issue armor patrolled nearby with spears in hand, their expressions vigilant.

Looking around, Lin Yang soon spotted Zhao Bufan.

Zhao Bufan seemed somewhat uneasy, his gaze constantly darting about. Only upon seeing Lin Yang did a hint of joy appear on his face.

"Boss!" Zhao Bufan called from a distance before quickly approaching.

"You're finally here."

Lin Yang gave a slight nod, looking apologetic.

"Sorry, I was delayed on the way."

Just as Zhao Bufan was about to say something else, an impatient voice cut straight in.

"Bufan, this is that classmate of yours? He certainly took his sweet time. Now that he's here, let's get moving. I've still got things to do."

Zhao Bufan paled at those words, then gave Lin Yang a faint, wry smile.

"He's my father's cousin, Zhao Zhuo."

Lin Yang looked at Zhao Bufan's uncle. He was tall and burly, and a scar running diagonally from the corner of his eye to the bridge of his nose added to his fierce appearance.

Zhao Zhuo was also sizing Lin Yang up with a sidelong glance.

Finding him to be merely a six- or seven-year-old child, he dismissed him entirely, unable to keep from sneering inwardly.

My elder brother's brat is really going backward with age, calling some little kid his boss. What a good-for-nothing.

Lin Yang saw the contempt in Zhao Zhuo's eyes perfectly clearly, but paid it no mind.

He was not truly just six years old. Winning a war of words now would gain him nothing, and might even cost him a piece of cannon fodder.

"Let's go!"

The three then came to the entrance of the Soul Hunting Forest.

Clang!

Two sharp spears crossed in front of them.

One of the guards barked, "Halt! No entry without a Soul Hunting Writ!"

"We have one! We have one!"

A fawning smile appeared on Zhao Zhuo's rugged face before he turned and impatiently urged Zhao Bufan,

"What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and take it out."

Already mentally prepared, Zhao Bufan carefully took a black metal token from inside his clothes.

A sword, a hammer, and a dragon were carved on the token, glinting faintly in the sunlight.

A flash of greed passed through Zhao Zhuo's eyes when he saw it.

There were plenty of Soul Hunting groups in Nuoding City, but those possessing a Soul Hunting Writ could be counted on one's fingers.

With this writ, one could practically make money lying down from rental fees alone, without taking any risks.

The guard carefully inspected the Soul Hunting Writ. Once he confirmed that everything was in order, he returned it to Zhao Bufan.

"You may pass!"

Zhao Bufan carefully tucked the writ back inside his clothes. Only then did the three pass through the checkpoint and officially enter the Soul Hunting Forest.

As soon as they stepped into the forest, a breath of fresh, moist air washed over them, involuntarily lifting all three of their spirits.

Not far away, towering trees blotted out the sky and sun, their leaves interwoven. Sunlight filtered through the gaps, leaving patches of dappled light on the ground.

As they walked into the forest, the cries of all kinds of Soul Beasts filled their surroundings, making the place feel brimming with life while carrying a hint of unknown danger.

Lin Yang curiously examined everything in the forest, while Zhao Zhuo now appeared somewhat wary, the muscles throughout his body involuntarily tensing.

"You two follow me. Don't go blundering around and touching things. If you get yourselves killed, that's not my problem," Zhao Zhuo warned sharply in a lowered voice.

Zhao Bufan nodded in silence.

With a thought from Lin Yang, Crimson Interval appeared in his hand.

Zhao Zhuo naturally noticed Lin Yang's action, but merely glanced at his Martial Soul, gave a quiet scoff, and paid him no further attention.

Clearly, he did not think a child holding a blade would be of any use in this forest, where danger lurked on every side.

In any case, he was only guaranteeing that his nephew would get a Hundred-Year Soul Ring. As for anything else... that was not his concern.

Zhao Zhuo had clearly been to the Soul Hunting Forest before. Along the way, he led the two around unnecessary trouble, reaching the forest's middle section without obstruction.

The trees here were taller, the surroundings deeper and more secluded, and a faint, elusive sense of pressure began to permeate the air.

This was the boundary between the territories of Ten-Year Soul Beasts and Hundred-Year Soul Beasts, and many people chose this area for Soul Hunting.

Going any farther in, they would very likely encounter Soul Beasts seven or eight hundred years old, or even thousand-year ones.

At that point, they would not be hunting Soul Beasts, but delivering themselves as their rations.