A Letter from Dragon Spine Valley

Inside the training ground.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the Soul Hunter.

His left arm was wrapped in thick bandages.

The wound did not look like an ordinary Soul Beast scratch.

The edges of the skin were grayish-black, but no poison had spread inside. It looked more as though it had been repeatedly scorched by some kind of chaotic Soul Power.

"Did he really say our names?"

Dong Jian asked.

"He didn't ask."

The Soul Hunter shook his head.

"I didn't even mention Nuoding Academy."

"He took one look at me and told me to pass a message to Dong Jian and Li Man."

"He also said you'd just reached level twenty."

The training ground fell silent.

Less than a day had passed since Dong Jian and Li Man had broken through to level twenty.

Quite a few people within the academy knew about it.

But Dragon Spine Valley was a long way from Nuoding City.

Under normal circumstances, the news couldn't possibly have traveled so fast.

Yan Feng walked up to the Soul Hunter.

"Tell us again what happened when you met him."

The Soul Hunter took a deep breath.

"As the academy commissioned me to do, I only investigated traces of Soul Beasts on the outskirts of Dragon Spine Valley."

"I never actually entered the valley."

"On the morning of the third day, I found a golden bamboo grove at the entrance to the valley."

"There wasn't a single Soul Beast in it."

"It wasn't that no Soul Beasts lived there."

"Every Soul Beast in the area deliberately avoided it."

Gao Yan frowned.

"What were the Soul Beasts' ages?"

"There were quite a few Hundred-Year Soul Beasts on the outskirts."

"There were even footprints left by a Thousand-Year Soul Beast."

"But no matter what kind of Soul Beast it was, it would go around the golden bamboo grove."

The Soul Hunter's voice gradually grew quieter.

"That man was standing outside the bamboo grove."

"He looked to be in his forties or fifties."

"He wore a worn gray robe."

"He didn't release a Martial Soul."

"Nor did he have any Soul Rings."

"But when the Soul Beasts around him saw him, they all lay flat on the ground."

Lin He, a healing-type Soul Elder, asked:

"Was it his imposing pressure?"

"It didn't seem like it."

The Soul Hunter said:

"They weren't afraid."

"It was more like they'd been forcibly ordered to be quiet."

"That man's eyes were strange."

"His pupils were long and narrow."

"There was no emotion in his gaze."

"After he said Dong Jian and Li Man's names, he told me to leave."

The Soul Hunter took a wooden box from inside his robes.

The wooden box opened.

Inside lay a finger-length segment of golden bamboo.

Fine dragon patterns covered its surface.

It bore no trace of a Soul Ring.

Yet it trembled gently when it came close to Li Man.

Green Jade Bamboo appeared in Li Man's palm of its own accord.

The golden bamboo segment immediately flew up.

It hovered in front of the Green Jade Bamboo.

A light shone within the bamboo segment.

Only Li Man could clearly sense the Soul Power fluctuations it conveyed.

They were not ordinary words.

They were more like a message entering her consciousness directly.

The two keys must not enter the valley.

The contamination will turn on the host.

Li Man's expression changed slightly.

She did not read out the entire message in front of everyone.

She merely raised a hand and caught the bamboo segment.

"It's asking us to go to Dragon Spine Valley."

Yu Xiaogang immediately asked:

"What exactly did it say?"

"It has to do with resonance with my Martial Soul."

Li Man said.

"As for the rest, I can't confirm whether it's true for now."

Yu Xiaogang looked at her.

"If you can't confirm it,"

"then you have even less reason to go."

"A person of unknown origin."

"An object of unknown origin."

"And he even knew your names and levels."

"This is no longer an invitation."

"It's a trap."

Dong Jian did not immediately argue.

By common sense.

Yu Xiaogang's concern this time was not without reason.

The valley keeper knew their names.

And the Return to One Society had been searching for the key fragments.

Dragon Spine Valley might well have been prepared for them long ago.

But on the other hand.

The Divine Dragon Secret Realm.

The Green Jade Bamboo map.

The conditions for purifying the key fragments.

And the targets for their Second Soul Rings, suited to the two of them.

All the clues pointed to the same place.

The vice dean walked over to the map.

"Let's discuss the Second Soul Rings first."

"Then we'll decide whether to go."

Yu Xiaogang placed the two sets of materials he had prepared the previous day on the table.

"For Dong Jian's Second Soul Ring."

"The safest choice is still the Heavy Mountain Bear."

"Its age should be kept around seven hundred years."

"The Heavy Mountain Bear has stable defensive and strength attributes."

"That matches the direction of the Earth Savage Bear Soul Ring."

"His Second Soul Skill would most likely further increase his physical strength, weight, or defense."

He picked up the other set of materials.

"Li Man should choose the Entwining Vine Wood Demon."

"Again, its age should be kept around seven hundred years."

"It can strengthen the bamboo vines' resilience, control range, and duration."

"Both of these Soul Beasts can be found in ordinary Soul Hunting Forests."

"There's no need to enter Dragon Spine Valley for some so-called dragon bloodline and golden bamboo grove."

Li Man opened the materials on the Entwining Vine Wood Demon.

"Its main abilities are parasitism and sustained Entanglement."

"That's right."

"It can improve the stability of your control."

"What my Green Bamboo Binding Formation lacks right now isn't stability."

Li Man said:

"It's long-range attacks and the ability to finish an enemy off."

Yu Xiaogang frowned.

"We've already discussed this."

"A Control System Soul Master doesn't need to finish off an enemy alone."

"And I've already proved otherwise."

Li Man closed the materials.

"Stationary control is easy to counter."

"If my Second Soul Skill only strengthens the bamboo vines."

"When I face an enemy who can directly destroy the formation's core."

"All I'd be doing is making something that would have been destroyed harder to destroy."

"The problem still wouldn't be solved."

Yu Xiaogang looked at Dong Jian.

"You're planning to reject the Heavy Mountain Bear too?"

"The Heavy Mountain Bear suits me."

Dong Jian answered.

"But the Dragon-Patterned Ironback Bear might suit me better."

"Its ground-shaking ability isn't stable."

"It's precisely because it isn't stable that I need to judge it on the spot."

Dong Jian said:

"I won't absorb the first Dragon-Patterned Ironback Bear I see."

"But I won't abandon that entire direction just because three records differ, either."

Yu Xiaogang's tone grew increasingly stern.

"You're being influenced by these so-called key fragments and Martial Soul resonance."

"You can no longer judge things objectively."

"Everything connected to Dragon Spine Valley has become a special opportunity in your eyes."

"This is exactly when you're in the most danger."

Li Man looked up.

"If we completely trusted the valley keeper,"

"we'd have set out already."

"We're willing to have an official academy teacher lead the team."

"We're willing to check the Soul Beasts' ages again."

"And we accept that we may have to retreat at any time."

"That's not losing our judgment."

"Then are you willing to accept my Soul Beast plan?"

Yu Xiaogang asked.

"We can take it into consideration."

Dong Jian replied.

"We can't decide in advance."

Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened.

"In that case,

"you're only borrowing the academy teachers' strength to carry out a plan you've already decided on."

Yan Feng had stayed out of the argument all along.

Only now did he speak.

"The purpose of having academy teachers lead the team

"was never to choose Soul Rings for the students.

"We're responsible for confirming their ages,

"judging the risks of absorption,

"and ensuring that other Soul Beasts don't interrupt the Soul Hunt.

"The Soul Master should make the final choice of which Soul Beast to hunt."

Yu Xiaogang turned his head.

"They're only ten years old.

"Their judgment could be affected by resonance with their Martial Souls.

"That's why they need a teacher to correct them."

Yan Feng said,

"Correcting faulty judgment

"isn't the same as choosing the outcome for them in advance.

"If the Dragon-Patterned Ironback Bear proves unsuitable when we see it,

"I'll stop Dong Jian from hunting it.

"If the golden plant Soul Beast shows clear signs of contamination,

"Gao Yan will lead the team out immediately.

"But before I've seen the Soul Beast,

"I won't rely on the records alone to say it's definitely the wrong choice."

Their gazes met in the air.

Yu Xiaogang had no advantage in Soul Rings,

nor any experience actually leading a team into a dangerous area.

He could provide theory,

but he couldn't decide how an official Soul Hunting team operated.

The vice dean finally spoke.

"You may go to Dragon Spine Valley,

"but three conditions must be met.

"First,

"Gao Yan will be the overall team leader.

"He's a level forty-six Power Attack System Soul Ancestor.

"His orders will take precedence in all matters of combat and retreat."

Gao Yan nodded.

"Second,

"Yan Feng will be responsible for protecting Dong Jian and Li Man.

"Lin He will be responsible for healing and physical examinations after Soul Ring absorption.

"Third,

"after entering Dragon Spine Valley,

"anything connected to the Return to One Society, fused Soul Beasts, or unknown resonance

"must be reported to the teachers leading the team immediately."

Dong Jian and Li Man exchanged a glance.

The last condition conflicted with the secret of the key fragments.

There was no way they could reveal the Divine Dragon Secret Realm.

Nor could they disclose everything they knew about the two keys.

But if an anomaly appeared that directly endangered the team, they really couldn't continue hiding it.

"We'll report dangerous phenomena,"

Li Man said.

"But we'll still keep the parts concerning the core of our personal Martial Souls to ourselves."

The vice dean looked at her for a moment.

"Very well.

"But if the information you conceal affects the safety of the entire team,

"Gao Yan has the authority to terminate the Soul Hunt immediately."

"Agreed."

Yu Xiaogang suddenly said,

"Tang San should go with them."

Tang San was slightly taken aback.

Yu Xiaogang continued,

"His Blue Silver Grass has a strong sensitivity to plant-type Soul Beasts.

"His Mysterious Jade Hand can protect him from contact with some plant toxins.

"If anything unusual happens with the golden bamboo-type Soul Beast,

"Tang San can help.

"Besides, there may be members of the Return to One Society in Dragon Spine Valley.

"The team will be safer with another Soul Grandmaster."

Tang San stepped forward.

"I can go."

Xiao Wu spoke up as well.

"Then I'll go too."

But Dong Jian shook his head.

"There's no need."

Tang San's gaze darkened.

"You think I'll hold you back?"

"It's not a question of strength,"

Dong Jian said.

"You and Xiao Wu have already obtained your Second Soul Rings.

"Li Man and I are the only ones hunting for Soul Rings this time.

"Dragon Spine Valley may use the key fragments to locate people who approach.

"There's no need to send more people in."

Tang San asked,

"During the mine cave incident and the Soul Beast migration,

"you needed help, so you fought alongside us.

"But now that you have a special lead, you're shutting us out?"

Li Man looked at him.

"The previous missions concerned the village and the academy.

"This time, it's about our Second Soul Rings.

"It's also a risk aimed at our Martial Souls.

"More people taking part won't necessarily make it better."

Yu Xiaogang said,

"That's just an excuse.

"The person you really don't want coming along is me."

Dong Jian didn't deny it.

"You can't take charge of combat,

"or protect the students when danger arises.

"The academy's records and the Soul Hunting teachers already provide theoretical guidance.

"If you came, you'd only be one more person who needed protecting."

Tang San's right hand clenched abruptly.

"Dong Jian,

"do you have to put it so harshly?"

"Facts don't change just because you dress them up,"

Dong Jian replied.

Blue Silver Grass grew gently at Tang San's feet.

"My teacher's Soul Power Level isn't high,

"but that doesn't mean his value is determined by combat alone."

"I never denied the value of his information.

"But once we enter Dragon Spine Valley,

"every person who comes along must have an irreplaceable role."

Dong Jian looked at Tang San.

"Neither you nor Xiao Wu needs to go, either."

Tang San wanted to argue further.

The vice dean raised a hand to stop him.

"The team has been decided.

"Gao Yan, Yan Feng, Lin He,

"Dong Jian, and Li Man.

"Everyone else will stay at the academy."

Yu Xiaogang's expression was far from pleasant.

Tang San didn't accept the outcome either.

But the academy had already made its decision.

He could only withdraw his Blue Silver Grass.

"Since you insist,

"I hope you'll still think you made the right choice when you return."

With that, Tang San turned and left.

Xiao Wu didn't follow him immediately.

She walked over to Li Man.

"You really don't need us?"

"Not this time,"

Li Man said.

"Stay at the academy.

"If we don't return by the agreed time,

"at least someone will know where we went."

Xiao Wu glanced at Dong Jian.

"Then be careful of that valley guardian.

"Someone who even knows your names

"usually isn't that kindhearted."

She hurried after Tang San.

Only the people preparing for the Soul Hunt remained on the training ground.

Gao Yan unfolded a map of the area around Dragon Spine Valley.

"We leave tomorrow.

"Finish your final preparations today.

"You two will retest your Soul Power and physical limits.

"Let me make this clear first:

"finding a suitable Soul Beast doesn't mean we'll necessarily hunt it.

"If there's anything unusual about the valley guardian,

"or if the Return to One Society has made large-scale arrangements in the valley,

"we retreat immediately.

"You can find your Second Soul Rings somewhere else."

"You only get one life."

"Understood."

Dong Jian and Li Man answered in unison.

That afternoon.

Behind the training ground.

Dong Jian finished testing Bear Astral Energy Body Protection and his sinking stance.

His level-twenty Soul Power had noticeably increased the duration of his First Soul Skill.

His weight transfer had also become more stable.

But the key fragment remained the biggest problem.

Whenever Li Man released Green Jade Bamboo,

a faint vibration came from Dong Jian's chest.

The two used the Meridian Suppression Formation to suppress the anomaly.

Lin He finished examining them.

"While you're absorbing a Soul Ring,

no outside Soul Power can enter your bodies directly."

"Those guarding you can only clear the surroundings.

They cannot help stabilize the Soul Ring."

Dong Jian nodded.

He had long understood that.

A Soul Master could only rely on themselves to absorb a Soul Ring.

Li Man asked:

"What if the key fragment resonates during absorption?"

"Immediately determine whether it affects your consciousness,"

Lin He said.

"If it's only a natural reaction from your Martial Soul, don't forcibly interrupt the absorption."

"If there are clear signs of corruption or a mental intrusion,

I'll have Gao Yan take you out of the danger zone immediately."

"But we still can't use Soul Power to suppress the Soul Ring for you."

After the tests ended,

Dong Jian and Li Man stayed behind alone at the training ground.

Dong Jian looked at the Green Jade Bamboo.

"Once we reach Dragon Spine Valley,

you should obtain your Second Soul Ring first."

Li Man looked up.

"Why?"

"A golden bamboo-type Soul Beast might be more compatible with the key fragment."

"Once you've obtained your Second Soul Ring,

you'll at least meet part of the purification requirements."

"I can observe the changes in the key fragment."

Li Man's expression gradually turned cold.

"You're planning to use me as a test first?"

"No."

Dong Jian spoke immediately.

"Coiling-dragon-type plant Soul Beasts have attributes closer to those of Green Jade Bamboo."

"In theory, the resonance would be more stable."

"In theory?"

Li Man asked.

"When did you start using that kind of reasoning to take risks on someone else's behalf?"

Dong Jian fell silent.

Li Man continued:

"If I absorb mine first

and the key fragment goes out of control, you can watch from the side."

"If you absorb yours first,

you'll be the one who loses control."

"So you chose to let me go first?"

"I'll be there to guard you."

"You can't interfere with Soul Ring absorption,"

Li Man said.

"Just as I can't stabilize yours for you."

"Who hunts first

should depend on which truly suitable Soul Beast we encounter first on the spot,

not on whose taking the risk first would be more convenient."

Dong Jian was silent for a moment.

He had indeed subconsciously tried again to arrange things so the danger would be more controllable.

But that kind of control

was still making the decision for Li Man.

"All right."

Dong Jian finally nodded.

"We won't set an order in advance."

"Whoever encounters a suitable target first

gets their Soul Ring first."

"The other person will only stand guard and clear away external threats."

"We share any abnormalities with the key fragment immediately,"

Li Man added.

"No more deciding on your own whether to speak up."

"Agreed."

That night,

Dong Jian entered the Divine Dragon Secret Realm.

In front of the stone stele in the Hundred Battles Hall,

the sealed key fragment, for the first time, did not vibrate because Li Man was near.

Instead, it unfolded on its own.

The black eye pattern slowly shifted.

A blurry image appeared above the stone slab.

Mountains surrounded it.

The entrance to Dragon Spine Valley.

A gray-robed man stood outside a golden bamboo grove.

He was the valley keeper the Soul Hunters had described.

The valley keeper in the image did not move,

but three shadows appeared on the ground.

The first

was a giant bear with dragon markings on its back.

The second

was a long, coiled serpent.

The third

was a human figure with twisted limbs.

All three shadows connected beneath the valley keeper's feet.

Dong Jian looked at the stone stele.

New words slowly appeared.

The target's life structure is abnormal.

Unable to determine whether it is a single life-form.

Inducing signal detected.

After entering Dragon Spine Valley,

do not trust the first Soul Beast he points out.

The image abruptly shattered.

A curtain of black-and-white light covered the key fragment once more.

Dong Jian left the secret realm.

He kept nothing hidden this time.

He immediately found Li Man

and told her the stele's warning in full.

After hearing him out, Li Man said only one thing:

"Tomorrow, no matter what the valley keeper says,

we'll check the Soul Beast's condition ourselves first."

"All right."

Early the next morning,

the Soul Hunting team left Nuoding Academy.

Gao Yan walked at the front.

Yan Feng was responsible for the rear of the team.

Lin He sat in a carriage loaded with medicine.

Dong Jian and Li Man walked side by side.

Tang San did not come to see them off.

Xiao Wu, however, stood at the academy gates and waved hard.

Several days later,

mountains gradually appeared at the far end of their view.

They had reached Dragon Spine Valley.

The valley entrance was narrow.

The cliffs on either side rose like the backbone of a giant dragon.

Outside the valley entrance,

a golden bamboo grove swayed gently in the wind.

The gray-robed man stood before the grove,

as though he had never moved.

Gao Yan raised a hand.

The entire team stopped.

The gray-robed man slowly raised his head.

His slender pupils swept over Gao Yan, Yan Feng, and Lin He one by one,

before finally settling on Dong Jian and Li Man.

The corners of his mouth slowly rose,

but there was no warmth in his smile.

"Number Zero."

"Green Bamboo Key."

"I've been waiting ten years for you."