The First Soul Beast Was Deliberately Sent by Him

Entrance to Dragon Spine Valley.

The wind whistled through the gaps between the mountain walls on both sides.

The golden bamboo leaves rubbed against each other, making a soft, rustling sound.

The man in the gray robe stood in front of the bamboo grove.

A smile was on his face.

There was no emotion in his eyes.

"Number Zero."

"Green Bamboo Key."

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

Gao Yan took a step forward.

The Crimson Armored Bear Martial Soul was not released.

The Soul Power of a level 46 Soul Ancestor had already quietly covered the surroundings.

"Who are you?"

"The Guardian of Dragon Spine Valley".

The man in the gray robe answered.

"Gu Jiu."

Yan Feng looked at the golden bamboo forest behind him.

Who appointed you?

"Valley."

Gu Jiu said.

This place does not belong to any kingdom.

"Naturally, there's no need for anyone to appoint them."

Gao Yan's voice turned cold.

"Release your Martial Soul."

Gu Jiu tilted his head slightly.

"Why?"

"Confirm your identity and Soul Power."

"Entering an unfamiliar area inhabited by Soul Beast."

"Anyone who approaches the Soul Hunting Team must undergo inspection."

Gu Jiu looked down at his hands.

"My Martial Soul is no longer in my body."

It remained in the valley.

"Unable to release."

Yan Feng had already removed the black iron round shield.

Lin He also retreated to Dong Jian and Li Man's side.

The Martial Soul is not in the body.

This statement is completely contrary to the common sense of ordinary Soul Master.

Gu Jiu, however, seemed oblivious to the crowd's wariness.

He turned and walked into the valley.

"You've come looking for the Dragon-Patterned Ironback Bear."

"And the Coiled Dragon Golden Bamboo."

"I know where they are."

Li Man's eyes flickered slightly.

"Coiled Dragon Golden Bamboo"?

She had only seen the golden bamboo forest in the resonant images before.

They did not know the true name of that Soul Beast.

Gu Jiu, however, said it directly.

"Golden patterns like scales."

"Bamboo root coiled like a dragon."

"Around seven hundred years."

"Perfect for Green Jade Bamboo's Second Soul Ring."

He then looked at Dong Jian.

"Dragon-Patterned Ironback Bear".

"The carapace is stained with a thin layer of dragon's blood."

"It provides weight, shock absorption, and defense."

"That's the strength you need most right now."

Dong Jian did not respond.

The warning given by the Divine Dragon Secret Realm last night remains clear.

Don't believe the first Soul Beast he points out.

Gao Yan raised his hand to stop Gu Jiu, who was about to continue forward.

"I decide the route."

"You can provide intelligence."

"But you cannot get within ten paces of the group."

Gu Jiu smiled.

"I won't lead the way."

"You might not be able to find a suitable Soul Beast even in three days."

"Then let's look for three days."

Gao Yan said.

"Soul Hunting is not about traveling."

"It's not that we have to hunt down whoever points out a Soul Beast first."

For the first time, a very faint ripple appeared in Gu Jiu's eyes.

It's not anger.

It's more like a kind of impatience.

"Whatever you say."

He was walking fifteen paces ahead.

The speed is not fast.

Almost no sound was made underfoot.

The Soul Hunting officially entered Dragon Spine Valley.

The area around the valley is more complex than it appears on the map.

The mountain walls on both sides intersect like the spine of a giant dragon.

The ground is covered with narrow cracks.

The Soul Power in the air was noticeably denser than in Nuoding City.

Occasionally, one can see Hundred-Year Soul Beast passing through the forest.

But as long as Gu Jiu appears.

The Soul Beast will then stop on their own.

Crouch low.

They only dared to continue their actions after he left.

Dong Jian glanced at the ground.

Soul Beast are not suppressed by powerful pressure.

Because the vegetation was unaffected.

There were no obvious fluctuations in Soul Power around Gu Jiu.

Those Soul Beast seemed to have received some kind of inescapable command.

Li Man held the Green Jade Bamboo in her hand.

No Soul Ring were released.

The bamboo roots' sensory abilities quietly spread along the ground.

The vibrations coming from Gu Jiu's feet were very strange.

The weight is exactly the same for each step.

There is no change in speed.

There was also no shift in the center of gravity as a normal person would when walking.

Like a body controlled by something.

One hour later.

Gu Jiu suddenly stopped.

"Arrive."

Gao Yan raised his hand.

The group immediately stopped.

Ahead was a scree slope.

Several sturdy trees were snapped in half.

The broken part of the tree trunk was still very fresh.

The scent of bear-like Soul Beast lingered in the air.

Yan Feng crouched down to examine the footprints.

"Its length is about three meters."

"He is very heavy."

"There are traces of scales rubbing against the edges of the claw print."

"The year is approximately seven hundred years."

Gu Jiu stood at the other end of the scree slope.

"Seven hundred and forty years."

"Dragon-Patterned Ironback Bear".

"I have an old injury in my right foreleg."

"Unable to run for extended periods."

"His age, physical attributes, and physical condition are all very suitable for Dong Jian."

He went into too much detail.

It was as if this Soul Beast hadn't just happened to live nearby.

Instead, it had already been checked by him countless times.

Gao Yan looked at Dong Jian.

"Observe first."

"No action is permitted without my order."

A low roar came from deep within the woods.

The trees shook violently.

A massive black bear crashed through the bushes.

The back is not made of ordinary fur.

Instead, they were patches of dark gray scales.

Dark gold patterns are distributed among the scales.

Like a slender dragon coiled on its back.

Dragon-Patterned Ironback Bear.

After the Soul Beast appeared.

They didn't observe the Soul Hunting team first.

They also failed to assess the enemy's strength.

It simply lowered its head.

He charged toward Dong Jian.

"Its target is you!"

Yan Feng black iron round shield horizontally in front of him.

"First Soul Skill: Iron Shield Expansion!"

Yellow Soul Ring lit up.

The black iron shield expanded instantly.

The Dragon-Patterned Ironback Bear collided head-on with the shield.

Bang!

Yan Feng slid back two steps.

Soul Elder- level defense is enough to withstand a seven-hundred-year-old Soul Beast.

But the Ironback Bear did not retreat.

It kept waving its paws.

He only wanted to bypass Yan Feng Yan Feng towards Dong Jian.

Gao Yan releases his Martial Soul.

The Crimson Armored Bear appeared behind them.

Four Soul Ring, two yellow and two purple, rose up.

The oppressive aura belonging to the Soul Ancestor spread out.

The Dragon-Patterned Ironback Bear's body visibly stiffened.

But they didn't run away.

The dark gold dragon pattern lit up rapidly.

Extremely fine black lines appeared on the surface of the eyes.

Dong Jian saw it immediately.

"It's contaminated."

Gao Yan's Third Soul Ring lit up.

"Third Soul Skill, Crimson Bear Suppression!"

A bear paw covered in fiery red scales fell from above.

Bang!

The Dragon-Patterned Ironback Bear was pinned to the ground.

Gravel flew in all directions.

It is still struggling.

His limbs pounded the ground frantically.

Each time it falls, it creates a slight oscillation.

Dong Jian looked at that power.

Ground shaking.

That's exactly the skill he needs to develop.

If you absorb this Soul Ring.

The Second Soul Skill will likely be similar to what was expected.

The bear's back features dark gold markings.

The thin black lines are spreading continuously.

Li Man's Green Jade Bamboo also trembled slightly.

"The dark lines aren't just on the skin."

"It has entered the head and spine."

Lin He stepped forward.

The healing Martial Soul is a White-Leaf Orchid.

Three Soul Ring rose up.

She did not directly inject her Soul Power into the Soul Beast's body.

She was simply using White-Leaf Orchid's perception to check for external Soul Power fluctuations.

A moment later.

Lin He shook her head.

"It's not an ordinary toxin."

"Like some kind of forcibly implanted alien Soul Power."

"It has already merged with its own Soul Power."

"Cannot be peeled off."

Gu Jiu stood at a distance.

"Contamination does not affect the Soul Ring."

"After the Soul Beast dies."

"External control will dissipate naturally."

Dong Jian looked at him.

"You've absorbed the Soul Ring of a corrupted Soul Beast?"

Gu Jiu did not answer.

"This Soul Beast is perfect for you."

"After missing out."

"It's not certain that we can find another record of the same year."

Gao Yan continued to press down on the Ironback Bear with his palm.

Dong Jian.

"It's up to you whether to end it."

The Ironback Bear raised its head and roared.

They showed no fear of death that normal Soul Beast would experience.

Only chaos and pain.

Its right foreleg is indeed injured.

However, a layer of extremely fine golden powder clung to the edges of the wound.

Dong Jian did not draw his Soul Hunting Dagger.

I don't hunt.

Gu Jiu's narrow pupils contracted slightly.

"Why?"

"Pollution has entered our consciousness."

Dong Jian said.

Even if it might disappear after death.

"It's only a possibility."

"And it doesn't choose to attack on its own."

"I was brought to you by someone."

"Soul Beast are prey by nature."

Gu Jiu's voice remained calm.

"You only need to consider whether the Soul Ring are suitable."

"What I need to consider is..."

"After being absorbed, what exactly entered my Martial Soul?"

Dong Jian looked at the Ironback Bear.

"The attributes are suitable."

"This does not mean the Soul Ring are suitable."

Gu Jiu remained silent for a moment.

You wasted the opportunity that was best suited for you.

"Opportunities require someone else to control Soul Beast and deliver them in advance."

Dong Jian answered.

"Then that's not my chance."

The Dragon-Patterned Ironback Bear suddenly began to struggle violently.

The black lines on the back all lit up.

The body began to swell.

Lin He's expression changed.

"Pollution is provoking it to explode!"

Gao Yan did not wait any longer.

The Fourth Soul Ring lit up.

"Fourth Soul Skill, Crimson Armor Mountain-Breaking Palm!"

The crimson bear paw slammed down.

Click!

The Dragon-Patterned Ironback Bear suffered a broken neck bone.

The struggle stopped.

A Yellow Soul Ring slowly rose from the corpse.

Rich in color.

The year is nearing its limit.

The Soul Ring hovered in front of Dong Jian.

It also faintly displays a dark gold pattern.

As long as he sits down to be pulled.

Then you will have the opportunity to obtain your ideal Second Soul Skill.

Dong Jian, however, took a step back.

No absorption was achieved.

The Yellow Soul Ring drifted slowly through the air.

Eventually, it gradually dissipated.

Gu Jiu stared at the vanished Soul Ring.

For the first time, his expression truly turned cold.

You'll regret it later.

We'll talk about it later.

Dong Jian answered.

Yan Feng examines the carcass of the Ironback Bear.

No black metal rings were found.

There was also no emblem of the Return to One Society.

The pollution seemed to exist directly within its Soul Power.

"No control device."

Yan Feng said.

How did it get here?

Li Man did not answer.

She crouched down next to the right front paw of the Dragon-Patterned Ironback Bear.

A layer of golden powder was gently picked out from the tip of the Green Jade Bamboo.

Bamboo powder.

The color is similar to that of the golden bamboo forest at the valley entrance.

She touched it with her Martial Soul.

The golden powder immediately generated subtle fluctuations in Soul Power.

In addition to the aura of plant-based Soul Beast.

It is also mixed with another very regular force.

Each fluctuation occurred at exactly the same interval.

Like the footsteps of Gu Jiu.

Li Man put the powder into a small bottle.

It was not explained in public.

There's no point in staying here any longer.

Gao Yan stood up.

"Let's change our route."

Gu Jiu said:

"The second one would be more suitable."

Gao Yan turned to look at him.

"From now on."

"You are no longer providing any Soul Beast locations."

"If you continue to follow..."

"Maintain a distance of fifty paces."

Gu Jiu did not argue.

They simply retreated into the shadows of the bamboo grove.

Gao Yan led the team to advance towards the east side of the valley.

After everyone left the scree slope.

Dong Jian lowered his voice.

"He lured that Soul Beast here."

"Sure?"

There was golden bamboo powder in the crevices of its claws.

Li Man said:

"His Soul Power is mixed in."

"At least exactly the same as the fluctuations beneath his feet."

Dong Jian looked behind him.

Gu Jiu was not in sight.

"Retreat now."

"It has been confirmed that the valley guardian has a problem."

Li Man shook her head.

"It's only confirmed that he delivered the corrupted Soul Beast."

"We still don't know why he insists we absorb it."

"Isn't that enough?"

"Be vigilant enough."

"Not enough to abandon all clues."

Li Man grasped the Green Jade Bamboo.

"The Coiled Dragon Golden Bamboo might really exist."

"The Key Fragment purification still points to Dragon Spine Valley."

"Retreat now."

"The Return to One Society and the Valley Guardians will not stop."

Dong Jian frowned.

"Continue to delve deeper."

"That might be exactly what he wanted."

"So we won't follow his route."

Li Man said.

"We do not accept the Soul Beast he pointed out."

We'll find it ourselves.

"If another inducement occurs..."

"Retreat immediately."

Dong Jian did not agree immediately.

This time I came to Dragon Spine Valley.

This is no longer an ordinary Soul Hunting.

The valley keepers knew their names.

It can make Soul Beast obey.

It can also corrupt a seven-hundred-year-old Soul Beast without using any obvious devices.

The risks of further escalation are far greater than originally anticipated.

Gao Yan stopped in his tracks.

They had clearly heard the argument between the two.

"Half a day."

He said.

"We conducted our own investigation for half a day."

"If no trace of a safe Soul Beast can be found..."

"Or the valley guardian might intervene again."

"Evacuate immediately."

"This is the team leader's decision."

Dong Jian no longer objected.

"Clear."

The team completely abandoned the path provided by Gu Jiu.

Li Man sensed the aura of the plant -Soul Beast through the Green Jade Bamboo.

Yan Feng determined the activity area of high-age Soul Beast based on their footprints.

Gao Yan was in charge of clearing away any dangers ahead.

Lin He then continuously checked the surrounding area for any signs of pollution.

Half a day has passed.

Gu Jiu did not reappear.

evening.

Li Man suddenly stopped.

The Green Jade Bamboo pattern lit up on its own.

The wind blew from deep in the valley.

It carries an extremely pure plant-based Soul Power.

There is no black pollution.

There was no trace of the Return to One Society's equipment.

Southeast direction.

Li Man said.

"It's not far."

The group passed through a narrow mountain crevice.

Suddenly, the view opened up.

Ahead lay a veritable golden bamboo forest.

Each bamboo stalk has pale golden veins on its surface.

The closer to the center.

The older the bamboo, the better.

Deepest part of the woodland.

A giant golden bamboo, about ten meters tall, grows in a coiled manner.

The bamboo stalk is not straight.

Instead, it meanders around several giant rocks like a dragon.

The root system rises from the ground.

It forms a natural barrier.

Inside the barrier.

Dozens of immature bamboo stalks are growing there.

Li Man's breath hitched slightly.

It is exactly the same as the one in the resonance image.

Coiled Dragon Golden Bamboo.

It dates back approximately seven hundred years.

The Green Jade Bamboo Martial Soul conveyed a distinct sense of closeness.

It's not a resonance forced by the Key Fragment.

Rather, it is the natural response of the Martial Soul Origin to similar forces.

"It might suit you."

Lin He said.

"Don't go any closer."

"Plant-type Soul Beast usually have a larger attack range than they appear."

Gao Yan began to inspect the surrounding area.

Yan Feng looked down to observe the ground.

The next moment.

His expression changed.

On the damp soil outside the bamboo grove.

A row of clear footprints remained.

It's not Soul Beast.

These are traces left by human cloth shoes.

The footprints were identical in length, stride, and depth.

There was no difference between how Gu Jiu walked.

Dong Jian turned around.

Gu Jiu did not follow at the back of the group.

It should begin at least half a day ago.

No one has ever seen him.

But the footprints in front of me looked very fresh.

Someone had passed by the bamboo grove not long ago.

Li Man followed the footprints forward.

Footprints entered the bamboo forest.

Walk to the Coiled Dragon Golden Bamboo.

They then turned back.

The problem is--

There was only one person's footprints.

There is no origin.

There is no end point to leaving.

It's like someone suddenly appearing in the bamboo forest.

Then it vanished into thin air somewhere.

The golden bamboo leaves suddenly swayed.

On the other side of the bamboo grove.

A figure in a gray robe slowly emerged.

Gu Jiu stood there.

Looking at Li Man.

"The second one."

"Wouldn't that be more suitable?"

Yan Feng immediately turned around and looked back at the way he had come.

Outside the mountain crevice.

Another man in a grey robe was standing fifty paces behind Gao Yan.

The same clothes.

The same slender eyes.

A smile that also lacks warmth.

Two Gu Jiu.

They appeared at both the front and back of the group.