During these three days, Wang Teng and his brother Wang Sheng had scoured nearly all of Notting City, preparing for the upcoming soul hunting expedition.
They each purchased a durable leather armor—somewhat bulky to wear, but offering at least some protection.
In addition, Wang Teng had specially ordered three short spears from the blacksmith shop.
The shafts were short and easy to carry, with tips polished to a sharp gleam and three blood grooves carved into them.
This was Wang Teng’s backup plan for himself.
Wang Sheng, meanwhile, had a pair of iron claws forged—ones he could wear on his hands.
Though his Battle Tiger martial soul could now possess his body, Wang Sheng hadn’t yet obtained any soul skills, and his attack methods were still relatively primitive.
With these iron claws, he’d have more confidence in close-quarters combat.
Beyond these, the brothers also purchased some insect repellent powder and portable dried rations.
After everything was prepared, they made sure to request leave from the academy.
On the morning of the fourth day, just as the sky began to brighten, Wang Teng and Wang Sheng left Notting Academy and headed straight for the Spirit Hall.
In the square before the hall, Su Yuntao and Sisi were already waiting.
They wore matching outfits—one grey, one pink—and looked quite the couple standing together.
A simple carriage was parked nearby, the horse quietly chewing on fodder.
“Brother Tao, Sister Sisi!”
Wang Teng waved from a distance.
Su Yuntao turned at the sound, smiled, and waved back.
“Right on time.
Get in—let’s set off early.”
Su Yuntao took the reins, while Wang Teng and Wang Sheng followed Sisi into the carriage.
The wheels rumbled over the cobblestones, and the carriage slowly rolled out of Notting City, heading southeast toward the Soul Hunting Forest.
Inside the carriage, Wang Teng watched the receding scenery through the window and struck up a conversation: “Sister Sisi, have you decided what soul beast you’re aiming for this time?”
Sisi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled.
“My martial soul is Silk—control type.”
“This time, I’m looking for a Golden Silk Vine of around five to six hundred years.”
“This type of soul beast has extremely tough vines.
If I can successfully absorb it, my martial soul’s strength should increase considerably.”
“Golden Silk Vine…”
Wang Teng searched his mind for information about this soul beast.
It was a relatively common plant-type soul beast, non-poisonous, relying on its tough and highly extendable golden vines to capture prey—indeed well-suited for Sisi’s martial soul.
“Very fitting for you,” Wang Teng nodded sincerely.
“Then I wish you a smooth hunt for the right soul ring, Sister Sisi.”
“Thanks for the good wishes.”
Sisi’s smile brightened.
The carriage bumped along, and with chatting and laughter, time passed relatively quickly.
By midday, the carriage finally slowed and stopped outside a bustling market town.
The four got out one by one.
The town before them wasn’t large—just one main street—but it was crowded and lively.
Shops lined both sides of the street: weapons and armor, soul beast material buyers, inns, and taverns—all filled with hawking calls and bargaining.
“This is the last town before entering the Soul Hunting Forest.”
Su Yuntao explained to the Wang brothers as he parked the carriage at the stable at the entrance.
“Whether people are heading in to hunt or returning fully loaded, most stop here to rest, resupply, or sell their haul.
So this little soul hunting town is especially bustling.”
“Wow, Yuntao, you know so much!”
Sisi naturally took Su Yuntao’s arm, admiration shining in her eyes.
Su Yuntao scratched his head a little sheepishly.
“Haha, I’ve been to enough places to pick up a few things.”
“Let’s hurry through town and get into the forest early.”
With that, he led the way toward the forest entrance at the other end of the town.
At the entrance stood guards in heavy armor, wielding long spears.
As the four approached, one raised a hand to stop them: “Halt.
Show your通行 permit.”
Su Yuntao was already prepared.
He calmly took a document stamped with the Spirit Hall emblem from his robe and handed it over.
After carefully verifying it, the guard’s attitude became much more respectful: “So you’re a steward from the Spirit Hall.
Please enter.”
Passing through the entrance, the surrounding clamor was instantly shut off behind them, replaced by a profound silence and the thick scent of vegetation.
The Soul Hunting Forest was filled with towering ancient trees.
The noon sunlight filtered through the layered branches and leaves, forming pillars of light within the forest.
Thanks to Su Yuntao’s insider knowledge of the Soul Hunting Forest and the clarity of Sisi’s target, they didn’t linger on the forest’s outer edges for long.
Soon, the four arrived at the region where the Golden Silk Vines grew.
After pushing through a thicket of bushes, a small valley surrounded by mountains appeared before them.
The scene within the valley was quite peculiar.
Countless golden “threads” intertwined and covered almost the entire valley floor.
These golden threads shimmered with a warm luster under the sunlight.
At first glance, it looked as if the whole valley was draped in golden silk.
“So beautiful…”
“Truly spectacular.”
“These ‘golden threads’ are the vines of a Golden Silk Vine colony.
Judging by the scale, this colony is quite large.”
Wang Teng observed and remarked.
“Let’s go up higher and pick out an individual of suitable age from above,” Sisi suggested.
The four climbed up the relatively gentle slope on one side of the valley entrance.
The slope wasn’t steep, but for children like Wang Teng and Wang Sheng, it still took some effort.
Once they reached the top, the golden veins of the entire valley spread out before them, even more brilliant.
“Found it!”
Su Yuntao, with his sharper eyesight, pointed first to the southeast corner of the valley.
“Over there, near the base of the cliff—the ones with the deepest color and thickest vines.
Judging by the luster and thickness, they’re around six hundred years old.”
Wang Teng also squinted and searched carefully, soon spotting something near the cliff face just below their position.
“Brother Tao, Sister Sisi, look directly below us—at the very base of the cliff.
Those vines are slightly thinner, golden with a hint of pale green veins—about five hundred and fifty years, wouldn’t you say?”
Sisi compared what they’d both pointed out, thought for a moment, and said, “I’ll go with the five hundred and fifty-year one.”
“A six-hundred-year soul ring’s energy might be a bit much for me.
As an object-type soul master, my physique isn’t as strong as a beast soul master’s.
It’s better to be safe.”
Su Yuntao nodded in agreement.
“You’re right.”
“Then wait here and protect Sisi.
I’ll go down and handle it.”
With that, Su Yuntao leaped from the edge of the several-zhang-high slope.
“Lone Wolf, possess!”
In midair, a low shout rang out.
A grey-white light surged from Su Yuntao’s body.
His physique expanded, fur sprouted wildly—and in an instant, he had transformed into a half-wolf, half-human form.
His hands became claws, and a wild gleam shone in his eyes.
“Second Soul Skill, Claw Assault!”
A yellow soul ring rose beneath Su Yuntao’s feet.
His claws extended further, their edges gleaming with even sharper cold light.
Using his downward momentum, he lunged straight at the cluster of Golden Silk Vines at the cliff’s base.
“Rip—!”
His claws sliced through, and several finger-thick golden vines snapped cleanly.
But the Golden Silk Vine wasn’t defeated.
The remaining dozen or so vines lashed out like startled golden pythons, whipping and coiling toward Su Yuntao.
“First Soul Skill, Silk Binding!”
On the cliff face, Sisi extended both hands forward, and countless flexible white threads shot from her palms.
In an instant, they precisely wrapped around some of the vines below.
Then Sisi pulled back with all her might.
The vines were restrained, and the Golden Silk Vine’s movements faltered.
On the other side, Su Yuntao’s pressure eased significantly.
A glint of sharpness flashed in his wolf-like eyes.
“First Soul Skill, Wild Strength!”
A white light flared, and Su Yuntao’s speed and power were amplified.
He agilely weaved through the remaining vines, his claws slashing out each time to sever one or two vines.
Green sap splattered continuously, and the Golden Silk Vine’s struggles gradually weakened.
“I can’t…
I can’t hold on much longer!”
Sisi suddenly cried out.
Though her silk threads had bound the vines, the struggle from below grew fiercer.
She was being dragged forward involuntarily, about to slip over the cliff edge.
“Big Brother, help!”
Wang Teng shouted urgently.
“Battle Tiger, possess!”
Wang Sheng let out a low roar, a pale yellow glow emanating from his body.
Muscles bulged, his frame expanded, and a faint “King” pattern appeared on his forehead.
He charged to Sisi’s side in a single stride.
Then his tiger-paws clamped firmly onto the taut white threads.
He dropped his weight, bracing himself, and together with Sisi, pulled backward.
“Heave—!”
With their combined strength, they barely managed to hold their ground, locking into a stalemate with the Golden Silk Vine below.
Down in the valley, the sound of snapping vines continued.
With Sisi and Wang Sheng restraining part of the vines, Su Yuntao’s clearing speed increased significantly.
Su Yuntao landed on a rock at the valley floor, breathing slightly heavily, and waved up to signal.
“Success!”
Sisi let out a relieved breath, immediately withdrew her martial soul, and wiped the fine sweat from her brow.
Then she carefully climbed down the slope.
Wang Teng and Wang Sheng stayed above, keeping a vigilant watch on the valley’s surroundings in case the commotion had attracted other soul beasts.
Down below, Sisi walked to the wilted main body of the Golden Silk Vine, drew a short sword, and ended its life.
Faint yellow specks of light rose from the corpse, slowly coalescing into a distinct yellow soul ring that hovered in midair, gently undulating.
Sisi sat cross-legged, calmed her mind, and began to draw the soul ring in for absorption.
Time passed slowly.
The valley fell silent again, only the faint rustling of wind through the vines breaking the stillness.
After about an hour, Sisi’s soul power fluctuations gradually settled.
She opened her eyes, a trace of golden light flickering in them, her face radiant with joy.
“Level twenty-one!
The absorption went smoothly.”
“Congratulations, Sister Sisi!”
Wang Teng and Wang Sheng above, and Su Yuntao below, spoke almost in unison.
“Brother Tao, Sister Sisi, do you need to rest?”
Wang Teng called down.
Though Sisi was feeling great after absorbing the soul ring, Su Yuntao had just been in a fight and had expended some soul power and stamina.
Su Yuntao stretched his limbs, gauging his remaining soul power, and shook his head.
“No need—while Sisi was absorbing the soul ring, I’ve already recovered enough.”
“Since it’s still early, let’s continue looking for suitable soul beasts for you.”
“I don’t need rest either—I feel fantastic right now!”
Sisi stood up, her newfound vitality from the soul power infusion making her radiant.
“Alright, let’s move out.”
Su Yuntao agreed.
Then he and Sisi climbed up from the valley and rejoined the two brothers.
After a brief tidy-up, they prepared to leave the golden valley.
“Aaah—”
Just as they were about to set off, a piercing scream suddenly cut through the stillness of the forest, jolting everyone’s nerves.
“Grrrr—”
“Rip—”
“Crack—”
Immediately after, the enraged roar of a beast, the sound of something being torn apart, and the sickening crunch of breaking bones rang out in succession, echoing through the open valley.
The four exchanged glances.
Su Yuntao tilted his head toward the source of the sound.
“Go check it out?”
Wang Teng looked at Sisi.
“Sister Sisi, what do you think?”
“From the sound of it, it seems like a soul beast hunting.”
Sisi, having just absorbed her second soul ring, was full of confidence.
After a moment’s thought, she nodded.
“Let’s take a look.
Maybe we’ll run into the tiger-type soul beast you two need.”
So the four changed direction and cautiously crept toward the source of the sound—the valley entrance they had passed through earlier.
The commotion wasn’t far; they quickly and silently slipped to the slope above the left side of the valley.
Using rocks and shrubs for cover, they crouched low and peered down.
The scene at the bottom was clearly visible.
A dappled cat soul beast with dull fur had a Soft Bone Rabbit pinned beneath its claws, tearing at it.
Those earlier gut-wrenching sounds had clearly been from this hunt.
“Oh?”
Sisi’s eyes brightened slightly as she whispered, “That dappled cat…
judging by its size and soul power fluctuations, it must be over three hundred years old—perfect for you two to absorb.”
Wang Sheng, lying behind a rock, frowned and lowered his voice.
“The age is right, but isn’t this soul beast too old?”
“Its fur is already grey and white, and it’s crippled—look, there’s a chunk missing from its right leg.”
“Would absorbing a soul ring from such an old, weak, and injured beast even work?”
The dappled cat ing below did indeed show signs of age—its body somewhat gaunt, only its feline eyes occasionally flashing with ferocity as it tore at its meal.
Its right hind leg was visibly atrophied, its movements betraying difficulty.
Wang Teng observed carefully for a moment, then shook his head.
“Don’t just judge by appearances.”
“Big Brother, Sister Sisi, Brother Tao—look closely.
Though this dappled cat is old and crippled, its fur is remarkably clean—no old grime or tangles.”
“In the outer reaches of this Soul Hunting Forest, where survival depends on hunting, that’s highly unusual.”