Three days later, Yan Zu and Xiao Wu followed Yan Hu and his wife deep into the outer reaches of the Spirit Hunting Forest.
Yan Hu was already a 31st-level Soul Venerable, with his third soul skill, “Immovable Vajra,” offering both offense and defense.
Su Qing had broken through to the 27th level, and the healing and support range of her Green Sprout Martial Soul had expanded further.
Yan Zu kept the Qilin Phantom constantly active.
Relying on its “Aura Concealment” trait, they avoided detection by several high-level spirit beasts.
The group’s original goal was to find a plant-type spirit beast called the “Spiritwood Demon” around 400 years old, hoping to obtain a healing or control-type soul skill.
“About two li to the northeast, there’s a gentle fluctuation of soul power, with a faint scent of blood,” Xiao Wu whispered, relying on her spirit beast instincts, her tone carrying a hint of subtle familiarity.
Yan Zu immediately had the Qilin Phantom release its “Wind Listening” ability and indeed sensed a pure and gentle energy.
Pushing aside the dense bushes, the scene before them made them pause.
In the clearing ahead, a snow-white deer-like spirit beast was curled up under a tree.
Its antlers resembled fluffy clouds, shimmering with a faint silvery glow—it was an Auspicious Cloud Deer.
Its hind leg was mangled and bloody, clearly severely injured, with several claw marks still visible on its body.
Scattered around were the corpses of several hundred-year-old Wind Wolves.
It wasn’t hard to guess that it had been surrounded and attacked by the Wind Wolves, relying on its speed to break through and escape here, but its injuries made further escape impossible.
It was an Auspicious Cloud Deer around 850 years old.
Sensing their approach, the Auspicious Cloud Deer immediately struggled to its feet, its eyes filled with vigilance.
A thin layer of white mist appeared around its body—its defensive skill, “Auspicious Cloud Protection.”
Though gentle by nature, it still possessed self-preservation instincts.
However, the injury to its hind leg made it difficult to flee quickly, leaving it no choice but to stand its ground and remain on guard.
“This Auspicious Cloud Deer’s spirit ring would suit A’zu better than the Spiritwood Demon’s!” Yan Hu whispered, tightening his grip on the iron axe in his hand.
“But what a pity. It looks like it’s already eight or nine hundred years old, which isn’t suitable for A’zu’s first spirit ring.”
Yan Zu said, “Father, I want this spirit ring. I’ve been training since childhood, and I have Twin Souls. The White-Bearded Grandpa in my dreams told me that my first spirit ring can absorb one up to a thousand years old.”
Yan Hu said, “A’zu, are you sure? This is no joke. Exceeding the body’s limits can cause it to explode and die.”
Yan Zu replied confidently, “Father, trust me.”
Yan Hu thought for a moment.
He had long sensed the miraculous nature of his son, so perhaps it was truly possible.
“Since you’re so confident, A’zu, we’ll take the risk.”
Su Qing nodded, her Green Sprout Martial Soul quietly manifesting as a faint green light shimmered around her.
The battle was about to erupt.
Su Qing initiated the first move with her second soul skill, “Green Sprout Entanglement.” Several emerald-green vines emerged from the ground, winding toward the Auspicious Cloud Deer’s limbs.
The Auspicious Cloud Deer reacted swiftly, tapping its hooves lightly on the ground as its body drifted like falling snow, attempting to evade the vines.
However, its injured hind leg slowed its movements just enough for one vine to seize the opportunity, wrapping around its left hind hoof.
With a gentle tug, the deer stumbled, its balance faltering.
“Now!” Yan Hu roared, the white, yellow, and yellow spirit rings beneath his feet glowing as his third soul skill, “Immovable Vajra,” activated instantly.
The iron axe whistled through the air, cleaving toward the Auspicious Cloud Deer, stirring up a cloud of dust and drawing its attention.
The Auspicious Cloud Deer’s “Auspicious Cloud Protection” thickened instantly, a shield of white mist forming before it.
The iron axe struck the mist with a dull thud, failing to inflict any real damage.
Seeing this, Yan Zu immediately sent Xiao Wu forward.
She exhaled a wisp of pale golden auspicious aura.
This aura shared the same origin as the Auspicious Cloud Deer’s innate energy but carried the unique “Evil-Shattering” property of the Qilin.
As it settled upon the Auspicious Cloud Protection, the misty shield rippled violently, its defensive strength visibly weakening.
“Father, attack its front leg!” Yan Zu shouted.
Understanding his son’s intent, Yan Hu shifted the axe’s trajectory, its blade aimed directly at the Auspicious Cloud Deer’s front leg joint.
The deer tried to dodge, but its other hoof was entangled once more by Su Qing’s “Green Sprout Entanglement,” leaving it helpless as the axe descended.
A crisp clang rang out as the axe blade struck the deer’s front leg.
The Auspicious Cloud Protection shattered completely, and with a mournful cry, the deer collapsed to the ground.
Silently offering an apology in his heart, Yan Zu delivered the final blow with the Xuanyuan Sword.
A deep yellow spirit ring rose into the air.
The moment she saw the Auspicious Cloud Deer fall, Xiao Wu could no longer hold back.
Her eyes reddened, and she turned to run behind a nearby tree, her shoulders trembling slightly.
She thought of her companions in the Star Dou Great Forest, of her mother who had fallen protecting her.
Tears streamed down her face like broken beads.
“Why… must humans hunt spirit beasts to grow stronger? It was so gentle, it never harmed anyone…”
Instead of immediately absorbing the spirit ring, Yan Zu walked over to Xiao Wu, crouching down to meet her gaze.
His dark eyes were filled with tenderness and resolve.
“Sister Xiao Wu, I won’t deny that many humans hunt spirit beasts out of greed. But I hunt to protect you, Father, and Mother—to stand firm in this cruel world and not be bullied by others.”
“Spirit beasts and humans exist within the same cycle of life. Just as the Auspicious Cloud Deer feeds on plants, humans sometimes need spirit rings to grow. But the key is to understand reverence—not to kill indiscriminately, not to waste any part of a spirit beast’s value, and never to hunt harmless spirit beasts out of greed.”
Yan Zu gazed toward the distant mountains, his voice carrying a hopeful tone for the future.
“What I want to do isn’t just protect ourselves, but to make this world different. In the future, I’ll try to find ways to grow stronger without hunting spirit beasts, to help humans and spirit beasts coexist peacefully. But for now, we must first gain enough strength to change all of this.”
Xiao Wu looked down at the gentle Qilin by her feet, then into Yan Zu’s clear eyes.
The sadness in her heart gradually faded.
She knew Yan Zu wasn’t lying to her.
There was no greed in his eyes, only determination to protect.
“Then… from now on, let’s only hunt spirit beasts that cause harm, or hunt only when absolutely necessary. Okay?” Xiao Wu lifted her tear-filled eyes and asked softly.
Yan Zu smiled and extended his pinky finger.
“Okay, let’s make a promise.”
After comforting Xiao Wu, Yan Zu guided the Auspicious Cloud Deer’s spirit ring into his body, merging it with his Qilin Martial Soul.
Thanks to the Qilin’s “Auspicious Blessing,” absorbing the 850-year spirit ring was completely painless.
Instead, it exhibited a “Reverse Nourishment” phenomenon.
As the Green Jade Spirit Deer’s Soul Beast Origin integrated, the spirit ring’s age slightly increased to 890 years, its color a deep yellow with a jade-like luster.
A vast yet gentle energy instantly surged through his limbs and bones.
The Qilin Phantom’s form swelled noticeably, its jade-colored fur now adorned with faint cloud patterns, while its antlers solidified like auspicious clouds, radiating an even richer aura of good fortune.
After absorbing the spirit ring, Yan Zu stood up.
His parents and Xiao Wu immediately gathered around, asking with concern, “A’zu, how was it? Was the absorption smooth? Are you feeling any discomfort anywhere?”
Yan Zu smiled happily.
“Mom, Dad, don’t worry. It went perfectly smoothly. Let me show you my first soul skill.”
With that, Yan Zu summoned Xiao Yu and shouted, “First soul skill: ‘Corridor of Vitality’!”
Yan Hu and Su Qing felt the flow of their soul power become increasingly smooth, the fatigue from the spirit hunting earlier completely swept away.
Xiao Wu, in particular, felt the Soul Beast Origin within her harmonize even more perfectly with the Qilin’s aura, and the speed of her soul power circulation noticeably accelerated.
Yan Zu explained, “My first soul skill is ‘Corridor of Vitality.’ Within a 15-meter radius of Xiao Yu, allies recover 1% of their soul power and stamina per second, gain a 35% defense boost, and a 20% increase in cultivation speed. Also, my soul power has risen to level 13.”
“Recovery, defense, and even increased cultivation speed… this soul skill is incredible!” Yan Hu exclaimed in great surprise, his gaze toward his son filled with pride.
Looking at Xiao Wu, whose smile had blossomed anew beside him, Yan Zu understood in his heart: this spirit hunt had not only granted him a powerful soul skill but had also deepened the bond between him and Xiao Wu.
He would not only protect his family but also fulfill his promise to Xiao Wu—to use his own strength to gradually change this world where humans and spirit beasts stand opposed.