Chapter 11: The Blue Silver Emperor's First Soul Ring (Part 1)
Franklin led Zu Zong into the depths of the forest and immediately became alert. Although the Soul Hunting Forest wasn't particularly dangerous for a Soul Elder like him, he couldn't afford to be careless with a still relatively "weak" Zu Zong in tow.
Zu Zong casually pulled out a kunai and summoned his martial soul—the Blue Silver Emperor.
A plant with strange markings, distinctly different from ordinary blue silver grass, appeared in his right hand.
He activated the Blue Silver Domain. Through the blue silver grass scattered throughout the forest, Zu Zong perceived everything around him.
There were solitary bramble cats and pack-hunting Nether Wolves, among many other soul beasts.
Undoubtedly, within Zu Zong's sensory range, most were ten-year soul beasts. There were very few century-old ones, and those that were nearby were plant-type beasts, which weren't very useful to him.
After half a quarter-hour, Zu Zong shook his head.
"Is my luck really that bad? I haven't even seen a single century-old soul beast nearby. Looks like we need to go deeper in!"
Zu Zong wasn't confused about his choice for a first soul ring. With his foresight, he could avoid many troubles. Rather than relying on uncertain luck, it was better to make a purposeful choice. Just like in the original story, Tang San's nearly four-hundred-year-old Mandala Snake was a solid option.
Franklin's expression stiffened as he sensed a sudden surge of dense, vigorous life energy nearby. It was coming from right beside him, which made him tense up.
Using the corner of his eye, he glanced at the Blue Silver Emperor in Zu Zong's hand, visibly shocked. "This mutated 'blue silver grass' of yours really is extraordinary."
"Though I'm not a plant-type soul master, I do have some understanding of plant-type martial souls. The stronger the life force, the better the martial soul—this is the strongest life force I've ever seen in a plant-type martial soul."
"Soul rings can't be changed once absorbed, so one must be very cautious. For a first soul ring, a soul beast with cultivation around four hundred years is the limit. Do you have something in mind?"
Zu Zong smiled and replied, "Maybe the mutated 'blue silver grass' of mine is the king among blue silver grass. As for the soul ring, I'll look for a snake-type soul beast with a cultivation of about four hundred years—preferably one with strong venom."
Hearing that a plant-type soul master was planning to absorb a beast-type soul, Franklin was stunned. "Did you go see the Grandmaster again?"
Zu Zong feigned ignorance and asked in return, "Who's the Grandmaster?" — 'Tch! Like hell I'd know that scumbag!'
"N-Nothing! Just remember—if anyone ever calls themselves 'Grandmaster,' stay far away from them. It'll only benefit you."
Hearing Zu Zong say he didn't know the Grandmaster, Franklin secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At least he hadn't been poisoned yet.
He followed up with another question: "Choosing a soul beast close to the absorption limit is good, of course. But why a snake-type soul beast?"
"Isn't it obvious? After killing a soul beast, soul masters have a high chance of acquiring soul skills with the beast's characteristics."
"My 'blue silver grass,' even mutated, is only ten or dozens of times tougher than the regular kind. But blue silver grass is still just blue silver grass—its toughness is limited."
"Snake-type soul beasts, however, are different."
"They're not only extremely tough, but also very agile, and most of them are venomous. If my 'blue silver grass' can gain enhanced toughness, faster extension speed, and venom, it would be a lethal weapon against soul masters of the same level."
Zu Zong: 'Yeah! That should be about right—it matches the setup from the original story.'
After hearing all this, Franklin was already dumbfounded. Was this really how a child should be thinking? This kid was a genius—far beyond that so-called "theoretically invincible" Grandmaster whose invincibility no one could ever verify.
He trembled as he asked, "Kid, you only arrived at Nuoding Academy yesterday. Who told you all this?"
"It was an old grandpa named Tom," Zu Zong replied with a straight face, not the least bit flustered.
Zu Zong: 'Could I possibly tell him I transmigrated here?'
Tom? Never heard of him. By all logic, if someone were that powerful, he shouldn't be obscure. Could he be another fraud like that "Grandmaster"?
Still, out of politeness, Franklin asked, "Elder Tom—he must be a very powerful soul master, right?"
He spoke the phrase "Elder Tom" with great respect.
Zu Zong waved it off and replied, "I don't really know. I just saw six rings circling around him. The first two were yellow—kind of like the two on you, Director. The middle two were purple, and the last two were black."
Old Tom: 'So that Soul Emperor from Emperor Soul Village… was me!'
Franklin cried out in shock.
"Heavens! A Soul Emperor—and with top-tier soul ring configuration, no less!"
The headmaster of Nuoding Academy was a Soul Sect. The shopkeeper of the Spirit Hall in Nuoding City was said to be a Soul King at best.
Elder Tom was truly a powerhouse. Why couldn't someone like him show up for me?
Franklin continued asking, "So, where did that senior go?"
Thinking that telling lies cost nothing, Zu Zong made up a story on the spot: "No idea. After drinking some water at my place, he spread his huge wings and flew off. Is a Soul Emperor really that strong?"
"Strong? Of course he is! Even our academy headmaster is no match for Elder Tom! Looks like that senior possesses a rare flying-type martial soul."
Zu Zong's pupils shifted, and the corners of his mouth curled into a subtle arc, revealing the expression of someone whose scheme had succeeded.
"But you were bragging this morning that you were the strongest!"
Franklin: 'There's a curse on the tip of my tongue, but I'm not sure if I should say it!'
The two continued deeper into the forest. Although they encountered a few century-old soul beasts, none were suitable for Zu Zong.
Night fell, and moonlight replaced the setting sun, casting its glow across the land.
With no other choice, the two made camp to rest.
Franklin scattered a medicinal powder—similar to realgar—around the perimeter of the tent.
"All right, I'll take night watch. You go rest, brat!"
Zu Zong nodded without objection but didn't go to sleep. Instead, he entered a semi-cultivation state. Every hour, he activated the Blue Silver Domain to probe the surroundings for any trace of soul beasts.
Having lived two lifetimes, Zu Zong would never entrust his life entirely to someone else.
Around three or four in the morning, less than two hours before dawn, Franklin—on night duty—was already dozing off.
Zu Zong activated the Blue Silver Domain again.
Suddenly, everything within a few kilometers fell silent. At the edge of the domain, through the blue silver grass, he picked up a faint rustling sound.
It was transmitted clearly through the grass, reaching Zu Zong's ears. The air carried a faint bloody scent—mixed with sweetness and a hint of tea fragrance.
"Seems like a venomous snake. Could it be the Mandala Snake from the original story?"
Zu Zong stepped out of the tent, glanced at the drowsy Franklin, and silently left the campsite. With a twist of his body, he leapt onto a tree branch and disappeared into the night in a few flickers.
Man and snake—both hunting, both considering the other as prey.
Half a stick of incense later, they finally met.
A giant python with black-scaled glimmer emerged under the moonlight, entering Zu Zong's view.
"This doesn't look quite like the one from the original story! System, show me this venomous snake's stat panel."
[Ding! Four chapters in, and the host finally remembers this baby.]
"Cut the crap. Show me the stats."
[Ding. Opening soul beast panel…]
[Soul Beast: Black-Scaled Venom Python
Cultivation: 560 years
Traits: Strength, Speed, Toughness, Venom, Defense
Soul Skill: Poison Dragon Bind — Uses its massive body to coil around prey, releasing corrosive toxins through its skin.]
Seeing the soul beast panel, Zu Zong shouted, "The hell—this is the Mandala Snake?"
(End of Chapter)