Deep mountains, ancient trees shrouding the sky, A stream flows east, its clarity a lullaby. Dew-kissed grass glistens under starlight's grass
Deep mountains, ancient trees shrouding the sky,A stream flows east, its clarity a lullaby.Dew-kissed grass glistens under starlight's grace,Branches cradle birds in their embrace.
The Spirit Hunting Forest.
A profound silence enveloped this mysterious woodland. Towering trees formed verdant barriers, filtering sunlight into dappled patterns on the ground. The rustling leaves whispered like the forest's own voice, deepening the sense of solitude.
The scenery was breathtaking—emerald leaves glittering like jewels, moss-carpeted paths soft as clouds, and crystal-clear streams murmuring as they wound through the trees. It was a place straight out of a fairy tale.
Yet, the reality was far from idyllic. Every plant, insect, or passing creature could be a spirit beast, lethal to the unwary. Shadows hid countless pairs of eyes, cold and predatory, tracking every intruder.
Stepping into this forest was like entering an alien realm, where every inch of land seemed to murmur secrets of the past. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, sweet grass, and aged wood, intertwining into a palpable pulse of life.
Suddenly, a faint rustling shattered the silence, scattering nearby creatures.
It was the sound of a footstep.
A fully armed spirit-hunting team emerged, with a boy of about six at its center.
Clad in a custom-fitted black outfit, the boy's face was the only exposed part of his body. Even his head was concealed under a hood, shrouding him in darkness. Strapped to his thighs were oddly shaped objects wrapped in cloth—an eccentric sight.
This was Wu Tong. After three days of travel and obtaining a hunting token from the Spirit Hall, he had finally arrived at the Spirit Hunting Forest. At the entrance, he hired a reputable team and ventured in at dawn the next day.
"Relax, little brother Wu Tong. We're almost at the location you mentioned. A mere hundred-year spirit beast is nothing to us. Right, Lu Feng?"
The speaker was a brawny man, over six feet tall with bulging muscles and a square, honest face. This was Wu Tu, the team's leader—a 51st-ranked power-attack Soul King with the Beast Martial Soul, Armor-Splitter Bear.
Lu Feng, the black-cloaked man he addressed, was lean and taciturn, his hands scarred and weathered. Wu Tong had seen him in action—a shadowy blur that felled a thousand-year spirit beast in seconds.
Lu Feng was a 42nd-ranked agility-attack Soul Ancestor with the Shadow Leopard martial soul.
The team also included:
Liu Feiyan, a 41st-ranked control-system soul master (Martial Soul: Heaven's Net).
Mu Lan, a 39th-ranked support-system soul master (Martial Soul: Moonlit Zither).
Liu Ming, a 45th-ranked defense-system soul master (Martial Soul: Plated Rhinoceros).
With roles covering offense, defense, control, agility, and support, the team was impeccably balanced.
Wu Tong felt a surge of confidence. Just as he was about to relax and chat with Wu Tu, a sharp cry cut through the air.
"Watch out!"
A net shot out, ensnaring a lurking Shadow Wolf.
"Captain, at least pretend to be serious. One mistake, and our reputation's ruined," Liu Feiyan chided, her tight leather armor gleaming.
Wu Tu laughed awkwardly, but the team knew his carefree nature and let it slide.
The incident put Wu Tong back on edge. Carelessness here could be fatal.
"Found it."
Lu Feng's voice was calm as he pointed.
A golden fox darted through the trees.
The creature was about a meter long, its fur a radiant gold like molten sunset. Its tail, adorned with five silver rings, swayed with elegant grace. But its most striking feature was the vertical mark between its brows—a symbol resembling flowing water, pulsing with an otherworldly glow.
The Mind-Eye Golden Fox.
"A mental-attribute fox-type spirit beast. Legend says its brow mark grants immense psychic power, even the ability to read minds—hence its name. The silver rings on its tail indicate its age: five, meaning it's around 500 years old. My body can handle absorbing its ring."
Wu Tong quickly recalled the details and confirmed his decision.
"Captain Wu Tu, this fox is perfect. Please capture it for me."
The team sprang into action.
But Mu Lan hesitated.
"Wu Tong, the first soul ring's limit is 423 years. This is too risky. Maybe find a younger one?"
Wu Tong shook his head.
"Sister Mu Lan, I've read that the so-called 'limits' depend on physical and mental strength. A thousand years ago, first rings were all white. The '423-year rule' isn't absolute—stronger bodies can handle higher ages. My training's prepared me for this."
The team absorbed this revelation, intrigued.
"Then why not ten-thousand-year rings?" Liu Feiyan asked.
"That's where soul backlash comes in. Ten-thousand-year beasts are intelligent. Their resentment creates spiritual turbulence during absorption. You'd need immense willpower to survive it."
Wu Tu nodded. "He's right. That backlash almost got me."
Mu Lan sighed. "Fine. It's your choice."
With that settled, the team moved.
"First Soul Skill: Earth Net!"
Liu Feiyan's net trapped the fox instantly.
"First Soul Skill: Shadow Step!"
Lu Feng blurred forward, delivering a precise strike. The fox collapsed.
Wu Tu handed Wu Tong a dagger.
"Finish it."
Wu Tong didn't hesitate. The battle had gone exactly as expected—a professional team made quick work of a mere hundred-year beast.
The cost was worth it. The forest teemed with thousand-year threats, including a close call with a 9,000-year Fanged Wolf King. Without Wu Tu, they'd have been doomed.
Wu Tong drove the dagger into the fox's brow.
Golden light coalesced into a yellow ring.
He sat cross-legged, channeling soul power to absorb it.
The team formed a protective circle.
At first, the energy flowed smoothly. Then, without warning, it erupted like molten lava, ravaging Wu Tong's meridians.
Blood seeped from his pores as he screamed.
"Captain, stop him! He'll die!" Mu Lan cried.
Wu Tu hesitated, but Wu Tong's determination held him back.
Then, a surge of mental energy from Wu Tong's brain suppressed the chaos.
The ring stabilized.
Wu Tong's breathing steadied.
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