"Nan'er, let's rest here for a while. There's the outer area up ahead—there will be more and more spirit beasts."
"Okay." Wang Nan stopped as instructed, took two deep breaths to steady his breathing, then walked to the side and sat down, resting while gazing toward the distant forest—the largest spirit beast habitat on the Douluo Continent, the Star Dou Great Forest.
The first time Wang Nan had heard that name was in his previous life. He wasn't sure whether he had transmigrated or reincarnated; all he knew was that just over twenty years after his last life, when his consciousness awakened again, he had already been born into this world.
Like most people here, he awakened his martial soul at the age of six. Unsurprisingly, his martial soul was the same as his father's—Coiling Dragon Staff. His innate soul power was level seven.
From that day on, his life had consisted of cultivating soul power through meditation and improving his physical strength while practicing staff techniques. Now, more than a year had passed, and it was time for him to obtain his first soul ring.
"Come, eat something." Wang Xing took some dry food from his storage soul guide and handed it over, just in time to see Wang Nan still looking at the Star Dou Great Forest. "What's wrong, are you worried about the soul ring?"
"A little." Wang Nan nodded. Although he retained the memories of his past life and was no stranger to martial souls or soul rings, this would be his first time absorbing one. He couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
"Haha, don't be nervous. I've already scouted the area on my previous trips. Our target is within the outer region—we won't encounter too many dangers on the way." Wang Xing smiled as he sat down beside him.
"Don't worry about the rest. The process of obtaining a soul ring is essentially a contest of strength between a soul master and a soul beast. With your current physique and spiritual power far surpassing your peers, there's no reason you shouldn't succeed. Alright, don't overthink it. Meditate to recover your soul power and adjust your condition."
"Alright, I know." Wang Nan finished his dry food in two or three bites, then closed his eyes.
As his body entered a meditative state, Wang Nan's consciousness drifted into a vast white space.
This was his spiritual sea. Perhaps it was a benefit from his transmigration—though he wasn't a spirit-type soul master, his spiritual power was far greater than that of others at the same level. This allowed him to split his focus and come here during meditation.
Without needing to look deliberately, a single thought allowed Wang Nan to perceive everything within his spiritual sea. His conscious form floated in midair, a vast lake symbolizing spiritual power beneath his feet, and above him hung a glowing orb that had appeared when his martial soul first awakened.
Speaking of this orb, Wang Nan had been thrilled when he first saw it, thinking it was some kind of "gifted ability" that had come with his transmigration. But after more than a year of observation, he still hadn't figured out how to use it. He could only feel a faint connection between them—each time he tried to control it, his spiritual power grew slightly, but that was all.
Oh well, having it was better than nothing.
As usual, he meditated while training his spiritual power. Half an hour passed quickly.
"How's your rest?" Wang Xing had somehow already stood up and was keeping watch not far away.
"I'm ready."
"Good, let's go."
As they ventured deeper, the ground beneath their feet grew damp, and vines and thorns became more frequent. Suddenly, one of the vines under Wang Nan's feet slithered swiftly.
"Be careful!"
Even before Wang Xing's warning finished, Wang Nan had already reacted. Soul power flowed through his body, and a pitch-black staff appeared in his hand. As soul power poured into it, the staff grew longer until it matched his height, faint patterns winding around it like a dragon crawling across its surface.
After releasing his martial soul, Wang Nan's mind steadied. Looking down, he saw that the "vine" had turned into a green snake, its tongue flicking out as it hissed.
A ten-year Tree Snake. Having memories of his past life had its advantages. Though there were some differences, Wang Nan had learned this world's language early on and, at only seven years old, had already read many books. Thus, he recognized the soul beast before him at a glance.
"What do you think, want to give it a try?" Wang Xing had clearly recognized the soul beast as well, but he didn't strike immediately. Instead, he turned to look at Wang Nan.
Bringing Wang Nan to the Star Dou Great Forest was not only for the sake of obtaining a soul ring—it was also to train his actual combat ability. This Tree Snake made for a suitable opponent.
"Alright!" Wang Nan didn't hesitate. Fixing his gaze on the snake, he raised his staff and charged.
The snake wasn't slow either. Opening its mouth, it spat two streams of venom directly at Wang Nan's face.
So straightforward, huh? As expected of a soul beast.
Thinking of his usual sparring sessions with his father, Wang Nan sidestepped lightly, easily dodging the attack. Both hands gripped the Coiling Dragon Staff as he swung it down in a fierce arc.
The snake recoiled, its flexible body twisting away from the blow as it slithered to a nearby tree, coiling rapidly around the trunk. Though only a ten-year soul beast, its combat instincts were not weak—it realized Wang Nan was using a long weapon and cleverly sought to use the thick branches to block his attacks.
Wang Nan's first strike missed. Using the momentum, he spun his body, sweeping the staff up from behind and chopping downward again. At the moment the Coiling Dragon Staff struck the branch—crack! The branch snapped cleanly and, together with the staff, smashed directly into the snake's head.
With a single blow, the snake's skull caved in, its body losing strength as it fell from the tree with a dull thud. The headless body twitched a few times before finally going still. A white soul ring slowly rose above it.
Its strategy wasn't bad—it just underestimated Wang Nan's strength. Though he had no soul rings yet, his level ten soul power was real. Using his full strength, even an ordinary branch couldn't stop that attack.
Was the soul beast really that fragile? Wang Nan was a little surprised. For his first real battle against a soul beast, he had taken it seriously, already planning several follow-up moves. Yet with just two strikes, it was over.
"Good, very good." Wang Xing's voice sounded beside him.
He had long known Wang Nan was more mature and cleverer than his peers, but for a seven-year-old child, the courage to fight a soul beast at all was commendable. To defeat one so easily with just level ten soul power exceeded even his expectations. While feeling proud, another thought crossed his mind.
Perhaps Nan'er's combat training needs some adjustment.
(End of Chapter)