"This is... my cheat code?"
With a thought, the absorption probability was triggered, and then Wang Qi's vision blurred, as if he had fallen into an illusion.
Wang Qi used a short knife to slit the throat of the Soft Bone Rabbit, and a phantom white soul ring slowly rose.
In the illusion, he guided the white soul ring to merge with himself, and in less than ten minutes, the soul ring was absorbed, as easily as eating and drinking.
His consciousness returned, and Wang Qi looked at his hands in surprise, then at the Soft Bone Rabbit, his shock impossible to hide.
The success rate of simulating soul ring absorption? If that's really the case, it will be of great help in the future to absorb soul rings at the limit and break through the shackles of aptitude.
Thinking of this, Wang Qi continued to click on the Martial Soul Matching Degree, and the illusory scene reappeared, but this time there was no hunting of soul beasts or the process of absorbing soul rings.
There was only the process of Wang Qi demonstrating his soul skills after obtaining the soul ring—running fast, and his escape speed increasing when he felt fear.
Wang Qi wasn't speechless or silent. Regardless of the soul skill's quality, the fact that he could see its effects beforehand was enough to be a game-changer.
Other soul masters hunting soul beasts for soul rings and obtaining soul skills were like winning the lottery; Wang Qi knowing the soul skill in advance was like having the standard answer key—it would be hard for him not to become powerful.
Now, not only were there ultimate soul rings, but he could even achieve the ultimate combination of soul skills. How could Wang Qi not be excited?
"Hmm? Wang Qi, what's wrong? The Soul Hunting Forest is extremely dangerous, although not as dangerous as the Star Dou Great Forest or Sunset Forest, which are wild soul beast forests."
"But it shouldn't be underestimated. Due to human intervention, the density of soul beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest is much higher than in the outer areas of wild soul beast forests."
"If you continue to be so careless, go back now. The path of a soul master isn't suitable for you."
Yu Xiaogang warned, seeing Wang Qi lost in thought. This kind of scolding of a student didn't warm Wang Qi's heart; instead, it sounded noisy.
Wang Qi felt that whether words were good or bad had nothing to do with how they were spoken, but only with the speaker's motives.
Yu Xiaogang's motives weren't for Wang Qi's safety, but to establish his authority. This feeling of being used as a tool made Wang Qi very unhappy. He
silently followed the group, searching for information about the soul beasts, without refuting Yu Xiaogang's words.
This scene, however, appeared to Yu Xiaogang as Wang Qi being tamed, and he proudly chatted away in the Soul Hunting Forest.
The Soul Master guard beside him frowned; earning this little bit of money was truly difficult.
Soul Beast Green Leaf Bamboo, 45 years old, 3% compatibility.
Soul Beast Flame Rat, 87 years old, 52% compatibility.
Soul Beast Flame Wolf, 213 years old, 57% compatibility.
Soul Beast Vajra Tiger, 98 years old, 45% compatibility.
In the blink of an eye, half a day had passed since the group of five entered the Soul Hunting Forest. As dusk fell, the five finally crossed the outer edge of the Soul Hunting Forest and arrived at the mixed zone.
Whether it's the artificially induced Soul Beast Forest like the Soul Hunting Forest or the wild Soul Beast Forest like the Star Dou Great Forest, both are divided into three areas by humans: the outer area, the mixed area, and the core area.
The deeper one goes, the older the Soul Beasts encountered, and the stronger their bloodlines become.
After entering the mixed area, it's obvious that the number of hundred-year-old Soul Beasts is increasing. As for ten-year-old Soul Beasts and those approaching a hundred years old, they inevitably possess extremely strong bloodlines.
For example, the two Soul Beasts before them: as night fell, a nearly hundred-year-old Vajra Tiger was fighting a two-hundred-year-old Flame Wolf in the forest, disturbing the five people who were preparing to rest.
Looking at the two Soul Beasts fighting in the woods ahead, if Wang Qi hadn't awakened his cheat ability, this Flame Wolf would definitely be suitable as Wang Qi's first Soul Ring.
But now, Wang Qi can see the limits and success rate of his Soul Ring absorption, and he's somewhat dismissive of this Flame Wolf.
However, Xiao Chenyu's wolf spirit was a better match for this fire wolf, so he turned to Xiao Chenyu and said,
"Xiao Chenyu, I think this two-hundred-year-old fire wolf is very suitable for you in terms of both age and spirit beast type. Stop staring at that Vajra Tiger. Do you want to waste your first spirit ring because of a fit of pique?"
Seeing that Xiao Chenyu was staring at the Vajra Tiger, Wang Qi suddenly felt a bit annoyed and patted Xiao Chenyu's shoulder helplessly, pointing to the fire wolf and Vajra Tiger fighting not far away.
"Of course, these are just my guesses. The final decision is up to you, but you also need to be prepared for the possible consequences."
Xiao Chenyu was still hesitating when Yu Xiaogang's voice suddenly came from behind him.
"Xiao Chenyu, choose the fire wolf. The three of us will take action, and this fire wolf will not be able to escape. You two, please take down the fire wolf." Yu Xiaogang did not give Xiao Chenyu a chance to object and directly ordered the two spirit masters to take down the fire wolf.
Seeing the two Soul Masters preparing to attack, Wang Qi quickly stopped them, saying, "Hey, uncles, wait a moment. This time, it's Xiao Chenyu acquiring a Soul Ring. Regardless of whether the Soul Beast is suitable for Xiao Chenyu, we should respect his opinion."
As soon as Wang Qi finished speaking, Yu Xiaogang shouted excitedly, "What do you mean, respect Xiao Chenyu's opinion? What does Xiao Chenyu know? Does he know more about Soul Beasts than I, a master of Martial Soul theory? I said, if a two-hundred-year-old Flame Wolf is suitable for Xiao Chenyu, then it is. Ignore them, you two go and capture the Flame Wolf."
The Flame Wolf and Vajra Tiger, who were fighting nearby, also noticed the commotion and began to retreat, ready to flee at any moment.
"Xiao Chenyu, make a decision, otherwise you won't get either of the two Soul Beasts." Wang Qi noticed the movements of the two Soul Beasts, his eyes fixed on them, and couldn't help but urge Xiao Chenyu on.
Wang Qi and Xiao Chenyu's relationship with the Soul Master guards was purely one of employment; there was no emotional connection between them. Making them chase Soul Beasts through the forest at night? The outcome was obvious.
Perhaps Wang Qi's words had an effect, or perhaps Xiao Chenyu had truly come to his senses. Pointing at the Flame Wolf, he shouted to the two Soul Masters, "Flame Wolf! I want the Flame Wolf! Wang Qi, I believe in you!"
Xiao Chenyu's voice was like the starting gun in a track and field race; almost instantly, the two soul beasts fled in opposite directions.
Wang Qi then added to the two Soul Masters, "I beg you two, if this soul beast hunt goes smoothly, Xiao Chenyu, being the son of the Notting City Lord, will surely reward you handsomely afterwards."
Soul Masters correspond to thousand-year-old soul beasts. The two Soul Masters' soul ring configuration was one white and two yellow, which might be difficult for them to fight against a thousand-year-old soul beast, but together they could easily handle a two-hundred-year-old Flame Wolf, even at night.
As for Grandmaster? Who cares? Even though Yu Xiaogang was furious and staring at Wang Qi with murderous eyes, Wang Qi didn't care at all.
With his Martial Soul activated, three Soul Rings simultaneously shone beneath his feet. In the blink of an eye, two Soul Masters appeared beside the Flame Wolf, unleashing their Soul Skills, their claws striking the Flame Wolf's waist.
The rest was simple: Xiao Chenyu ended the Flame Wolf's life with a single strike, watching the yellow Soul Ring float into the air as he channeled his Soul Power to absorb it.
Ten minutes later, cold sweat covered Xiao Chenyu's forehead.
Thirty minutes later, Xiao Chenyu's complexion looked off, as if he were suffering from heatstroke.
One hour, two hours later, Xiao Chenyu's breathing became steady, and his Soul Power increased as the Soul Ring was fully absorbed.
Level 10, Level 11, Late Level 11—only one step away from breaking through to Level 12.
"Wang Qi, I succeeded! My first spirit ring is a hundred years old. I almost missed out on such a powerful spirit skill. I'm so grateful!"
Yu Xiaogang interrupted Xiao Chenyu's excitement, directly telling him to release his spirit: "Xiao Chenyu, release your spirit so I can observe its changes."
Xiao Chenyu, still basking in the joy of obtaining a powerful spirit skill after absorbing his spirit ring, didn't hear clearly and instinctively released his spirit.
His originally ordinary wolf spirit, after absorbing the Flame Wolf spirit, developed a small patch of red fur on its chest, similar to the Flame Wolf's fur.
"This is different, Xiao Chenyu. Your spirit has evolved?"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 4 High-Synergy Soul Beast, Blazing Vine
Yu
Xiaogang's voice trembled, his eyes filled with excitement. He tried to reach out and touch Xiao Chenyu's martial soul, but ultimately only touched thin air.
The other two Soul Masters had complex feelings, cupping their hands to congratulate Xiao Chenyu, their emotions inscrutable.
Seeing that Xiao Chenyu was also in shock, Wang Qi clasped his hands and said softly, "Congratulations, Xiao Chenyu! You have taken the first step in martial soul evolution. Just continue your cultivation step by step, and pay attention to acquiring soul rings later. There's a high probability that your wolf martial soul will fully evolve."
"I also thank the two Soul Masters. Without you, Xiao Chenyu would have had to work very hard to obtain such an opportunity. I believe that as the son of the city lord, Xiao Chenyu will not forget you two after he leaves."
Wang Qi had lived in the Douluo World for nearly nine years and knew about the conflicts between commoners and soul masters, as well as between soul masters and nobles. The reason he flattered them was because he was worried that the two Soul Masters might try something underhanded.
Yu Xiaogang was completely absorbed in the evolution of Xiao Chenyu's martial soul, his mind drifting. He felt as if he had traveled back decades to the day he had just reached level ten in his cultivation.
Yu Xiaogang had explained this theory to his father, Yu Yuanzhen, and through sheer hard work and early success, he had cultivated to the Soul Saint level with only a half-level innate soul power.
Respected by countless people, Yu Xiaogang became the progenitor of both theoretical and practical martial soul masters, enjoying unparalleled glory.
When his consciousness returned, Yu Xiaogang's eyes gleamed as he looked at Xiao Chenyu, who was currently with his arm around Wang Qi's shoulder.
Xiao Chenyu, with his Wolf martial soul and level one innate soul power, was currently undergoing evolution. If Xiao Chenyu were nurtured into a capable individual, his value would be no less than that of a genius powerhouse.
Considering Xiao Chenyu's identity—the son of the city lord of Notting City—Yu Xiaogang immediately had an idea.
"Congratulations, Xiao Chenyu! You might become the first recorded Soul Master in the ten-thousand-year history of Douluo Continent to undergo Martial Soul evolution. Congratulations!"
A barrage of compliments completely flattered Xiao Chenyu, making him incredibly happy. His responses to Yu Xiaogang and the two Soul Master guards became much more polite.
For the rest of the journey, Yu Xiaogang seemed to transform into a true teacher, explaining to Xiao Chenyu the age, habits, and characteristics of Soul Beasts, as well as the likely Soul Rings obtained after killing them.
This kind of knowledge was either a closely guarded secret in the hands of powerful forces, or required a certain level of talent to be accessed. Wang Qi, Xiao Chenyu, and even the two Soul Masters had never encountered it before. The five of them got along quite well for the rest of the journey.
Putting aside Yu Xiaogang's character and his obsession with talent and fame, his understanding of Soul Beasts was exceptionally rare throughout the entire continent.
Seeing everyone, including Wang Qi, listening attentively, Yu Xiaogang felt a surge of pride.
So what if I lack talent? So what if I can't break through to the Great Soul Master level in this lifetime? I still have knowledge, and my knowledge is my strongest weapon as a master of theory.
And so, the group of five searched for soul beasts in the mixed area of the Soul Hunting Forest for three days, each of them showing signs of fatigue.
"Wang Qi, although what I'm about to say might be a bit harsh, I still have to say it. Hiring us Soul Venerable level guards to obtain your first soul ring is clearly priced: ten gold soul coins per day. You've paid thirty gold soul coins, and today is the third day. If we still haven't found a suitable soul beast for you, we should be heading back by tomorrow morning at the latest."
"Mainly because we're tired too. Searching for soul beasts deep in the mixed area of the Soul Hunting Forest for so long, even we Soul Venerables can't keep going for long."
The guard's words were blunt, essentially saying that if it weren't for the young master of Notting City, they would have taken you away from the Soul Hunting Forest today. The fact that they're still here to help you obtain your soul ring is a blessing in disguise.
"Wang Qi, that 380-year-old fire tiger, the master said it would be perfect for you, why don't you want it?"
After three days together, Yu Xiaogang's extensive theoretical knowledge had changed Xiao Chenyu's way of addressing him. At least now he no longer called him a master while secretly thinking he was useless, but genuinely respected Yu Xiaogang as a master.
"A fire tiger?" Wang Qi recalled the fire tiger he had encountered an hour ago.
Image
The Fire Tiger, a 389-year-old spirit beast, boasts a 100% absorption success rate and a 65% compatibility.
If Wang Qi were to kill and absorb it, he would undoubtedly gain a considerable spirit skill, yet he still chose not to.
Over the past three days, Wang Qi used his cheat ability to discover a spirit beast in the Soul Hunting Forest that was extremely compatible with him and could even help evolve his talent. This was
the Flame Vine, a 135-year-old spirit beast with a 100% absorption success rate, a 79% compatibility, and a slight improvement in cultivation talent.
The Flame Vine was the only spirit beast in the Soul Beast Forest with a compatibility rate exceeding 70%, approaching 80%, with his Flame
Human Body Martial Soul. Furthermore, absorbing its spirit ring would enhance his cultivation talent. If it weren't for its young age, Wang Qi would have absorbed the Flame Vine's spirit ring without hesitation, using it as the first spirit ring for his Flame Human Body Martial Soul.
"No rush, isn't it time to return yet? At worst..." Wang Qi paused, his eyes fixed on the Moth Spirit Beast flying ahead, its body covered in black flames.
The Soul Beast Ghostfire Moth, aged 83, had a 100% absorption success rate and a 62% compatibility rate.
Also present was a small fragment of black vine hanging from the moth's body by silk threads.
The Soul Beast Mutant Flame Vine Fragment, aged 415, had a 100% absorption success rate (close to its limit) and an 87% compatibility rate, moderately improving cultivation talent.
"It's a Ghostfire Moth! How could such a large Ghostfire Moth appear in the Soul Hunting Forest? Why didn't the previous patrols spot it?"
The two Soul Venerable guards were shocked and immediately wanted to turn back to the Soul Hunting Forest Guard to summon the patrol and the guards to hunt down these Ghostfire Moths.
The Ghostfire Moth is a Soul Beast that poses a great threat to the Soul Hunting Forest ecosystem. It feeds on flames, and if it doesn't consume flames for a long time, the flames inside its body will be compressed, eventually exploding after death. The immense power and the difficulty in dealing with the black flames once made it the most troublesome Soul Beast for the Soul Hunting Forest Guard and patrols.
"Wait, there's no need to go back now. I think we should go and find out more details."
"The flames surrounding the Ghost Fire Moths are black for the first hundred years, and their size doubles every ten years. The Ghost Fire Moths we just saw are at most eighty years old."
"Ghost Fire Moths are social creatures. Without sufficient information, if we rashly gather our guards, the consequences could be disastrous."
"My idea is to go and see for ourselves. If we can find the Ghost Fire Moths' lair and observe its size, then we can go back for support."
Yu Xiaogang stopped the two Soul Masters, analyzing his thoughts. Hearing Yu Xiaogang's understanding of the Ghost Fire Moth Soul Beasts, the two guards, who usually hunted them down whenever they encountered them, were in a dilemma.
"I think Master Yu Xiaogang is right. We should plan before we act. If we rashly bring a large group and misjudge the age and number of Ghost Fire Moths, the consequences could be unimaginable." Wang Qi also stood up to speak for Yu Xiaogang at this moment.
Whether the Ghostfire Forest was eradicated or the Soul Hunting Forest was destroyed was unimportant to Wang Qi. What truly mattered was the small fragment of the mutated Flame Vine, still possessing signs of life, clinging to the Ghostfire Moth.
If Wang Qi wasn't mistaken, the Ghostfire Moth had found the mutated Flame Vine in the Soul Hunting Forest and was feeding on it to accelerate its cultivation. Therefore,
finding the swarm of Ghostfire Moths would most likely lead to the discovery of that mutated Flame Vine.
(End of Chapter)