Star Dou Forest – Outer Region
Among the dense forest trees—
"ROAR!!!"
A deafening roar echoed through the sky.
Appearing before them was a lion-type soul beast nearly three meters long and over one meter tall at the shoulder.
Its characteristic lion's mane spread outward. Its fiery red fur, illuminated by the flames surrounding its body, made it look majestic and powerful.
Its muscles were clearly defined, and its brownish-yellow eyes radiated a cold, brutal aura.
This was a 500-year Fire Lion King.
However, the beast was in poor condition.
Its nose bridge had been shattered by a powerful blow, its tail severed, and a gruesome wound stretched from its left ribs down to its abdomen. Blood poured continuously from the wound, soaking the ground beneath it.
Surrounding the Fire Lion King were four Soul Masters, cautiously encircling it.
---
Suddenly the flames around the Fire Lion King condensed.
They formed a blazing shape identical to its body and rushed toward the tall man standing at the front of the group—the one holding an iron shield.
Fire Lion King's innate skill: Flame Clone Strike.
The tall shield-bearing man's two soul rings—one white and one yellow—lit up.
A yellowish earthen glow gathered on his shield.
In the blink of an eye, the shield collided with the lion's flaming clone.
BOOM!
The flames exploded apart. The shield turned red-hot from the heat, and the man was blasted backward by the explosion.
---
Just as the Fire Lion King attempted to break through the encirclement—
A young man holding a black blade seized the moment.
He had sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, delicate yet handsome features, and stood over seven feet tall.
His blade flashed faintly with light.
But no soul ring lit up.
Clearly, his control over his martial soul had reached an extremely high level.
The young man thrust the blade deep into the Fire Lion King's abdomen.
Then his body flashed—
He instantly retreated three meters away.
Just as he moved back, flames burst violently from the Fire Lion King's body.
If he had been even a moment slower…
But now the Fire Lion King's injuries were even more severe.
The deep stab had damaged its internal organs. Internal bleeding would soon take its life.
---
As the Fire Lion King reached the end of its strength and prepared to fight desperately—
A middle-aged man activated his yellow soul ring.
Vines shot out.
Vine Bind!
The vines wrapped around the Fire Lion King, briefly restraining it.
Soon, through the cooperation of the three Soul Masters—
The Fire Lion King collapsed to the ground.
---
The four men approached slowly.
The last one—a plain-looking man around twenty years old, likely the client—spoke.
"Alright. Guard me while I absorb the soul ring."
"Once I finish, I'll pay the remaining reward."
He then delivered the final blow to the Fire Lion King.
A yellow soul ring slowly condensed above the beast's corpse.
The man took out a cushion from a low-grade storage soul tool bracelet and began absorbing the soul ring.
---
While the client was absorbing the ring, the other three wandered around nearby.
The tall man with the shield looked at the Fire Lion King's corpse and prepared to skin it.
The Fire Lion King's fur was valuable.
Because it had been wrapped in flames for years, it naturally repelled moisture and was highly prized by nobles.
---
But as the man began skinning the beast—
Something unexpected happened.
Under the peeled fur, he saw a beautiful red glow.
The man swallowed hard.
Soon he calmed down.
He quickly covered the fur back over it and rotated the corpse to hide the glow.
Then he shouted to his teammates:
"Li Si! Chen Feng! Come help!"
"Stop being lazy and help me skin it!"
"If you don't help, you won't get any gold when the hide sells!"
---
The middle-aged vine user replied,
"Damn it, Zhang San! Don't think you can keep it all for yourself!"
"We're coming!"
Chen Feng frowned slightly.
Something about Zhang San felt wrong.
Normally Zhang San rushed to skin beasts so he could secretly take parts for himself.
Suspicious, Chen Feng became more alert and slowly walked toward him.
Zhang San saw Li Si approaching quickly, while Chen Feng walked calmly.
He grew anxious.
Zhang San was the only Soul Elder (level 32) in the team.
But his strength was mediocre.
His soul rings were one white and two yellow, and his martial soul wasn't impressive.
He could barely beat some strong Great Soul Masters with optimal ring combinations.
The one he feared most in the team—
Was Chen Feng.
Although Chen Feng had only recently become a Great Soul Master (level 23), his soul rings were the optimal configuration, and his combat strength was terrifying.
Nearly half the damage to the Fire Lion King had come from him.
This made Zhang San—who only reached Soul Elder near age thirty—extremely jealous.
---
Soon Li Si reached Zhang San and began skinning the beast.
But Zhang San had already positioned the corpse so Li Si couldn't see the glowing object yet.
However—
As the skinning continued, the discovery was inevitable.
Meanwhile Chen Feng slowly approached.
Zhang San urged him nervously.
"Chen Feng, hurry up!"
Chen Feng's mind tightened.
What is Zhang San planning…
If he tries anything suspicious, I'll cut him down.
He smiled and said calmly,
"I'm coming."
---
Zhang San's heart raced.
Soon Chen Feng would be within attack range.
His plan was simple.
Kill Li Si and Chen Feng in a surprise attack…
Then kill the client who is absorbing the soul ring…
And the soul bone will be mine.
Closer.
Closer.
---
Suddenly Li Si saw the glowing red light beneath the fur.
"This is—!!!"
Zhang San instantly activated his martial soul.
"Second Soul Skill: Earth Power!"
"Third Soul Skill: Iron Armor Shock!"
He smashed his iron shield into the ground.
A violent shockwave spread five meters outward.
Li Si, completely unprepared, had his internal organs shattered and spat out blood.
Looking at the glowing bone beneath the fur, he gasped his final words:
"Soul bone…!!"
Then his vision went dark.
---
Chen Feng had been on guard.
The moment Zhang San activated his skill, he leapt backward and narrowly avoided the attack.
Zhang San then turned and crushed the neck of the defenseless client with his shield.
The client died instantly.
Zhang San stared at Chen Feng with bloodshot eyes.
"You talented brat from the slums… you deserve to die."
Chen Feng's face remained calm.
"Stop pretending."
"You just want the soul bone for yourself."
"Let's fight."
"The winner takes everything."
A sharp aura burst from Chen Feng.
His blade gleamed.
"First Soul Skill — Sharpen Blade!"
His attack power and blade sharpness increased 50%.
Chen Feng charged forward.
---
The blade and shield clashed repeatedly.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Within moments they had exchanged dozens of blows.
Chen Feng's blade was terrifyingly sharp.
Each strike left deep marks on Zhang San's shield.
Since a martial soul was linked to the user's body, Zhang San felt as though each strike hit his own body.
Pain spread through him.
Even his mind felt stabbed by needles.
This kid's attacks are strange…
Every strike seems to target my spirit…
I can't drag this out!
---
"Chen Feng, die!"
"Iron Armor Shock!"
A powerful vibration erupted.
Chen Feng retreated but couldn't outrun the shockwave.
Just as it was about to hit—
He used his second soul skill.
Teleport.
He vanished and reappeared three meters away.
Zhang San laughed.
"Hahaha! Chen Feng, you're finished!"
"You can't teleport again!"
"Let's see how you dodge this!"
He unleashed Earth Power, sending a yellow blast toward Chen Feng.
---
Suddenly—
Zhang San froze.
A blade had pierced through his chest from behind.
He stared in disbelief.
"Why… can you still teleport…?"
Chen Feng's face was pale as he twisted the blade, destroying Zhang San's heart.
"I never told you the full truth about my soul skills."
"You'll have to remember that in your next life."
Zhang San spat blood and died instantly.
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(End of Chapter)