As Qian Daoliu and Qian Ye ventured deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest, the atmosphere grew thick and oppressive. Low growls echoed from unseen beasts, carrying the weight of predators lurking just beyond the mist.
Among the dense trees, a pair of crimson eyes suddenly gleamed — cold, hungry, alive.
A fire wolf burst out of the undergrowth, its body wreathed in roaring flames as it lunged toward Qian Ye.
The creature's speed was astonishing, its fiery form leaving a streak of light in the air like a meteor cutting through night.
Qian Daoliu didn't move. He simply watched. For him, this was a lesson — and lessons required blood.
The fire wolf, however, was only twenty or thirty years old — too weak to be a threat.
Qian Ye didn't even release his martial soul. He drew his dagger, took a single step forward, and struck.
The blade flashed once.
The wolf collapsed at his feet, its flames flickering out with a faint hiss.
Qian Ye wiped the blood from the blade and continued onward.
Before long, a tangle of black tentacles lashed out from a nearby tree — silent, swift, lethal. A Shadow Spider, its body camouflaged perfectly against the bark, its fangs dripping venom.
It lunged.
Qian Ye tilted his head slightly. The creature's poison splattered harmlessly against a rock as he sidestepped. With a flick of his wrist, the dagger arced through the air.
Clang!
The blade struck true. The spider's body convulsed once, then fell limp.
Qian Ye stepped past it without a glance.
Along the way, more soul beasts appeared — poisonous lizards, unicorn snakes, centipedes thicker than his arm.He cut them down one after another.
Some ten-year beasts fell with a single blow.Hundred-year beasts required him to summon his martial soul — but even then, they were no match for him.
Qian Daoliu followed quietly behind, observing. "Little Ye, your martial soul carries darkness. Your soul rings must share that nature — if you absorb light-attribute beasts, the clash could harm you."
Qian Ye nodded. "Understood."
He already knew much of this.
He looked thoughtful. "Father, is it possible to absorb a soul ring beyond the usual limit of years?"
Qian Daoliu paused, stroking his beard. "It depends on physical strength and willpower. The stronger your body and mind, the greater the age of the ring you can withstand."
He chuckled. "There was once a charlatan in the Spirit Hall who claimed to define the 'Ten Core Competencies of Spirits.' Many believed him, but most of it was nonsense."
Qian Ye's eyes glinted with amusement. Yu Xiaogang… even here, your reputation stinks.
Qian Daoliu continued, "He stole half his theories from the Spirit Hall's archives and invented the rest. He made some noise, earned a title, and disappeared soon after. A fraud, nothing more."
He waved his hand dismissively. "Anyway, with your current physique, a four- or five-hundred-year-old ring should be within reach."
Qian Ye nodded, though his gaze drifted forward.
Four hundred years? No. I'll take what others fear to touch.
A low roar rolled through the forest, shaking the trees. Leaves scattered as a gust of wind swept through.
A shadow descended from above.
Qian Ye looked up.
A massive bird blotted out the sky — wings spanning more than ten meters, each beat of its feathers like thunder. Its body was dark as night, patterned with streaks of brown-gray, and its eyes gleamed red like molten metal.
Qian Daoliu's expression turned serious. "A Dark Blood Demon Eagle. It suits your nature… but it's a thousand-year beast."
Qian Ye's lips curled into a faint smile. "Perfect."
The eagle screeched, diving like a falling star.
Qian Ye's six black wings erupted from his back. He launched himself upward, meeting the creature midair.
Blades of wind slashed around him as the eagle's talons tore through the space he'd just left.
They collided — a clash of light and shadow.
"Clang!" The sound of steel against steel echoed as Qian Ye's dagger struck the beast's wing. Sparks burst out.
The impact hurled him backward through the air. His arm tingled with numb pain, but his eyes gleamed sharper than before.
The eagle screeched again, furious, bloodlust radiating from its eyes as it dived once more.
Qian Ye exhaled slowly. His grip tightened on the dagger.