As a talented Soul Sect who had participated in the Soul Master Tournament, handling a hundred-year-old soul beast was naturally not a problem.
He swiftly slashed twice.
One strike broke the sharp beak, and the other severed its legs.
The mountain demon, startled by the sudden appearance of a human Soul Sect, didn't go into a frenzy. Instead, it quickly fled.
Leading the group forward, the dean pointed at the green ostrich lying on the ground, completely unable to resist.
"Judging by its attack style, it has a chance of granting a piercing-type soul skill."
"The muscles on this bird's neck are very strong. With an explosive burst of soul power, it can drive its beak to launch fierce stabs. It might also provide an explosive or amplification-type soul skill. Li Mao, you tomboy, come over here. This one suits you."
A girl whose martial soul was a tabby cat, and who looked more like a boy, ran over excitedly.
"Thank you, Dean. Thank you, Teacher."
Before absorbing the soul ring, she politely expressed her gratitude to the dean and Lin Tianyang.
The dean nodded slightly. "Go ahead and absorb it. We'll guard you, so don't worry about safety."
Everyone spread out with her at the center. Fang Ling also stood nearby, helping the teacher keep watch.
Unfortunately, no clueless soul beasts came charging in.
Just as that thought occurred, the tree trunk trembled slightly.
A venomous snake with black and green patterns suddenly sprang out from its hiding spot in the tree.
It lunged straight at Fang Ling.
Its bloody mouth opened wide, revealing two sharp, thin fangs on the upper jaw.
The snake was nearly three meters long, as thick as a wrist, and its stench was already noticeable before it even got close.
It was venomous. The type wasn't clear yet, but getting bitten definitely wouldn't end well.
A sneak attack?
It was too sudden.
The Star Dou Forest was indeed full of danger.
Fang Ling's soul rings flashed rapidly, his reflexes sharply heightened.
The snake was fast, but so was he.
He adjusted his posture to avoid being bitten while his silver scythe slashed at the snake's weak spot.
Sparks flew as if striking metal.
It wasn't cut in two as expected.
Its scales were incredibly tough.
Fang Ling's pupils shrank slightly, and he shifted his position.
The snake hit the ground and slithered to strike again.
Its gaping mouth looked especially fierce. In an instant, thanks to quick reflexes, Fang Ling shoved the blade into the snake's mouth.
Then he quickly stepped back, turned the blade, and split its head in half.
The snake collapsed to the ground, its head completely split, it was dead.
Moments later, a faint yellow glow emerged from the snake's body. A yellow stream of energy floated up, forming a ring above it.
From the moment Fang Ling was ambushed to the snake's death, only an instant had passed.
Lin Tianyang, noticing the fight, quickly landed in front of Fang Ling and asked, "Did it bite you?"
"Teacher, you know how fast I react. It was just a little snake." Fang Ling smiled.
He had gained two points, which was just enough to upgrade his martial soul. His mood was excellent.
Lin Tianyang checked and, seeing no bite marks, agreed with Fang Ling's confidence. Still, he reminded him seriously:
"Some snake-type soul beasts can spit venom at your eyes. It's often unexpected and deadly, many soul masters have fallen that way. Keep that in mind."
Venom spit?
Fang Ling vaguely recalled hearing about such snakes in his past life. His expression turned serious. "I understand, Teacher."
Lin Tianyang examined the snake on the ground.
"This is a roughly three-hundred-year-old Black-Pattern Green Branch Snake. Its venom isn't absolutely lethal, but if it bites you, you'll be out of this soul hunt."
Then he shouted to the other students and teachers nearby:
"Don't just look around, check above and below too! Just because Fang Ling could react doesn't mean you can. If one of these venomous snakes bites you, you might die before help arrives!"
"The soul beasts of the Star Dou Forest are extremely aggressive. Remember that!"
Everyone responded seriously.
They hadn't gone far yet, still at the forest's outer edge.
There weren't many strong soul beasts here, mostly ten-year ones, which was why he dared to shout like that.
If they went deeper, where hundred-year beasts clustered, caution would be crucial.
About an hour later, the tabby cat soul master finished absorbing her soul ring.
Her original single hundred-year soul ring became two, she was now a powerful two-ring Grand Soul Master.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, Grand Soul Master!
She could now apply to enter an advanced academy.
"Make good use of your soul ring." The dean patted her shoulder, snapping her out of her daze.
He then gathered everyone together.
It was already afternoon when they entered the forest, and it was around four or five o'clock by the time the soul ring absorption finished.
It was late autumn, heading into early winter, the sky was already growing dark, so they couldn't continue hunting.
They had to find a spacious, open area to camp for the night.
Many soul beasts were more active at night, especially powerful carnivores. A good rest was essential.
Not far ahead, they found a gentle slope. Lin Tianyang cleared the area and drove away the ten-year soul beasts.
"Alright, we'll camp here tonight."
After the dean inspected the area, everyone relaxed a bit.
The gloomy, oppressive atmosphere of the forest had kept them on edge since entering. Now they could finally rest a little.
This area was still near the edge of the forest, mostly populated by weaker ten-year soul beasts. Even if a hundred-year beast appeared, it likely wouldn't be too strong.
But when helping others hunt, they still planned to find a strong hundred-year soul beast for Fang Ling, likely requiring them to move closer to the zone between hundred and thousand-year beasts.
There wouldn't be many chances to rest later, so they had to adjust and recover now while things were relatively safe…
Two days later, in a river valley.
Hidden among the forested hills, the dean rested his hand on Fang Ling's shoulder and pointed at a herd of green bulls with three horns grazing in the lush grass ahead.
"See that? That's the soul beast suited for you."
After searching in three different locations, they finally stopped here.
"Tri-Horn Azure Bulls?" Fang Ling recognized the not-so-strong beast.
Lin Tianyang shook his head.
"No, what your father meant was those one-meter-long mosquito-like creatures on their backs — the Barbed Blood Dragonflies. If I remember correctly, these soul beasts usually grant either enhanced attack or weak point detection-type soul skills."
Looking at his son with approval, the dean chuckled.
"Yes, the Barbed Blood Dragonfly!"
"They have a symbiotic relationship with the Tri-Horn Azure Bulls. The bulls are weak and provide their blood and soul power to nourish the dragonflies, which protect them from other soul beasts."
"Look at the one sucking blood from the back of the third bull."
"It's about one and a half meters long, with two pairs of wings, an abdomen with eight segments, and a mouthpart over a meter long. It's as sharp as a steel needle. With its large compound eyes, it can accurately pierce the bull's thick hide to suck its blood."
"Wouldn't someone who gets that soul skill, draining blood and soul power, be considered a Fallen Soul Master?" Fang Ling asked, concerned.
This ability was crucial in the Slaughter City, but the question felt important.
Lin Tianyang replied with a bit of amusement:
"You've even killed a Fallen Soul Master before. Do you know what defines one?"
"A Fallen Soul Master is someone who hinders the development of others or causes massive harm to the world."
"It's just a blood-draining soul skill. That alone doesn't make you fallen."
"As long as you don't commit evil acts, slaughter soul beasts indiscriminately, or harm the world, the Spirit Hall won't care."
Fang Ling suddenly understood.
If you want to read 40 advanced chapters and 3 new chapters daily, please subscribe to my : patreon.com/Moorowkeel