The next morning, Zhu Changhe packed up the campsite and brought Zhu Ziyang into Tianhui Gorge.
Tianhui Gorge stretched north to south and was long and narrow. They entered from the northern end, where the gorge extended all the way south to Ironclad City, a distance of over 600 kilometers.
As father and son entered the gorge, they were greeted by jagged boulders, towering trees, dense underbrush, and scattered bones—a desolate and grim sight.
"Yangyang, stay close. Don't wander off. This place is dangerous—understand?" Zhu Changhe spoke sternly, repeating his warning several times.
"I understand." Zhu Ziyang nodded obediently, knowing this wasn't the time to act brave. He stuck close to his father's side.
They headed westward, aiming for a forest zone about five kilometers from the gorge's northern entrance. According to reports, Blazing Light Mantises often appeared there—a soul beast species at the top of Zhu Ziyang's list for his first soul ring.
"Hmm? Are those... Bone Scythe Demons?" Zhu Ziyang suddenly stopped in his tracks. Up ahead was a group of strange soul beasts. They resembled kangaroos but had massive scythe-like forelimbs and large, bony frames with very little muscle—almost like skeletons covered in white fur. These were the same creatures Zhu Changhe had obtained his first soul ring from: Bone Scythe Demons, known for their razor-sharp limbs capable of cleaving stone with ease.
There were around ten of them, all clearly below the hundred-year mark, sprinting eastward in a state of panic.
"There's a few in that group that are just right for you. I originally wanted you to get your first ring from these. What do you think?" Zhu Changhe looked over.
"No way. I already told you—I'm set on my choice," Zhu Ziyang firmly declined.
"In that case, let's keep moving." Zhu Changhe didn't press the issue and turned to lead the way again.
However, they hadn't walked more than 200 meters before they encountered another seven or eight groups of Bone Scythe Demons, all running eastward in a frantic rush. It was clear something terrifying was behind them.
Father and son exchanged glances, both seeing the wariness in the other's eyes.
"This isn't right," Zhu Changhe said. "Something powerful must be deeper in that direction. These demons wouldn't flee in groups like this otherwise. Yangyang, let's go a different way."
"Alright!" Zhu Ziyang agreed without hesitation. He valued his life, and taking the cautious route was the safest option. If his father were a Soul Emperor or Soul Sage, he might've considered pushing forward in search of a rare opportunity. But as a mere Great Soul Master, encountering a soul beast over a thousand years old would mean certain death.
They turned back toward the entrance to wait and observe before venturing deeper again.
But before they made it a hundred meters, Zhu Ziyang looked back—and that one glance sparked a sudden, bold idea.
"Dad, wait a moment!" he called out.
"What's wrong?" Zhu Changhe paused, confused.
"I want that soul beast!" Zhu Ziyang pointed to a creature about four or five hundred meters away, slowly approaching them.
Zhu Changhe followed his finger and saw what looked like another Bone Scythe Demon. Though its appearance was slightly different, those signature scythe-like limbs were unmistakable.
"You're sure?" he asked, surprised.
"I'm sure!" Zhu Ziyang nodded without hesitation. He was certain his father had mistaken it for a regular Bone Scythe Demon, which worked perfectly—otherwise, he might object.
"Alright! Wait here, I'll go catch it!" Zhu Changhe gave his son a deep look, then charged forward.
Without delay, he summoned his Martial Soul. Two yellow soul rings lit up behind him, and his second ring flared with light.
Dusklight Scythe—Second Soul Skill: Iron Blade Slash!
The Dusklight Scythe's fifty-centimeter blade glowed with lethal energy as Zhu Changhe struck the creature, which was still in a daze. The full-force blow from a Great Soul Master nearly killed it outright—only Zhu Changhe's restraint at the last second kept it alive.
He quickly dragged the heavily injured soul beast back to Zhu Ziyang, panting slightly. "Yangyang, let's go! We'll talk once we're outside the gorge!"
"Okay!" Zhu Ziyang saw the beast was secured and followed his father at once.
As they ran, his gaze drifted toward the soul beast in his father's grasp.
It looked like a Bone Scythe Demon, and in a way, it was. But Zhu Ziyang knew better. This was no ordinary Bone Scythe Demon—this was its mutated variant: the Bone Scythe Fiend.
The name might not sound different, but the distinction was enormous. While Bone Scythe Demons were common soul beasts, the Bone Scythe Fiend was a high-level creature possessing the death attribute. Though it originated from the same bloodline, it had evolved into an entirely new species.
Bone Scythe Fiends were born when a Bone Scythe Demon suffocated during birth. Once awakened, they would turn on their own kind, slaughtering Bone Scythe Demons in a frenzy—as if seeking revenge. A hundred-year-old Bone Scythe Fiend could rival a five-hundred-year-old Bone Scythe Demon in strength, especially given its innate elemental advantage.
That was why the Bone Scythe Demons had fled.
And it was precisely because of that death attribute that Zhu Ziyang had changed his mind.
He couldn't help but wonder—what would happen if his Radiant Scythe, which already held a faint trace of death, absorbed a genuine death-attribute soul ring?
His Radiant Scythe's death aura was extremely thin, nowhere near as dominant as its light element. But if that sliver evolved into a true death attribute, could his Martial Soul—already rare for its dual elements—become a top-tier Martial Soul?
That thought, like a devil's whisper, had tempted him again and again until he finally gave in.
And this decision would shape Zhu Ziyang's future forever.
Before long, they arrived at the campsite from the previous night.
Zhu Changhe tossed the dying Bone Scythe Fiend to the ground and turned to his son. "Ziyang, are you sure about this? This mutated Bone Scythe is only at the hundred-year level. I could get you a stronger one—maybe four hundred years."
"I've made up my mind. This is the one I want." Zhu Ziyang's eyes never left the creature.
"Alright." Zhu Changhe sighed. "I don't know why you insist on this one, but I hope you're not just going along with me to be polite."
"No need to say more, Dad. I have my reasons. Once I finish absorbing its ring, you'll understand." Zhu Ziyang finally looked up.
What Zhu Changhe saw in his son's eyes was unwavering determination. In the end, he could only nod in silent approval.
Suppressing the excitement and anxiety in his heart, Zhu Ziyang summoned the Radiant Scythe. With a swift thrust, the tip of the scythe pierced the Bone Scythe Fiend's eye and drilled into its brain. The beast twitched a few times before falling completely still. A faint yellow soul ring rose from its corpse.
The newborn Bone Scythe Fiend, before it had a chance to unleash its power, met its end.
"Alright, go ahead and absorb it. I'll stand guard," Zhu Changhe said, satisfied with his son's decisiveness.
Zhu Ziyang sat down cross-legged, resting the Radiant Scythe on his lap. Staring at the yellow soul ring, he channeled his soul power and slowly drew it toward him.
He began to absorb his first soul ring.
(End of Chapter)
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