What exactly is a soul?
This is a profoundly complex question. In Lin Xiao's memories from his previous life, many had attempted to answer it, yet none seemed entirely accurate.
In this world, even though Lin Xiao possessed a martial soul like the Higanbana, which naturally granted him the ability to sense souls, he still couldn't clearly define what a soul truly was.
It was like how everyone knows they are human, capable of controlling their actions and thoughts, yet not everyone can explain where humans come from or what constitutes their essence.
He only knew that a soul carries a being's memories and will. And today, he also witnessed that souls could be "created."
After the Soul-Calling Tree summoned residual souls, it could use them to form entirely unrelated figures. When the three-headed giant dog appeared later, Lin Xiao genuinely sensed the aura of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast from it. Though it was superficial and faint…
The night in the Star Dou Great Forest was far from peaceful. The wind carried the scents of various soul beasts, but Lin Xiao tuned it all out, fully immersed in his spiritual world.
Nightmare Douluo had gone to great lengths to search for soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest. While Lin Xiao didn't know what other motives he might have, at the very least, Nightmare Douluo didn't want him to die easily. With little time left and no opportunity to find a completely safe place to think things through, Lin Xiao focused inward.
Nearby, Nightmare Douluo listened to Lin Xiao's steady breathing, seemingly noticing something. However, after a brief glance, he paid it no further mind. In his view, with a Titled Douluo like himself present, it was no surprise that Lin Xiao could cultivate so calmly.
As the night deepened, even the four soul beast hunters captured by Nightmare Douluo began to feel drowsy. Just as they huddled together, preparing to rest, a piercing wail echoed from the depths of the forest.
It sounded like the cry of a human child. Lin Xiao's mind jolted, instantly snapping out of his meditation. The four soul masters beside him lost all traces of sleepiness, their legs trembling uncontrollably.
Nightmare Douluo shot to his feet, looking toward the darkness with uncertainty.
"A hundred-thousand-year soul beast?" he muttered.
The air seemed to grow heavier with the wail, and the captured soul beasts began to stir, showing signs of waking.
It wasn't unusual for a hundred-thousand-year soul beast to appear in the Star Dou Great Forest, but Nightmare Douluo's expression grew increasingly grim. Though he was a Titled Douluo, he wasn't among the strongest of his rank, and facing a hundred-thousand-year soul beast made him uneasy.
Glancing back at the captured soul beasts, he suddenly spoke, "You all head toward the forest's edge. I'll see if I can lure it away."
Lin Xiao could also sense the ominous aura in the air. Though he found it strange, he said nothing and started moving toward the Outer Area.
"Aren't you coming?" Nightmare Douluo's expression darkened as he glanced at the hunters.
The soul masters exchanged looks, hoisted the soul beasts, and followed in the direction Lin Xiao had gone.
"What a pity…" Nightmare Douluo smacked his lips, his figure slowly fading from the spot.
Lin Xiao didn't stop, attracting the attention of several soul beasts in the Outer Area. However, with his strength, these creatures posed no threat to him.
"Young man! Young man!" the burly man called out, still carrying the sack on his back. With Lin Xiao clearing the way of obstructing soul beasts, he managed to keep up, albeit barely.
"Wait for us, young man," the burly man panted, glancing back as if checking whether the hundred-thousand-year soul beast was following.
"Young man, do you know what that hundred-thousand-year soul beast is? Is your teacher a match for it?" he asked.
Lin Xiao's gaze flicked over the burly man, but he didn't respond. If they truly encountered it head-on, he wasn't optimistic about Nightmare Douluo's chances. Nightmare Douluo's Nightmare martial soul could kill ordinary people or those weaker than him without a trace, making it quite formidable.
But against someone of equal or greater strength, its effectiveness was greatly diminished.
If Nightmare Douluo stayed behind in the Star Dou Great Forest because of this…
The thought flashed through Lin Xiao's mind, but it was merely wishful thinking. Nightmare Douluo wasn't the type to fight a soul beast to the death. If things went south, he'd likely find a way to escape.
Seeing Lin Xiao remain silent, the burly man pressed further. "Young man, that soul beast's cry sounded like a child's wail. It might be a Night Owl. That's a powerful soul beast."
Lin Xiao's thoughts had been immersed in his spiritual sea, and the sudden turn of events hadn't given him much time to think. But hearing the burly man's words, something clicked in his mind.
His expression changed, and he whipped around. "Drop the sack you're carrying."
"Huh?" The burly man froze but instinctively let go.
As they continued moving, Lin Xiao glanced back at the sack, now growing distant, his eyes narrowing slightly.
No wonder he felt something was off. Nightmare Douluo was never the selfless type. With the presence of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, why would he volunteer to hold it off?
The ones truly left to cover the retreat weren't Nightmare Douluo—it was them. That sack contained a Ghost-Faced Owl with a forty-thousand-year cultivation. While Lin Xiao wasn't sure if the appearance of this hundred-thousand-year soul beast was related, given Nightmare Douluo's reaction, it was best to discard it.
The burly man trailing behind Lin Xiao seemed to realize something as well, letting out a relieved breath and flexing his wrist as he moved closer to Lin Xiao.
"By the way, young man, what was that 'Holy Spirit Cult' you mentioned earlier?" he asked.
As he spoke, the other three hunters gradually closed in.
"Isn't that some evil soul master organization?" Old Third, who had been profusely apologizing earlier, suddenly changed his tone. "It doesn't seem like your teacher values you much, does it?"
"I never thought we brothers would get a chance to rid the world of evil," another added.
Before the words fully left his mouth, a sharp aura surged toward Lin Xiao's back.
The four seemed to have rehearsed this countless times. They surrounded Lin Xiao, and as the man behind him attacked, several strikes targeted Lin Xiao's arms and legs simultaneously.
"Your fifth brother was the one who went for vital points like the throat, wasn't he?" Lin Xiao's calm voice rang out.
As if prepared, his swiftly moving steps halted abruptly. His upper body twisted, and his left arm swung backward, a silver-gray dagger appearing in his hand without warning.
The man behind him—Old Third, who had spoken—was caught off guard and collided head-on with the attack.
"No need to disguise yourselves as good people if you're just planning to kill and rob," Lin Xiao said, raising his left arm high. Old Third's body traced a half-circle through the air, landing in front of him. In an instant, countless dark red rays of light burst from his body.