Chapter 5: First Soul Ring

Chapter 5: First Soul Ring

In the following days, Xiao Yu and Milo searched for suitable soul beasts on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Both Xiao Yu and Milo understood how crucial the quality of soul beasts was for acquiring soul rings. Over these days, they encountered several soul beasts, but either they didn't meet the age requirement or their attributes were too different from Xiao Yu's martial soul. Even if Xiao Yu absorbed their soul rings, the likelihood of gaining a mediocre soul skill was extremely high.

Xiao Yu wasn't in a hurry, though. He remembered from the original work that it took quite an effort for the Shrek Seven Devils to acquire soul rings in the Star Dou Great Forest and the Sunset Forest. Good things didn't just come knocking easily.

On the contrary, Milo grew somewhat impatient. If it weren't for Xiao Yu's restraint, there were several occasions where he intended to slaughter those completely unsuitable soul beasts as offerings to the heavens.

"A soul beast's growth is not easy. Killing it would be of no benefit to us. Why take unnecessary action? If humans indiscriminately slaughter soul beasts, will there still be soul rings for us to obtain in decades?"

Before crossing over, Xiao Yu had only read the original work up to the second book. His knowledge of the third book was quite rudimentary, but one thing he remembered clearly was that soul beasts were almost extinct in the third book.

Persuaded by Xiao Yu, Milo restrained his killing intent and spared those unfortunate soul beasts.

"Roar!"

Perhaps Xiao Yu's goodwill had brought them luck. After Milo and Xiao Yu spared another hundred-year soul beast, a roar suddenly echoed from ahead.

"The soul power fluctuation, with a hint of dark attribute."

Sensing the energy response coming from not too far away, Milo's eyes lit up, smiling as he said, "Fortune favors the prepared mind, Young Master. It seems your first soul ring is within reach."

Xiao Yu also smiled faintly, saying, "Let's go, let's go take a look."

The two advanced quickly and soon saw the true appearance of that soul beast. It was a canine-type soul beast with two heads, its entire body glowing red, and all four eyes shining with eerie light.

Milo recognized the soul beast, "This is the Hell Double-Headed Hound, with a cultivation of about five hundred years. With Young Master's martial soul, it's just right as your first soul ring."

"Alright, let me deal with this Hell Double-Headed Hound first!"

Xiao Yu nodded, shouting loudly, "Martial Soul Possession!"

In an instant, Xiao Yu's entire body was covered in jet-black battle armor. Utilizing the wings sprouting from his back, Xiao Yu shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.

"Roar!"

Seeing a child charging straight at it, the Hell Double-Headed Hound roared and pounced like a streak of crimson light.

"So fast, this is the strength of a five-hundred-year soul beast!"

Xiao Yu's eyes slightly changed, focusing his energy and shouting loudly, "Attack!" The black giant sword in his hand stabbed forward directly.

The hundred-year soul beast's intelligence was not high, or perhaps it underestimated Xiao Yu, who hadn't even acquired his first soul ring yet. The Hell Double-Headed Hound charged straight at Xiao Yu without dodging, heading straight for the giant sword aimed at it.

Xiao Yu's martial soul, the Underworld Apostle, was a weakened version of the King of the Underworld's incarnation. Naturally, the sword in his hand also carried some power of a divine artifact, albeit not much. However, it was enough to penetrate the defense of a hundred-year soul beast.

With a miserable cry and blood splattering, Xiao Yu's sword had already pierced into the body of the Hell Double-Headed Hound.

The pain stimulated the Hell Double-Headed Hound, and its two heads and four eyes emitted terrifying red light as it fiercely attacked Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu quickly withdrew his divine sword, holding it horizontally in front of himself to block the Hell Double-Headed Hound's attacks.

Driven mad by the intense pain, the Hell Double-Headed Hound repeatedly rammed into Xiao Yu, swearing to tear him into pieces. Each collision made Xiao Yu's figure tremble, and his internal organs churned as if in a tempest.

Xiao Yu gritted his teeth, resisting the Hell Double-Headed Hound's relentless attacks without letting Milo intervene. With the successful strike just now, the dark death power inherent in the Underworld Apostle had already penetrated the Hell Double-Headed Hound's body through the blade. As long as Xiao Yu endured the hound's final struggles, victory would be his.

After about ten minutes of stalemate, the Hell Double-Headed Hound suddenly staggered, its front paws kneeling, and its formerly proud heads drooping down.

"Finally endured it!"

Seeing the beast collapse, Xiao Yu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. At this moment, his arms were already numb, indicating that he was nearing his limit.

This encounter also gave Xiao Yu a rough understanding of the strength of soul beasts. Frankly speaking, if it weren't for the Hell Double-Headed Hound's carelessness, allowing him to land the first blow, with the physique of a soul beast, it could have lasted another ten minutes at that intensity. Xiao Yu wouldn't have been able to hold on.

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yu strode forward and thrust his sword through the left head of the Hell Double-Headed Hound, completely ending its life.

As the Hell Double-Headed Hound died, a faint yellow light gradually condensed on its body, finally forming a shining yellow halo.

Xiao Yu didn't immediately absorb this soul ring. He had just fought a fierce battle, and his physical condition was extremely poor. Absorbing a soul ring of around five hundred years at this moment would add considerable risk.

According to the original work, a soul ring could exist for about an hour. Xiao Yu could just use this time to adjust his own condition.

After more than half an hour, Xiao Yu, who had been meditating to restore his body to its peak state, opened his eyes. He circulated his soul power to attract the soul ring to his side.

Whether it was because Xiao Yu's martial soul was too strong or because the Hell Double-Headed Hound lost its temper due to being killed by a tenth-level soul master like Xiao Yu, the absorption of this soul ring went very smoothly. In a little over an hour, Xiao Yu completed the absorption of the soul ring, and his soul power level also reached level 12, showing a trend of breaking through to level 13.

"Young Master, I wonder what your first soul skill is?"

Seeing Xiao Yu complete the absorption of the soul ring, Milo, who had been guarding cautiously on the side, couldn't help but ask with curiosity.

Xiao Yu replied, "My first soul skill is called Inferno Shield, which can generate high-temperature flames around me for protection while also boosting my attack and defense by 30%."

"A good skill."

Milo nodded. For a soul master, an initial soul skill belonging to the amplification type was ideal. Even at the level of a Title Douluo, this hundred-year soul ring would still be effective.

Xiao Yu also thought so and was quite satisfied with this first soul skill.

Having obtained the first soul ring, the two naturally couldn't stay in the Star Dou Great Forest, where soul beasts roamed and the danger was unknown, so they set off to leave.

Entering the forest meant traveling slowly to find suitable soul beasts to obtain soul rings, but leaving required no such search; they simply needed to head straight out. After half a day's journey, they left the forest and arrived at a small town on the outskirts of the forest.

(End of Chapter)

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