Chapter Five: The First Soul Ring

In the days that followed, Xiao Yu and Miao searched the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest for a suitable soul beast. Both understood deeply the crucial relationship between the quality of the beast and the resulting soul ring. Over these days, they encountered several soul beasts, yet none met their standards: either their age was insufficient or their attributes differed too greatly from Xiao Yu’s martial spirit, making it highly likely he would absorb a mediocre and useless soul skill.

Even after several days, Xiao Yu remained patient. He recalled from the original story that the Shrek Seven Devils spent considerable effort in the Star Dou Forest and the Sunset Forest to obtain their soul rings. Good things were never that easily acquired. Miao, on the other hand, grew rather anxious. Were it not for Xiao Yu’s restraint, he would have slaughtered those unsuitable soul beasts they encountered, offering them as sacrifices.

“It’s not easy for a soul beast to grow. Killing it brings us no benefit—why bother with needless slaughter? If humans kill soul beasts without restraint, will there be any soul rings left for us in a few decades?”

Before crossing over, Xiao Yu had only read the original works of Soul Land I and II, and had a rough understanding of Soul Land III. Still, one thing was clear in his memory: by the time of Soul Land III, soul beasts were nearly extinct.

With Xiao Yu’s persuasion, Miao finally curbed his killing intent and spared those unlucky beasts.

A sudden roar echoed from ahead, as if their goodwill had brought them luck. Right after they spared yet another century-old soul beast, an angry bellow sounded in the distance.

“That soul power fluctuation carries a trace of the dark attribute,” Miao said, his eyes lighting up as he sensed the energy ahead. “Fortune favors the diligent, young master. It seems your first soul ring is within reach.”

Xiao Yu smiled faintly. “Let’s go and have a look.”

The two advanced swiftly, soon coming face to face with the soul beast’s true form—a two-headed canine, its entire body a deep red, four eyes blazing with a terrifying light.

Miao recognized it immediately. “This is a Hell Double-Headed Hound, with roughly five hundred years of cultivation. It’s perfect for your martial spirit, young master, and ideal as your first soul ring.”

“Good. Let me take on this Hell Double-Headed Hound first!”

Xiao Yu nodded and shouted, “Martial Spirit Possession!”

In an instant, an obsidian black armor enveloped Xiao Yu’s entire body. With wings sprouting from his back, he shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.

The Hell Double-Headed Hound roared at the sight of a child charging at it and lunged, a crimson streak of fury. “Such speed—so this is the strength of a five-hundred-year soul beast!” Xiao Yu’s eyes flickered as he gathered his focus and bellowed, “Kill!” He thrust forth his black greatsword.

Centennial soul beasts possessed little intelligence, or perhaps the double-headed hound underestimated Xiao Yu, who had not yet acquired even his first soul ring. It made no attempt to dodge, crashing straight into the thrust of Xiao Yu’s sword.

Xiao Yu’s martial spirit, Apostle of the Netherworld, was a weakened incarnation of the King of the Underworld; naturally, the sword in his hand carried a fraction of a divine weapon’s might. Though not much, it was enough to pierce the defenses of a century-old beast.

A miserable scream rang out; blood spattered as Xiao Yu’s sword sank into the hound’s body. Agonized, the beast’s four eyes glowed an even more menacing red as it launched a frenzied assault at Xiao Yu.

He hastily withdrew his sword, holding it crosswise to fend off the beast’s wild attacks. Driven mad by pain, the hound crashed into him again and again, intent on tearing Xiao Yu apart. Each impact made Xiao Yu’s body tremble, his internal organs churning violently.

Gritting his teeth, Xiao Yu withstood the onslaught, refusing to let Miao intervene. With his first strike, the deathly dark power of the Apostle of the Netherworld had already invaded the hound’s body through the blade. If he could just endure this final struggle, victory would be his.

The standoff lasted nearly ten minutes before the double-headed hound suddenly staggered, its forelegs collapsing, both heads drooping in defeat.

“I finally made it,” Xiao Yu exhaled deeply, relief washing over him as he saw the beast collapse. His arms were numb, his strength nearly spent. This encounter had also allowed Xiao Yu to roughly gauge the power of soul beasts. Had the hound not been careless and let his first strike land, with its robust physique, it could have continued its ferocious assault for at least another ten minutes—Xiao Yu knew he would not have lasted.

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

As the beast died, a pale yellow light slowly gathered above its body, coalescing into a shining yellow ring.

Xiao Yu did not rush to absorb the soul ring immediately. He was in poor shape after the fierce battle, and absorbing a five-hundred-year ring in this condition would be a reckless risk. According to the original story, a soul ring could persist for about an hour after the beast’s death, giving him time to recover.

After more than half an hour of meditation and breathing, Xiao Yu restored his body to peak condition. He then summoned the soul ring to his side and began the absorption process.

Perhaps it was the sheer power of his martial spirit, or maybe the Hell Double-Headed Hound had been utterly cowed by being slain by a mere tenth-level soul master; whatever the reason, the absorption went extraordinarily smoothly. In just over an hour, Xiao Yu had fully absorbed the soul ring, his soul power rising to level twelve and even showing signs of breaking through to level thirteen.

“Young master, what is your first soul skill?” Miao, who had been vigilantly guarding him throughout the process, could not help but ask in curiosity.

Xiao Yu replied, “My first soul skill is called Infernal Bodyguard. It generates an ultra-high-temperature flame shield around me, while boosting my attack and defense by thirty percent.”

“A fine skill,” Miao nodded in approval. For a soul master, a first soul ring that grants an amplifying skill is ideal; even at the rank of Title Douluo, such a century-old soul ring remains useful.

Xiao Yu was equally satisfied with his first soul skill.

Having acquired his first soul ring, the two had no reason to remain in the dangerous and unpredictable Star Dou Forest. They set out to leave immediately. Entering the forest had required slow and careful searching for a suitable soul beast, but their departure was quick and direct. In less than half a day, they arrived at a small town on the forest’s outskirts.