When everyone heard what Oscar wanted them to do, their faces immediately showed undisguised awkwardness.
They had assumed Oscar wanted to capture some rare soul beast, but they did not expect him to be looking for the Ice Bixi Scorpion and the Titan Snow Demon clans. If it had been other soul-beast clans they could have barely accepted it, but these two clans made them want to back out, and they no longer even thought about the soul bone on Oscar.
Deep in the far north it was said the Ice Bixi Scorpion and Titan Snow Demon were absolute overlords. The strength of those two clans was enough to dominate the far north, because within their ranks truly existed soul beasts aged a hundred thousand years.
Although it was only legend, the terrifying thing about legend is that even hearsay can be shocking.
Aside from Haote, who was absorbing his seventh soul ring, the rest of them were at best at the Soul Emperor level. At that level, you must be cautious, cautious, and cautious again in the Frozen Forest just to ensure your life. Let alone now, when they had to cross the Frozen Forest and go deep into the far north. Oscar looked at the group's troubled faces and said calmly, "I do not need you to take action. I only need you to help me find traces of them. How about that?"
When he said this their expressions recovered somewhat. Although they still had to go deep into the far north, merely searching for traces was fundamentally different from confronting those terrifying clans directly.
But they still did not dare agree immediately, unless Oscar could put enough tempting stakes on the table.
Oscar seemed to guess their thoughts and said outright, "One hundred thousand Golden Soul Coins each if we succeed."
With that he took a purple-gold Gold Soul Card out from his soul device.
This was the most special Gold Soul Card in the auction house and only auction houses at the capital city level could issue it. To hold a purple-gold card its owner must have at least one hundred fixed Gold Soul Coins in assets.
Although Lieshuo and the others would not get this card, they were extremely familiar with it because this was the goal they had been fighting for.
They were all soul masters, and the lowest among them had reached the Soul Sect level. They lived daily on the edge of a knife, all for the chance to become rich one day.
They might not have believed Oscar's promise of one hundred thousand Golden Soul Coins each, after all seventy thousand Golden Soul Coins had already been offered here.
But the instant they saw the Gold Soul Card, none of them doubted Oscar's wealth.
After a long silence, Lieshuo and the others exchanged looks, then cupped their hands and replied, "If that is so, we will accompany you on the trip. However, if our lives are in danger, we will prioritize preserving our own lives. We hope you understand."
Oscar nodded. "Naturally."
With Oscar's objective confirmed, Lieshuo and the others were actually more excited inwardly.
Earlier, the tenderloin Lieshuo offered to Oscar had not been drugged; it was more a test of character. Oscar appeared aloof and very cautious, and he refused food given to him.
Since he was searching for the Ice Bixi Scorpion and Titan Snow Demon clans, Oscar was probably either choosing soul beasts for a junior or scouting for an elder.
In any case they could use the opportunity to plot how to kill Oscar.
If he died later, they could frame those soul-beast clans and greatly reduce the risk of exposure.
However, Oscar's ability was indeed impressive, and Haote was too simple and honest; it would be nearly impossible for him to stoop to their level, so they would need a long-term plan.
Even if, on the worst assumption, they failed to find a suitable chance to kill Oscar, each would still receive one hundred thousand Golden Soul Coins if the mission succeeded, so it would not be a loss.
They were not fools. If they decided to act, they would choose an absolutely foolproof opportunity, otherwise they might pay with their lives.
Oscar did not say much more to them and did not tell them what he planned to do with finding those two powerful soul-beast clans. Lieshuo and the others wisely did not ask further. In the soul-master world everyone had secrets, and they only needed to do their assigned tasks.
After another hour passed, Haote's body showed two yellow, three purple, and two black soul rings, seven rings in total, fully floating on his body. A terrifying pressure belonging to the Soul Saint level suddenly erupted from him.
When Haote opened his eyes they were full of excitement. This time he had not only broken through to the Soul Saint realm but had obtained a perfect seventh soul ring.
Except for some special martial souls, every soul master's seventh soul ring grants only one soul skill, the true form of the martial soul. The strength of the martial-soul true form depends not only on the martial soul's quality but also on how well the seventh soul ring fits.
The more the seventh ring fits the martial soul, the more powerful the true form becomes.
This ice bear almost perfectly matched Haote's Snow Soul Demon Bear martial soul, so his martial-soul true form was undoubtedly strong.
Haote stood up excitedly and walked up to Oscar, bowing deeply. "Haote thanks you, senior. This soul ring fits me almost perfectly."
Oscar nodded calmly. "Good."
Haote then asked, "May I ask what you need us to do?"
Oscar glanced at Lieshuo. Lieshuo obligingly explained what Oscar wanted them to do.
When Haote heard Oscar had given them the ice bear's body as a deposit, he admired Oscar even more. As for Lieshuo and the other six splitting that deposit, Haote did not mind, because he had already obtained the soul ring.
However, when he heard Oscar was asking them to find traces of the Ice Bixi Scorpion and Titan Snow Demon clans, Haote still froze for a moment, but he did not say more. Since he had accepted Oscar's favor, he naturally intended to do his best.
Haote also said, "Senior, since I have received the seventh soul ring freely, the debt is settled. I do not need additional payment and will wholeheartedly help you find the traces of the two clans."
Oscar did not refuse and smiled, "You are polite. I am impressed."
Haote smiled his simple smile, "I only feel your favor has already been enough, asking for more would not be appropriate. I do not deserve praise."
Seeing this, Oscar responded sincerely, "You do not need to call me senior, I am probably younger than you. My family name is Ao and my given name is Rong. Just call me by my name."
Hearing Oscar's words, Haote replied, "In the soul-master world the talented are teachers. Why not let me call you Brother Oscar?"
Oscar did not refuse. "All right."
Lieshuo and the others frowned when they saw Haote become closer to Oscar so quickly.
Oscar treated them as hired help, yet he showed favor to Haote? Haote was a fool. That was one hundred thousand Golden Soul Coins. He just refused it? What had they been risking their lives in the Frozen Forest for if not for that money?
Now Haote said he did not want it? Fine, give his share to us instead.
Lieshuo suppressed his thoughts and stepped forward, handing Haote a nearly burned piece of tenderloin. "Eat something to replenish yourself. After you rest we will follow the senior and depart."
Haote looked to Oscar with questioning eyes about when to depart. Oscar nodded. "Eat first. There is no harm in setting out after you are replenished."
At Oscar's words Haote took the meat and began to eat, treating himself perfectly as a hired hand.
Lieshuo snorted inwardly at Haote's simple nature. Haote's personality made him popular in the soul-master world, but in a soul-beast forest where death was always possible, he could be sold out without even knowing it.
Oscar sat silently beside them, lost in thought. Lieshuo, watching Haote's greasy face, could not help but send a telepathic message. "Big brother Haote, I will tell you a secret."
Haote looked up. Lieshuo continued, "Don't look at me, just eat seriously."
Haote was somewhat puzzled but followed Lieshuo's instructions. After all, they had been a team for months and had endured life-and-death situations together. At least that was what Haote believed.
Lieshuo continued, "While you were absorbing the soul ring just now, senior Ao Rong took a vertebra soul bone from that ice bear's corpse."
Haote, who was pretending to focus on the tenderloin, suddenly paused. As a Soul Saint at level seventy-one, he knew exactly what that meant. A vertebra soul bone over forty thousand years old. That ice bear had actually dropped a vertebra soul bone!
But Haote was not a fool. Lieshuo's secretive telepathic message made his meaning clear.
Haote also craved that vertebra soul bone, especially since he had absorbed the ice bear's soul ring. Everyone knew that if a soul master absorbs both soul rings and soul bones from the same beast, the effects could be maximized, and the enhancement to the soul master was more than the sum of its parts.
Still, Haote could not bring himself to accept Oscar's favor and then steal the soul bone from him.
Lieshuo knew Haote would be hard to sway but tried to persuade him. "Big brother, don't forget that before he arrived we almost finished off that ice bear. In other words, even without his appearance the soul ring and bone would have been yours."
"We are just taking back what belongs to us. It does not betray your original intentions."
"Besides, now that you have broken through to Soul Saint, our seven brothers together would make short work of Ao Rong. We take the soul bone and run, then pin his death on the Ice Bixi Scorpion or Titan Snow Demon clans. No one would find out."
Although his face showed no emotion, Lieshuo's telepathic tone grew more fervent. If Haote agreed, the soul bone was as good as theirs.
But before Lieshuo could continue, Haote interrupted, "Lieshuo, stop. I cannot do such a thing. I will not tell Brother Oscar about this, but you must not think crooked thoughts. We complete his task and get paid, then we are even."
"If you dare act secretly, do not blame me for not showing old favors."
Hearing Haote's telepathic reply, Lieshuo's gaze turned cold. He had long expected Haote would refuse, but when Haote threatened him, anger still burned inside.
If Lieshuo were not a fire-attribute soul master whose cultivation had slowed in the Frozen Forest, he might have broken through to Soul Saint before Haote. Then he would not be under Haote's thumb.
But Lieshuo did not show this. He only replied, "I understand, big brother. I spoke out of turn."
Haote said, "I understand the temptation of a soul bone. I have thought about it too, but we are human beings, not soul beasts. If today we attack our benefactor for a soul bone, will tomorrow see brothers turn on each other for the same bone?"
Lieshuo's argument that the bear would have been theirs without Oscar was not unrealistic, but not entirely realistic either.
They had consumed a lot during the fight. The ice bear, though badly injured, had not used its true skill. In the end whether they would flee in disgrace or kill the bear was uncertain.
Haote's words of conscience embarrassed Lieshuo inwardly, but he telepathically replied on the surface, "I understand, big brother. I will not think like that again."
Haote said, "Tell the others my opinion. Later I will give you some compensation."
Lieshuo answered, "All right, big brother."
He then passed on to the others, "Damn, he really refused and said if we try anything he will not show old favors!"
The others showed expressions of "we expected as much," because Haote's character was well known.
Han Han sent a telepathic message, "What should we do now?"
Lieshuo said, "Wait for the right moment. We must have a sure kill before we act. Otherwise if the two of them join forces we lose."
"Besides, even if we never get an opportunity, one hundred thousand Golden Soul Coins each is enough to risk it."
The others agreed and then kept watch, showing the value and professionalism of hired hands.
Oscar observed their behavior closely. He did not know exactly what they discussed, but it was likely about the soul bone.
Judging by Haote's demeanor, he seemed truly unmoved. Could he really resist the temptation of a forty-thousand-year vertebra soul bone?
Oscar found himself viewing Haote with greater respect, though he would not decide until the outcome. Maybe Haote was a consummate actor.
Soon Haote finished his tenderloin and then set off with Oscar. The eight of them formed a standard formation ready to counterattack and quickly crossed the Frozen Forest, heading for the depths of the far north.
Oscar took out a map and studied it carefully. The map did not show the exact locations of the Ice Bixi Scorpion and Titan Snow Demon clans, but it recorded places where they had appeared.
With such a map in hand, they could at least save some time.
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