One year passed.
The courtyard of the Iron Guards was alive with disciplined movement. Footsteps struck the stone in steady rhythm, weapons traced controlled arcs through the air, and waves of soul power rose and fell as training continued without pause.
At twenty-one, Wang Yan and his friends stood tall and composed. Their bodies were well-built, their expressions calm and mature—far removed from the immaturity of the past. Every movement carried stability and control, the result of long, unbroken days of cultivation.
Their soul power had risen noticeably.
Wang Yan stood at the center of the courtyard, his sword resting lightly against the ground. His presence was restrained yet heavy. He had reached Level 49, peak stage.
Nearby, Liu Ming held his spear upright, his breathing even—Level 47.
Chen Yu straightened after completing a sequence of movements—Level 44.
Zhao Qing rolled his shoulders once, his expression relaxed yet alert—Level 45.
Breaking the silence, Wang Yan spoke.
"I've reached peak forty-nine," he said. "At this rate, I'll step into fifty within a month."
He paused briefly.
"But my fifth soul ring is the problem."
Wang Yan continued, "There aren't any ten-thousand-year or higher soul beasts in this region."
Liu Ming tightened his grip on the spear. "Then we'll have to head to the main capital."
Wang Yan lifted his gaze slightly.
"Yes. We can't remain in Green Pearl City forever."
The courtyard grew quiet once more.
That evening, the four informed Instructor Qiu that they would be heading to the state capital, Lingyun City.
Instructor Qiu listened and did not object. Instead, he nodded in approval, understanding their decision.
Before they left, he handed Wang Yan a sealed letter.
"Give this to Brother Shuo Tian," he said calmly. "It will help you."
The next morning, the four departed together and set off toward Lingyun City.
After two days of travel, the state capital finally came into view.
Lingyun City was vast and imposing. High walls stretched endlessly, massive gates stood open, and a constant stream of people and soul masters moved in and out. Compared to Green Pearl City, everything here felt larger and far more complex.
They found a hotel and rested for the night.
The following day, the four walked through the city markets, observing their surroundings and slowly adapting to the rhythm of the capital.
After settling down in Lingyun City, the four discussed their immediate arrangements.
Although they had brought funds with them from their time with the Iron Guards, daily life in the state capital required constant expenses. Food, lodging, and maintaining a place to stay could not be overlooked. If they were to remain in Lingyun City for an extended period, these basics had to be secured steadily.
With that in mind, they decided to take on regular work.
They approached an already established mercenary group in the city and formally joined. Relying on their experience and discipline, they adapted quickly and began taking missions. Most were straightforward tasks—escort assignments, material gathering, and routine patrols—but they provided stability and familiarity with the capital.
Time passed quietly.
After nearly fifteen days, during cultivation, Wang Yan's soul power finally crossed the threshold. The bottleneck that had held him at peak forty-nine gave way, and he stepped into Level 50.
His breakthrough was complete.
Now, only one thing remained.
His fifth soul ring.
The very next day, the four set out together for a soul ring hunt. Their destination was a forest not far from Lingyun City.
The forest was vast and far denser than those near Green Pearl City. Ancient trees stood tightly packed, their canopies blocking most of the light. The ground was uneven and quiet, and the air carried the presence of soul beasts, making it clear this was no ordinary forest.
The four moved deeper into the forest, careful with each step as roots and fallen branches tangled the ground. Hours passed, the sunlight barely piercing the dense canopy above.
Along the way, they encountered several soul beasts—each strong, around ten thousand in level. Chen Yu, Zhao Qing, and Liu Ming watched quietly, while Wang Yan's focus never wavered.
None of these beasts were suitable. He needed a soul ring worthy of his fifth ring—at least above twenty thousand. His eyes scanned the forest relentlessly, determination etched into every line of his face.
Time passed, yet he did not falter. His only thought was clear: he would not settle for anything less than a truly powerful soul beast.
Hours passed as the four moved cautiously through the dense forest, stepping over thick roots and fallen branches, scanning every shadow and movement. The forest seemed endless, silent except for the occasional rustle of leaves under distant beasts.
Then, a sound broke the quiet—a tremendous flapping of wings, heavy and sharp, echoing through the trees. The ground seemed to tremble slightly with each beat.
From the canopy above, a massive black form descended with astonishing speed. Its feathers glinted sharply, each wingtip like a honed blade. Chen Yu, Zhao Qing, and Liu Ming instinctively tightened their stances, alert to the immense aura radiating from the creature.
Wang Yan froze for a moment, his gaze locking on the beast. This was no ordinary soul beast. It was the BladeWing Crow, a beast of nearly twenty-eight thousand years—far beyond what he had initially sought. He had come to the forest hoping to find a beast above twenty thousand, but this… this was a jackpot.
He could feel the surge of possibility in his chest. Claiming the soul ring of this beast would drastically increase his power and give him the chance to surpass all limits he had set for himself. His hand gripped the sword tighter, his mind sharpening with focus.
This was the moment he had been searching for. Every caution, every hour of preparation, had led to this. The BladeWing Crow was here—and Wang Yan would face it.
The forest canopy cast long shadows, sunlight barely reaching the ground. The BladeWing Crow's massive black wings flapped like living blades, slicing the air with incredible speed. Its shrieks echoed through the trees, sending vibrations through the earth.
Wang Yan's gaze swept over his friends, sharp and commanding. "Zhao Qing, trap it and control its path. Chen Yu, intercept it wherever it tries to flee. Liu Ming and I will strike it head-on. Move together—now!"
Zhao Qing's body sparked with electricity. With a surge, he unleashed his Fourth Soul Ring skill—Stormfang Rending Strike, lightning arcing across the clearing. Immediately, Thunder Chain Rend (Third Soul Ring skill) followed, chaining electricity in multiple directions and shaping the crow's trajectory.
Chen Yu blurred, wind spiraling around him. He moved to intercept, twisting currents from Solar Gale Apex Fang (Fourth Soul Ring skill) cutting through the air. Solar Wind Severance (Third Soul Ring skill) followed, sending slicing wind blades in unpredictable arcs, forcing the crow toward the center of the clearing.
Liu Ming gripped his spear, the metallic hum of the Soulbone in his right hand flowing through him. His Fourth Soul Ring skill—Obsidian Charge surged forward, every thrust doubled in weight and force. He followed immediately with Mountain-Piercing Drive (Third Soul Ring skill) and Flowing Lance Spiral (Second Soul Ring skill), rotational thrusts and piercing strikes amplifying the pressure on the crow, closing escape routes.
Wang Yan stepped forward, crimson energy flaring around his sword. Sword Shadow Separation (Fourth Soul Ring skill) split multiple sword shadows from his blade, striking from altered paths. He flowed into Rain of Swords (Third Soul Ring skill), Continuous Edge (Second Soul Ring skill), and Demon Roar Slash (First Soul Ring skill), rapid, overlapping, precise strikes cutting toward the crow from all angles.
The clearing shook under the relentless assault. Lightning, wind, spear, and sword strikes converged from all directions, perfectly synchronized. The crow twisted and flapped, but every movement was met with crushing force. Zhao Qing controlled its flight, Chen Yu intercepted its evasions, Liu Ming's Soulbone-enhanced spear pierced every opening, and Wang Yan's sword pressed relentlessly, precise and lethal.
With the intense, coordinated onslaught, the four gained the upper hand. The BladeWing Crow's frantic flaps grew weaker. Its wings faltered, its shrieks echoed in desperation, and finally, exhausted, it was thrust to the ground, trembling and defeated.
Wang Yan stepped forward, crimson energy coiling around his sword. With a single, decisive strike, he drove the blade through the heart of the crow. A black, gleaming soul ring, charged with immense power, emerged from the fallen beast.
The battle was over. The fifth soul ring—the ultimate prize Wang Yan had sought—hovered in the air, its intense aura radiating a deadly yet precious energy.
End of Chapter.