Enjoying the story? Support the translation and get early access to future chapters here: www.patr eon.com/c/FanficTranslator
Thanks for reading!
I have 70 advanced chapter now on Patreon. I will post 5 advanced chapter on Patreon everyday except Sunday
**
"Well said."
Dai Mingzong nodded slightly, quite satisfied with Dai Weisi's reasoning.
He spoke slowly, "It seems that over the years, although you have been aggressive and fond of competing with others in duels, you haven't neglected your studies. For a prince, while cultivation and strength are important, strength alone is far from enough. You still have much to learn."
"However, there is one point you missed."
Dai Mingzong paused before continuing, "Qin Yi indeed has things that cannot be stated openly in court, but if he truly wanted to evade the eyes and ears of others, there are countless ways to do so. After gaining his father's approval, it would have been even simpler."
"Yet, he still chose to tear down the Recruitment Scroll, returning in a high-profile manner that shook the entire capital. He even publicly refused the imperial summons, not fearing to offend me. This shows the man's extreme pride."
"He wants to use this method to avenge his past grievances and thoroughly wash away his shame. But at the same time, he likely wants to test my sincerity—to see if I am a ruler worthy of his talents."
"Then, Imperial Father, do you intend to employ him?"
"Of course. If he truly possesses talent that can significantly bolster our Star Luo's national strength, I will certainly use him."
Dai Mingzong stated firmly, "However, this matter has spread throughout the capital, and every great clan is watching. Even Mu Zhengyang, the Hall Master of the Spirit Temple within Star Luo City, is paying close attention."
"If I go personally, the target would be too large and draw too much attention. Therefore, I want you to go secretly to the Qin Clan in a few days to meet Qin Yi on my behalf."
A look of joy appeared on Dai Weisi's face.
This was likely a matter of secret national importance; for his father to send him was a sign of recognition and trust.
"Yes!"
"Go then."
After Dai Weisi departed, although a preliminary arrangement had been made, Dai Mingzong's expression did not relax much.
Gazing into the distance, he recalled the scene from the other day when he met Qin Su privately in the study. Faced with his questioning, Qin Su had claimed he didn't know much himself, ultimately leaving behind only three words.
"Soul Warrior!"
Dai Mingzong murmured under his breath, "Soul Warrior... what exactly is that? I hope it is what I think it is. If it truly is, combined with the current situation, it truly seems that Heaven is helping my Star Luo complete the great cause of unification."
While the news of Qin Yi's return was causing a stir in Star Luo City, a chase was unfolding in a Soul Hunting Forest on the outskirts of Spirit City, at the heart of the continent.
Deep in the woods, a group of seven people fled desperately toward the entrance of the Soul Hunting Forest. Their soul power glowed dimly, their clothes were tattered, and their bodies were covered in wounds.
From the depths of the forest behind them, the frequent howling of wolves echoed.
Suddenly, a violent gale rose.
Over a dozen wolf-type Soul Beasts pounced from behind them. They had dark green fur and sharp fangs, their bodies radiating wind-attributed soul power. These were the Gale Demon Wolves, a common species among wolf Soul Beasts.
Gale Demon Wolves are considered mid-level Soul Beasts.
Their physical bodies are resilient, and they possess the power of the wind attribute. While an individual wolf isn't overwhelmingly strong, they are pack hunters; once encountered, they are incredibly difficult to deal with.
Judging by the soul power fluctuations, these dozen or so Gale Demon Wolves were all hundred-year Soul Beasts, with cultivation levels roughly between four hundred to eight hundred years.
Curiously, this seven-man team—clearly in the forest to hunt Soul Beasts for soul rings—consisted of one three-ring Soul Elder and six two-ring Soul Grandmasters.
With such strength, facing a dozen hundred-year Gale Demon Wolves should have been a nuisance, but they shouldn't have been reduced to such a pathetic state.
"Run, brothers! They're catching up!"
The burly man at the front looked back at his companions and shouted.
"I... I can't make it. I can't run anymore."
At that moment, a young man lagging at the very back spoke while gasping for air.
His pace grew slower and slower. He was the only Support System Soul Master among the seven; in terms of both cultivation and physical fitness, he was the weakest, and he had finally reached his limit.
"Don't give up! Keep running!"
The captain, Xiong Li, roared.
He channeled the meager soul power remaining in his body to unleash a soul skill once more.
His Martial Soul was a Bear.
By following the Extreme Stream to absorb soul rings, he intended to train his Martial Soul toward becoming a Crag Demon Bear. Although he hadn't truly succeeded in the evolution yet, his Martial Soul already possessed some earth-attributed power.
Currently, under his Martial Soul Possession, his body was encased by the phantom of his soul, radiating a pale yellow light—he truly looked like a massive, yellow-furred bear standing upright.
"Hah! Earth Rock Wave!"
As a yellow soul ring was released from his body, Xiong Li swung his two massive bear paws and slammed the ground.
A yellow burst of soul power erupted from his hands, hugging the earth as it shot forward like a pillar of energy toward the dozen relentlessly pursuing Gale Demon Wolves.
The effect was decent.
The wolves either dodged or were hit directly, and their speed was significantly reduced.
"While they're trapped, run!" Xiong Li roared immediately after his attack.
"Understood!" another companion replied.
This was the team's Control System Soul Master, Liu Kang. His Martial Soul was a Rope. He immediately activated a soul skill, and several long yellow ropes flew toward the Gale Demon Wolves as if they possessed a life of their own, binding them.
However, he was only a Soul Grandmaster at Rank 25.
He couldn't possibly restrain so many hundred-year Soul Beasts. With too many targets, the binding force was spread thin and became weak. In just a few seconds, the Gale Demon Wolves broke free from his control and resumed their pursuit.
Xiong Li and his group used that brief window to gain some distance, but unfortunately, there was still a significant way to go to reach the entrance of the Soul Hunting Forest. They were about to be overtaken again.
Suddenly, a high-pitched tiger roar erupted from ahead of them. Along with a violent surge of soul power, a giant tiger with golden fur pounced out from the side of the forest, landing on the trunk of a fallen tree.
The sound of the roar rippled out like a physical wave, startling birds into flight and striking terror into Xiong Li's group and the pursuing wolf pack, causing both sides to freeze in their tracks.
Xiong Li and the others swallowed hard, their faces pale.
The Support System Soul Master, Zhang Jin, spoke with a trembling voice, "It's over, it's over. This time it's truly wolves in the back and a tiger in the front. We're dead for sure."
"Captain, what do we do?" Liu Kang asked with a look of despair. Even though he felt there was no hope and that this was a certain death trap, he still turned to Xiong Li.
"I don't know. Brothers, looks like we're going to be traveling together on the road to the Yellow Springs." Xiong Li shook his head with a bitter smile.
He wasn't a particularly clever man, and his cultivation wasn't high, having only recently stepped into the Soul Elder realm. To be honest, their trip to the Soul Hunting Forest had been a streak of abysmal luck.
They had come to help a companion hunt a Soul Beast to increase their strength, but instead of finding a suitable target, they ran into a pack of Gale Demon Wolves and became the prey.
They had exhausted themselves just to kill half the pack, only to be chased like stray dogs by the remaining half. They might have had a slim chance of survival, but now their path was blocked by this Vajra Tiger.
By the look of it, it had also marked them as prey.
In this day and age, why was hunting a Soul Beast so difficult? Even a Soul Hunting Forest was this dangerous; he couldn't even imagine what the Star Dou Forest must be like.
**
Enjoying the story? Support the translation and get early access to future chapters here: www.patr eon.com/c/FanficTranslator
Thanks for reading!
I have 70 advanced chapter now on Patreon. I will post 5 advanced chapter on Patreon everyday except Sunday