After finishing that day's practice, Lin Yang's gaze subconsciously fell on his left hand.
That was where his second Spirit, Demon Blood, resided.
Until now, he had treated the Demon Blood Spirit as a trump card, one that granted powerful regenerative ability.
Because of that trump card, he could temper his body without restraint, not worrying about hidden injuries or overtraining.
But as his soul power continued to rise, each time he used the Demon Blood Spirit, its hunger for flesh and blood grew stronger.
Previously, he'd been able to suppress that hunger with sheer will and Sun Breathing, keeping his reason intact.
But after reaching level ten, even without activating Demon Blood—
He could clearly feel, from the depths of his soul, the most primal and extreme desire emanating from his Spirit.
A craving for fresh flesh and blood.
If he were to use Demon Blood now, his rationality could very well be overwhelmed in an instant.
Then, he would no longer be Lin Yang—he would become a monster that knew only how to devour human flesh while wearing human skin.
Hot soul power flowed through his body, but it couldn't dispel the chill and hunger rising from his very soul.
Lin Yang slowly clenched his left hand, his fingertips turning white with the force.
It seemed that after obtaining his first soul ring, he would have to immediately start dealing with the Demon Blood Spirit's flaws.
To fix those flaws, he would need to find the Blue Spider Lily.
But this was the Douluo Continent. He didn't even know if something like the Blue Spider Lily existed here.
He hadn't found any mention of a similar plant in the academy's library.
Still, it wasn't as though there were no other ways.
This was a xuanhuan world—mocked as "fantasy floor tiles," perhaps, but truly filled with heavenly treasures.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, various immortal herbs…
Even the Blue Silver Emperor spirit bone hidden away by Tang Hao might help him patch the Demon Blood Spirit's defects.
But those things wouldn't be easy to obtain.
Staring at his left hand, Lin Yang fell into a brief silence.
…
Three days later—
Lin Yang requested leave from the academy, slung his pack over his shoulder, and hopped on a vegetable cart headed for the Hunting Soul Forest outside Nuoding City.
Once they arrived, Lin Yang handed the driver ten copper coins and thanked him.
After exiting the city gates and walking only a short distance, he was drawn in by the sight before him.
On both sides of the road leading to the Hunting Soul Forest, houses and shops stood in neat rows. Hawkers' cries rose and fell, and people bustled to and fro. It was as lively as a market.
"Forming a hunting party! Looking for a support-type soul master…"
"Hunting fire-attribute soul beasts. Three slots for those without tokens. Fifty gold soul coins to rent token access!"
"Dear benefactors, please, spare a little change…"
"Out of my way!"
Ignoring the varied scenes of human life around him, Lin Yang tightened the straps of his pack and followed the main road inward.
The deeper he went, the fewer shops there were. The atmosphere grew quieter and more solemn, until at last he came to a large iron gate.
From either side of the gate, a tall iron fence stretched outward, seemingly enclosing the entire forest.
Many soldiers in standard armor paced the area with long spears in hand, faces stern and vigilant.
A quick glance around was all it took for Lin Yang to spot Zhao Bufan.
Zhao Bufan clearly seemed uneasy, his eyes constantly darting about. Only when he saw Lin Yang did he finally relax and show a bit of joy.
"Boss!" Zhao Bufan called out from a distance, then hurried over. "You're finally here."
Lin Yang gave a brief nod, his tone apologetic.
"Sorry. I got held up a bit on the road."
Before Zhao Bufan could reply, a voice, thick with impatience, cut in.
"Bufan, this is that classmate of yours? Took him long enough. He's here, so let's go already. I've got things to do."
At that, Zhao Bufan's face paled. He forced a bitter smile at Lin Yang.
"This is my uncle, Zhao Zhuo."
Lin Yang looked him over. Zhao Zhuo was tall and burly, with a scar slanting from the corner of his eye down to the bridge of his nose, giving him a ferocious air.
Zhao Zhuo, for his part, also glanced at Lin Yang.
Seeing only a six-or-seven-year-old child, he dismissed him entirely, sneering inwardly.
Big Brother's son is really getting worse with age—calling a little brat his 'boss.' Truly worthless.
The contempt in Zhao Zhuo's eyes was plain for Lin Yang to see, but he paid it no mind.
He wasn't truly six years old. Petty arguments wouldn't earn him anything—if anything, they might cost him a useful pawn.
"Let's go."
The three of them headed toward the entrance of the Hunting Soul Forest.
Clang!
Two sharp spears crossed before them.
"Stop. No entry without a hunting token," one of the guards barked.
"We've got one, we've got one!"
A fawning smile spread across Zhao Zhuo's rugged face as he turned and snapped at Zhao Bufan.
"What are you dawdling for? Take it out."
Prepared for this, Zhao Bufan carefully took a black metal token from his chest.
On its surface were etched a sword, a hammer, and a dragon, the metal catching the sunlight with a dull gleam.
At the sight of that token, a flash of greed flickered in Zhao Zhuo's eyes.
Nuoding City had no shortage of hunting groups, but those who actually possessed hunting tokens were few and far between.
With this token, one could make money hand over fist just by renting it out—without any risk at all.
The guard examined the token carefully. After confirming its authenticity, he returned it to Zhao Bufan.
"You may pass."
Zhao Bufan tucked the token carefully back into his clothes, and only then did the three of them pass the checkpoint and formally enter the Hunting Soul Forest.
The moment they stepped into the forest, a wave of fresh, moist air washed over them, instantly sharpening their senses.
Not far ahead, towering trees blocked out the sky. Interwoven branches and leaves let sunlight trickle through in scattered patches, leaving mottled patterns on the forest floor.
As they walked deeper, the cries of soul beasts echoed all around them—lending the forest both vibrant life and an undercurrent of danger.
Lin Yang glanced about curiously at everything.
Zhao Zhuo, however, grew more cautious. His entire body tensed unconsciously.
"You two follow me. Don't fumble around. If you get yourselves killed, it's not my problem," Zhao Zhuo growled in a low voice.
Zhao Bufan nodded silently.
Lin Yang, meanwhile, summoned Hizama into his hand with a thought.
Zhao Zhuo, of course, noticed. He glanced briefly at the blade and snorted, then looked away.
Clearly, he didn't think a child with a knife would be of any use in this perilous forest.
He only intended to ensure his nephew got a hundred-year soul ring. The rest… were not his concern.
Zhao Zhuo had clearly been to the Hunting Soul Forest before. He led them along routes that avoided unnecessary trouble, and the three of them made it smoothly to the mid-section of the forest.
Here, the trees were taller, the atmosphere thicker and more oppressive. A faint sense of pressure hung in the air.
This was the borderland between ten-year and hundred-year soul beasts. Many people chose to hunt in this area.
Any further in, and they might run into soul beasts seven or eight hundred years old—or even thousand-year beasts.
At that point, it would no longer be "hunting"—it would be delivering themselves as food.