Several days passed, and Lin Yu remained in the Sunset Forest, following She Long as they challenged various soul beasts.
With the disappearance of Lin Yu's two avatars, three first-level soul skills—Crimson Owl Light—simultaneously struck the head of a black and white tiger with faint starlight on its body, leaving a hole the size of two fists.
Including Lin Yu's main body, both avatars also released their first-level soul skills, resulting in significant energy depletion.
Fortunately, the power was sufficient; the three first-level soul skills combined, although weaker than those released by the avatars, were enough to finally defeat the three-thousand-year-old Starlight Nether Tiger.
Looking at the large tiger before him, Lin Yu's eyes gleamed. This creature was a highly tortured species in his previous life.
The main reason was that almost every part of it was valuable, from bones to flesh to fur—nothing was useless.
Even that thing was incredibly precious, and Lin Yu, for his father's happiness, was determined to bring it back no matter what.
However, this scene seemed utterly pathetic to She Long. He couldn't understand why Lin Zhan wouldn't give him any pocket money.
In fact, that was exactly the case. Lin Zhan didn't give Lin Yu any pocket money, and he himself didn't have much money.
It wasn't that Lin Zhan was henpecked; it was just that every time he went to ask Yu Rou for money, there were always some expenses he couldn't explain. After all, the entertainment industry was complicated, and he simply couldn't bring himself to say it.
Whenever Lin Zhan couldn't explain why he needed so much money, Yu Rou would burst into tears, like a beautiful woman made of water.
Lin Yu, on the other hand, never missed out on his normal expenses and monthly allowance.
But this Starlight Nether Tiger, with its three thousand years of cultivation, was something that Lin Yu couldn't measure in monetary terms.
So, under Lin Yu's pitiful gaze, She Long reluctantly put the Starlight Nether Tiger's corpse into his storage soul tool.
Not long after, Lin Yu recovered his soul power, just as he saw She Long smilingly walking towards him. Sensing something ominous, Lin Yu suddenly jumped up from the ground. "Elder She Long, what are your instructions?"
It's not surprising that Lin Yu was so cautious; he mainly felt that She Long's visit might not be for anything good.
"Little Yu, I've been watching you for three years, and I never expected you to live such a frugal life. I have an idea that can quickly make you rich. Would you like to hear it?"
Lin Yu tilted his head, somewhat puzzled, a hint of doubt in his clear, light red eyes. When did he say he was short of money?
You see, this time when he came out to train with She Long, his young mistress had secretly given him over ten thousand gold soul coins.
But when it comes to money, no one ever thinks they have too much.
Immediately, Lin Yu nodded subconsciously. Without a word, She Long grabbed Lin Yu and flew off in a certain direction.
After less than an hour, She Long put Lin Yu down and pointed to a spot not far from a major road, saying, "See that mountain?"
She Long then recounted the final leg of his training mission with Lin Yu.
This final training mission involved facing a mountain stronghold with over two hundred bandits, entrenched along the main road to Tian Dou City.
She Long had already scouted the stronghold beforehand. Besides a level 37 Soul Master leader, there were two Great Soul Masters, seven or eight Soul Masters, and the rest were essentially henchmen, totaling over two hundred people.
Lin Yu's task was simple: to wipe out the bandits entrenched here. How to do it was entirely up to him.
"This bandit stronghold has been here for over ten years. Although their strength isn't great, guarding such a vital transportation route of the Heavenly Dou Empire, they've accumulated some wealth.
This is the last method I'll give you—a method I'll never tell anyone else—for getting rich. What do you think? Not bad, right?"
Lin Yu forced a smile, but he had to admit that the method She Long had suggested was indeed quite good.
Without hesitation, after gathering information about the terrain from She Long, who had already scouted the area, Lin Yu charged directly towards the mountain where the stronghold was located.
It wasn't that Lin Yu was reckless; the mountain was flat-topped, and without any stealth-type soul skills, he would be discovered no matter how he moved in broad daylight.
Therefore, Lin Yu had no choice but to charge straight up.
Before Lin Yu even reached the mountain gate, he immediately activated his Martial Soul, his wings flapping as he moved with lightning speed, instantly appearing before a henchman guarding the gate and easily capturing him.
The henchman, however, was cowardly and afraid of death. Upon seeing Lin Yu's Soul Rings, he stammered, "M-Master...spare me!"
"Go find your leader and tell him that your bandits who preyed on the people have met their end. Come to the mountain gate to die!"
With that, Lin Yu tossed him aside, a cold glint flashing in his pale red eyes, a stark contrast to the docile boy he had been before She Long.
The mountain stronghold wasn't very large. After clearing out the henchmen and the Soul Master guarding the gate, Lin Yu waited patiently for the stronghold leader to arrive.
Not long after, a large group of people arrived at the mountain gate, led by a shirtless man with numerous wounds, wielding a long knife, and possessing a fierce appearance.
The fierce-looking man at the head of the stronghold was none other than Fang Biao, the chieftain of this mountain stronghold, a level 37 Soul Master, whose martial soul was the long saber in his hand.
Upon seeing Lin Yu, Fang Biao's heart skipped a beat. He immediately bowed to Lin Yu, saying, "I am Fang Biao, the chieftain of this stronghold. I don't know what caused us to offend you, young master. We are willing to apologize!"
Don't assume that bandits who become outlaws are brainless fools; those are the ones who don't live long. They dare to stop anyone and kill anyone.
Having managed to occupy a key transportation route in the Heavenly Dou Empire for over a decade, Fang Biao was certainly no fool. Otherwise, he would have been destroyed by the Heavenly Dou Empire's army long ago.
The fact that he could so easily and decisively deal with his men guarding the mountain gate, and whose clothing and demeanor were so different from ordinary people, naturally led him to guess that Lin Yu's background was not simple. Therefore, he didn't hesitate to bow to Lin Yu and even intended to proactively apologize.
"No need for that. I've already said before, I'm here to send you all to your deaths, so there's no need for apologies. After all, once I kill you, everything in this stronghold will be mine, won't it?"
Hearing this, Fang Biao's expression turned cold. Since there was no room for negotiation, he had no choice but to fight. His only hope now was that Lin Yu's status wasn't too high; otherwise, he might as well abandon the stronghold he'd built up over ten years.
"Brothers, follow me and kill him!"
Led by Fang Biao, the bandits swarmed forward. Lin Yu also drew his Frost Sword, casually eliminating a henchman. A battle of blood and swords was about to begin.
(End of Chapter)