Outside Notting City, within the Hunting Soul Forest, ancient trees towered overhead, vines coiled thickly around trunks, and the air carried the damp scent of earth and vegetation, faintly interspersed with the distant low roars of unknown soul beasts.
Tang Yi, wearing an ordinary mask to conceal his features, presented the Hunting Soul Token issued by the Spirit Hall and smoothly passed the inspection at the forest entrance, officially stepping into this proving ground for soul masters.
Unfolding the sheepskin map obtained from Xiao Chenyu, Tang Yi pinpointed the soul beast's activity zone and hurried toward it.
"The instructors at Notting Academy mentioned that the Azure Nether Longevity Crane is a life-attribute soul beast. Its attack power is not particularly strong, but its vitality is extraordinarily high. In terms of overall strength, it falls roughly in the 37–39th rank Soul Elder range!"
Tang Yi made a preliminary assessment.
A Soul Elder-level soul master already ranked among the foremost experts in Notting City.
Consequently, the recent sighting of the Azure Nether Longevity Crane in the Hunting Soul Forest had caused many informed soul masters to hesitate and withdraw.
The total number of soul masters currently present in the forest was noticeably lower than usual.
Tang Yi gripped his Desert Eagle tightly while circulating the Nine Yang True Scripture, ears attuned to every sound and eyes scanning in all directions.
Suddenly, a tremendous crash resounded!
Tang Yi advanced cautiously. Upon closer inspection, he saw a young girl engaged in fierce combat with a multicolored serpent soul beast more than twenty meters in length.
Observing the serpent's form, Tang Yi frowned: "An approximately eight-hundred-year-old Mottled Viper!"
This creature was far more powerful than the four-hundred-plus-year Man-Eating Demon Snake that Tang San had once battled!
Deep within the forest, the girl fought with all her strength against the Mottled Viper.
"First soul skill: Serpent Blade!"
The girl summoned her martial soul, which manifested as a "serpent-head cane"!
Having thoroughly studied the original novel, Tang Yi narrowed his eyes and instantly recognized her identity.
"It appears this girl is Meng Yiran—the cherished granddaughter of the Unrivaled Dragon Serpent couple!"
"Judging by her current state, Meng Yiran has just reached rank twenty soul power and has come to the Hunting Soul Forest in search of her second soul ring!"
Meng Yiran's Serpent Blade transformed into a crescent-shaped, solid ink-green energy blade that shot through the air, slashing directly toward the Mottled Viper soul beast!
However, the viper reacted with astonishing speed.
A mocking glint flashed in its cold vertical pupils. Rather than clumsily dodging, the massive, scale-armored body coiled and sprang like a giant spring suddenly released. With agility that belied its enormous size, it whipped sideways.
"Clang!"
A grating screech rang out.
The energy blade struck true, yet it carved only a faint white scratch across the vividly colored, iron-hard scales!
Sparks flew, but not even a single scale was truly shattered.
Instead, the energy blade itself could not withstand the recoil and shattered with a bang, dissolving into scattered motes of light.
The attack had failed!
Meng Yiran's heart sank.
"I underestimated this eight-hundred-year soul beast's strength!"
A hissing sound followed—"Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!"
Enraged beyond measure, the Mottled Viper opened its gaping maw and spewed a multicolored cloud of poisonous mist!
The mist was not only foul-smelling but carried intense corrosiveness. Wherever it passed, green grass withered instantly, and shrub leaves sizzled and blackened.
The poison fog spread with terrifying speed, rapidly sealing off Meng Yiran's escape routes.
Her expression changed drastically. She had heard tales of the Mottled Viper's toxic mist and dared not let it touch her.
"Hah!"
Meng Yiran urgently circulated her soul power, swinging her serpent cane rapidly in an attempt to disperse the fog with bursts of wind generated by her soul force.
An ink-green curtain of soul light shimmered before her, indeed pushing back part of the mist—but more poured in from the sides and above.
She could only continue swinging her cane while staggering backward, her footing already unsteady and her breathing labored.
Her soul power depleted rapidly, yet the encircling poison fog grew ever tighter.
"My soul power is almost exhausted. Without a second soul ring, my poison resistance is still insufficient!"
Meng Yiran's face turned deathly pale. She bit her lip lightly—the first time she had truly felt the threat of death.
As the hunter, the Mottled Viper's vertical pupils gleamed with murderous intent. Its thick, barrel-like tail—covered in ornate yet lethal scales—gathered tremendous force!
With a sharp "whoosh," the serpent's body tore through the air and lashed toward Meng Yiran.
At that moment, exhausted from excessive soul power consumption and surrounded by locking poison fog, Meng Yiran had no way to evade.
If this strike landed solidly, even if she survived, she would likely be crippled for life!
At the critical juncture, Tang Yi—who had remained concealed—drew his Desert Eagle and acted decisively!
As the saying goes: "Strike a snake at its seventh inch!"
Tang Yi aimed at the viper's vital point, but a sudden thought crossed his mind: "The Desert Eagle's power may be excessive. Killing this viper soul beast with one shot might not be worthwhile!"
Accordingly, he adjusted his aim slightly lower.
"Bang!"
The gunshot rang out, striking the viper at its "eighth inch"!
"Hiss—hiss—hiss!"
Gravely wounded, the Mottled Viper writhed in agony across the ground.
Though its scaled hide was tough, it could not compare to the armor of a Tiger tank!
Circulating Nine Yang internal energy to seal his mouth and nose against the poison fog, Tang Yi protected himself from inhalation.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
With agile movements, Tang Yi delivered several powerful punches to the viper's head.
Already severely injured, the serpent finally collapsed limply, barely clinging to life.
Seeing that she had been saved, Meng Yiran did not idle. She circulated her soul power to thoroughly disperse the surrounding toxins.
"Thank you for saving me!"
Meng Yiran expressed her gratitude.
Tang Yi glanced at her. She was several years older than Tang San; as a soul master, her development was accelerated. At ten years old, her figure already displayed the graceful outlines of a young woman, her features clear and refined, her skin fair as snow, and her bright eyes like pools of autumn water.
Tang Yi knew Meng Yiran to be of good character and one who repaid kindness.
Moreover, she was backed by the formidable Unrivaled Dragon Serpent couple.
After brief consideration, he concluded that this Mottled Viper soul beast's ring was unsuitable for him.
Tang Yi waved his hand dismissively: "No need for thanks! This viper has only one breath left. Hurry—finish it off and absorb the soul ring!"
Meng Yiran's eyes brightened. The purpose of her journey into the Hunting Soul Forest was precisely to obtain her second soul ring.
Without question, this eight-hundred-year Mottled Viper was an excellent match for her martial soul.
"Benefactor, this eight-hundred-year Mottled Viper soul beast is extremely valuable. Are you truly giving it to me?"
Meng Yiran could scarcely believe it.
Tang Yi replied indifferently: "I have no use for this soul beast's ring! Letting it die naturally would be a waste."
"Enough idle talk. I will stand guard for you. Absorb the soul ring quickly—I am quite busy!"
Tang Yi gave Meng Yiran a slight nod.
Meng Yiran was not one to hesitate. She immediately raised her serpent cane and delivered the final blow to the viper!
Immediately afterward, a bright yellow soul ring slowly rose from the corpse. The light was gentle yet stable, with faint mottled halos flowing within, radiating the pure energy characteristic of an eight-hundred-year soul beast.
Meng Yiran sat cross-legged, focused her mind, circulated her soul power, and drew the yellow soul ring above her head, beginning the slow process of absorption.