The next day.
At the entrance of the Soul Hunting Forest.
Outside the forest, large clusters of houses and shops had been built.
Various hawking cries rose and fell in a chaotic symphony; it looked less like a dangerous forest and more like a bustling marketplace.
"Group hunting service! Help with killing Soul Beasts! 5 Gold Soul Coins, kill guaranteed!"
"Forming a team! I am a strength-type Soul Grandmaster! Hunting Plant-system Soul Beasts for 5 Gold Soul Coins, Strength-type for 10, Agility-type for 9!"
Everywhere one looked, there were people shouting for hunting groups or selling weapons, armor, and food.
Xiao Lin had been brought here by Tang Hao to hunt his beast.
Looking at the strange glints in the eyes of the people at the entrance, he couldn't help but frown.
These people saw a child like Xiao Lin, and a hint of greed flashed in their gazes. If not for the tall, burly man standing in front of him, Xiao Lin suspected they might even dabble in human trafficking.
Furthermore, if Tang Hao looked like an easy target, Xiao Lin doubted these people wouldn't try to tail them. It was no wonder people said that in the Douluo Continent, the ones you had to guard against most weren't the Soul Beasts, but other humans.
Looking at these Soul Masters who lived on the edge of a blade, Xiao Lin felt a chill run down his spine. If a group of Soul Masters would hunt beasts for a mere ten Gold Soul Coins, what would they do for a human life?
Xiao Lin steeled his nerves and followed closely behind Tang Hao, remaining silent.
His first Soul Ring was going to challenge an 800-year limit. If he had followed the original plan of hiring others, and someone saw how much of a genius he was and felt jealous, it would be the end of him.
Soon, under Tang Hao's lead, they didn't take the main road or the front gate. Instead, they slipped through a gap in the fence and entered the Soul Hunting Forest.
"Xiao Lin, I don't have a warrant from Spirit Hall, so I can only bring you in this way." Tang Hao didn't say much, offering a brief explanation before continuing to forge ahead.
"It's fine, Uncle Hao." Xiao Lin naturally didn't mind.
Given Tang Hao's history with Spirit Hall, the fact that he hadn't directly killed the guards was a sign of great restraint.
"Mhm. You're different from Little San. You've read many books and know many things," Tang Hao said after a silence.
"After I help you get your first Soul Ring, I have my own matters to attend to. I'll leave Little San in your care. You should already understand the 'rules' of the Soul Hunting Forest." Tang Hao spoke more than usual.
"Yes, Uncle Hao. I will definitely explain these situations clearly to Little San in the future." Xiao Lin's small face was filled with a solemn expression.
In this feudal society where slavery still existed, the darkness was beyond what a modern person could easily imagine.
"Let's go. We're going straight to the territory of the Vajra Giant Ox." Tang Hao nodded.
Without waiting for Xiao Lin's reaction, he grabbed him with one hand and strode toward the center of the forest. As herbivorous Soul Beasts, the Vajra Giant Ox was generally mild-tempered, but its brute strength was terrifying.
A hundred-year cultivation could allow it to wrestle with a thousand-year Soul Beast. The Vajra Giant Ox Xiao Lin wanted was of the 800-year level, which made it no weaker than some thousand-year beasts.
In a managed area like the Soul Hunting Forest, such a creature naturally resided in the center, enjoying the best pastures.
Tang Hao was incredibly fast.
Even though he didn't specialize in speed, his movement as a Titled Douluo far exceeded Xiao Lin's reaction time. Xiao Lin could only see afterimages flashing by; before he could even register what the trees looked like, they were replaced by a new set of blurs.
This is too fast... there's zero 'hunting' experience here, Xiao Lin grumbled inwardly, though he was quite satisfied with the idea of becoming a Soul Master sooner.
About ten minutes later, on an open grassland, Tang Hao set down a nauseous Xiao Lin.
"We're here."
Ugh... Xiao Lin felt dizzy and disoriented, nearly collapsing.
After catching his breath, his face flushed with excitement.
On the grassland, three Vajra Giant Ox were peacefully grazing. Nearby, some Soft-Boned Rabbits and field mouse-type Soul Beasts watched the surroundings alertly.
Xiao Lin shielded his eyes from the sun and carefully inspected the three oxen. He quickly ignored the two smaller ones. In the world of Soul Beasts, bigger usually meant stronger. Xiao Lin focused on the largest one.
The ox before him stood 2.5 meters tall and 4 meters long.
With its bulging muscles, it clearly weighed more than two tons.
Looks delicious... Xiao Lin swallowed his saliva and locked his gaze on its massive horns.
The age of a Vajra Giant Ox can be determined by the rings on its horns. Fine, screw-like ridges represent 50 years of cultivation. If a yellow ring appears, each one represents 200 years.
The ox in front of Xiao Lin had three yellow rings on each horn, meaning its age had already exceeded 600 years.
"Uncle Hao, that's the one," Xiao Lin said, pointing to the largest ox.
Although it didn't have four rings for 800 years, Xiao Lin could see by the additional fine ridges that its cultivation was very close to the 800-year mark.
"Alright," Tang Hao replied casually.
Suddenly, an invisible pressure surged toward the Vajra Giant Ox.
"Mooo!" The ox let out a pained cry.
In an instant, its four thick legs buckled, kneeling into the grass and creating deep pits.
This pressure wasn't just the aura of a Titled Douluo, but the weight inherent to the Clear Sky Hammer's soul power—gravity.
Even a newly awakened Tang San would cause the air to stagnate by releasing his hammer; at Tang Hao's level, this pressure was equivalent to a true gravity soul skill. By the time Tang Hao and Xiao Lin walked up to it, half the ox's body was pressed into the dirt.
A pair of spiritual eyes looked at Xiao Lin, seemingly filled with a plea for mercy.
Sorry, it's the law of the jungle, Xiao Lin thought.
He wasn't soft-hearted.
He was already thinking about how the beef would taste, though he did feel that the relationship between humans and beasts was becoming far too antagonistic—leading to the eventual extinction of Soul Beasts in the future.
However, Xiao Lin was currently too small to change the world.
He chose to focus on the beef.
Before Tang Hao could even remind him, Xiao Lin had already pulled out a dagger forged from refined steel. He thrust it deep into the ox's eye, twisted, and stirred. He destroyed its brain instantly.
The Vajra Giant Ox barely let out a few muffled groans before it passed away.
Above the carcass, a solid, golden-yellow Soul Ring floated. Even before touching it, Xiao Lin could feel the terrifying energy contained within.
Xiao Lin immediately sat down cross-legged.
Calming his mind, he prepared to absorb the ring.
Vajra Imperishable Divine Skill, activate!