Luring soul beasts wasn't child's play!
Yang Fan first scouted a steep, open hilltop before fully exposing the Aromatic Silk Beauty to the air.
If all went well, its aura would gradually draw nearby soul beasts.
Suddenly, a phrase popped into his mind:
"The elite hunter…"
Preparations complete—he now waited in tense readiness.
This method could summon powerful soul beasts… but carried significant risk.
If the attracted beast was too weak or too strong, it wouldn't meet his needs.
Ultimately, luck played a role.
The herb's allure exceeded Yang Fan's expectations. Within minutes of setting it up, rustling erupted from the forest below.
Yang Fan tensed—only for two hundred-year-old foxes to poke their heads out.
Worse—their appearance triggered a chain reaction. The forest floor began churning with movement.
Above him, Yao Lao floated, unleashing an invisible wave of soul power that instantly blanketed hundreds of square meters.
Weak soul beasts scattered in terror. Yao Lao's effortless sweep had just pre-screened the competition.
Another ten minutes passed—then fresh movement stirred below.
Yang Fan's fledgling soul perception confirmed: multiple soul beasts were drawn by the herb, moving in eerie unison at a steady pace.
"Little fool—your soul ring has arrived," Yao Lao announced.
A jet-black leopard emerged from the trees.
"Ghost Panther!" Yang Fan's eyes lit up.
Over five meters long—undoubtedly a 10,000-year Ghost Panther.
Many commoners believed Ghost Panthers suited only agility-attack soul masters.
False!
These beasts fused speed and offense seamlessly. Speed amplified attack power; devastating attacks fueled relentless momentum.
They were synergistic.
Recall how Shrek's entire team barely killed a 3,000-year Ghost Panther—that proved their ferocity.
"Stop daydreaming!" Yao Lao snapped. "Stow that herb!"
Yang Fan jolted back to reality.
Below, at least five soul beasts appeared—all over 10,000 years, the strongest nearing 30,000.
Yao Lao struck!
A surge of spiritual power froze the air.
Soul-shaking waves sent powerful beasts fleeing; weaker ones collapsed, paralyzed.
The 10,000-year Ghost Panther lay twitching on the ground.
Incredible!
This was Yang Fan's first glimpse of spirit power as a weapon.
He stowed the Heavy Xuan Ruler and drew a sharp dagger.
At the panther's side, he slit its throat cleanly.
No wonder commoners can never rise!
Clan-backed soul masters had elders to hunt for them. What did peasants have?
Many got decade-old soul rings for both first and second—doomed from the start.
"Enough gawking!" Yao Lao urged.
With Yao Lao guarding him, Yang Fan sat cross-legged, summoning his Broken Soul Spear. The black soul ring drifted toward him.
Buzz—!
A nerve-jarring jolt shook his body.
Novel! Unlike absorbing thousand-year rings, this was clearly soul shock—unique to 10,000-year soul rings.
He felt the panther's rage, defiance, and roars—but the shock vanished as abruptly as it came.
His soul strength—tempered by alchemy—quickly suppressed the resistance. Once fully subdued, absorption began: familiar and comforting, like yesterday's memory.
…
Time ticked by…
When Yang Fan opened his eyes, dawn had broken.
Purple, Purple, Black!
Three radiant soul rings pulsed around him.
"Awesome!"
He grinned at his abnormal ring configuration.
Who wouldn't be stunned by this setup?
While ordinary soul masters struggled with 1,700-year third rings, he'd claimed a 10,000-year black ring.
Yet he knew: such a configuration must stay secret—even from the Breaking Clan.
But the surprises kept coming.
Still reeling from his ring combo, he checked his level—and gasped.
"Level 37?!"
He verified twice.
Confirmed! He'd leapt to Level 37 Soul Elder.
All the Blood Incineration Paste torture, being chased like a dog by soul beasts, collapsing under the Heavy Xuan Ruler's weight—it was all worth it.
If Grandfather knew he'd reached Level 37 in two years, he'd probably kowtow in joy!
But euphoria faded fast.
Level 37… isn't that low?
For him, yes!
The Blue Emperor Soul Bone Pill alone had pushed him to Level 25. Then a year of arena duels, devouring Liefire Apricot Grace, a 3,000-year second ring, Spirit-Awakening Pills…
"Master, why am I only Level 37?"
Did all those supplements feed my Dou Qi core, starving my soul power?
Yao Lao's face darkened. He raised a hand to swat him.
"Brat, is that low?!"
An 8-year-old Dou Shi!
What more did he want?!
Truthfully, Yao Lao worried Yang Fan's growth was too rapid. At this rate, shaky foundations might turn him into a hollow showpiece.
------------------------------------------------------
Join my Patreon to read a completed exclusive novel (Over 250 Chapters) + get up to 30 Chapters ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)