T/N: Chapter number isn't wrong, raws had a chapter were the author was saying that he'll be back soon. Just skipped the chapter.
T/N: Hello! For the next week or so updates will be slowing down since I have a couple of tests I really need to study for. Only on this fic though. Probably will either do one chapter daily or 2 every other day. Sorry.
"At the auction just now, didn't that fox girl seem to have only level 3 soul power?"
The maid spoke urgently:
"We didn't find any other traces of people in the room."
Lin Feng looked at Tang Yuehua:"You don't mind if we take a look together, do you?"
"Of course not."
Tang Yuehua nodded gracefully, still poised and elegant, showing no sign of panic.
"Sister Ling Yuan, in your perception, is there anyone else here besides the fox girl?"
Ling Yuan shook her head slowly:
"It's strange. I don't sense any other presence here apart from us.Even the fox girl from the auction is nowhere to be sensed."
A voice transmission from Elder Chrysanthemum Moon entered their ears:
"Same here. There's no residual aura. That fox girl is strange—like she doesn't exist."
Looking around, the room only had a vanity and a clothing rack.
Seems it had just been used to dress up the fox girl.
"If she ran off by herself, why didn't she escape in the quiet of the night?How did she hide her identity and suppress her true power?"
Qian Renxue looked puzzled.
"I think, instead of focusing on how she escaped, we should ask: why did she pretend to be weak and get picked up?She followed someone into the city, and only after a few days, ran away. What was her real goal?"
A glint flickered in Lin Feng's eyes:
"Let's go. This matter has nothing to do with us."
Seeing this, Tang Yuehua reached out, trying to persuade him to stay.
"Scholar Lin Feng, then I…"
"We'll talk later. I'll consider it."
Lin Feng, already turning away, waved his hand without giving Tang Yuehua the chance to ask.
Tang Yuehua's eyes dimmed slightly, but she still nodded.
At least… there's still hope. Compared to wishful thinking, Lin Feng's words held more weight.
Back in the city, Lin Feng and the others didn't delay and headed straight for the mission to hunt down a fallen soul master.
Häagen-Dazs Kingdom, Häagen-Dazs City.Located south of the Heaven Dou Empire, adjacent to the Star Dou Forest, it's one of the larger duchies under the Empire.Its national strength has steadily increased and now boasts 3 Soul Douluos and 10 Soul Sages.
To its south lies the Star Dou Mountain Range, which stretches across the southern border.
According to Tang Yuehua, the soul master squad that was attacked met their fate in this mountain range.The fox girl was picked up by a survivor at the mountain's foot on the return journey.
They had entered the remote, treacherous part of the range seeking rare spirit materials.Whether to call them brave or reckless was up for debate.
After all, the far side of the range borders the core area of the Star Dou Forest.Though the mountains separate the kingdom from the forest, high-level soul beasts frequently appear.An ancient beast could show up at any time.
Lin Feng's mission was to hunt a dangerous fugitive hiding in these mountains.
Due to accidentally ingesting his opponent's blood during a Soul Arena deathmatch,he began walking a path of no return.
"Tang Tianba — Level 50 Assault-type quasi-Soul King, Martial Soul: Wind Baboon.During a deathmatch, he lost control and tore his opponent apart, devouring raw flesh and blood.Three days later, his Martial Soul mutated. He slaughtered a nearby village, drained all the villagers' blood,and escaped into the Star Dou Mountain Range. His current whereabouts are unknown."
Wind Baboon? Mutated into what? A Devourer?
"What's his Martial Soul like now?"
Ling Yuan tilted her head: "They say when he uses Martial Soul Possession, his whole body turns red,eyes glowing crimson, and huge fangs appear at his mouth. Because of his bloodlust,he's now called the Bloodthirsty Wind Baboon."
Lin Feng nodded — so, not a god-devourer, but a red-furred monster.
"Where do we begin the search?"
Qian Renxue flexed her wrists excitedly, eager to start.
Suddenly, Chrysanthemum Douluo appeared:
"No need. I already sensed his aura.You're here for a same-rank death match. No need to do the grunt work. Follow me."
In the forest, thick canopies blocked the sunlight. Dappled light fell through the leaves onto the forest floor.
After a long walk, Chrysanthemum Douluo stopped at a slope and pointed to a cave ahead.
"There. The stench of blood is disgusting—he must have hunted many soul beasts."
Lin Feng chuckled:
"He sure doesn't fear death, leaving his aura all over."
Qian Renxue met Lin Feng's gaze:"Let's go!"
The two approached cautiously and soon saw a bloody clearing, the air reeking of gore.Countless soul beast remains littered the ground, grotesque and nauseating.
Inside the cave, a humanoid figure turned around. He was tall, his skin an eerie red,covered in red fur, blood-red eyes, and two sharp fangs protruding from his mouth.
With a bestial roar, he dropped the soul beast bones in his hands and charged at Lin Feng and Qian Renxue.
"Careful. He's lost his mind."
Mindless monsters don't feel pain. In short: brain gone, strength and durability up.
Lin Feng waved his hand — Gravity Control activated. Loose stones pinned Tang Tianba in place.
Qian Renxue quickly followed up:
"Fourth Soul Skill: Angelic Chains!"
Six golden chains wrapped tightly around Tang Tianba, binding him further.
"ROAR!"
Tang Tianba's second soul ring lit up. His body expanded and broke free from both bindings.
"Something's off!"
Qian Renxue frowned. He wasn't even a full Soul King—how could he break both their controls?
Tang Tianba panted heavily, eyes glowing red as he charged again.
"First Soul Skill: Angelic Assault!"
Qian Renxue met his punch head-on.
BOOM!
They were both knocked back.
"Cough!"
Qian Renxue spat blood. "Tch… this thing's not even human anymore."
"Breath of Life."
A soft white light healed her wounds.
Lin Feng frowned. Tang Tianba's right fist was mangled, yet he showed no pain—divine energy eroding his flesh.
"ROAR!"
Unfazed, Tang Tianba charged again, second soul ring flaring.He blinked forward, instantly appearing before Lin Feng.
"Hm?"
Lin Feng narrowed his eyes. Ten flaming swords fell from the sky.A rock barrier held briefly, but blood-red force blasted through, hitting Lin Feng in the chest.
"You dare!"
Qian Renxue's eyes widened.
"Angel Domain! Third Soul Skill: Angelic Blessing! Fourth: Angelic Chains!"
A golden barrier enveloped Lin Feng. A faint angelic shadow appeared behind him.
Tang Tianba struggled, growling in pain.
Seizing the chance, Lin Feng slashed down with a Flame Sword, severing his right arm.
"Whew…"
Lin Feng stepped back.
Qian Renxue's Angelic Assault struck again—this time aimed at his heart.
CRACK!
Right before impact, Tang Tianba turned, but her glowing fist pierced his chest.
"RAAAHHH!"
Tang Tianba raged on, unaffected, blindly swinging in all directions.Red soul power slammed into the ground, forming craters.
Qian Renxue winced, suppressing the nausea from the earlier blow, and returned to Lin Feng:
"Xiao Feng… is that thing even human?"
"Maybe not anymore. Martial Soul mutation aside—he massacred a village. He must be put to death!"
Flames swirled in Lin Feng's palm, forming a massive fireball, crackling with heat and pressure.
"Alright! Second Soul Skill: Angel Wings!"
Completely deranged, Tang Tianba was no match.Together, Lin Feng and Qian Renxue launched a final strike—he couldn't rise again.
After the battle, they both sighed in relief.
Lin Feng shook his head:
"A beast that's lost all reason… doesn't make for a real test."
Ling Yuan nodded:
"My mistake. I didn't expect he'd be this far gone."
"Let's go, Xiao Feng. This place reeks—I'm getting sick."
Qian Renxue frowned.
"Alright."
As Lin Feng turned to leave, a flicker of light crossed his eyes. He walked deeper into the cave.
Qian Renxue and Ling Yuan followed, puzzled:
"Xiao Feng, what are you doing? It's just soul beast corpses in here."
Lin Feng shook his head, pushing aside a beast's corpse near the entrance—revealing a glowing item beneath.
Qian Renxue gasped:
"A fox tail?"
"And… it's also a soul bone!"
T/N: For up to fifteen chapters ahead on this fic and twenty on my other, become a P@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle