Chapter 21: Hunting Soul Group

The moment he opened the iron box, Tie Li's breathing grew heavier, and in his eyes the soul bone brimmed with endless temptation, urging him to absorb it at once.

It was impossible to determine which kind of Soul Beast this soul bone belonged to, meaning that absorbing it might yield only marginal attributes and skills.

But so what?

Many Soul Masters may never possess a single soul bone in their entire lives.

As a commoner, having the chance to absorb a soul bone, how could he possibly give it up?

It was a right‑leg bone, its dark hue exuding a sense of weight.

At the moment he took out the soul bone, Tie Li immediately sat cross‑legged on the ground, meditating to absorb it.

There was not a hint of hesitation in his gaze; even if the place he was in might be dangerous, only by absorbing the bone would it truly belong to him.

While meditating, Tie Li broke out in cold sweat as a dull ache struck his right leg repeatedly.

The pain grew stronger each time; Tie Li tightened his nerves, constantly warning himself to persevere.

If he gave up, he might not only lose his right leg but also permanently lose the chance to absorb the soul bone.

The pain kept coming, a fine layer of sweat formed on Tie Li's forehead, and his clothes were already soaked through.

After the bitter came the sweet: the instant the pain vanished, warm currents surged through the tendons, veins and flesh of his right leg, and the leg radiated powerful soul power fluctuations anew.

Strands of black aura roiled within Tie Li's body, not only strengthening the right leg but also improving his physique and aptitude.

Tie Li had never handled a soul bone before; his knowledge came only from memories of a past life, and he had only ever absorbed a Hundred-Year Soul Ring, so he could not judge the bone's age at all.

He only felt the bone's attributes were wildly exaggerated, repeatedly cleansing his body.

The only thing he could discern was that this bone was a strength‑type soul bone, pure strength, so its added attributes centered on power, followed by bodily robustness.

Only a sufficiently hardy body can unleash the proper amount of strength.

Moreover, the bone's amplification also pushed Tie Li's Soul Power Level upward; the rise in Soul Power Level would trigger the Thousand-Year Lei Mang Inner Pill inside him, and in an instant, threads of electric light whirled around his body.

The high‑intensity operation stimulated the lingering energy deep within his body.

"Roar"

Tie Li felt the roar inside his body, and a phantom of a Soul Beast flashed in his eyes.

Giant Demon King!

The super Soul Beast from the Star Dou Great Forest, most feared for its terrifying monstrous strength; it is said that an adult Giant Demon King can lift an entire mountain.

The awakened Tie Li could clearly sense the terrifying power hidden within his own body.

In addition, his soul power capacity and soul power tier had also increased.

According to his previous soul power and tier, using the Thunder Python Horn twice would already exhaust him.

But now, with increased soul power capacity and tier, he could release the Thunder Python Horn at least five times without fatigue.

Soul Power Level jumped from Level 17 directly to Level 20.

By the original plan, it would have taken at least another year to reach this stage.

An eleven‑year‑old Second Ring Great Soul Master placed in any major academy would still be considered a genius, right?

The storage ring still held the wealth Cheng Laoda had accumulated over the years.

There were as many as eight hundred Gold Soul Coins alone.

Just enough to hire the Hunting Soul Group; the Second Soul Ring should be at least five hundred years old, which would give the optimal Soul Ring Configuration.

Tie Li's primary goal was naturally a Thunder Python Soul Ring over five hundred years old.

It perfectly matched the development direction of his martial soul and possessed all the attributes he needed.

Precisely, since the First Soul Ring came from a four‑hundred‑year‑old Thunder Python, his future development would focus on Thunder Python attributes.

The Second Soul Ring remains a Thunder Python Soul Ring; not only does it echo the First Soul Ring, its attributes perfectly complement the First, and their stacking effect will surely be greater than the sum of its parts.

Moreover, he still has a Thousand-Year Lei Mang Inner Pill inside him, which might amplify the absorption of the Second Soul Ring.

But choosing a Hunting Soul Group requires extra caution.

Hearing movement outside the door, Tie Li hurriedly leapt out of the room and fled.

As for what will happen next, he didn't need to worry about it himself.

Tie Li first went to the shop that sells Soul Beast meat; because he often buys Soul Beast meat, especially the pricey Thunder Python Blood Flesh, the staff are very familiar with this customer.

Having become well acquainted with the shop, Tie Li wanted to ask them for a reliable Hunting Soul Group.

Upon entering, the female clerk assigned to attend to him appeared.

"Customer, still the Thunder Python Blood Flesh?"

"I'm not here to buy meat this time; I have a question for you."

"Ask away, but if you reveal other customers' information, that's not allowed," the clerk said with some hesitation.

"No, I want to hire a Hunting Soul Group to hunt Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest."

"Ah? Wait a moment, I'll fetch the manager."

In this matter, the ordinary staff dared not decide on their own, so they immediately summoned the manager.

"Please follow me, customer," the manager promptly led Tie Li to a private room.

The manager's attire was somewhat luxurious, made of fine materials; though in his thirties, he looked very young, and Tie Li sensed soul power fluctuations around him.

"I heard you wish to hire a Hunting Soul Group?"

"Yes."

"Our shop often cooperates with Hunting Soul Groups; tell me your requirements and I can connect you."

"I need a Soul Ring, preferably a Thunder Python one over five hundred years old," Tie Li thought for a moment, decided not to conceal anything, and stated his request directly.

"Hiss? A Thunder Python with cultivation over five hundred years is a bit difficult; the Hunting Soul Group must have at least one Four‑Ring Soul Ancestor, and that price isn't low," the manager inhaled sharply. "Thunder Python belongs to a hard‑to‑handle class of Soul Beasts; its bloodline allows it to challenge other Soul Beasts beyond its level, hunting a five‑hundred‑year‑old Thunder Python is as hard as hunting an ordinary thousand‑year‑old Soul Beast."

"Three hundred Gold Soul Coins?" Tie Li produced his heavy purse, but the manager still shook his head.

After Tie Li added another two hundred Gold Soul Coins, the manager finally agreed, and warned Tie Li to be prepared; more money might still be required.

The supervisor gave three days, and after three days to return; whether or not a Hunting Soul Group accepts the mission, they will be notified.

The Hunting Soul Groups that often cooperate with the shop have a level of trust that surpasses ordinary Hunting Soul Groups.

That is also one reason why many Hunting Soul Groups sell the Soul Beasts they hunt to the shop at low prices.

After Tie Li leaves, the supervisor begins contacting Hunting Soul Groups; if this contract succeeds, he will receive a ten‑percent commission.

(End of chapter)