Chapter 42: Deserter

Eliminating Evil Spirit Masters, as well as all potential evil entities, is a rule the Spirit Hall has established since its inception.

Thanks to the high-pressure tactics of the Spirit Hall, the term "Evil Spirit Master" is now known to very few people on the continent.

From this, it is evident that the Spirit Hall has truly accomplished real work.

"What's the situation now? Has it been resolved?" Wu Qi asked in a low voice.

Qiangu Changkong frowned, "One was killed, one escaped. The methods of the Evil Spirit Masters are unheard of; the Soul Emperor powerhouse leading the team this time failed to capture them."

Wu Qi nodded and asked no more.

Evil Spirit Masters have always been a hidden danger lurking in the shadows.

In the original timeline, after the Spirit Hall was destroyed, Evil Spirit Masters emerged one by one, and after the two continents collided, Evil Spirit Masters experienced explosive development.

However, since Wu Qi has arrived, he certainly will not sit by and watch the Spirit Hall be destroyed.

But, Evil Spirit Masters remain a major future threat to them.

……

After the Spirit Hall powerhouses withdrew, the many Spirit Masters in the Spirit Master Town only discussed it briefly.

Under the leadership of Bibi Dong, the Spirit Hall acts increasingly overbearingly.

Many Spirit Masters have been suppressed by them, so regarding the details of this Spirit Hall squad's operation, no one dared to speculate recklessly, let alone spread rumors.

The three of them lost their appetite for eating and found a hotel in the town to stay in.

A silent night passed.

Early the next morning, the three left the hotel and searched the town for a soul-hunting team to purchase information on Soul Beasts.

Seeing that the three were dressed in expensive clothing, many people took the initiative to surround them when they entered the area where the soul-hunting teams were stationed, promoting their own teams.

Ning Rongrong was inexperienced and did not know the situation with soul-hunting teams, so she asked, "If we have a soul-hunting team to help us hunt for souls, our safety can also be guaranteed. Why not..."

Wu Qi interrupted her.

Under the "encirclement" of the soul-hunting teams, he did not reveal the truth.

In the years when soul-hunting teams first emerged, they made up for the regret that Spirit Masters found it difficult to hunt high-age Soul Beasts alone.

Many Spirit Masters in need of a Soul Ring would take the initiative to hire them for help after arriving at the Soul Beast Town, unlike now, where they need to promote themselves.

But with the addition of all sorts of riffraff, the reputation of soul-hunting teams has long since rotted.

Rumors of various killings of employers have been constant, leading the Soul Master World to become increasingly resistant to soul-hunting teams.

Of course, not all squads will harm their employers. But in the current environment, many teams that rely on this to make a living are already on the verge of disbanding.

For Wu Qi, having a Spirit Douluo in the form of a Golden Eagle guarding in the shadows is enough to complete the soul hunt; he would not gamble on whether he could hire a legitimate soul-hunting team.

……

Seeing more and more people approaching them, Wu Qi clarified his purpose, "I am here to buy information on thousand-year Soul Beasts. Those who do not meet the criteria, do not come crowding around anymore."

With the intensification of human activity, thousand-year Soul Beasts on the periphery of the Star Dou Great Forest have become extinct; to get information on thousand-year Soul Beasts, one must go deep into the forest.

The strongest members of most soul-hunting teams are only high-level Great Spirit Masters or Soul Elders; thousand-year Soul Beasts are difficult for them to deal with, so naturally, they cannot obtain the information.

Soon, the lively crowd surrounding them dispersed in a flurry, leaving only two or three people behind.

Through their expressions, Wu Qi knew that these few people most likely did not have the information.

After thinking about it, he decided to look for a high-level soul-hunting team.

Teams with strong strength and a good reputation will not take the initiative to solicit customers; they need to be sought out.

Soon, a man drawing water by a well caught their attention.

"I recognize the tattoo on his arm." Ning Rongrong leaned over to Wu Qi's side and reminded him, "That is the totem of the Heaven Dou Empire's Spirit Master Legion, and this is an elite squad; very few people in the outside world know of this squad's existence."

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is a staunch supporter of the Heaven Dou Empire, so it is not strange that she knows these secrets.

However, there is no such thing as a term of service on the Douluo Dalu. Ordinary people might serve for a few years and retire when their bodies fail, but the Spirit Master Legion basically serves for life, at most being transferred to idle positions after getting old.

The man in front of them is most likely a deserter!

A deserter is certainly not a good person, but not necessarily a bad one. If it is just to buy information, it is fine to have contact with him.

With this thought, the three walked up and took the initiative to talk to the other party.

Qiangu Changkong cupped his hands, "Brother, are you with a soul-hunting team?"

The man pulled the bucket from the well, turned his head to see the three young faces, and said casually, "What is it? If you need to hunt for souls, our prices are not low."

Qiangu Changkong immediately said, "We want to buy information on tiger-type or bear-type Soul Beasts, with an age of around 1,500 years."

The man raised his eyebrows; a Soul Ring of such an age can only be used as a third Soul Ring.

Wu Qi and the others are not old, yet someone has already broken through to become a Soul Elder; this talent is truly terrifying.

Compared to before, the man's attitude softened quite a bit, "Follow me, the captain has the information you want."

Good discipline!

Wu Qi nodded inwardly.

……

Following the man to a tent, three burly men were sitting inside.

On the inner side of these three men's arms, there were identical tattoos.

The man explained the origins of the three, and the middle-aged man in the seat of honor stood up, "Five hundred, one thousand, five thousand; what price range do you need?"

Different price ranges correspond to Soul Beasts of different bloodline strengths.

Qiangu Changkong was not short of money and said seriously, "The best one!"

The middle-aged man thought for a moment and pulled a route map out of his Soul Guidance Device.

"This one is one thousand."

Ning Rongrong couldn't help but mutter, "A piece of information is so expensive, who knows if it's true or false!"

Back when she was in Tiandou City, many people had tried to sell her treasure maps, but in the end, they were all fake.

Having been deceived many times, she did not dare to easily buy such high-priced intelligence.

Hearing this, the men in the tent had gloomy expressions, "Our Black Tiger Squad never does anything against our conscience; if you few have no sincerity, then please return."

Qiangu Changkong hesitated for a while, but ultimately paid to buy the intelligence.

After exiting the tent, Ning Rongrong said in a low voice, "How could you easily trust that bunch of fellows?"

"They come from a military background, though I do not know why they left the barracks. But compared to the dregs of society, they are more worthy of trust."

Wu Qi agreed with the actions of Qiangu Changkong.

The bloodline strength of a Fear Bear is second only to dragon-type Soul Beasts; it is a rare Soul Beast that is hard to come by, so it is necessary to take a gamble.

……

At the same time, inside Suotuo City.

Flender had searched the city for an entire night without any news of Ning Rongrong, and even Wu Qi and Qiangu Changkong had vanished without a trace.

Returning to the academy, his expression was terrifyingly gloomy.

Today was the opening day of Shrek Academy, and when he walked in front of the students, he tried hard to squeeze out a smiling face.

After briefly stating the school motto and rules, he let the new students go to pay their tuition fees.

Originally, he had intended to ask about the situation of Yu Xiaogang through Tang San, but now he had lost all interest.

He called Dai Mubai to the Dean's Office and told him the results of his investigation.

Dai Mubai was shocked, "Dean, that can't be right, three geniuses have gone missing in Suotuo City, could it be that someone is hunting them in the shadows?"

(End of this chapter)