Chapter 4: Soul Hunting, Meeting Shui Bing'er

Late Morning

Uncle Li pushed open the thatched hut and prepared to call Lin Xiao over for the farewell banquet the villagers had prepared in his honor.

But when he entered, he found the hut empty.

A letter sat neatly on the table.

Uncle Li, who could read, picked it up and sighed deeply after finishing it.

Though Lin Xiao had grown up eating at many people's homes, he had repaid their kindness many times over. Over the years, Lin Xiao taught the villagers practical skills—like weaving straw sandals and making oil-paper umbrellas.

Their lives had improved dramatically. They no longer relied solely on farming and could earn a living through crafts. Every villager remembered Lin Xiao's kindness.

"Xiao Xiao, Uncle Li believes you'll become a powerful soul master."

Soto City sat on the border of the Barak Kingdom, neighboring the Heaven Dou Empire to the north, the Star Luo Empire to the south, and the Star Dou Great Forest to the east. Its geographical location was ideal.

Lin Xiao studied the map in his hand, contemplating his route.

His final destination was Heaven Dou City.

Along the way, he would pass through cities like Tianshui City and Xiangjia City.

However, as a lone teenager without the protection of a powerful soul master, traveling alone to Heaven Dou City was risky.

With the Clear Heart Technique suppressing the evil fire temporarily, Lin Xiao decided to first head to the Star Dou Great Forest to acquire his first hundred-year soul ring from its outskirts.

Lin Xiao's palm ignited with a sinister, crimson flame—the Ultimate Fire. Its overwhelming heat distorted the air around it, hissing and crackling like a living entity.

This malevolent flame was not just hot—it had corrosive properties. Once it touched a target, it clung like a leech, nearly impossible to extinguish.

Lin Xiao arrived at the forest's edge two days later. Instead of rushing in, he prepared traps and crafted a makeshift bow using sturdy branches, beef tendons, and snake skins. He attached arrows coated with butter to prevent early ignition from the fire.

He drew the bow, firing a test shot.

The arrow pierced a thick tree trunk effortlessly. Satisfied, Lin Xiao enhanced his arrows with Ultimate Fire.

The result?

The moment the arrow struck a tree, flames erupted, engulfing it entirely. Even iron would melt under such heat, but the butter layer delayed combustion until impact.

The strategy was clear:

Rather than relying on pure force, he would infect soul beasts with his flame. The fire's nature made it impossible for soul beasts to extinguish, even if they dove into water. Instead, it would feed on their soul power, growing stronger.

With traps set, Lin Xiao's soul-hunting journey began.

Soon after, a Fire Bird—a rare, flame-covered soul beast resembling a crimson vulture—appeared unexpectedly in Lin Xiao's vicinity.

Lin Xiao wasted no time.

In one fluid motion, he nocked an arrow, pulled the bowstring, and fired.

The arrow struck true, embedding itself in the bird's chest. The Ultimate Fire consumed the creature entirely, leaving behind only ash and a faint, dark-yellow glow—a hundred-year-old soul ring.

Just as Lin Xiao prepared to absorb the soul ring, a melodic female voice interrupted him.

"Mother-in-law, that Fire Bird flew over here. We were supposed to hunt an Ice Python, but it stole our prey. How annoying."

Lin Xiao tensed. His hand instinctively moved toward his quiver.

An older woman's voice followed, steady and composed:

"Young man, if I were you, I wouldn't do anything reckless. Call your guardian out."

From the shadows emerged two figures—a graceful older woman clad in sky-blue robes and a young girl, around six years old, with a gentle aura and clear, intelligent eyes.

The girl's gaze fell on Lin Xiao's fiery red hair and handsome face, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

"He's so handsome..."

Lin Xiao remained silent but vigilant, his mind racing with potential strategies.

The older woman, Shui Yuehua, frowned.

Suddenly, six soul rings materialized behind her, and the phantom of a Dolphin Martial Spirit loomed above her. She was a Soul Emperor—a powerful opponent.

"I mean you no harm, child. Where are your parents?"

"There's no adult. Only me," Lin Xiao responded calmly.

Shui Yuehua raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"You expect me to believe that a six-year-old one-ring soul master hunted a five-hundred-year-old Fire Bird alone?"

Lin Xiao sighed.

"Fire Phoenix, possess!"

A blazing aura erupted around him as the Fire Phoenix Martial Spirit manifested. His body radiated heat and brilliance, proving his claim.

The young girl's eyes widened with astonishment.

"He has a phoenix spirit too..."

Shui Yuehua, equally surprised, muttered:

"A Fire Phoenix Martial Spirit… and yet no spirit ring? How did you manage to hunt such a soul beast alone?"

Lin Xiao's expression remained composed.