Chapter 9: Mind-Eye Golden Fox

Deep in the mountains, ancient trees blocked out the sky. A stream flowed gently, winding eastward through the valley.

Dew glistened on the grass, and starlike reflections shimmered. Birds nestled on interwoven branches above.

The Soul Hunting Forest.

Within this vast and mysterious woodland, a still and eerie silence filled the air. Dense trees stood like towering green walls, shielding most of the sunlight and letting only fragmented light flicker on the forest floor.

Leaves rustled in the breeze like whispers from the forest itself, adding to the solemn tranquility.

The trees stretched high into the sky, their emerald leaves sparkling under shafts of sunlight like countless embedded gems. The forest path was covered in soft moss and colorful wildflowers, each step like walking on clouds. A stream wove its way through the landscape, its crystal-clear water flowing gently with a soft murmur, as if washing the dust from one's soul.

It was a scene beautiful enough to belong in a fairytale.

But the reality of this place was a sharp contrast to its serene appearance.

Every plant, every insect, every seemingly harmless animal could be a soul beast—any one of them capable of taking a life in an instant.

From the shadows beneath the trees, countless eyes seemed to watch—sharp, cold, and focused on intruders—ready to strike at any moment.

Those who stepped into this forest entered a realm of the unknown. Every inch of land seemed to whisper forgotten stories. The air was thick with overlapping scents: damp earth, sweet grass, faint wood. Together, they carried the pulse of life.

Suddenly, a soft rustling broke the stillness, startling the small animals nearby.

It was the sound of feet brushing through the grass.

Following it came a fully armed soul hunting team, their formation protecting a small boy about six years old in the center.

The boy was dressed in a custom black combat suit. Except for his face, his entire body was tightly wrapped, even his head covered by a hooded cloak, enveloping him in black robes.

Strapped to each of his legs was a cloth-wrapped case, inside which were oddly shaped metal blocks. His gear looked rather unusual.

This boy was none other than Wu Tong.

After three days of traveling and securing a soul hunting license from Spirit Hall, he had finally arrived at the Soul Hunting Forest.

At the forest's entrance, he hired a reputable, highly experienced soul hunting team.

They had ventured into the forest at dawn the very next day.

"Young Brother Wu Tong, don't worry. We're almost at the location you described."

"It's just a hundred-year-level soul beast. Any one of us can subdue it with ease—absolutely foolproof. Isn't that right, Lu Feng?"

The speaker was a burly man, over seven feet tall, muscles bulging, with a square face and honest-looking features.

This was Wu Tu, captain of the hunting team. A level-51 assault-type battle soul king, his martial soul was the armor-cracking bear.

The man he addressed—Lu Feng—was a slim, dark-skinned middle-aged man wrapped in a black cloak. His hands, exposed outside the cloak, were covered in gruesome scars.

Though silent, he was terrifyingly strong.

Wu Tong had once seen him in action—just a flicker of shadow, and a thousand-year soul beast collapsed, dead in an instant.

Lu Feng was an agility-type soul master. His martial soul: the Shadow Panther. Level: 42, battle soul ancestor.

The rest of the team consisted of three others:

Liu Feiyan, a level-41 control-type soul master with the Sky Net martial soul;

Mu Lan, a level-39 support-type soul master with the Melody Light Lute martial soul;

And Liu Ming, a level-45 defense-type battle soul master with the Armored Rhinoceros martial soul.

With a lineup covering assault, support, control, agility, and defense, the team had every aspect covered.

Wu Tong looked at this highly professional group and couldn't help but feel secure. He was just about to relax and chat with Wu Tu.

Wu Tu didn't mind Lu Feng's lack of response—everyone knew his personality—and was ready to keep talking with Wu Tong.

"Careful."

Just then, a sharp voice rang out, followed immediately by a web-like net that wrapped tightly around a lunging Shadow Wolf, pinning it to the ground.

"Boss, at least take this seriously. If something goes wrong, our reputation will be ruined."

Liu Feiyan, dressed in a tight-fitting dark green leather suit, glared at Wu Tu, who was grinning awkwardly.

"Haha…"

Wu Tu chuckled, trying to brush it off.

But everyone in the team knew his personality well. They rolled their eyes at him but said no more.

After that brief scare, Wu Tong lost the mood to chat. He no longer dared to let his guard down and resumed full alertness.

In this place, even a small mistake could mean no return.

"Found it."

Lu Feng, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke.

Everyone turned to look in the direction he pointed.

A golden fox was darting through the forest, leaping between trees.

The fox was about a meter long, its fur a brilliant shade of gold like a sunset, each strand glowing warmly as if kissed by sunlight. Its tail measured around sixty centimeters, adorned with five silver-white rings of fur. The entire coat gleamed like sunlit silk.

Its eyes were strikingly vivid—deep amber with a glimmer that suggested intelligence and mischief, like they held the mysteries of the stars.

It moved with grace and nobility, bounding through the woods with light steps. Its tail swayed gently behind it, like a dancer performing amid nature's stage.

On its forehead, a vertical pattern lay between its brows. The design flowed like water, made up of two symmetrical lines—one above and one below—giving it the appearance of a mystical eye. It radiated an aura of mystery and clarity.

They had finally found it—the Mind-Eye Golden Fox.

"Mind-Eye Golden Fox. A fox-type soul beast with spiritual attributes. Entire body golden, fur soft like silk, and a mysterious marking on its brow."

"Legend says it's this marking that grants the fox immense spiritual power. Some believe it allows it to see into a person's heart—hence the name, Mind-Eye Golden Fox."

"The silver rings at the tail's end represent its age. Five rings… which means it's about five hundred years old. With my current physical condition, I should be able to absorb it."

Wu Tong quickly recalled everything he knew about the Mind-Eye Golden Fox, then came to a conclusion—this one was within his limit.

"Uncle Wu Tu, this one is just about five hundred years old. With my body's current strength, I should be able to absorb it. Please help me catch it."

The team members perked up, immediately sharpening their focus. They were just about to move in and restrain the soul beast.

At that moment, Mu Lan spoke up.

"Young Brother Wu Tong, isn't the safe limit for a first soul ring around 423 years?"

"You're pushing it a bit far. Maybe it's better to find one slightly younger."

Her calm and cool voice carried a hint of concern—she clearly didn't want Wu Tong to take such a risk.

(End of Chapter)