Ling Xiao watched the path ahead with a hint of nervous tension.
It wasn't that he feared danger—with the Chrysanthemum Douluo present in the outskirts, he was essentially untouchable—but rather he worried that this soul beast would once again be an unsuitable match.
The group had already halted.
Members of the Judgment Team released their Martial Souls one after another, though they didn't fully unleash their oppressive auras to avoid scaring off the creature.
According to their spiritual perception, the soul power fluctuations ahead were around the 400-year mark, making it a highly probable candidate.
The sounds became more distinct.
Even Ling Xiao could feel a continuous vibration traveling through the ground; it seemed this fellow had some significant weight to it.
"Oink! Oink!"
Two grunts echoed from the bushes ahead.
Just as Ling Xiao found the sound strangely familiar, a massive black boar burst through the thicket at high speed, several branches and leaves still snagged on its face.
Its body was covered in coarse black bristles, its muscles were thick and sturdy, and it measured nearly three meters in length. Two tusks protruded from its mouth, but most strikingly, a massive horn grew above its snout, curving inward.
If this boar lowered its head and charged, it could easily impale an enemy.
"So, it's just a pig!"
Ling Xiao grumbled inwardly, feeling a wave of disappointment.
He didn't want a pig for his soul ring, regardless of how fierce it looked.
The soul beast spotted them but showed no sign of stopping. Instead, it accelerated, barreling toward them like an out-of-control vehicle.
"It's a Black-Horned Mountain Boar!"
Aside from Ling Xiao, everyone else recognized the beast.
Wang Ying, the Battle Soul Master standing at the front, chuckled.
"Looks like we're having an extra dish for dinner tonight."
As he spoke, a surge of soul power rose around him. His right tiger claw glowed with light as he swiped casually at the charging boar.
Boom!
As his tiger claw swung out, Wang Ying instantly displayed the might of a Power Attack System Soul Saint. With just a casual strike, the massive claw slammed directly into the head of the oncoming Black-Horned Mountain Boar.
The giant horn never even touched him; the boar was swatted away, crashing into a thick tree before rolling to the ground. Its hideous head was a mess of blood, with a claw mark so deep it exposed the bone.
It struggled and grunted on the ground, seemingly unable to rise after that single blow.
However, being thick-skinned and sturdy, it continued its incessant squealing despite its inability to get up. The ear-piercing, pig-slaughtering shrieks were almost enough to make one feel a hint of pity.
"Oh, still not dead?"
Wang Ying looked excited, happy at the prospect of fresh soul beast meat.
A claw-light flashed in an instant.
A massive silhouette of a tiger claw tore through the air and struck the boar's neck. Immediately, a fountain of blood erupted, staining the earth and filling the air with a metallic scent.
A yellow ring slowly drifted up from the carcass—a hundred-year soul ring.
The piercing screams died away, and Ling Xiao felt the world become much quieter.
Though the bloody scene made him slightly uncomfortable, he wasn't as shaken as he had been on the first day. Over the past few days, he had witnessed several such slaughters—some even bloodier.
It seemed they were intentionally showing him this to teach him the cruelty of the soul master world.
"Hmm?"
At the rear, the Chrysanthemum Douluo glanced toward the distant forest and chuckled.
"This soul beast has some intelligence; it actually intends to flee."
He looked at the captain of the Judgment Team and said playfully, "Lor Diarra, you know what to do. Bring it back to me."
"Yes, Elder."
Clad in black with a cold expression, Lor Diarra cupped his fists.
His Golden Eagle Martial Soul possessed him instantly.
A pair of massive golden wings unfurled from his back, dazzling and majestic, radiating both elegance and power.
Lor Diarra bent his knees and leaped forward.
With a vigorous flap of his golden wings, he streaked toward the forest. His golden soul power erupted, shattering the bushes in his path. Nothing could block his way, and the momentum he displayed in that second far surpassed the Soul Saint who had struck previously.
Ling Xiao remained where he was, unable to see what was happening in the distance. He only saw flashes of golden light reflecting off the trees and heard series of loud, resonant roars that gradually weakened.
Soon, Lor Diarra returned.
Thud!
A massive soul beast was tossed onto the ground before them.
It was a giant tiger, over three meters long, with white fur interspersed with black stripes.
Most remarkably—and unlike typical tiger soul beasts—it possessed a pair of enormous sabertooth fangs in its upper jaw, shaped like daggers. Its tiger eyes radiated a fierce, predatory light; it looked incredibly savage.
However, it was currently in a wretched state.
Its body was covered in numerous wounds, and blood had nearly stained its white fur red.
Three deep claw marks marked its forehead, likely inflicted by a high-speed bird of prey. Blood flowed from the gashes, which, combined with its wild, ferocious eyes, added a layer of killing intent to its aura.
As soon as it hit the ground, it scrambled back to its feet.
Despite its injuries, it wasn't defeated like the boar. It let out low growls, crouching low with its body tensed as it glared at the members of the Judgment Team, clearly preparing for a final, desperate struggle.
"This is...?"
Ling Xiao's eyes burned with interest once the beast revealed its true form.
He couldn't help but look at the Chrysanthemum Douluo. It was obvious that the Black-Horned Mountain Boar from earlier had been fleeing in terror because it was being hunted by this tiger.
Judging by its aura, this was no ordinary soul beast; while the boar had collapsed after one hit, this creature remained ready to fight despite even more severe injuries. In terms of sheer physique, it was on an entirely different level.
"Hehe, Ling Xiao, your first soul ring has finally been found."
The Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded and smiled. With a wave of his hand, the Judgment Team members scattered.
Seeing a gap in the perimeter, the tiger soul beast lunged forward with all its might. Despite its size and wounds, its speed was not to be underestimated. Its soul power erupted as it tried to burst through.
"Hmph, do you think you can escape?"
The Chrysanthemum Douluo let out a cold laugh.
He pointed his right index finger toward the tiger, and his enchanting voice rang out: "Aura Binding Realm."
In an instant, a massive transparent dome coalesced, trapping the soul beast within.
"Roar!"
Tiger cries echoed from inside the barrier.
It tried to break the dome, but a colossal pressure generated within the boundary, pinning its entire body to the ground. Even the air seemed to solidify, making it difficult for the beast to breathe. Its soul power surged repeatedly, but it was useless; it was suppressed ruthlessly.
This scene gave Ling Xiao a significant shock.
Over the past few days, the Soul Saints of the Judgment Team had often acted with grand displays of power that no soul beast could rival, yet none were as effortless as the Chrysanthemum Douluo. Without moving a step, with just a casual flick of his finger, he had suppressed a formidable soul beast. From the looks of it, capturing it alive was as easy as breathing.
"Elder Chrysanthemum, what kind of soul beast is this?" Ling Xiao asked.
The Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at Ling Xiao and explained, "The Savage Sabertooth Tiger. It is a rare species and one of the few primitive tiger soul beasts on the continent to possess sabertooth fangs. Its physical body is incredibly powerful, its temperament is ferocious, and the attack power of those fangs is immense."
"I haven't seen one of these in many years. This Savage Sabertooth Tiger is over three meters long, and judging by the soul power fluctuations, its cultivation is nearly four hundred years. It is right at the standard limit for a first soul ring—perfect for you."