After all, Huo Yuhao was still young; his nervousness lasted only a moment before gradually turning into excitement. Having traveled for many days, he had finally reached his destination. Just thinking about how he was about to obtain his first Soul Ring and become a Soul Master made his blood boil with excitement. For this day, he had trained painstakingly for five long years.
In his excited state, Huo Yuhao instinctively quickened his pace, speeding up as he entered the Star Dou Great Forest.
As he walked forward, a strange sensation suddenly washed over him. A sharp pain shot through Huo Yuhao's eyes, and he instinctively channeled his Soul Power into his Spirit Eyes.
Once a faint current of energy swirled around his pupils, Huo Yuhao could vaguely see a figure flash and disappear on the path to his left.
The Spirit Eyes were an extremely rare mutated Martial Soul with a powerful danger-warning capability. Sensing the threat, Huo Yuhao's reflexes sharpened. He quickly threw his body to the left, while his right hand drew the White Tiger Dagger from behind his back.
A dark shadow flashed and appeared right where he had been standing a moment ago. This close proximity allowed Huo Yuhao to see it clearly.
It was a baboon about three feet tall, with a golden body and brown eyes flashing with a fierce light. It had bizarrely long arms, sharp claws, and exposed fangs. Having missed its initial strike, it let out a low hiss, then kicked off the ground with immense force to pounce toward Huo Yuhao again.
Although Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eyes did not yet have a Soul Ring, their basic function was still excellent. Under the support of his Soul Power, the baboon's movements slowed down significantly in his vision. Huo Yuhao quickly rolled to the left, then sprang to his feet, raising the White Tiger Dagger to shield his chest.
His heart pounded wildly, and his breathing grew ragged. This was his very first time facing an enemy—no, a hostile beast's attack. The hand gripping the White Tiger Dagger was drenched in sweat, and he was utterly at a loss as to how to deal with it.
Infuriated after missing twice, the baboon faced Huo Yuhao, beat its chest repeatedly with both fists, and let out a roar. A ball of white light shot from its mouth, hurtling toward Huo Yuhao.
Even with his lack of experience, Huo Yuhao could tell that what he was facing was a Soul Beast. They were still some distance away from the Star Dou Great Forest, and he was completely unprepared. Seeing the white light about to strike him, he knew that with his meager cultivation, a direct hit would likely spell disaster.
At this moment, Huo Yuhao's mind went blank. Through his Spirit Eyes, the approaching white light did not seem fast, but in reality, it reached him in the blink of an eye.
At the same time, the baboon lunged at Huo Yuhao, a savage light gleaming in its eyes.
With the white light right in front of him, Huo Yuhao lost all ability to think in his panic. He could only instinctively raise the White Tiger Dagger in his hand, which managed to block the white light just in time.
At that moment, a bizarre scene unfolded. The white light struck the White Tiger Dagger, and simultaneously, the baboon pounced, its long arms tightly grabbing Huo Yuhao's shoulders.
With the battle reaching this point, it seemed as though Huo Yuhao's fate was sealed. Was he truly going to die under the claws of a Soul Beast?
Gripping Huo Yuhao's shoulders, the baboon used its powerful body to lift him off the ground, intending to slam him down violently.
At the same time, a flash of white light erupted between the baboon and Huo Yuhao. The baboon's body seemed to stiffen before crashing down, while Huo Yuhao, who was about to be violently slammed into the ground, was thrown far away. After struggling for a brief moment, the baboon went completely still.
Thud!
Huo Yuhao's body slammed into a nearby tree. His vision went dark, and the excruciating pain made it impossible for him to breathe.
At this moment, Huo Yuhao looked truly miserable. Deep, long gashes marred both of his shoulders, and his clothes were practically shredded.
Yet, amidst the intense pain, he gradually regained his senses. Driven by instinct, his gaze drifted toward the motionless baboon lying on the ground.
A faint white glow began to emanate from its body. Gradually, the white light condensed into a circular ring. The halo shimmered faintly, but the longer Huo Yuhao stared, the more dazed he became.
A Soul Ring? Is this a Soul Ring? Huo Yuhao's body trembled with excitement, and the pain from his wounds seemed to vanish instantly.
In the Duke's Mansion, although he had only learned basic meditation methods, he had heard a great deal about Soul Beasts and Soul Rings. Almost every guard in the mansion frequently talked about Soul Beasts.
*Could it be dead?* Huo Yuhao thought blankly. This was his first time encountering a Soul Beast, but he knew that a Soul Ring would only appear upon a Soul Beast's death. But... why did it die?
Under the influence of his Spirit Eyes, memories rushed back into his mind like a tide.
The white light emitted by the baboon had clashed with the White Tiger Dagger, which suddenly flared with light and absorbed the white glow. This was the turning point of the battle.
According to the baboon's battle instincts, a tiny human like Huo Yuhao should have lost all combat capability after being hit by its soul fist technique, and then being slammed violently into the ground would have cost him at least half his life. But it never expected its innate skill to be neutralized by the White Tiger Dagger. Moreover, when it grabbed Huo Yuhao and lifted him up, his hands had instinctively thrust forward, pointing the White Tiger Dagger in his grasp directly at the baboon.
Originally, the length of the White Tiger Dagger was not enough to reach the baboon. However, in that split second, the dagger suddenly unleashed a white blade light that extended past the baboon's body. Although Huo Yuhao's mind had been blank at the time and he couldn't remember where he had slashed, he was certain that the blade light had struck the baboon.
*I won?* Huo Yuhao stared at the white Soul Ring, his excitement gradually subsiding.
A Soul Ring was of utmost importance to a Soul Master, much like a man's reliance on a certain cylindrical object. It was an indispensable requirement for a Soul Master to advance in rank. However, not just any Soul Ring was suitable for absorption; it had to match the Soul Master's own martial soul.