Douluo: I Can Choose My Own Soul Skills

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"Soul beast meat, soul beast meat! Only three gold soul coins!"

"Group hunt for a strength-type soul beast, ten-year class! Seven-person team! We have a permit!"

Outside the outskirts of the Soul Hunting Forest, a unique soul beast hunting economy had taken shape, leaving Ye Lan dazzled by the scene.

"The Soul Hunting Forest is perfect for Xiao Lan to obtain his first soul ring. Most of the soul beasts inside have already been carefully selected. The majority are below the thousand-year level. For low-level soul masters, it's not too dangerous," Su Yuntao explained to Ye Lan as he introduced the forest.

"That must cost a lot, but compared to the Heaven Dou Great Forest, it's definitely much safer for beginner soul masters," Ye Lan responded thoughtfully.

"In the beginning, the costs of developing the Soul Hunting Forest were enormous. However, as the area was gradually opened up, it started to become profitable. In fact, because permits require signatures from nobles, many commoners are forced to endure their exploitation. Some even sell themselves just to acquire a hundred-year soul ring," Su Yuntao said with a sigh.

Ye Lan was equally shocked. "Good thing I have Uncle Tao, or else I'd still be trying to figure out how to get a soul hunting permit."

"We should be grateful to the Spirit Hall. If not for their restrictions, things would be even worse for commoners. Every year, Hall Master Matthew Nuo personally distributes soul hunting permits to promising commoners, which has helped many talented youths in dire straits."

"Ye Lan, come with me to the hotel. We've been traveling for quite a while. Tomorrow morning, we'll head out together to get your soul ring," Su Yuntao said, leading Ye Lan toward a hotel near the forest's outer edge.

"Alright, Uncle Tao. After traveling all day, I'm exhausted. It's nearly dark anyway, and hunting soul beasts at night is far too dangerous," Ye Lan agreed to rest for the night.

In Douluo Continent, travel was still mainly by horse-drawn carriage. Although the horses here were much faster than in Ye Lan's previous life, the rides were bumpier as well. After several days on the road, both Ye Lan and Su Yuntao felt as if their bodies were falling apart from exhaustion.

Early the next morning.

After having their soul hunting permit checked at the forest's outer gate, Su Yuntao and Ye Lan ventured deeper into the Soul Hunting Forest.

Ye Lan heightened all his senses, carefully attuning himself to every movement of wind and rustle of grass around them.

Su Yuntao led the way ahead. Having visited the forest a few times before, he was familiar with the terrain and had experience navigating the area.

Thanks to Su Yuntao's guidance, Ye Lan didn't have to worry about wandering aimlessly or getting lost in the forest.

Before long, as they traveled deeper into the Soul Hunting Forest, the number of people around them began to dwindle.

The trees grew increasingly tall and dense. The jungle thickened, and amid the quiet forest, the occasional chirping of insects and birds only made the atmosphere more serene.

From a nearby thicket, a small flame-colored kitten emerged. Its large, airplane-like ears were adorably oversized. Its pupils were pitch-black, and two long black tear streaks trailed from its eyes.

"That's a twenty-year tiger demon cat. It looks intimidating, but it's not actually very aggressive. As long as we don't provoke it, we'll be fine," Ye Lan said, observing the kitten and mentally matching it with what he'd learned about soul beasts.

Su Yuntao nodded in approval. "Xiao Lan, you've really done your homework. These tiger demon cats are quite rare in the Soul Hunting Forest. Most people wouldn't recognize one."

Ye Lan and Su Yuntao continued their exploration, encountering many soul beasts along the way. Most of them were small species with only a few decades of cultivation. They came across a solitary bamboo beast, a four-eyed owl, and a ten-year black-headed hamster, among others.

Ye Lan gained a great deal of experience from the journey. However, most of these beasts had cultivation levels of only a few decades and weren't suitable candidates for his first soul ring. This further confirmed how rare century-level soul beasts were in the Soul Hunting Forest.

Ye Lan only came across two notable ones: a hundred-year Pink Lady and a two-hundred-year Mandala Snake.

Ye Lan spotted the two from a distance and was careful not to alert them—fortunately, avoiding any conflict.

As Ye Lan and Su Yuntao continued observing the surrounding soul beasts, a sudden disturbance occurred. The soul beasts nearby scattered in all directions as if startled by something.

A striped tiger, four meters long—seven meters including its tail—suddenly leapt out and landed right in front of Ye Lan and Su Yuntao. The tiger's tail had four black rings, the last of which was thinner than the rest. Each black ring represented one hundred years of cultivation. Ye Lan instantly deduced that this tiger was just over four hundred years old.

"Uncle Tao, be careful. This striped tiger has over four hundred years of cultivation," Ye Lan quickly warned.

Sweat formed on Su Yuntao's forehead as he stared at the black-and-white beast in front of them. "Xiao Lan, stay behind me and support. I'll take the lead. Watch out for its claws!"

A gray light flared up from Su Yuntao's body. Two soul rings rose from beneath his feet—one white, one yellow.

As the white light gleamed, Su Yuntao called out the name of his soul skill:

"Lone Wolf Possession!"

With his shout, his body rapidly transformed. Gray-white fur covered his skin, and his muscles swelled in size. His loose Spirit Hall uniform instantly became tight-fitting.

Su Yuntao's pupils contracted, and a green glint flashed in his eyes. Sharp claws extended from between each of his fingers—clear signs of his Martial Soul Possession.

In just a blink, Su Yuntao had completed his transformation. But the four-hundred-year-old striped tiger didn't wait for him to finish.

The tiger crouched low, preparing to strike, its muscular frame full of explosive tension.

In an instant, it launched itself at Su Yuntao with astonishing speed.

Just as Su Yuntao completed his transformation, the tiger had already closed the gap, now only two meters away.

Seeing the opportunity, Su Yuntao dove forward, sliding underneath the tiger's leaping form. He was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when the beast's thick, muscular tail—thicker than a human arm—swung around and struck his waist.

Crack!

The whip-like strike made Su Yuntao wince in pain. As he was sent flying by the blow, Ye Lan didn't remain idle.

Seizing the opening, Ye Lan charged in from the tiger's blind spot, channeling soul power into his legs. In a burst of speed, he closed in on the tiger's left flank.

He leapt sideways, spinning into a flying kick!

The striped tiger's ears twitched—it clearly sensed Ye Lan's approach and didn't underestimate him.

With a twist of its body, the tiger launched itself to the right, landing agilely on the thick branch of a towering tree.

The beast's large, bell-like eyes glared warily at Ye Lan and Su Yuntao, its tail swishing aggressively behind it.

Ye Lan turned to look at Su Yuntao, who had been struck, and called out, "Uncle Tao, are you alright?"

Su Yuntao looked a bit disheveled but otherwise unharmed. With a wry smile, he said, "I'm fine. I didn't expect the tiger's tail to be such a powerful weapon."

Thanks to the Lone Wolf Possession, Su Yuntao's physical attributes—especially his defense—had been significantly enhanced. Fortunately, he avoided injury.

Ye Lan immediately stepped up and said with a serious expression, "Uncle Tao, let me take the lead now. You support me from the side. Watch for the right moment when I engage the tiger in close combat."

(End of Chapter)