The Starry Sky Forest was even more dangerous and vast than Ling Ye had imagined.
Towering ancient trees blocked out the sun, and thick layers of decaying leaves covered the ground, with the air filled with the damp smell of earth.
The roars of venomous insects and ferocious beasts echoed faintly from the depths of the forest, sending chills down one's spine.
In the past, Ling Ye would never have dared to set foot in such a place; any hundred-year-old soul beast could have taken his life.
But things are different now.
The "Myriad Transformations and Concealed Breath Technique" allowed him to blend perfectly into his environment.
And the Holy Spirit Puni's ultimate perception of life energy became his best radar.
Within a radius of several hundred meters, anything with even a little energy, whether it be a lurking soul beast or a hidden herb, is clearly visible.
He always managed to avoid those orbs of life energy that radiated a violent aura, which represented powerful predators; encountering them would be suicide.
Surprisingly, the journey was fraught with danger but ultimately safe.
Not only that, he also used his abnormal perception to find a lot of good things.
A hundred-year-old Crimson Blood Ginseng that can strengthen the body, several fragrant Qiluo Immortal Seedlings that can detoxify and calm the mind, and even a small piece of special ore containing pure soul power... a very fruitful harvest.
"This martial spirit is simply a treasure-hunting rat!" Ling Ye happily put the item away, becoming increasingly satisfied with the Holy Spirit Puni.
The further you go into the mixed zone, the stronger the soul beasts become, and thousand-year-old soul beasts can be seen everywhere.
Ling Ye became even more cautious, but he discovered that the pure and sacred life aura emanating from the Holy Spirit Puni made many relatively gentle plant-type or light-type soul beasts not reject him, and some even curiously approached him.
At the same time, the Holy Spirit Puni Martial Soul within him became increasingly active.
It is no longer content with merely perceiving its surroundings, but like a compass, it continuously conveys a strong longing and resonance towards the very heart of the forest.
It was as if something there was deeply attracting it.
"The core area..." Ling Ye licked his lips, feeling both expectant and nervous.
That was a forbidden area, said to be inhabited by a 100,000-year-old soul beast.
But he had a gut feeling that this resonance was crucial to him.
He decided to follow his instincts and cautiously explore the edge of the core area.
As they were moving forward, a sudden burst of intense soul energy fluctuations and angry beast roars came from ahead, mixed with a trace of painful groans.
In the perception transmitted by the Holy Spirit Puni, a vast force of luminous life was rapidly weakening, while another violent and dark aura was attacking relentlessly.
What happened? Why does it smell different?
Could they be two terrifying soul beasts?
Ling Ye frowned, concealed his presence, and silently approached.
Pushing aside the dense bushes, the sight before him took his breath away.
In a desolate clearing in the forest, a soul beast lay dying in a pool of blood.
It has a majestic appearance, its body is as white as jade, its fur has a warm luster, it has a spiral horn on its forehead, and a pair of huge snow-white wings on its back.
But now one of them is broken and covered in blood.
"A Radiant Unicorn? Judging by its aura, it must be over ten thousand years old!" Ling Ye recognized this rare soul beast.
The creature attacking it was a massive cave spider covered in black scales, at least eight thousand years old, whose attributes were perfectly countered by the light element.
The unicorn was clearly outmatched, its body pierced in multiple places by spider spears, and its light power was constantly being eroded by the dark poisonous mist of the demonic spider. It was on the verge of death.
Its eyes were filled with resentment and sorrow.
For some reason, sensing that the pure, luminous life force of the unicorn was dissipating, Ling Ye's Holy Spirit Puni Martial Soul resonated strongly with him and felt a pang of reluctance, and an impulse to save it arose spontaneously.
"Damn it, I can't control this anymore!"
Ling Ye gritted his teeth and instantly released his concealment, allowing the Holy Spirit Puni to possess him!
The seven dazzling halos reappeared, instantly enveloping the entire venue with an aura of sacred majesty!
The cave spider was so frightened by the sudden high pressure that it froze, its attack motion halted, and instinctive fear was revealed in its scarlet compound eyes.
Ling Ye didn't attack it. Instead, he rushed to the side of the Light Unicorn, placed his hands on its bleeding wounds, and activated the Holy Spirit Puni Martial Soul with all his might.
A gentle yet vibrant divine light flowed into the unicorn's body, and the wounds on its body, which had been corroded by the toxins, began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the dark aura was quickly purified!
The unicorn let out a soft, soothing hiss, its eyes filled with gratitude and affection as it looked at Ling Ye.
It could feel the light emanating from this human, which made it feel very comfortable, even purer than the aura of the Lake of Life in the heart of the forest.
However, although the treatment was effective, the unicorn was too badly injured, and its very essence was burning.
The healing provided by the Holy Spirit Puni Martial Soul can only delay, but cannot reverse, the loss of its life force.
Just then, the cave spider snapped out of its fear and, seemingly realizing that Ling Ye was not someone to be trifled with, hissed and decisively abandoned its prey, quickly burrowing into the ground to escape.
Ling Ye didn't give chase; he simply continued to channel his soul power, looking into the unicorn's eyes: "Hold on!"
But the unicorn gently shook its head. It gently rubbed its warm horn against Ling Ye's palm, then raised its head and let out a long, ethereal, and resolute neigh!
Buzz!
A powerful light burst forth from its body, and a black spirit ring shimmering with holy runes slowly condensed and rose from its body!
It looked at Ling Ye, then at the direction of the core area of the forest, its eyes revealing a final plea, before slowly closing its eyes and turning into specks of light that dissipated into the air.
Only the ten-thousand-year-old soul ring, radiating light, remained, silently floating there, waiting for Ling Ye.
It actually offered itself up as a sacrifice, choosing to become Ling Ye's first soul ring!
In this way, she repaid his kindness and entrusted her future to him!
Ling Ye was stunned, overwhelmed with indescribable emotion and shock.
He took a deep breath, no longer hesitated, sat cross-legged, and circulated his soul power to draw over the radiant ten-thousand-year soul ring.
The absorption process went surprisingly smoothly.
The power of the Holy Spirit Puni seemed to perfectly match the attributes of the Light Unicorn, and the pure soul power contained in the soul rings flowed into his body without any hindrance.
The surging soul power roared and surged upwards!
Although I'm not a Soul Master yet, I can't know my exact level.
However, he could sense that the soaring soul power was at least level thirty-three!
At the same time, he clearly sensed that he had acquired his first Soul Skill: Holy Light Protection.
It forms a powerful shield of light, possessing extremely strong physical and energy defense capabilities, and can continuously purify negative status effects.
Ling Ye opened his eyes, feeling the surging power within him and the new soul skill, his emotions were complicated.
He bowed deeply in the direction where the unicorn had disappeared.
"Don't worry, your power will not be tarnished."
He raised his head, his gaze fixed firmly on the heart of the forest.
The resonance of the Holy Spirit Puni Martial Soul became even stronger after absorbing the Soul Ring of the Light Unicorn.
What awaits him there?
Unbeknownst to him, a small, snow-white rabbit with eyes as clear as rubies was perched on a branch of a large tree in the distance, curiously tilting its head and looking at him before disappearing in a flash.
(End of chapter)