16 Trust

Putting his feet on the ground, Chen Hai stood in the green scenery of the fields. Fresh air blew into his face as birds chirped here and there. At times even animal howls could be heard from the forest nearby.

To the east of Yunnan city was a huge expansive uncultivated piece of land, and this is where the two were at now. When one needed to kill Martial Beasts, one needed to follow the places where they live. If the two were ever going to hunt his compatible Martial Beast anywhere, this was as good as a place to start than any.

They already knew that it would most likely take a very long time to find his required Spirit Soul that can bond with him, so they decided to start here as it was close to the city.

Although this was a land where people did not live, there were still some small towns on the outskirts like where they were currently.

Outskirts of popular hunting grounds tended to have towns of merchants, looking to buy any material or Spirit Soul one wished to sell, and also to sell or trade the things they already had.

It was a hubbub of hunters and merchants all bustling together. Biyu Cuifen led Chen Hai through the town, heading towards the real wilderness. She had already prepared all the necessities that they would require, however, some food and water they would still need to scavenge on their own.

She visited this place before in the past, so she was common with the layout, and quickly traversed the semi crowded town.

As they walked through, Chen Hai looked around at everything curiously. He saw multiple different things that he had never seen or heard of before, plus many unique attractions which made his gaze switch rapidly towards different sights as they walked passed.

There were rare Spirit Souls selling like cabbage in carts over here. There were expensive restaurants selling Martial Beast meat, giving off fragrant scents which tagged along with the surroundings. There were beautiful sisters teasley waving towards him whenever he walked past. And lastly, there were even gambling dens filled with cheers and sorrows.

The place had almost everything one could think of, or at least he could think of. Hotels, massage spas, and even hunters for hire, he didn't know so many activities could be gathered in one place every day.

Biyu Cuifen tried to avoid some parts of the town as she walked through it, in order to not contaminate the kid with any of these bad thoughts or habits of hunters.

Feeling the eyes of hot hunger, it only fueled her more to walk faster with Chen Hai in tow. Finally after what seemed longer than the short minutes that had passed, she arrived at the edge of the true wilderness.

Chen Hai stood behind her gaping at the expansive scene that suddenly appeared. One step behind him was full of vibrant life, and human civilization, but in front... it was empty of everything, luscious and tranquil.

Trees covered the hill tops, mountains jagged into the sky, clifflines rose and fell, and the clouds flittered past. This was the wilderness, the land of the Martial Beasts, and the home to wild...

There was a difference between normal forests and places for hunting grounds. The normal places were still called the wilderness and such, but this place he will be going into... this was called a Soul Land...

A Soul Land was a place where Martial Beasts were found frequent, like leaves on a tree, without an end. They were part of the food chain, an ecosystem, and a habitat. This was a land meant to not have human interference, this was the true world, and the real state of nature.

A survival of the fittest... Only the true strength, may live...

The weakest will be cut away from the branch, losing off all support, and fading into the seas of time.

This was a Soul Land, a place lurking with various powers, holding the mysteries of the world...

At the side, even Biyu Cuifen took a moment to take a breadth. She has been to these types of things many times, but she was still not used to it no matter how much times she witnessed the vast expanse of a Soul Land.

Standing in front of a Soul Land, a sacred ground for Martial Beasts, one could feel the rise of Soul Power within the air, and a hint of danger. One needed to be careful within this place, as although Martial Beasts were widely beneficial to humans, it went both ways.

Not much was known about Martial Beasts, but humans have still were able to form some theories and guesses. As many know, the age relates to the power of the Spirit Soul behind it, but that was just the common way to explain it.

In truth, when Martial Beasts killed another Martial Beast, or even humans, it was theorized that they can gain some of the Soul Power of the thing they have killed.

If this was not the case, it would be very doubtful that the world can have so many beasts that were so old in abundance. Finding a ten thousand year old Martial Beast was a pain, but there was still enough to supply the Soul Cultivators.

If the Martial Beasts were not able to steal Soul Power, than it wouldn't make sense for them to still be so alive and kicking. Most likely if it were false, than they would've gone extinct by now!

So this made traveling in Soul Lands very dangerous. Although Martial Beasts can gain Soul Power from their fellow inhabitants, a human being was much more lucrative to them.

If they killed a human, than they would be able to gain Soul Power a lot more efficiently. If someone compared the same power Martial Beast to a fellow human, the Martial Beast would be stronger.

Martial Beasts were also inherently tough, so it was a hassle for them to kill each other at the same rank, while those in lower levels barely gave them any Soul Power, making them not interested in the small crumbs at all.

This in turn caused most Martial Beasts to be aggressive towards the human species. They were always at odds, each needing each other to go farther onto the path of cultivation. This was a war between humans and beasts, a battle which will never end until one side is wiped out.

Extinction was the only outcome.

Groups of people can be seen going inside every once in a while, but the people sparingly going out were sparse and lacking.

The leavers were worn down by the adventures and events which had taken place, and their groups were generally smaller than those who had gone in. Even some blood stains can be seen on some of their clothes, but to the others it was already a common occurrence.

To Chen Hai on the other hand, it made his excited curious expression and feelings turn into seriousness. They were going in, but that did not necessarily mean he would get to come out.

Biyu Cuifen turned to look at Chen Hai standing next to her, and she decided to teach him some valuable life lessons seeing the time was right. "Chen Hai life is not a game."

Pointing at some of the people who walked out every so and then, she asked him a question. "Why do you think those who come out are smaller in group, while those going in are generally larger in group?"

Giving a quick think, Chen Hai answered her the easy question. "It's because they ended up dead inside the Soul Land right? The Martial Beasts had ended up killing them, or perhaps they were not careful enough, and died due to the land or climate..."

He thought that the answer would be right, but after a period of time, his teacher's answer still did not come. Looking at his teacher's smooth face filled with seriousness, he seemed to feel the amount of emotions poured behind her next words.

"That's incorrect... The reason is actually pretty simple, you want to take another guess?"

Having another chance at this little game, he stared at the hunters and groups going in and out of the outskirts of the Soul Land. However, after a while, he could still not form an answer of his own that looked correct in his head.

Giving up, he asked Ms. Biyu for the answer. "I can't think of anything else... Is there something more dangerous?"

Speaking from her life experience, she solemnly told him the truth. "What you need to be more careful of than Martial Beasts in Soul Lands, are people... In here, the rewards are extravagant, and there is no one to hold you back from acting on your desires..."

Shocked by this answer, Chen Hai started to be wary of his surroundings, while questioning Ms. Biyu again to see if he had indeed heard right. "People?... You mean they killed their friends or partners?... Or you mean like strangers?..."

Giving him a stare in the eye, she again shook her head as she felt that the answer was verily a little flawed. "Actually, you always need to watch out for strangers Chen Hai, but there is something you need to be more cautious about..."

"Cautious about what?"

Giving a breadth to pull in her emotions and thoughts, she replied. "What you need to worry and watch out the most for in Soul Lands, are the people you trust... People in this world can easily wear one face, but have another..."

Having a pause, she attempted to continue her words.

"People..."

"Those who you might place your trust, can oftentimes be the enemy... Sometimes, they are the worst danger... because you will never know of that unsuspecting factor..."

"So... In this world... unless you are ready to die for someone, or treat them as your true family... Never trust anyone!... But yourself!..."

Contemplating what the real meaning of what his teacher had tried to express to him might be, she started to lightly drag him into the wilderness.

Chen Hai stepped into a Soul Land for the first time in his life. It was one step to cultivate, and one step towards becoming a true Soul Cultivator.

This was where he will find his first Spirit Soul...