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"Lin Ye, what are you doing here?"
Seeing Lin Ye emerge from the forest with a powerful bow in hand, the members of the Barbaric Bear Soul-Hunting Group were all shocked. Shi Yue couldn't help but ask.
"I've broken through to level twenty, so I came to Evernight Forest to hunt soul beasts. Didn't expect to run into you, Brother Shi Yue."
Lin Ye lowered his bow slowly, offering a faint smile as he delivered his rehearsed line.
Although Lin Ye's true specialty lay in swordsmanship, he found that hunting in the dense Evernight Forest favored archery more. Over time, he had refined his skills with the bow, especially with his unique external soul bone—Heavy Pupil—which greatly enhanced his vision and reaction time, perfectly suited for archery.
After half a year of dedicated practice, Lin Ye's archery skills were now formidable.
As he spoke, a small, round creature by Lin Ye's side—Tang Yuan—noticed Su Ying sitting on the ground, her face pale. Tang Yuan quickly scurried over, chittering as it clambered up her lap, displaying clear concern for her. After all, Su Ying was a prized source of treats.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the forest.
The raging Vajra Demon Ape in the distance, which had been letting out roars of agony, abruptly fell silent. Its massive body collapsed to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust. From its pierced eye, thick black blood trickled down around the embedded arrow.
"Is it… dead?" He Feng stared at the ape's body in surprise. Lin Ye's arrow hadn't penetrated deeply, and given the ape's vitality, he doubted it could have killed it outright.
"I coated the arrowhead with poison," Lin Ye explained. "If I'd only hit a limb, the ape could probably shake it off. But since it pierced through the eye to the brain, even a resilient soul beast like this one couldn't last long."
"Lin Ye, you're a sly one, aren't you?" He Feng remarked with a hint of admiration. Yet as he spoke, everyone turned to look at him with odd expressions. Realizing his words sounded harsher than intended, he quickly added, "Ah… I didn't mean it in a bad way. Just a compliment, no offense!"
"Don't worry about it," Lin Ye replied calmly, understanding He Feng's blunt nature.
He then turned to the group. "It seems like you've all sustained injuries. Let me help treat you."
"Lin Ye, do you have a soul skill that can heal injuries?" Xie Lin asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Why don't you see for yourself?"
With a faint smile, Lin Ye extended his hand, summoning the Nine-Spirit Hibiscus. A pristine white flower materialized, and from his feet rose two soul rings—one yellow, one purple.
A hundred-year yellow soul ring was fairly typical, but when they saw his second soul ring glowing a deep purple, the Barbaric Bear members were wide-eyed.
"Lin Ye, your second soul ring is a… millennial soul ring?!"
He Feng's astonishment was palpable.
"Why can't my second soul ring be millennial?" Lin Ye asked with a raised eyebrow.
"But… but soul masters advancing to Grandmaster are only supposed to handle around a five-hundred-year ring. Absorbing a millennial soul ring should be impossible, right? Wouldn't it risk… death?"
Lin Ye chuckled, unfazed. "Maybe. I managed to absorb it successfully. I might just be a little unique. Anyway, let's get back to the treatment."
"First Soul Skill: Purification Light!"
Lin Ye activated the Nine-Spirit Hibiscus's healing power. With a thought, he unleashed a gentle, jade-green light that washed over each member of the Barbaric Bear group. Their wounds, fatigue, and depleted soul power began to rapidly regenerate. Even their spirits seemed to revive, brighter and stronger.
"Lin Ye… the effect of your first soul skill…" Shi Yue was visibly moved, sensing his strength return and his injuries heal. Such a powerful soul skill!
"My injuries are completely healed, and my soul power has recovered halfway!" Xie Lin exclaimed.
"Same here!" He Feng looked equally amazed.
"My stamina and soul power are fully replenished," Luo An added.
Su Ying nodded in agreement, also feeling restored.
"Lin Ye, with such a potent healing ability, and now that you're a Grandmaster, have you thought about joining our Barbaric Bear Soul-Hunting Group?" Shi Yue asked eagerly, his eyes gleaming.
Xie Lin and He Feng nodded enthusiastically, their faces alight with excitement. Luo An and Su Ying looked at Lin Ye with hopeful anticipation as well.
"Of course, but let's discuss it further once we're back."
Lin Ye smiled knowingly.
...
Meanwhile, hidden a distance away, the Violent Tiger Soul-Hunting Group was enveloped in an oppressive silence.
"Boss, our plan failed again. What do we do now?" Skinny Monkey asked, his voice filled with despair.
"What do we do?" Violent Tiger snapped, glaring at Skinny Monkey. "What else? Keep a low profile and act casual!"
"Boss, once the Barbaric Bears are back, they'll likely trace this incident to us. Do you think the Spirit Hall might even side with them?" another member said worriedly.
"Hmph! Who cares? We'll just deny everything. We'll claim it was some rogue dark soul master's doing. Not like they'll step out to defend their name," Violent Tiger scoffed.
"Oh, really?"
A low voice suddenly interrupted.
"Who's there?" Violent Tiger spun around, alarmed.
A figure in a blood-red cloak emerged from the shadows, his skeletal hand extending from the wide sleeves. He lazily licked his long, bony fingers, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Quite amusing, blaming us dark soul masters…"
"Dark… soul master?!" Violent Tiger's eyes widened in terror. "Run! It's a dark soul master!"
But the moment Violent Tiger turned, a searing pain shot through his back, and a mocking, raspy voice sounded behind him.
"Trying to frame us, huh? Fine, we'll take responsibility. Just leave your lives behind, and we'll gladly shoulder the blame… keh keh keh…"
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