Chapter 88: Traces of the Evil Soul Masters

"I can't tell at all…"

Within the Eternal Night Forest, Lin Ye examined his pale right hand. After fusing with the external soul bone—the Symbiote Battle Armor—his hand looked completely normal, just as it had before. Lin Ye couldn't help but be surprised.

As he willed the Symbiote Armor to emerge, it responded in an instant. With just a thought, a thick, ink-like substance began to seep from his right hand, forming a sleek black glove that wrapped around it.

"Amazing!"

Clenching his right hand, now enveloped in the symbiote, Lin Ye murmured to himself. He felt no extra weight, almost as if the armor was part of his skin—a second layer that didn't hinder movement in the slightest.

Truly, an incredible external soul bone!

After testing it out, Lin Ye retracted the Symbiote Armor and prepared to leave the Eternal Night Forest. He also planned to check on the Bear Hunter Soul Group.

...

"Tang Yuan, sniff this scent and help me track them down."

Lin Ye gently pulled Tang Yuan, the white Gold-Eating Rat, from his chest pocket, holding it in his left hand. With his right, he retrieved a gray scarf from his jade pendant and held it close to Tang Yuan's tiny nose.

This scarf had been a gift from Xie Lin a few months ago, something she'd woven herself. Although Lin Ye had never worn it, he kept it preserved in his jade pendant's space, where time stood still. Thus, the scent had remained intact.

"Squeak, squeak!"

Hearing Lin Ye's command, Tang Yuan sniffed around the scarf eagerly. After a moment, it sprang to the ground and darted ahead, squeaking excitedly as it led the way.

Seeing Tang Yuan take off, Lin Ye activated his Phoenix Dance Six Phantasms technique and followed closely.

They traveled for dozens of miles.

Lin Ye leaped gracefully from one treetop to another, his gaze sweeping across the forest with the enhanced vision of his external soul bone's Eagle Eye ability. But despite his efforts, he saw no sign of the Bear Hunter Soul Group.

"Where could they be…?"

As he chased Tang Yuan, Lin Ye continuously scanned the surroundings, his eyes sharp and alert.

"Wait…what's that?"

In one leap, Lin Ye's gaze caught something unusual, and his heart skipped a beat.

"Tang Yuan!"

Landing softly, Lin Ye glanced down at Tang Yuan, then jumped forward to stop the little creature in its tracks.

"Tang Yuan, remember, no noise. We must stay silent!"

He scooped Tang Yuan up and, after giving it a stern warning, placed it back into his chest pocket.

Then, directing his focus in the same direction he'd noticed earlier, Lin Ye resumed his Phoenix Dance Six Phantasms and swiftly advanced.

After a few hundred more meters…

At last, he saw them—a group lurking deep in the forest. Dressed in black and blood-red robes that concealed them entirely, these individuals didn't look like they were here for anything good.

From a hundred meters away, Lin Ye hid behind a dense tree, using his Eagle Eye vision to examine the gathering. Thanks to the external soul bone's enhanced vision, he observed every detail clearly.

This group, cloaked from head to toe in black and red, seemed to be waiting for something, their faces obscured by deep hoods. Their appearance was more than suspicious.

Ordinary people rarely dressed in such conspicuous attire, except perhaps the noble class. And even then, nobles wouldn't venture into the Eternal Night Forest; only the top hunting groups from Eternal Night City would dare come here. These seasoned hunters usually wore practical leather armor, never anything as flashy or ominous as these robes.

A sinister thought crossed Lin Ye's mind. These had to be the legendary Evil Soul Masters!

Just the notion of encountering them made Lin Ye's expression twist with unease.

In Eternal Night City, the hunting groups had been scouring for traces of Evil Soul Masters for months, and yet here he was, stumbling upon them in the vast forest. The sheer luck was unbelievable.

Peeking from behind the thick tree, Lin Ye remained hidden, watching the group intently.

Minutes ticked by.

At last, someone arrived. The Evil Soul Masters, previously standing still, suddenly moved, heading toward a particular direction.

Lin Ye's Eagle Eye focused on the newcomers. Among the trees, a few individuals clad in luxurious attire approached, joining the Evil Soul Masters.

The sight of these groups meeting filled Lin Ye with urgency. Quietly, he activated his Nine Yang Divine Skill, channeling its energy to enhance his five senses. Simultaneously, he used the Dragon Elephant Wisdom Art to invigorate his blood flow, heightening his physical senses even further.

With his hearing greatly sharpened, Lin Ye began to pick up fragments of their conversation from afar.

"Thousand Faces, what's going on lately? Why haven't you brought anyone over?"

A figure in a blood-red robe walked up to the well-dressed leader of the new arrivals, his raspy voice questioning.

"Blood Bat, it's out of my hands," the nobleman replied with a frustrated look. "One of the corpses you drained didn't get eaten by soul beasts, and it was found by a hunting group from Eternal Night City. Now, none of them dare leave the city or accept missions. My hands are tied."

"Hmph! And what's your plan now? If we can't gather enough blood, Lord Blood Infant's plans will be ruined. We Evil Soul Masters will forever remain like rats scurrying in the sewers, crushed under the might of the Spirit Hall. Is that the life you want? I don't care how you do it—bring me more blood!"

The Blood Bat figure spat out his words, his voice thick with disdain.

"But, Blood Bat, there must be another way. Attacking soul masters one by one is inefficient. Why not take over an entire city? That would give us all the blood we need at once!" the nobleman suggested, his tone pleading.

"Fool! You think we haven't considered that? But Lord Blood Infant's ascension takes time. Attacking a city would attract powerful soul masters, and we'd be finished."

"But…"

"No buts. Just get it done. Keep luring people here, however you can."

...

Under Blood Bat's harsh orders, the nobleman had no choice but to comply reluctantly. The two groups then dispersed into the dense forest.

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