Soul Land: A Foreign Fantasy

Five minutes. It had only been five minutes since they arrived, yet the sight before them was unsettling. Hu Chun, the leader of this small spirit beast-hunting group, seemed quite competent. Within those five minutes, he had already arranged the group in their designated positions and assigned roles to each member. A competent leader indeed. It was no wonder that everyone had gone unharmed during all the previous beast-hunting trips.

"You seem quite surprised, Sheng Zhi," Chun remarked with a playful glint in his eye as he strolled confidently toward them. His voice was laced with self-assuredness. "Are you dazzled by how exceptional a leader I am?"

"Indeed, Zhu (pig)," Zhi replied, a smirk playing on his lips as he mocked Chun's bravado. Observing Chun's reaction, Zhi couldn't help but stifle a chuckle. Chun took a deep breath, his demeanor shifting before breaking into a wide, infectious smile.

"What are your spirits? Show them to me," Chun urged, his excitement palpable in the air.

One by one, the trio unveiled their spirits with a sense of reverence. Jin stepped forward first, presenting the striking Golden Emperor's sigil—a radiant emblem that exuded power as though the Golden Emperor himself were present. Next was Chen, who revealed the Immortal Emperor's sigil, a magnificent symbol radiating an otherworldly aura, hinting at boundless energy and ancient wisdom. Finally, Zhi brought forth his grand grimoire: an old, tattered book adorned with mysterious symbols and runes, its pages seeming to hum with untold knowledge.

Chun's eyes widened in astonishment as he absorbed the sight before him. Zhi's spirit, though undeniably a tool spirit, had an enigmatic charm, while Jin and Chen's sigils transcended conventional classifications. A flicker of doubt crossed his features as he asked, "What can these spirits do?" His curiosity ignited, he leaned closer, eager to uncover the secrets behind the extraordinary displays.

Jin stepped forward again, choosing the largest boulder in sight. As his sigil radiated golden light, he pushed against the boulder, shattering it into pieces. Chun stared in shock. An ordinary soul scholar couldn't possibly display such strength. But that wasn't all.

Chen stepped forward next, summoning dark mana that coalesced into a scythe. With eerie energy surging through him, he slashed through another boulder, cutting it cleanly in two. Such precise control of soul power was beyond the abilities of any ordinary spirit scholar.

Finally, Sheng Zhi stepped forward. He simply commanded his book, which responded by analyzing Hu Chun's ability:

[Name: Hu Chun]

[Age: 13]

[Spirit: Panda]

[Soul Power: 15]

[Additional Information Requires Soul Master Rank]

Chun had never seen anything like it before—a soul that could display information. Was such a thing even real? His mind raced as he quickly pulled the group into a corner.

"Have you shown anyone else that ability?" Chun asked, his tone laced with concern.

"Nah," Zhi replied nonchalantly.

Letting out a breath of relief, Chun leaned closer and said, "Don't show that to anyone else. It might be dangerous."

Chun was acutely aware of the extraordinary and invaluable nature of Zhi's powers. In a world where such abilities were coveted, the mere thought of someone from the upper echelons of the Soul Hall discovering Zhi's unique gifts sent a chill down his spine. If that were to happen, Chun knew the Soul Hall would stop at nothing to seize him, employing every tactic to recruit—or capture—him. The reality was stark: Zhi and his brothers were teetering on the edge of peril, their safety hanging by a thread in a hostile world.

"We know. That's why we're here," Zhi said in an indifferent tone. "We know we might be in danger because of this, so we want to get a ring. Honestly, if someone else were leading this group, I would have left. But since it's you, I'll trust you with my—no, with our lives."

Despite his arrogance, Chun had earned a reputation for hard work. All his knowledge and experience were the fruits of tireless effort. If anyone could rival Zhi in a battle of wits and knowledge, it was Chun. Zhi knew that if anyone could help them now, it would be him.

Hearing Zhi's words, Chun clenched his fists and fell into deep thought. After a moment, as if struck by insight, he abruptly turned toward the group and singled out a woman.

"Here she is—Hua Quing," Chun announced with a serious expression. "She has a healing-type soul. We'll need that."

"Greetings, my name is Hua Quing," she said, her voice smooth and melodic, resonating with an air of tranquility. "My spirit is the Healing Herb, a spirit that nurtures and restores. As a Spirit Master, I wield a soul power of 13." Her graceful demeanor radiated harmony, as though she were in perfect sync with the world around her.

Zhi smiled. He knew Chun wouldn't disappoint. A healer was exactly what they needed. Ying, Chen, and Jin would be attackers, Chun would act as the tank, and Hua Quing as the healer. Now, it felt like they had a solid team.

"Great. We can go with that," Zhi said, nodding in approval and praising Chun for his decision-making.

With that, all six of them stepped forward, venturing into Mist Valley, where countless adventures—and dangers—awaited.