"Tang San thought of an important question, 'Teacher, how can we distinguish the strength of a soul beast? Or rather, its age.'"

  Master Dao said, "Distinguishing the strength of a Soul Beast isn't difficult. Look, that solitary bamboo in front of us is also a type of Soul Beast, a plant-based one. It can be useful to you. The solitary bamboo itself is resilient, and although its attacking power isn't strong, its defense is pretty good. This is a ten-year-old solitary bamboo. Because its height doesn't exceed ten meters. Only above ten meters can it be considered a hundred years old. Therefore, generally speaking, distinguishing Soul Beasts mainly depends on their size and the color of the soul energy they use when launching an attack. The color of the soul energy corresponds to their strength, that is to say, a ten-year-old Soul Beast uses white-colored soul energy, a hundred-year-old one uses yellow-colored soul energy, and so on. Of course, when facing an unknown Soul Beast, it's best if you don't look at its soul energy. If it's something you can't withstand, then you'll face the danger of being destroyed."

  "Teacher, are we going to hunt down this Lone Bamboo?"

  The solitary bamboo doesn't look remarkable at first glance, but because it's surrounded by tall trees rather than a bamboo forest, it catches the eye. Its body sways gently, with the bamboo strips dancing in the wind.

  Master Dao said, "Let's not for now. If there isn't a more suitable choice, it will be the last resort. The selection of soul rings must be cautious, as each soul ring cannot be replaced. A Soul Master can absorb the soul ring of a hundred-year-old soul beast. To be more accurate, it is the soul ring of a soul beast with cultivation lower than 420 years. I have carefully studied the growth and failure experiences of many Soul Masters. 420 years should be the limit that the first soul ring can withstand. Therefore, I hope your first soul ring will approach this limit as much as possible."

  The master's research on martial souls was always so precise. Tang San felt that having such a teacher was absolutely a kind of happiness.

  "It's the same with the Hundred Year Soul Ring, although the soul rings produced from a hundred year soul beast and a nine hundred year soul beast may look the same in color, the difference in their additional attribute amplification is extremely large. Pursuing the limits of the soul ring under the premise of ensuring safety as much as possible is a compulsory course for every excellent Soul Master."

  Proceeding forward, the master was like giving Tang San a vivid practical lesson. Relying on Wu Soul Luo Sanpao's keen sense of smell, even soul beasts hiding in the dark would be discovered one by one. Perhaps because these soul beasts were mostly tenth-grade existences, with weak attacks and expectations, the master introduced to Tang San the names, characteristics, and methods for distinguishing their cultivation limits.

  Look up at the sky, the master said: "It seems that we will be staying in the Hunting Soul Forest tonight. Let's find a place to camp first."

  After searching for half a day, although many soul beasts that met the conditions appeared, the master did not rush to take action and continued to search patiently.

  The master chose a campsite in a depression, surrounded by complex terrain and towering trees.

  The master took out a large glass bottle from the wrist ring-shaped soul guide on his own wrist and handed it to Tang San, "Sprinkle it around, remember, sprinkle it evenly."

  "Good." Tang San took the bottle, inside which was a powder-like medicine that had a pungent smell. Tang San's nose twitched slightly as he identified it as similar to his previous life's orpiment. The Tang Sect was famous for its hidden weapons and poisons, and although he was an outer sect disciple, he also had a good understanding of poison identification. Previously, while searching for soul beasts, he had found many poisonous plants in the Soul Hunting Forest that he could identify, which he had put into his Twenty-Four Bridge Moonlit Night. Master's knowledge of martial arts was unquestionable, but when it came to identifying these soulless poisonous plants, he couldn't compare to Tang San, who had two lifetimes of experience. Especially since many of these poisonous plants required specific combinations to release their toxic properties.

  After sprinkling the powder, Tang San handed the bottle back to the master.

  "Do you know why I had you scatter those around the perimeter?" The master's face was very stern, at this moment he was a teacher testing his student.

  Since he could identify the powder, Tang San wouldn't have thought of Master's purpose. Without hesitation, he said: "It should have two effects, one is to cover up our own smell, and the other is to drive away snakes, insects, rats and ants."

  The master nodded in satisfaction, "That's right, it's like that. This is called snake-driving powder, a must-have for adventure. Remember, in the forest, especially in forests with soul beasts, try not to use fire as much as possible. Although most wild beasts and soul beasts fear firelight, there are also a few particularly powerful soul beasts that love firelight. Once you encounter them, unless your own cultivation is strong enough, you will surely die."

  The sky gradually darkened, but the forest was not quiet, with insects chirping and birds calling, even the roar of wild beasts rose and fell.

  No fire was lit, and the surroundings were pitch black. Tang San and his master simply ate a bit of dinner, and then the two leaned against a large tree to rest.

  The master was absolutely a qualified teacher, or he attached great importance to Tang San. Although it was time to rest now, the master still asked Tang San about the soul beasts he had introduced to him from head to toe, in order to deepen his impression.

  Tang San's memory was pretty good, and with the novelty of encountering a soul beast for the first time, his recollection deepened. Any mistakes in his answers were corrected one by one by Master.

  "Xiao San, do you know why I said that the most important time for a Soul Master to cultivate is when they are young?" The master's low and hoarse voice carried a hint of sadness.

  Tang San shook his head and waited for the teacher's explanation.