Douluo Dalu: Ability Deduction

The carriage moved at a leisurely pace, and it wasn't until noon that the two finally arrived at the Soul Hunting Town, about twenty miles from the Sunset Forest.

After finding a restaurant in the town, they had a simple lunch, and Huo Lie continued to lead Mu Yang toward their destination.

From a distance, Mu Yang could already feel the refreshing breeze carrying the aroma of plants, a fragrance that was invigorating and comforting.

Looking ahead, he saw a vast green ocean of trees. Even at the forest's outermost edge, towering trees dominated the view. Shadows danced among them, making it difficult to see the forest's true face.

As one of the three great wild soul beast habitats, the Sunset Forest was the most preferred hunting ground for lower-level soul masters in the northern part of the continent. Every trip here signified the opportunity for soul masters to break through to the next level.

However, while many soul masters visited the Sunset Forest each year, it was also the final resting place for many. The forest was fraught with danger, and soul hunting required utmost caution.

"Xiao Yang, soul beasts roam the forest, and danger can arise at any moment. You must remain vigilant at all times. Understand?"

Before entering the forest, Huo Lie reminded Mu Yang.

With him accompanying Mu Yang, and considering the Sunset Forest's lower risk compared to the Star Dou Forest, there wasn't much to fear in terms of high-level soul beasts launching a surprise attack.

Still, for a pre-Soul Master like Mu Yang, even seemingly insignificant threats, such as small poisonous insects, could pose a deadly danger.

"Understood," Mu Yang nodded earnestly.

As someone who had read countless novels in his previous life, Mu Yang had seen far too many "destined" characters or powerful individuals fall due to negligence.

Shortly after entering the forest, Mu Yang heard a faint rustling sound from somewhere ahead.

Turning to look, his entire body tensed, his hair stood on end, and goosebumps spread across his skin.

A black-scaled snake, about four to five meters long, was slithering through the underbrush not far ahead.

Although this black-scaled snake wasn't a high-year beast—not even reaching the hundred-year mark—and posed no real threat with Huo Lie protecting him, the sight of its writhing black scales sent chills down Mu Yang's spine.

In his past life, Mu Yang had a deep-seated fear of snakes.

"Haha, Xiao Yang, are you afraid of snakes?" Huo Lie asked, amused by Mu Yang's reaction.

Mu Yang rolled his eyes. A creature this large—how many people wouldn't feel unsettled upon seeing it for the first time?

"Want me to help you overcome this fear?"

Huo Lie glanced at the black-scaled snake, its figure disappearing into the distance, and teased him.

"No, no, no, no need! I'm just not used to it since it's my first time seeing one," Mu Yang quickly waved his hands in refusal.

You old rascal, trying to scare a kid with a snake?

"Haha!"

Huo Lie laughed heartily.

After this little episode, the two continued deeper into the forest.

Their luck seemed decent. As dusk approached, just when they were about to set up camp, Mu Yang spotted a seemingly ordinary green plant growing among the damp soil and sparse shrubs.

The plant was about one and a half meters tall, with a four-angled stem that had six branches. Its upper part was covered in fine, soft hairs. The opposite leaves on the stems were ovate-lanceolate, and small blue flowers bloomed on its branches.

A gentle breeze carried a faintly cool floral fragrance to Mu Yang, leaving him feeling refreshed, as though his mental state had improved.

"Uncle, it's a Clear Cool Flower, just over 400 years old," Mu Yang pointed at the plant not far ahead and said to Huo Lie.

Huo Lie had already noticed the plant as the cool scent reached him. He furrowed his brows slightly, pondering whether Mu Yang could truly handle a soul ring from a Clear Cool Flower of over 400 years.

For most soul masters, the optimal age for their first soul ring was around 400 years. However, everyone's physique varied. While stronger individuals could adhere to this guideline, Mu Yang's case was different.

His pale complexion, perpetual fatigue, and tendency to sleep more than ten hours a day gave Huo Lie little confidence in Mu Yang's ability to absorb such a soul ring.

"Xiao Yang, are you confident?" Huo Lie asked after some thought.

Fortunately, the energy from plant-type soul beasts was generally less violent, especially from non-aggressive species like the Clear Cool Flower. Its energy was among the gentlest, making it less demanding on the soul master's physique compared to soul rings from other beasts of the same age.

Otherwise, Huo Lie wouldn't have allowed Mu Yang to target this plant as his first soul beast.

"Of course! I may look like I lack energy, but that doesn't mean my body is weak," Mu Yang declared without hesitation.

Compared to his peers who were also at the pre-Soul Master level, Mu Yang's physique was among the best. He had diligently practiced fitness exercises for over a year, and his arms—hidden beneath his sleeves—were far from lacking in muscle.

Huo Lie raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Mu Yang's refreshed demeanor, which seemed much better than usual today.

Hmm, likely because Mu Yang hadn't used his deduction ability and expended his mental energy yesterday, knowing he'd be hunting souls today.

"Alright, then."

After a moment of observation, Huo Lie nodded. He retrieved a barrel of fire oil from his soul tool, opened the lid, and with a flick of his wrist, threw it toward the Clear Cool Flower.

The plant was instantly doused in oil.

Next, Huo Lie pulled out a firestarter, sparked a small flame, and tossed it onto the oil-soaked plant.

"Fwoosh—"

The fire spread rapidly, engulfing the Clear Cool Flower in a blazing inferno.

A soul beast produces a soul ring upon death, but only the soul master who delivers the final blow imbued with their soul power can absorb it.

In this case, no soul power was used during the kill. This allowed Mu Yang, whose soul power level was at the threshold for advancement, to absorb the soul ring normally.

This principle was similar to how later generations used soul tools to hunt beasts without consuming their own soul power, leaving the soul rings usable for other soul masters.