Soul Emperor Awakening

He might not be interested in ordinary ruins or treasures, but if a soul was involved, he was thoroughly intrigued.

A soul contained not just a formidable Realm and Martial Arts, but also countless memories. Through them, he could learn about the Demon Fox Race—a very tempting prospect.

He didn’t care what other treasures the Demon Fox Ruins might hold; the soul alone was enough to capture his interest. To him, that *was* the treasure!

Even if there were no other treasures in the Demon Fox Ruins, the soul of a powerful expert alone would make the trip worthwhile. It wouldn’t be a wasted journey in the slightest.

"Are you really sure you want to go to the Demon Fox Ruins? Haven’t you heard what people are saying? Plenty of others have used this map, and none of them found a thing," Wei Song said in disbelief.

"So, are you going or not? If not, then forget it. Just pretend I never asked." Lin Xuan gave a faint smile, wondering what Wei Song was thinking.

He could have gone alone; there was no need to invite him. ’Wei Song probably doesn’t even want this map anymore, not after so many people have proven it worthless. He likely has no desire to go.’ Lin Xuan had only asked to gauge his interest. After all, thanks to the Fox King’s memories, he knew the locations of many hidden places.

He didn’t know how many had already been discovered, but at the very least, he could check if the soul was still there. With those memories, navigating the Demon Fox Ruins would be quite safe—far safer than relying on the map he held, which was incomplete to begin with.

Besides, he quite admired Wei Song’s mentality. How could a sparrow understand the aspirations of a swan? The man specifically chose dangerous missions, yet tragically, he never succeeded. It was a real shame.

Wei Song was also a man of principle, compensating others from his own pocket when a mission failed to yield rewards. Lin Xuan’s appreciation for him grew. That, combined with the fact that he was Wei Jun’s son, made Lin Xuan more than willing to help him out a bit.

Of course, he couldn’t guarantee they’d find any treasure, ’but at least by following me, he’ll have a chance.’

"I’ll go! Of course I’ll go!" Wei Song replied hurriedly. "With someone else going, I’m definitely in! Who knows, maybe we’ll get lucky and find something everyone else missed? As long as there’s a sliver of hope, we have to check it out. I know I’ll regret it if I don’t."

"That’s a good mindset to have. Chase any sliver of hope you can find. The idea is sound, even if reality is often cruel," Lin Xuan said with a faint smile. "In that case, let’s get ready. We’ll head out soon."

"Really? You actually believe me?" Wei Song was so moved he was on the verge of tears. So many people had dismissed him, but Lin Xuan actually had faith. How could he not be touched?

"It’s not a matter of belief. It’s better to have a partner on a mission—someone to rely on—than to go it alone." As he spoke, Lin Xuan took out a Storage Ring, transferred a million Primordial Stones into it, and handed it over.

Wei Song took it, and when he checked inside and saw a million Primordial Stones, he was completely stunned.

"This... this is so much! I only need a little, not this much," Wei Song said, shocked.

"Buy better gear. It’ll give you a better chance of survival. You can always earn back Primordial Stones, but you can’t get your life back," Lin Xuan said with a faint smile. ’His Storage Ring might not have much else, but it was overflowing with Primordial Stones!’

"Brother, I won’t say much more. If trouble finds us, I, Wei Song, will be the first to stand in front. I’ll make sure you get away first!" His eyes were filled with sincerity, a look completely devoid of deceit.

After saying this, he exchanged a few more words with Lin Xuan, then immediately rushed off to buy his equipment. Lin Xuan decided to wait outside; there was no point hanging around inside.

Soon, Wei Song returned with his purchases. He hadn’t bought much, focusing mainly on a Spiritual Artifact. He also bought some Armor, but it was of ordinary quality.

’At least he doesn’t look so shabby now.’ If he didn’t even have a basic Weapon, Lin Xuan wouldn’t have dared take him along.

"Brother, I’m all set! By the way, I just realized I don’t even know your name!" Wei Song was practically buzzing with excitement at the thought of finally going to the Demon Fox Ruins.

"Lin Xuan," he introduced himself simply.

"So it’s Brother Lin! Let’s head out now!"

Wei Song led Lin Xuan toward the city gate. When Wei Jun saw them, his brow furrowed in displeasure, especially upon seeing his son walking alongside Lin Xuan.

"And where do you think you’re going this time?" Wei Jun demanded, his eyes scanning them up and down. His gaze lingered on Lin Xuan for a few extra moments. ’He just came in not too long ago, and now he’s heading back out? He sure is busy.’

They looked like they were heading out for a mission, but he had no idea which one.

"Old man, I’m heading out on a mission. Open the gate for us," Wei Song said with a smile, not daring to mention he was tackling the Demon Fox Ruins. It was one of the most difficult missions available, and he knew Wei Jun wouldn’t let him go without a powerful expert as an escort.

"What mission?!" Wei Jun’s eyes narrowed, his authoritative presence flaring up instantly. The glare alone was enough to make his son shrink back in fear.

"Just an ordinary one. We’ll be back soon," Wei Song said, forcing a smile. He still didn’t dare to meet his father’s eyes.

Just then, a nearby Guard came over and whispered something in Wei Jun’s ear. Wei Jun’s face turned to thunder. "What? You’re going to the Demon Fox Ruins? Just the two of you?"

"That... No way! We’re not going. That map was a fake. We’re going to go hunt a Gray Blood Bear now." Wei Song refused to admit they were heading to the Demon Fox Ruins. If he did, Wei Jun would never let them pass.

"Hunt a Gray Blood Bear, huh..." Wei Jun eyed him suspiciously for a moment before adding, "Stop taking on such difficult missions. They’re dangerous, your Cultivation isn’t high enough, and your group is too small. It’s easy for things to go wrong, you understand? Besides, the Demon Fox Ruins were picked clean long ago. There’s nothing left. I’ll go to the Task Hall later and have that pointless mission removed."

In the end, all of Wei Jun’s blustering was just a front for his worry. He only had one son. If something happened to him, it would be the tragedy of a parent outliving their child.

"I know, old man. We won’t go anywhere that dangerous," Wei Song said, patting his chest and lying through his teeth.

Wei Jun looked at Lin Xuan for a moment before giving him a piece of advice. "Be careful out there. It’s better to walk away than to push your luck. You only get one life."

"Understood, Uncle Wei." ’I was going to call him Brother Wei,’ Lin Xuan thought, ’but Uncle Wei is better. If Wei Song is calling me brother, it would mess up the seniority.’

Once they were outside the city gates, Lin Xuan glanced at Wei Song. "Your father really cares about you. Try not to take unnecessary risks if you can help it."

"I know, you only get one life... But I still want to make a name for myself. I don’t want to bring shame to my old man..." Wei Song sighed. It felt disgraceful for a grown man like him to have achieved nothing of note.

Throughout Unity City, Wei Jun had an excellent reputation. He had always kept the city gate secure, repelling numerous invasions from the Demon Race. He was practically a hero in Unity City.

When your father is a hero, you inevitably feel the pressure to achieve something yourself. As the saying goes, a tiger father won’t beget a dog of a son. But if he couldn’t accomplish anything, he felt he’d truly become that worthless son.