Entering Star Dou

The Star Dou Great Forest was nearly half a month's journey from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy, but with teachers leading the way, the trip was much faster.

This time, the students were accompanied on their field training by an elder from Mingdetang, a Titled Douluo, and two Soul Douluo.

They were entering an enemy's territory. Although arrangements had been made beforehand, they still had to remain on guard.

The homeroom teachers of two classes were also accompanying the students to the Star Dou Great Forest. Since Class B had an assistant homeroom teacher, a total of six teachers were escorting the students on this training expedition.

The Mingdetang elder appeared exceedingly aloof. He scarcely spoke along the way, keeping a stern face as he silently pondered something.

They traveled along small paths to avoid wasting time entering cities, striving to reach the Star Dou Great Forest as quickly as possible.

That day, they could vaguely see the dense forest in the distance, seemingly fused with the sky.

Before the forest stood an old man and a young woman.

It was as if they had been waiting for their arrival.

Xue Xiao Ran's eyes narrowed as he recognized the middle-aged man. He was the one who had struck up a conversation with him at Shrek Academy before.

If he remembered correctly, his name was Yan Shaozhe.

The veiled young woman beside him had fiery red hair and an aura somewhat similar to Yan Yuyan's.

They were both fire-element Soul Masters.

Xue Xiao Ran murmured inwardly.

The elder leading the group stepped forward and nodded to Yan Shaozhe.

Yan Shaozhe returned the gesture.

Though the two sides were rivals, proper etiquette could not be neglected.

"How many students have come this time?" Yan Shaozhe asked mildly.

The Mingdetang elder cupped his fists. "One hundred and twenty."

"One hundred and twenty students? The Star Dou Great Forest is vast. Be careful."

There was no mockery in Yan Shaozhe's tone, only a calm warning. Even Shrek Academy would not dare bring so many students into the Star Dou Great Forest.

"And you?" the elder asked.

"Our students come from three classes, one hundred and four in total."

Yan Shaozhe smiled faintly and extended his hand. "A pleasant cooperation."

The Mingdetang elder snorted inwardly and replied in a muffled voice, "A pleasant cooperation."

The two academies had taken this opportunity to train their students' wilderness survival skills and ability to hunt soul rings. Competition naturally existed, but the teachers of both academies would not interfere. What they could do—and what they should do—was protect the students when they fell into danger.

It seemed that Yan Shaozhe was leading Shrek Academy's side.

The Mingdetang elder cupped his fists again, then returned to the group and nodded to the two Soul Douluo.

"Remember, if you don't want to die, do not enter the center of the Star Dou Great Forest." The elder said only that before falling silent once more.

"From this moment onward, the two-week wilderness survival course begins!"

As soon as the words fell, the students rushed into the Star Dou Great Forest in groups.

Xue Xiao Ran's group lagged behind. He simply could not muster the enthusiasm to charge into the forest at once, and instead walked toward the Star Dou Great Forest at his usual leisurely pace.

As he passed Yan Shaozhe, he bowed in a junior's salute and greeted him.

Xiao Hong Chen, Meng Hong Chen, Yan Yuyan, and Yu Ling Lin immediately followed.

Yan Shaozhe watched Xue Xiao Ran's departing back, a trace of regret in his eyes. In the end, he had still entered the Sun Moon Royal Academy.

And from the look of things, he had clearly become the leader among the students.

Shrek Academy's new generation was lacking a leader like him. All he could say was that life rarely went as one wished.

The red-haired woman beside him opened her eyes, her crimson pupils fixed doubtfully on Xue Xiao Ran's retreating figure.

"What is it, Xiaotao?" Yan Shaozhe asked.

"From that young man, I sensed an aura that could calm my flames, an aura that made me feel comfortable. But it vanished in an instant. Was it just an illusion?"

Ma Xiaotao murmured, her voice carrying a trace of uncertainty.

"Something that can calm your flames? You mean he has an ice attribute, an extreme attribute capable of suppressing you at the martial soul level?"

Yan Shaozhe's pupils contracted. If that were true, Shrek Academy would have to kidnap Xue Xiao Ran into their academy no matter what.

"Perhaps I sensed it wrong. That aura only appeared for an instant." Ma Xiaotao shook her head, though a trace of doubt remained in her beautiful eyes.

"Keep a close watch on him over the next few days. If this is true, spare no cost to keep him at Shrek."

"I mean, spare no cost."

Yan Shaozhe spoke indifferently, then vanished in an instant.

Xue Xiao Ran stepped into the Star Dou Great Forest for the first time and could not help sighing with emotion.

He had nearly been baked stupid under the sun these past few days. As expected, it was much cooler beneath the shade of great trees.

He saw several students still lingering ahead, discussing how they could survive for two weeks in the vast Star Dou Great Forest.

"Xiao Ran." The Ice Empress's voice suddenly sounded in his Sea of Consciousness.

He had now opened up a small portion of his Sea of Consciousness. Although he still could not see much within it, the Ice Empress's voice had become much clearer.

"What is it?" Xue Xiao Ran asked.

"That red-haired woman's martial soul is extremely close to Extreme Fire. I sensed it from far away," the Ice Empress said calmly.

"Then I'll stay away from her in the future." Xue Xiao Ran nodded. He did not want his Extreme Ice martial soul exposed so soon, and he possessed an instinctive aversion to the fire element.

It was not that he disliked fire-element Soul Masters. Even though he had learned flame techniques from Uncle Ma Hongjun and Sister Lie Yan, ice and fire were biologically incompatible.

"Be careful. If she finds out, she might forcibly kill you. You are the only one who can threaten her."

"Thank you, Ice Empress."

Xue Xiao Ran smiled.

"W-who needs your thanks? I-I'm only thinking about my own future. I just don't want you to die like this."

Hearing the Ice Empress's tsundere voice, Xue Xiao Ran smiled faintly.

"Xue Xiao Ran, what do we do next?" Xiao Hong Chen asked, spreading his hands.

The five of them were gathered at the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest and had yet to enter it.

Xue Xiao Ran considered for a moment before saying, "First, explore an area and find somewhere we can stay. It would be best if there's a water source nearby. We'll decide the rest afterward."

Everything he said came from the experience of his uncles and aunts.

"Understood." The other four nodded.

They unfurled their movement techniques, began circulating their Soul Power, and set off on the first day of their journey.

"If my estimate is correct, Shrek Academy's students should be on the other side of the Star Dou Great Forest. We won't run into them anytime soon." After leaping over a thick tree trunk and avoiding a hunting group of ten-year Wind Baboons, Xue Xiao Ran spoke quietly to the others.

"Xiao Hong Chen, your soul ring..."

"Let's talk about it after we're all settled in. Besides, we aren't familiar with the Star Dou Great Forest yet." Xiao Hong Chen gave a bitter smile.

"Alright."

A pair of Jade Eyes glimmered with a faint green light beneath the forest's cover.

On the far side of the forest, a pair of pink-blue eyes blinked as well.