Setting Out for Star Dou, Seeking a Soul Beast

Sensing that Su He had arrived, an old man clad in a crocodile-patterned robe with golden trim instantly appeared at his side. It was none other than Golden Crocodile Douluo.

Golden Crocodile Douluo's aura was immensely deep and restrained. Unless one was an expert of the same rank, it would be impossible to sense the formidable level-98 soul power within his body. He was undoubtedly the foremost beneath the three Peerless Douluo!

"Come. I'll take you to obtain your first soul ring. We'll head directly to the Star Dou Great Forest." Golden Crocodile Douluo spoke, then looked Su He over in surprise. With his discerning eye, he could naturally see that Su He's body had undergone earth-shaking changes overnight, utterly different from before.

"Teacher, doesn't our Spirit Hall have a Soul Hunting Forest? Why aren't we going there?" Su He asked in confusion. As the holy land of the Spirit Master world, Spirit Hall naturally had its own Soul Hunting Forest, filled with Hundred-Year Soul Beasts whose cultivation ages were strictly controlled by powerful experts.

"The Soul Beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest are generally around a hundred years old. Their cultivation age is quite suitable for you, but their quality is indeed mediocre. If you want a high-quality soul ring, you can only search for one in a wild Soul Beast forest," Golden Crocodile Douluo explained.

The two arrived at the transportation hub reserved for Spirit Hall elders. Seeing Golden Crocodile Douluo, a coachman hurriedly bowed. "Your Excellency, young master, please board."

The horses pulling the carriage were no ordinary steeds, but two Hundred-Year Flame-tailed Horse Soul Beasts. Yet despite being Soul Beasts, they had become virtually harmless under human domestication. This made Su He begin contemplating the possibility of peaceful coexistence between humans and Soul Beasts.

I wonder if the Soul Spirit Method proposed in the Original Work's second Douluo story can be developed, Su He thought. At that moment, the system's voice suddenly rang out in his mind.

Stage Mission 1 has been issued. Please complete it promptly.

Stage Mission One: Reach level 10 soul power and obtain your first soul ring, becoming a one-ring Soul Master and taking your first step toward becoming a powerhouse.

Note: The soul ring's cultivation age must not be lower than 500 years.

Mission Reward: Soul Power Level +1, Movement Technique: Explosive Step.

Not a bad reward, Su He thought. A movement technique like this is equivalent to a Self-Created Soul Skill on the Douluo Plane. With it, one's combat methods can become more diverse instead of being limited solely to the soul skills granted by soul rings.

The Flame-tailed Horses truly lived up to their status as Hundred-Year Soul Beasts. A journey that would ordinarily take an entire day took only a little over half a day, and they soon arrived at the entrance to the Star Dou Great Forest. The coachman respectfully cupped his hands in farewell, and Su He followed Golden Crocodile Douluo into this largest gathering place of Soul Beasts on the continent.

The Star Dou Great Forest was a place filled with stories. Many of the Original Work's most exciting events had taken place here. Su He clearly remembered its description: any Soul Master with sufficient strength and good fortune could find the soul ring best suited to them in the Star Dou Great Forest. It held great opportunities shared by both Soul Beasts and Soul Masters, a perilous place where the jungle law of the strong devouring the weak was played out to the utmost extreme.

Golden Crocodile Douluo now led Su He slowly through the forest. The invisible pressure he radiated drove all the surrounding Ten-Year Soul Beasts far away. This was the oppressive presence of a level-98 Peak Douluo.

"Xiao He, you possess Innate Full Soul Power, and your physique is also quite strong." Golden Crocodile Douluo said, "For your first soul ring, we should prioritize a power-type Soul Beast over four hundred years old." Suddenly, he retracted his aura completely. "Ahead is the area inhabited by Hundred-Year Soul Beasts. Conceal your presence and don't startle them. We'll select a suitable Soul Beast to serve as your soul ring."

The two spent One Shichen walking through the area frequented by Hundred-Year Soul Beasts. By then, evening was approaching. The sun had already set, leaving only faint twilight to illuminate the earth.

At that moment, a herd of Iron Horned Oxen entered their sight. They were taking turns drinking beside a pond.

"Iron Horned Oxen can be considered typical power-type Soul Beasts. Let me check their cultivation ages," Golden Crocodile Douluo said. "The lead ox has bright silver horns, clearly indicating a cultivation of over a thousand years. There are also five Hundred-Year Iron Horned Oxen in the herd, with two of them being around four hundred years old." He then turned to seek Su He's opinion, since this was, after all, about adding a soul ring for Su He.

"Teacher, we can mark this herd's location first. If we truly can't find a better choice, we can return here," Su He suggested. He did not want to settle when choosing his soul ring. If he was going to look, he would look for the best!

"That would indeed be for the best." Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded in agreement, then led Su He deeper into the forest. They continued onward for another half a shichen. As they neared the habitat of Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, Golden Crocodile Douluo suddenly slowed down.

"Three thousand meters to the front left, Soul Beasts are fighting," he warned.

Su He's gaze sharpened at those words. He immediately followed his Teacher's footsteps, advancing while concealing his aura. As they drew closer, the sounds of the Soul Beasts' battle grew louder and louder, with trees constantly being snapped in half.

When the two arrived, the battlefield finally came into view. Two Silver Moon Saber-toothed Tigers, each roughly three meters long, were fighting a huge Dark Golden Giant Bear. There were subtle differences in the appearances of the Silver Moon Saber-toothed Tigers, and one could vaguely tell they were a mated pair. Judging a tiger-type Soul Beast's cultivation by its body length, they were likely around four hundred years old.

Silver Moon Saber-toothed Tigers were already top-tier Soul Beasts. What exactly was that Dark Golden Giant Bear, that it could fight two tigers alone?

"Teacher, this fierce bear's dark golden fur is impervious to damage. Could it be the legendary Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear?" Su He's voice was full of excitement. If it truly was a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, one of the apex existences among Soul Beasts, then he had truly struck it lucky today.

"It is not." Golden Crocodile Douluo said, "Look closely. Although this bear is clad in an indestructible golden hide, its claws are comparatively short. This should be a Dark Gold Direbear, a subordinate Soul Beast of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear. Judging by its cultivation age, it should be around seven hundred years old. Otherwise, it could not fight two Silver Moon Saber-toothed Tigers alone. Though it is a subordinate Soul Beast of the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, bear-type Soul Beasts are already exceptionally strong. Combined with its impervious hide, those two Silver Moon Saber-toothed Tigers will soon die beneath its claws. Later, you can choose one of the saber-toothed tigers and absorb its soul ring. Its cultivation age is just right as well."

"Teacher, I want to absorb the soul ring of this Dark Gold Direbear." After thinking for a moment, Su He spoke in a deep voice. "It will be difficult to encounter such a rare power-type Soul Beast again. I believe my physique is enough to withstand its soul ring."

"You must think this through. Spirit Hall has never had a precedent of anyone absorbing a seven-hundred-year first soul ring." Golden Crocodile Douluo said gravely. "If you cannot withstand this soul ring, how am I supposed to explain it to your grandfather?"

"Teacher, I believe you can see that my physique far surpasses that of ordinary children my age. I once read in an ancient text in the library that the criterion for absorbing soul rings is whether one's physical condition meets the standard." Su He looked at Golden Crocodile Douluo, his gaze unwavering. "I can definitely absorb this Dark Gold Direbear's soul ring. Teacher, please believe me."

"Very well..." Seeing his disciple so resolute, Golden Crocodile Douluo ultimately chose to trust him. In the next instant, he flashed forward and, in a few swift moves, directly subdued the Soul Beast that had been so imposing just moments before.

Su He steadied himself, gripped his dagger, and stepped forward...