Grandmaster? Mere Trash.

"Ding! Tang San's trust in the Heavenly Dao Ranking has dropped to its lowest point. Reward: Wings of Light External Soul Bone *1, Storm Pear Blossom Needle *1, God-Given Soul Ring *2, Limit Douluo Summoning Card *1."

Luo Chuan strolled over, leaving behind the terrified people from Barack Academy.

"Looks like undermining Tang San earns more rewards after all. I'm looking forward to the Heavenly Ranking's next list so I can fleece it again."

Luo Chuan felt expectant as he roughly grasped the system's reward rules. In other words, the "wool" matched the "sheep," and the rewards were more suitable for the sheep themselves.

But!

Once the rewards landed in Luo Chuan's hands, wouldn't it be up to him how to use them?

He had no use for things like Tiger Essence Pills, but he could give them to Flender. Flender was old and frail; after taking things further with Liu Erlong and engaging in some deep exchanges, he would definitely need this stuff.

"Do you understand now?" On the tavern's second floor, Flender and Yu Xiaogang appeared by the window. They had witnessed Luo Chuan's battle with Shi Dalong in its entirety.

Yu Xiaogang's expression was grave, his brows furrowed deeply, yet he still shook his head. "I've never seen this kind of martial soul, and there's no record of it in the books. But if you let me study—"

Before Yu Xiaogang could finish, Flender slammed the window shut with a bang. "Xiao Chuan is someone I raised from childhood. He's more than just my disciple. Xiaogang, let the matter of Xiao Chuan end here. He's always had his own mind since he was young, and he doesn't need your guidance!"

Flender was truly angry this time. You didn't understand a damn thing and only knew how to talk about research. Was cultivation something for you to study?

Luo Chuan's path was steady; he did not need Yu Xiaogang meddling in it. Flender no longer cared about their brotherhood. When it came to Luo Chuan, he would never compromise.

Yu Xiaogang frowned. "You don't believe me? No one in this world can match my theories."

"Your theories, your theories—do you really think your theories are that impressive? Where did they come from? Don't you know perfectly well? Don't bring this up again! And I don't want you using your connection to me to harass Xiao Chuan anymore.

"If you want to prove yourself, Tang San is more than enough for you."

Flender turned and returned to his room, leaving Yu Xiaogang standing in the corridor with a dark expression.

"I will prove myself!" Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists tightly, doing his best to suppress the humiliation and anger in his heart. He still had to remain at Shrek. Shrek had gathered too many gifted talents; he could not leave.

Even if Luo Chuan and the others refused his guidance, as long as he kept a position there and pushed Tang San forward, he could still prove that his theories were correct.

That night, in the girls' room, Zhu Zhuqing tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

"Zhuqing? What's wrong?" Ning Rongrong suddenly sat up and looked at Zhu Zhuqing with her big eyes. The little girl was not sleepy either and was full of energy.

Zhu Zhuqing pulled the blankets tighter around herself, her voice somewhat tense as she worried that her thoughts would be seen through. "Nothing. I'm just not used to it yet. I'll fall asleep soon."

Zhu Zhuqing closed her eyes, her cheeks slightly flushed. The room was pitch-black, so Ning Rongrong could not see her expression and did not suspect anything.

But Xiao Wu suddenly spoke up. "Hehe, Zhuqing, don't tell me you can't sleep because Luo Chuan isn't here?"

Xiao Wu truly lived up to the name Rogue Rabbit—her way of thinking was absurdly open!

Zhu Zhuqing was deeply embarrassed and hurriedly explained, "How could that be? I-I wouldn't be unaccustomed to it because of him."

Xiao Wu did not mind and continued, "That's perfectly normal. Xiao San and I slept together when we were little too. After we grew up and separated, I wasn't used to it either."

"N-No. Luo Chuan only stays in my room. He—he sleeps on the floor. I would never let him sleep with me."

Zhu Zhuqing continued to argue, but her stammering voice was hardly convincing.

Ning Rongrong said nothing more, seemingly lost in thought. Xiao Wu did not ask any more questions either, and the night passed without further conversation.

Early the next morning, everyone set out again. Luo Chuan noticed that Yu Xiaogang did not look well, while Flender's attitude toward Yu Xiaogang was clearly worse than it had been yesterday.

Luo Chuan did not care about that. What kind of person was Yu Xiaogang? Hypocritical, incompetent, cowardly. In short, he was trash.

The farther away from someone like that, the better.

Upon arriving at the Star Dou Great Forest, even the air became pleasantly refreshing. It was as though the temperature had dropped by several degrees; the cool air carried the fragrant scent of damp earth, soothing the heart and mind.

"Everyone, stop!" Flender waved his hand, and the group came to a halt.

The sun had already risen. They had run a hundred li, yet it had only taken them two hours.

"Once we enter the Star Dou Great Forest, all of you need to stay sharp. This isn't a soul beast forest raised by the state. A powerful soul beast could leap out from anywhere and take your lives in an instant.

"Therefore, after entering the Star Dou Great Forest, no one is allowed to stray more than twenty meters from Zhao Wuji and me. Oscar and Ning Rongrong must stand between the two of us.

"Without my orders, no one is to attack any soul beast. Understood?"

"Understood."

The group answered. Oscar quickly chanted his soul incantation and produced one large sausage after another to restore Soul Power, along with detoxifying sausages. He gave a lewd grin. "Eat some and keep some in reserve. Don't be polite. Hehe."

No one was particularly repulsed by this. Aside from Luo Chuan, everyone took the sausages. It was always better to be prepared.

"Xiao Chuan~, you're looking down on me~" Oscar's pitiful expression was nauseating.

Luo Chuan sent him flying with a kick. "Get lost. I don't need them."

Luo Chuan's Soul Power was abundant, and he was immune to all poisons. Oscar's sausages were completely useless to him.

Zhao Wuji glanced at the group before saying to Dai Mubai, "Mubai, lead the way!"

The Star Dou Great Forest was thick with vegetation, which grew at an astonishing rate. Although many soul masters came here to obtain soul rings, they were not enough to leave behind any paths.

At his words, Dai Mubai stepped forward. Whenever they encountered dense shrubs, he used Martial Soul Possession to clear a path for the group.

They advanced quickly. With two Soul Saints guarding them, they did not need to be overly tense in this outer region.

This was not Luo Chuan's first visit to the Star Dou Great Forest. His first nine soul rings had all been obtained here, so this was his third time coming. Even so, Luo Chuan did not dare let down his guard. Who knew which nook or cranny of the Star Dou Great Forest might conceal some sinister little creature waiting to strike him?

Xiao Wu, on the other hand, was the most relaxed of them all, as though she had returned home.

"Stop!" Yu Xiaogang, who had been walking near the front, suddenly raised a hand. Though everyone was puzzled, they still halted.

"There are soul beasts ahead. We'll take a detour." Yu Xiaogang glanced over the surrounding terrain and spoke directly.

"Alright." Flender's gaze was sharp. For such a minor matter, he still trusted Yu Xiaogang.

Hearing Flender carry out his order without hesitation, Yu Xiaogang immediately straightened his back a little.

Dai Mubai looked somewhat confused, but since Flender had already given the order, he still led them around by another route.

The group continued onward for over two hours. It was nearly noon, yet they still had not encountered a single thousand-year soul beast.

However, as they ventured deeper, the hundred-year soul beasts they encountered became more numerous, while ten-year soul beasts were almost nowhere to be seen.