Danger Closing In

The Star Dou Great Forest could be called the most famous spirit beast forest in all of Douluo Dalu. Basically every soul master had heard of its great name.

Of course, many had only heard of it. Not everyone had actually been there.

Among the Shrek Academy students, only Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun had been to the Star Dou Great Forest. Oh, and Xiao Wu as well. She had stayed in the Star Dou Great Forest for nearly a hundred thousand years. In all of Douluo Dalu, there were probably very few who dared claim to know the Star Dou Great Forest better than she did. (In the original work, the Sky Azure Bull Python, Da Ming, once said that they had lived with Xiao Wu for nearly a hundred thousand years. So Xiao Wu really was around a hundred thousand years old, rather than merely having a cultivation of a hundred thousand years.)

However, aside from those four, the other three had never been to the Star Dou Great Forest.

Although the Star Dou Great Forest was highly suitable for soul masters hunting spirit rings, it was equally full of danger.

Thus, when low-level soul masters hunted spirit rings, they generally chose ordinary Soul Hunting Forests instead. Even Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, direct descendants of great clans, were no exception.

Therefore, after hearing that they would be going to the Star Dou Great Forest, Ning Rongrong and the others were all rather excited.

A day quickly passed. Early the next morning, after making their preparations, everyone gathered once more at the training grounds.

The vice dean of Shrek Academy, Zhao Wuji, was waiting for them there.

Unlike in the original timeline, due to the effects of various factors, Shrek Academy's group was setting out for the Star Dou Great Forest several months later.

As a result, the Shrek Academy students would not get to see Zhao Wuji's miserable state after Tang Hao beat him up.

Once all the students had arrived, Zhao Wuji gave a few simple instructions, then directly led the group toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

The Star Dou Great Forest lay southeast of the Balak Kingdom, with a small portion bordering the kingdom. Suotuo City itself was also in the southeast of the Balak Kingdom, less than five hundred li from the Star Dou Great Forest.

Moreover, everyone from Shrek Academy was a soul master, so they traveled quickly. In just one day, they had covered more than four hundred li.

As for safety along the way, with Zhao Wuji, a Soul Sage, keeping watch, there was no real problem.

Yet none of them knew that, at the very moment Zhao Wuji led the Shrek Academy students out through Suotuo City's gates—

A thin figure hurried into Suotuo City and arrived at a dilapidated courtyard.

"Commander, the people from Shrek Academy have left the city. It looks like they're heading for the Star Dou Great Forest," the hurried figure said as soon as he entered the courtyard.

Upon hearing this, a sleazy voice full of venom immediately rang out. "Good! After waiting so long, those little bastards from Shrek Academy have finally left the city."

"Lao E, Tian Ya, I want revenge! I want those little bastards to suffer a fate worse than death!"

"Bu Le, don't worry. The brothers will avenge you, but don't get too worked up. We should first find out what they're dealing with," the two middle-aged soul masters beside Bu Le hurriedly soothed him when they saw how agitated he was.

The two middle-aged men appeared to be around the same age as Bu Le, likely in their thirties or forties.

Like Bu Le, they looked exceptionally sleazy as well. The three of them standing together could be said to complement one another perfectly.

Under their calming words, Bu Le gradually settled down.

At the same time, Tian Ya, standing to Bu Le's right, questioned the subordinate who had come to report. "Rat, how many people left Shrek Academy? Were there any experts accompanying them?"

"Commander Tian Ya." The thin middle-aged man called Rat hurriedly replied, "There were eight people from Shrek Academy in total. Seven of them were students. Aside from them, there was one accompanying teacher—their academy's vice dean, Zhao Wuji."

"Zhao Wuji, huh?" Tian Ya nodded thoughtfully. "If there's only one Soul Sage, then we may not be without a chance to avenge Bu Le."

"Lao E, what do you think?" Tian Ya turned to Lao E, who was tall and burly but had an absurdly tiny pair of eyes.

"There's nothing to hesitate over. We agreed before that we'd avenge Bu Le. Since we've found an opportunity, let's do it!" Lao E declared firmly.

"Fine, then we'll do it!" Tian Ya made up his mind as well and said decisively, "Move out. Bu Le, you'll lead the team with me. Lao E, as we agreed before, go contact our people!"

As Tian Ya's words fell, the three quickly left the dilapidated courtyard.

Not long afterward, Bu Le and Tian Ya left Suotuo City with roughly several dozen soul masters.

As for E Kao, he did not act together with Bu Le and Tian Ya. After using Soul Spirit Avatar, he flapped his wings and left Suotuo City alone.

Because of Li Ang's existence, the fate of the three sleazy scoundrels had clearly changed as well.

After Li Ang founded the Black Beast Mercenary Group and established the Mercenary Kingdom, the Mercenary Guild's influence across Douluo Dalu had risen considerably.

As a result, quite a few soul masters were willing to throw themselves into the lucrative business of mercenary work.

Thinking that running a mercenary group had great prospects, the trio of sleazy scoundrels formed their own small mercenary group. They recruited several dozen soul masters of varying strength and established the Three Scoundrels Mercenary Group.

Speaking of which, the Three Scoundrels Mercenary Group had gained a bit of a reputation in Suotuo City.

Compared to the original timeline, the three were doing far better now. In Suotuo City, they could barely be considered men with both money and influence.

After Bu Le had been ambushed by Ma Hongjun and Xiao Wu, E Kao and Tian Ya had sworn to avenge their good brother.

Relying on the Three Scoundrels Mercenary Group's influence, the three soon followed the trail and discovered Xiao Wu and Ma Hongjun's identities.

However, getting revenge was not so easy.

Although Shrek Academy was a shabby, unofficial soul master academy that was not even recognized by the authorities, the experts within it were the real deal.

At present, Shrek Academy had three Soul Sages and two Soul Emperors stationed there. Against such a lineup, the Three Scoundrels Mercenary Group truly could not afford to provoke them.

If they went directly to cause trouble, they would very likely be taught a harsh lesson.

Therefore, although Bu Le was desperate for revenge, he could only choose to lie low for the time being and wait for an opportunity.