First Spirit Ability—Imperial Sky Shocking Fist!

After passing through the market, the group finally arrived at the entrance to the Soul Hunting Forest.

Around the forest's perimeter stood an enormous ring of iron fencing, over ten meters tall.

Outside the fence, squads of soldiers clad in full iron armor and armed with spears patrolled back and forth.

"This is the Heaven Dou Empire's army, responsible for stopping intruders," Yu Xiaogang said in a low voice.

"Intruders?"

Tang San asked in confusion.

Seeing Tang San's bewildered expression, Zhou Chen raised an eyebrow and said, "Little San, if you built a pigpen and raised several hundred pigs, would you agree if someone came to slaughter them without paying you?"

"Of course not... Oh, I get it now." Tang San suddenly understood.

Hearing Zhou Chen's strange analogy, Yu Xiaogang and Marx exchanged glances, both at a loss for words.

"That's right. Only Spirit Masters with a warrant from Spirit Hall may enter the Soul Hunting Forest. There is also a Spirit Hall Enforcement Team in the forest that inspects every Spirit Master who enters."

As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang produced a token made up of three emblems: a sword, a hammer, and a dragon.

He then showed the token to the soldiers at the entrance and led everyone into the forest.

As soon as they entered, Yu Xiaogang summoned his martial soul, Luo Sanpao.

This little fellow was round and bouncy, resembling a guinea pig. Watching it hop around gave Zhou Chen a bit of amusement, like teasing a pet.

Marx also summoned his martial soul. As a level 42 Tool Soul Ancestor, his martial soul was the plant-type Ghost Vine.

In an instant, black vines marked with crimson patterns spread outward. Four soul rings—white, yellow, purple, and purple—rose from beneath his feet, dazzling in brilliance.

"Little San, we're about to head deeper into the forest. Stay between me and the dean; it'll be safer. As for Zhou Chen... do as you please."

Yu Xiaogang had originally wanted to remind Zhou Chen as well, but when he thought of Zhou Chen's terrifying soul rings and soul abilities... he could only shut his mouth awkwardly.

As they walked, Yu Xiaogang continued chattering away. "Little San, the maximum limit for a first soul ring is 423 years..."

"As for me, because of the traits of our Blue Lightning... family, I need a dragon-type soul beast. Also, the maximum limit for a third soul ring is 2,700 years. Marx, are you confident?"

He looked at his old friend of many years as he spoke.

Hearing this, Marx said gravely, "It'll be difficult. A soul beast over two thousand years old is already comparable to a Soul Ancestor."

"It's fine. We still have Zhou Chen."

Yu Xiaogang turned to Zhou Chen and asked expectantly, "If you join forces with Marx, there shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"I think Grandmaster and Dean Marx should join forces. I'll support you from the side."

With a smile, Zhou Chen kicked the ball right back. Did they really expect him, a six-year-old child, to be the main force?

That was impossible.

Besides, he was the boss, while Yu Xiaogang was his subordinate. What kind of sense did it make for the boss to fight while his subordinate reaped the benefits?

"That works too."

Yu Xiaogang said helplessly.

The group headed straight into the depths of the forest. Although they encountered over a dozen kinds of soul beasts along the way, none were suitable, so they could only drive them off.

Whenever they came across a soul beast that truly did not know its place, Yu Xiaogang and Marx dealt with it.

Zhou Chen kept both hands in his pockets the entire time, occasionally taking out a piece of fruit to munch on. He looked as though he had come sightseeing.

Soon, most of the day had passed, and evening was approaching.

"Wait, there's movement ahead."

Suddenly, Marx signaled everyone to stop and released his Ghost Vine to scout the way.

"Roar!"

The next second, accompanied by an angry roar, the scouting Ghost Vine was bitten apart. A soul beast roughly three meters long, with four eyes on its head and the form of a crocodile, crushed a patch of bushes as it appeared before them.

Its limbs were as thick as barrels, and its entire body was covered in black scales. Every scale was as thick and tough as a knight's plate armor.

"It's a Scaled Armor Beast."

Yu Xiaogang identified the soul beast at a glance. Then, somewhat embarrassed, he said, "Judging by its size, it should be around 2,500 years old, and it happens to possess a trace of dragon bloodline..."

Clearly, he wanted this soul beast.

"No problem. Then we'll deal with it. Dean Marx, Grandmaster, you hold it off from the front. I'll support from the side."

Zhou Chen spoke confidently while arranging everyone's roles perfectly.

Naturally, he had assigned himself the easiest task.

"Marx, the Scaled Armor Beast is immensely strong and has astonishing defenses. We must go all out."

Yu Xiaogang gave a reminder, then turned to Zhou Chen and said, "If we can't take it down, we may have to use your First Spirit Ability."

"Mm."

Zhou Chen nodded. He had not come here just to stand around. When it was time to act, he would naturally act.

"Sanpao, attack!"

Grandmaster's first soul ring lit up as he shouted, "A fart like thunder, Luo Sanpao shatters heaven and earth!"

"Roar!"

Luo Sanpao growled lowly, its body expanding at an astonishing speed like a rapidly inflating ball.

Seeing this, Zhou Chen immediately grabbed Tang San and retreated, fleeing dozens of meters in one breath. What a joke—why stay and wait to get gassed?

Like in the original plot, what the hell could a face mask do?

"Pfft!"

Luo Sanpao suddenly bounced five meters into the air. With a thunderous boom, a cloud of thick yellow gas erupted from its rear, blasting the Scaled Armor Beast into the air!

Marx seized the opportunity to attack. In order to seriously injure the Scaled Armor Beast in one strike, he activated all four soul abilities at once, determined to cripple it immediately!

In an instant, countless black Ghost Vines with crimson patterns grew longer and thicker. Some rapidly wrapped around the Scaled Armor Beast's limbs and neck;

Some transformed into sharp arrows and shot toward the Scaled Armor Beast;

The rest contained paralyzing toxins, seeking to poison the Scaled Armor Beast into collapse.

However, the Scaled Armor Beast's scales were simply too thick and hard. Amid a series of crisp "clang, clang, clang" sounds, most of the Ghost Vines were deflected!

Only the Ghost Vines wrapped around the Scaled Armor Beast managed to temporarily restrain its movements.

Yet in the very next second, the Scaled Armor Beast broke free from the vines' restraint and charged toward Marx like a tank!

Marx's pupils instantly contracted. He had not expected his soul abilities to be ineffective against this creature!

At this moment, he could only unleash the Binding soul ability once more, trying to hinder the Scaled Armor Beast's movements.

However, before the immensely powerful Scaled Armor Beast, it was still useless!

As for Yu Xiaogang's soul ability, aside from gassing the Scaled Armor Beast and making it even angrier, it was even more useless.

"Xiao Gang, we can't beat it. Take the children and go, quickly!"

Marx retreated rapidly, his face dark.

However, Yu Xiaogang remained unmoved. He turned to Zhou Chen and said, "I'll have to trouble you."

"No matter. Move aside, all of you, so you aren't caught in it."

Not far away, Zhou Chen spoke calmly as a brilliant golden soul ring slowly rose from beneath his feet!

The next second, the golden soul ring erupted with light, enveloping his entire body and turning him into a golden humanoid silhouette!

"First Spirit Ability—Imperial Sky... Shocking Fist!"