Two years later.
On the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Two figures appeared within this ancient forest that had existed for countless years.
One was older, with completely white hair and a faint smile on his face. He wore a casual long robe, stood tall and straight, and an aura as sharp as a battle blade inadvertently radiated from the Elder.
The other was a boy barely in his early teens. His expression was calm as he looked at the winged soul beast that had long since died on the ground.
The dead soul beast had an extremely distinctive form. It possessed the body of a lion, along with the head, beak, and wings of an eagle. Tawny feathers covered its neck and chest.
At that moment, a dazzling Purple Soul Ring floated above its body. Purple, a noble color, so captivating that one could not help but become immersed in it.
However, the sword blade embedded in the soul beast's body, gleaming with icy azure light, ruined that beauty.
Squelch!
The boy stepped forward, planted his foot on the Griffin's body, and yanked out the sword blade. Instantly, a large amount of blood burst from the Griffin's fatal wound.
The boy seemed to have been prepared. He slightly turned his head and avoided the spray of blood.
"This Griffin is around 2,900 years old. Can you endure it?" the Elder asked.
"Teacher, my two years of Attribute Body Refinement weren't for nothing." The boy watched blood spurt from the Griffin and replied with a smile.
The Elder and the boy were naturally Xiao Kuangdao and Qin Ze.
Xiao Kuangdao nodded. "Very well. I'll stand guard for you. Absorb the Soul Ring without worry."
"Thank you, Teacher!" Qin Ze nodded, then sat down cross-legged.
Still within the