Entering the Soul Hunting Forest

Yu Xiaogang suddenly raised his head, turned his back, and slowly said, "Obtaining a permit is neither particularly difficult nor particularly easy."

"What's easy is that you only need Spirit Hall's approval. What's difficult is that you need at least three nobles to vouch for you. That is why ordinary people find it so hard to enter the Soul Hunting Forest."

"Those nobles are all the sort who eat people alive without spitting out the bones. Without enough money, there was no way they would vouch for you."

"But I'm different. I have my own connections. Look, what is this?"

A black token appeared in Yu Xiaogang's hand. It bore a sword, a hammer, and a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.

He continued, "This is a third-class permit from Spirit Hall. With it, you could basically travel unimpeded through the Soul Hunting Forests of the Heaven Dou Empire."

"Xiao San, carry our things. Let's set off. We'll first find a carriage in Nuoding City. Walking there would be far too exhausting. Li Chen, Xiao Wu, you two just follow me. Don't run around."

The four of them walked for quite a while before reaching Nuoding City's Carriage House.

Yu Xiaogang said to the owner, "Boss, we want to rent a carriage with a driver to take us to the Soul Hunting Forest in the Heaven Dou Empire. We'll need the driver to wait for us until we return. How much will it cost?"

The owner was a chubby middle-aged man with two small mustaches above his lip. Li Chen could tell at a glance that he was an exceedingly shrewd merchant.

"Oh, oh, oh! Lord Soul Master! Is Lord Soul Master going to hunt Soul Rings for these children?"

Yu Xiaogang's face darkened. "Why are you asking so many questions? Just tell me the price."

Seeing that he could not pry out any information, the owner said, "It's a little over four hundred kilometers from here to the Soul Hunting Forest. To take the four of you there, let's say two Gold Soul Coins."

"If you need to wait ten days, that's one Gold Soul Coin. If it takes longer, you'll have to pay extra. You can discuss that with the driver. The return trip will likewise cost two Gold Soul Coins."

Heaven have mercy, after Yu Xiaogang had bought all those supplies, he did not have much money left. As for why he had paid so much, it was naturally because everyone in Nuoding City knew Yu Xiaogang was a sucker.

So they all sold things to Yu Xiaogang at high prices. The same Cured Meat cost him three times as much. It was not that he had not considered buying from other stalls, but those stalls were just as expensive. He could not exactly go to another city, could he?

Yu Xiaogang's old face reddened. "Boss, it isn't easy for me to bring three children along. Could you lower the price a little?"

"Look, isn't that Yu Xiaogang? Nuoding City's big celebrity."

"Yes, yes, that's Yu Xiaogang. What is he doing here?"

"Yu Xiaogang? That sucker who likes sleeping naked?"

"Oh, so he's Yu Xiaogang. The boss probably doesn't know. He only recently took over."

"Yu Xiaogang actually came here. We have to fleece him properly. Have you told the boss?"

The middle-aged man heard the surrounding clerks whispering among themselves. He was new here and had only heard of Yu Xiaogang's great reputation, without recognizing him. Now that he learned this was Yu Xiaogang, there was no way he could let him go.

There was only one Carriage House in all of Nuoding City. If Yu Xiaogang wanted to ride in a carriage, he had no choice but to come to him.

"Oh, Master Yu, so it was you! Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I failed to recognize you, Master. Please don't take offense. All our most ordinary carriages have already been rented out."

"Ah, it was all because of my momentary oversight. I didn't keep track of the numbers properly. You see, we only have Luxury Carriages left now."

"For just twenty Gold Soul Coins, the driver can deliver you safely, and the driver will cover all your food and drink on the road. Our drivers are all level-ten Soul Masters, and the carriages aren't ordinary either. They are pulled by soul beasts, Sky Horn Horses. These horses have great endurance and pull carriages exceptionally smoothly."

"Oh, and Master Yu Xiaogang, if you rent our VIP Carriage, we can even arrange for beautiful level-twenty female Soul Masters to pull your carriage. It will definitely make you look impressive, Master. I dare guarantee that in all of Nuoding City—even in the larger Suotuo City—if Master Yu Xiaogang says one, no one would dare say two when it comes to having beautiful level-twenty female Soul Masters pull a carriage for you."

The middle-aged man smiled, revealing a look that said those who knew, knew. "Our drivers can also provide special services. As long as you have money, there is nothing they cannot do."

Yu Xiaogang seemed to think of something. "Beautiful female Soul Masters."

He was somewhat tempted, but after touching his wallet, he gave up on the idea. He truly did not have much money left, and he still had to save some to nourish Xiao San's body later.

"Boss, I'll just rent an ordinary carriage. I like keeping a low profile. I don't like being too flashy."

The owner's expression immediately fell. "An ordinary carriage? Fine. Fifteen Gold Soul Coins. That is your price, Master."

"Master, don't blame me. The whole of Nuoding City is like this. They say you are generous and charitable, never haggling over small matters. And you are a renowned Theory Master, so naturally your income cannot compare to that of common folk like us. Just take pity on us."

Yu Xiaogang paid the fifteen Gold Soul Coins with a livid face.

Two days later, the four of them finally arrived outside the Soul Hunting Forest. The place was bustling like an enormous town.

Just as in the original story, Yu Xiaogang once again displayed his vast knowledge before them and looked down on the Mercenary Groups around them seeking teammates.

"Tang San, as a control and Assault System Soul Master, you will definitely be the leader of a team in the future. Xiao Wu and Li Chen, if you two receive my guidance, you may achieve something as well. Joining Tang San's team should not be a problem. After all, you both possess Innate Full Soul Power."

Yu Xiaogang had rambled on and on the entire way, until Li Chen's head was about to explode.

The enforcement officer responsible for inspecting permits saw the three markings on it and immediately respectfully stepped aside, opening a passage.

Yu Xiaogang tugged down the hem of his clothes with both hands, then strode in with his head held high and his chest puffed out.

After entering the Soul Hunting Forest, Yu Xiaogang walked several more steps ahead, widening the distance between himself and them. Then he pressed his palms together and swiftly spread them downward.

"Come out, my martial soul, Luo San Pao!"

A plump creature that resembled both a pig and a dog stood before Yu Xiaogang, crying out, "Roar, roar!"

A bitter smile appeared on his face. "This is my martial soul, Luo San Pao. When I awakened my martial soul, Luo San Pao underwent an unfavorable mutation and became like this. That is why I could never break through level twenty-nine for the rest of my life."

"Although I have been held back by it, but—"

Yu Xiaogang's eyes flashed sharply as he stared fixedly at Tang San.