Epic Suihua, Chrysanthemum Douluo

"Epic Grade?"

Xiao Ze sensed Suihua's quality and was a little surprised.

A single Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone could only raise it to Epic Grade?

The Legendary and Mythical Grades beyond that would likely be even harder to reach.

Xiao Ze discovered that the Excellent and Fine Grades were relatively easy to improve.

But from Epic Grade onward, the difficulty increased enormously, requiring far more resources.

That was because reaching Epic Grade marked a major improvement. Every advancement granted something new, and the crops' effects became exceptionally good as well.

Suihua now possessed four major skills and one Domain.

This Domain was one of Suihua's improvements upon reaching Epic Grade.

Domain: Thousand Layered Rice Waves

This Domain possessed three major effects in total.

Effect 1: The ground within the Domain transformed into liquid rice paddies. When enemies moved, they fell into the "Muddy Foot" state (speed reduced by 40%).

Effect 2: Allies gained the "Bountiful Harvest" mark: attacks carried the "Awn Thorn" effect (15% armor penetration); when injured, there was a chance to trigger "Rice Husk Guard" (negating 30% of damage); skill activation speed increased by 20%.

Effect 3: Rice ears falling from the sky ripened and burst, dealing area damage. Ten percent of the final damage was converted into permanent shields and distributed among allied forces within the Domain.

The Domain's effects were highly supportive.

Suihua was an Agricultural Sprite specialized in support.

It had slowing, healing, shields, armor penetration, and more.

It could be considered a rather versatile support.

Suihua's combat strength was not particularly strong, but neither was it weak. As it was now, defeating a Soul Grandmaster would be easy enough.

Having advanced, Suihua was extremely excited. It immediately went to its three plots of land and scattered its Soul Power over them.

It let its Soul Power seep into the farmland, allowing its crops to begin evolving.

The rice had happened to ripen, and Xiao Ze saw that the ordinary grains had all turned blue-gold, crystalline and translucent, exceptionally beautiful.

This rice should be called Blue Silver Crystal Rice.

There was no need to say more about its effects—they would definitely be several times better than the original rice.

Leaving Suihua to work, Xiao Ze took the Blue Silver Emperor and left through the portal.

Principal Xiao watched him emerge with a Blue Silver Grass, utterly baffled.

"What exactly is this child doing? Forget it. I'm getting old—I can't understand what children are thinking anymore."

After leaving the waterfall, Xiao Ze headed for the Star Dou Great Forest.

Although the Star Dou Great Forest was dangerous, it contained countless Soul Beasts. There would surely be a Life System Soul Beast that he needed.

Holy Soul Village was quite far from the Star Dou Great Forest. Even by carriage, it took Xiao Ze several days to get there.

There were many people around the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Most of them were Soul Masters who had come to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain Soul Rings.

There were also many markets outside the Star Dou Great Forest.

Some Soul Masters made their Gold Soul Coins by guiding others to obtain Soul Rings.

Others sold the corpses of Soul Beasts.

As for Soul Bones, there was no way they would be found here.

If one did appear, it would not be bought—it would simply be snatched.

Soul Bones were generally sent to the Auction House. The Auction House had royal backing, making it much safer.

Xiao Ze entered the Star Dou Great Forest directly.

It immediately felt as though he had entered another world.

Countless trees blotted out the sky. Their branches intertwined like a barrier, blocking the sunlight overhead.

Only a little sunlight could filter down through the gaps in the leaves.

As a result, the light within the Star Dou Great Forest was extremely dim.

The air was not much better, mixed with the scents of Soul Beasts and blood.

Clearly, the environment of the Star Dou Great Forest was far from pleasant.

Xiao Ze headed toward the Outer Circle.

The Star Dou Great Forest was divided into five regions.

The Edge Zone, the Outer Circle, the Mixed Circle, the Core Circle, and finally, the Lake of Life.

Most of the Soul Beasts in the Edge Zone were hundred-year Soul Beasts. There were Thousand Year Soul Beasts as well, but only a few.

Most importantly, the Edge Zone had the greatest number of soul masters.

Within the Star Dou Great Forest, soul beasts were not the most terrifying thing. Soul masters were.

The human heart was the hardest thing to predict.

Hadn't Meng Yiran's soul beast been stolen in the original story?

If Meng Yiran's grandparents had not been a Soul Emperor and a Soul Saint, she might not even have gotten the chance to duel Tang San before her soul beast was taken.

So he had to be careful—extra careful.

Looking around and seeing no one, Xiao Ze slowly made his way to the Outer Circle.

The moment he arrived at the Outer Circle, Xiao Ze heard the roars of many soul beasts.

The Outer Circle had the largest number of soul beasts.

Both Hundred Year and Thousand Year Soul Beasts were mixed among them.

Xiao Ze searched for a long time but failed to find a suitable soul beast.

He came beneath a massive tree and leaned against it.

Suddenly, the sounds of a battle between a soul master and a soul beast rang out nearby.

Curious, Xiao Ze headed over. Still, he remained extremely cautious and hid behind a massive tree to watch.

He saw an enchanting woman fighting a Thousand Year fox-type soul beast.

The woman's long black hair cascaded down her back, and her face was gorgeous and radiant. Her alluring eyes were slightly upturned at the corners, seeming to smile without smiling, carrying a soul-stirring charm.

Her nose bridge was high, her lips full and naturally crimson, delicate and enticing, seducing everyone at every moment.

As for her figure, it was so voluptuous it took one's breath away.

She wore a tight pink crop top, its thin fabric clinging to her skin and vividly outlining her curves.

Round shoulders, delicate collarbones, full breasts.

Every part of her was so alluring.

She wore matching pink hot pants below, revealing long stretches of jade-white thighs without a trace of excess flesh.

Most importantly, she had a fox tail behind her.

"Fox tail, and that face, that aura... could it be..."

Just as Xiao Ze was making his guess, a hand suddenly landed on his back.

Gah!

Xiao Ze spun around sharply and saw a man with smooth skin and an enchanting appearance.

The moment he saw him, Xiao Ze understood everything.

The woman inside was Hu Liena, one of the Three Fools of the Martial Soul Hall.

"Young man, what are you doing here?" Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at Xiao Ze, his fingers pinched in an orchid gesture.

Xiao Ze gave an awkward smile. "Your Excellency, I heard the sounds of battle here, so I came over to take a look."

"Your Excellency? You know me?" Chrysanthemum Douluo was slightly surprised.

"With such an enchanting appearance and noble bearing, I think only Chrysanthemum Douluo of the Martial Soul Hall could possess them." Though Xiao Ze appeared calm, his heartbeat had already quickened.

This was a Title Douluo. One slap was all it would take to kill him.

Chrysanthemum Douluo chuckled twice. "Young man, you are quite interesting. Your Soul Power isn't low either. Would you like to join the Martial Soul Hall?"

"Your Excellency, the Martial Soul Hall is wonderful. But I want to participate in the Soul Master Tournament. At the Martial Soul Academy, I wouldn't even rank among the best." Xiao Ze deliberately let out a bitter laugh.

"That is true. Do as you please." Chrysanthemum Douluo had merely mentioned it casually; he simply found Xiao Ze interesting.

"Then... is that your elder?" Chrysanthemum Douluo pointed behind a huge tree.

"Your Excellency." Principal Xiao stepped out.

"Grandpa Xiao, why are you here?"

"Because I was worried about you, of course."