Entering the Star Dou, the Auspicious Beast's Home Turf!

"Okay."

Su Bai nodded and casually ruffled her hair.

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing followed at the side, the two of them also quietly discussing what they were going to eat later.

This leisurely, relaxed scene formed a stark contrast with Tang San and the other four, who had just run over from the dirt road covered in dust, their faces full of exhaustion.

Ma Hongjun's stomach let out an uncooperative growl. He swallowed and muttered quietly to Oscar.

"We're all here to hunt for soul rings, so why is the difference this huge? They're basically here for an outing."

Oscar said nothing. He merely looked at the brilliant smile on Ning Rongrong's face, feeling a tight blockage in his chest.

Dai Mubai silently turned his head away, refusing to look at that glaring scene.

Tang San's face was hidden in shadow, his expression unclear.

Flender and Zhao Wuji exchanged a glance. All they could do was smile bitterly.

Early the next morning, the Shrek group gathered in a grand procession at the hotel entrance.

Flender and Zhao Wuji had also booked a room last night, but to save money, they had squeezed in with Dai Mubai and the others. They had not rested well, and there was still a hint of fatigue beneath their eyes.

Su Bai's side, however, was refreshed and full of energy.

What disappointed Su Bai somewhat was that even by the time they were ready to set out, the people from Blue Sunshine Academy still had not appeared.

It seemed those unlucky fellows from Blue Sunshine Academy had missed their "fate" with Tang San this time.

That's fine too. Saves trouble, Su Bai thought to himself.

The group soon arrived at the entrance of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Towering ancient trees blocked out the sky and sun, and the air was filled with the damp scent of humus. All kinds of unknown beast roars faintly drifted over from the depths of the forest, carrying a unique sense of oppression.

"Stay sharp, all of you!"

Flender hovered in midair, sternly warning everyone.

"This place isn't the Soul Fighting Arena. A single moment of carelessness could cost you your lives!"

Zhao Wuji stretched his muscles and bones, standing at the very rear of the group to cover the back.

Dai Mubai, Tang San, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun walked at the very front, forming the first scouting line.

Su Bai, meanwhile, brought the three girls along at an unhurried pace behind them.

"Brother Bai, it's so stuffy here."

Ning Rongrong had only walked a few steps before she began complaining softly.

This was Ning Rongrong's first time entering the Star Dou Great Forest today. In the past, when she hunted for soul rings, it had always been in the Seven Treasure Forest near the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect or in Sunset Forest. The pressure of the Star Dou Great Forest was indeed far stronger than the Seven Treasure Forest.

"Just treat it as exercise."

Su Bai smiled and reached out to pinch her puffed-up cheeks.

"If you keep complaining, when we catch a Spirit Beast later, you won't get a share."

Ning Rongrong immediately shut her mouth, but she still puffed out her cheeks in defiance.

Ma Hongjun, who was walking in front, heard the commotion and glanced back, then quietly complained to Oscar.

"Little Ao, look at that. How is this hunting for soul rings? This is clearly an emperor taking his consorts out of the palace on a tour."

Oscar sighed and did not reply.

He merely quickened his pace in silence, wanting to get farther away from the cheerful, laughing atmosphere behind him.

Tang San remained silent the entire time, but his perception had been raised to its limit as he vigilantly swept his senses over everything around them.

He was looking for a suitable opportunity to lay a killing trap aimed at Su Bai.

The team advanced for roughly half an hour.

"Wait!"

Dai Mubai, who was walking at the very front, suddenly raised a hand, signaling for the team to stop.

From the bushes ahead came a rustling sound.

A Spirit Beast over three meters long, shaped like a leopard but covered all over in cyan scales, quietly poked its head out.

Foul-smelling saliva dripped from its mouth, and its pair of yellow vertical pupils locked onto Dai Mubai, who was walking at the very front.

"It's a Wind Shadow Leopard. Judging by its size, its cultivation should be over eight hundred years."

Zhao Wuji's voice came from the rear, his tone extremely calm.

"Mubai, it's yours. Perfect for some practice."

"Yes, Teacher Zhao!"

Dai Mubai answered, battle intent rising.

"White Tiger, possess me!"

He let out a low growl, the muscles across his body swelling rapidly as three spirit rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—lit up.

Yet before he could launch his attack—

"Too noisy."

A calm voice sounded from behind Dai Mubai.

Su Bai merely lifted his eyelids slightly.

An invisible pressure instantly swept out with him at its center.

The Wind Shadow Leopard, which had been baring its ferocity just a moment ago, suddenly went rigid, as if it had encountered some natural predator.

Its yellow vertical pupils were instantly filled with utter terror.

The next moment, the eight-hundred-year Spirit Beast did not even have time to let out a whimper before it turned and fled, plunging headfirst into the depths of the dense forest at several times the speed it had come with.

The spirit skill Dai Mubai had been preparing to unleash was forcibly choked back. He froze on the spot, his face full of astonishment.

It was not just him. Flender, Zhao Wuji, and even Tang San were all stunned.

He had not even used his martial soul. Just a single thought had scared off an eight-hundred-year Spirit Beast?

"What is going on? Did Su Bai do that?" Tang San's heart sank.

He had not even used his martial soul. Just a single thought had scared off an eight-hundred-year Spirit Beast?

"Su Bai, how did you do that just now?"

Zhao Wuji held it in for a long while, but in the end he still could not stop himself from asking.

"It was too ugly and scared my woman," Su Bai said casually, reaching out to wrap an arm around Ning Rongrong's waist.

Ning Rongrong immediately played along, leaning into his arms with a frightened little expression.

"Brother Bai, that big cat just now was so fierce."

"Don't be afraid. I'm here." Su Bai lowered his head and kissed her on the cheek.

That exchange blocked every question Zhao Wuji still had right in his throat.

What else could he even say?

Flender's lenses flashed. He pushed up his glasses and did not press further.

There were too many secrets on this Su Bai, so many that he was already starting to grow numb to them. Right now, he only cared about one thing: whether this ability could be converted into Gold Soul Coins.

Dai Mubai silently withdrew his martial soul. His clenched fists slowly loosened again.

Every time he thought he could catch up to even a little of Su Bai's back, the other party would use a method he could not understand at all to trample all his effort and dignity underfoot.

Tang San's heart sank.

What had happened just now was not a spirit skill, nor was it a mental attack.

This Su Bai had far too many secrets!

Several li away, on a hillside, Tang Hao's tall figure was hidden in the shade of the trees, his brows tightly furrowed.

He had originally planned to lure over a group of thousand-year Spirit Beasts, create chaos, and take the opportunity to let Su Bai die in an accident.

But from the looks of it now, ordinary thousand-year Spirit Beasts would probably be scared off before they even got near Su Bai.

This plan had to be adjusted.

What Tang Hao did not know was that, in the clouds even higher above his head, Ye Xishui was looking down at him in utter boredom.

If not for Master's orders, this level ninety-five Titled Douluo, who in her eyes was covered in openings, would already be a corpse.

In the forest, the group continued forward.