Soul Hunting Forest? That's Our Own Back Garden

In the early morning, Spirit City was still touched by a lingering chill, and a thin mist clung to the soaring spires of the Papal Palace.

At the center of the square, a soul-hunting party worthy of being called "the most luxurious on the entire continent" had assembled. Two Titled Douluo led the way, with the Holy Son at the center. With such a lineup, hunting soul beasts was one thing; they could easily flatten a duchy.

But no matter how one looked at it, the whole scene felt off.

Standing before the horse carriage, Qian Mo's eyelids twitched furiously as he pointed at the enormous thing before him. He even wondered whether he had somehow walked onto the wrong set.

Qian Renxue wore gleaming Angel God Armor. Though she had retracted her six wings, the sacred, inviolable aura around her still left a ten-meter radius completely empty. But that was not the important part. The important part was the supply carriage behind her, three times larger than the main carriage.

It was piled high like a small mountain: parasols, a Soul Guiding Refrigerator specially meant for iced watermelon, and even a Folding Lounger that looked absurdly soft.

"Sis," Qian Mo said with difficulty, pointing at the guard stuffing specially supplied soul beast milk into a gap in the carriage, "we're going to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, not on a beach vacation. And definitely not on a picnic."

"What do you know?"

Qian Renxue stood with one hand on her hip while directing the guards with the other to tie a chest of premium silk pajamas to the carriage roof. "The forest is damp and full of insects. How are you supposed to grow if you don't eat or sleep properly? You're still developing. Your nutrition has to keep up."

At that, her tone shifted. Her golden eyes swept over Zhu Zhuqing behind Qian Mo like radar, and she snorted in a lowered voice. "And what if that cat takes advantage while I'm not paying attention..."

"What if she plots something improper against you under the cover of night? I brought all this so I can guard you around the clock, without a single blind spot! Even in the wild, I can't give her any chance to take advantage of you!"

Zhu Zhuqing had changed back into a sleek set of black, form-fitting leather clothes today, outlining her already impressive figure in breathtaking fashion. Hearing Qian Renxue's predatory words, she nearly sprouted two tangible question marks above her head. Then she silently turned her face away and pretended to admire the scenery, though her ears had already reddened like ripe cherries.

"Set off!" Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan's shrill voice rang out at just the right moment, breaking the prelude to this bizarre Asura field.

Deep within the Papal Palace, the woman who controlled Spirit Hall's highest authority did not show herself.

Bibi Dong stood before a floor-to-ceiling window, watching the departing convoy as her fingers lightly rubbed her scepter. Before they parted last night, she had summoned Zhu Zhuqing alone to the Imperial Bedchamber. She had not taught her any profound killing techniques, merely stuffed a brocade pouch embroidered with pink lotuses into the little cat girl's hands.

Zhu Zhuqing would never forget the expression on Bibi Dong's face at the time.

It had been a mixture of the teasing amusement of someone experienced and the eager anticipation of someone who loved seeing trouble unfold.

"Zhuqing," Bibi Dong had whispered beside her ear, her breath fragrant, "the Fourth Soul Ring you hunt this time will most likely be a mental charm type. Once you learn the Soul Skill, don't waste it. Remember to practice on Mo'er."

"Boys may say no with their mouths, but their bodies are always honest. Sometimes, taking the initiative at the right moment works better than ten thousand vows."

Now, in a corner of the carriage, Zhu Zhuqing tightly clutched that brocade pouch in her palm. It felt hotter than a freshly forged branding iron.

Star Dou Great Forest.

Ancient trees towered overhead, blocking out the sky and sun. This was paradise for soul beasts and forbidden ground for humans.

Yet today, this forbidden land welcomed a group of utterly unreasonable "tourists."

The carriage entered the mixed zone, where most soul beasts were between a thousand and ten thousand years old. Their territorial instincts were extremely strong; ordinarily, even a mosquito flying in would be chased for miles.

"Stop!"

Ghost Douluo Gui Mei suddenly raised a hand. His body turned into black smoke and drifted ahead of the carriage, his voice low and hoarse. "There's movement. A lot of them. They're everywhere, and the encirclement is closing in."

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan also dropped the seductive smile from his face. In his palm, the petals of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum slowly rotated. Nine soul rings pulsed beneath his feet, its terrifying pressure held in check.

"An impact on this scale... could it be a Beast Tide?" Yue Guan's expression darkened. "Protect His Highness! Old Ghost, prepare to clear the field! Don't let even a fly through!"

The air instantly froze.

The bushes shook violently, while heart-pounding scraping noises came from the treetops, as though an army of thousands was closing in.

Zhu Zhuqing instantly entered combat mode. Her cat claws sprang out, netherworld aura swirling around her body as she stood firmly before Qian Mo. Even Qian Renxue drew the Angel Holy Sword, golden Soul Power flickering around it as she prepared to unleash a thunderous strike at any moment.

"Roar—!"

The anticipated roar never came.

Instead, there came a series of cheerful, fawning squeaks.

A pair of furry hands parted the grass. A Thousand-Year Monkey King covered in golden fur leaped out.

Rather than baring its fangs, it looked like a restaurant waiter. It raised both hands above its head, holding a ten-thousand-year peach as large as a watermelon, radiating a rich fruity fragrance.

Then the entire scene completely fell apart.

A group of squirrels plopped down from the trees, each holding premium pinecones, their shells already removed. Several fallow deer emerged from the bushes, their antlers laden with vivid Strange Berries. There was even an Armored Rhinoceros that looked ferocious, carefully balancing a huge Purple Ganoderma on the horn capable of smashing through a city wall. It shuffled over slowly, terrified of damaging the offering.

They lined up in perfect order, their eyes full of humble pleading, as though saying, "Big Brother, please do us the honor of accepting this."

The battlefield, once thick with Killing Intent, instantly turned into a Star Dou Great Forest specialty exhibition.

The petals in Yue Guan's hand froze mid-air. Even the black mist around Gui Mei dispersed, revealing his bewildered old face. The two of them had killed countless people in their lives, but this was the first time they had seen soul beasts lining up to give gifts.

"This..."

Qian Mo sat atop the carriage, looking at the soul beasts below staring at him with longing eyes. He sighed helplessly.

He casually picked up the ten-thousand-year peach and took a bite.

"Tsk, a little sour."

Qian Mo disdainfully tossed the bitten peach back to the Monkey King and waved a hand as though shooing flies. "Take it away. Fruit of this quality is what I feed pigs at home. Stop blocking the road. I'm heading deeper in."

The Monkey King looked as if it had been struck by lightning. Holding the bitten peach, it did not get angry. Instead, it looked wildly ecstatic, as though it had obtained a priceless treasure. It excitedly turned three somersaults on the spot, as if the saliva on the peach were divine holy water, then carefully tucked the peach into its chest.

Seeing this, the other soul beasts set down their gifts and respectfully retreated to either side, forcibly opening a broad road through the dense forest. Several Wind Baboons even ran ahead to clear stones and thorns from the path, their service attitude rivaling that of five-star hotel doormen.

Qian Renxue sheathed the Angel Holy Sword, the corner of her mouth twitching. "Mo, isn't your Auspicious Physique a little excessive? How are those Spirit Masters who risk their lives hunting soul beasts supposed to feel?"

Zhu Zhuqing silently withdrew her cat claws. Looking at those soul beasts that were normally so savage now behaving as gently as house cats, she felt her worldview shatter into pieces.

So this was... the life of someone who won without trying?

The convoy traveled unimpeded all the way into the Core Area.

The deeper they went, the thicker the air became. The surrounding plants gradually turned strange, their once-green leaves shifting into seductive pinkish-purple. A sickeningly sweet fragrance quietly spread through the woods, dizzying anyone who smelled it.

"Hold your breath!" Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression changed. A pale golden Soul Power barrier instantly unfolded and covered everyone. "Mental Toxin! There's something big ahead!"

Qian Mo took a deep breath instead and smiled.

"Don't be nervous. It's inviting us."

Before his words had even faded, the Pink Mist ahead receded to both sides like a tide.

In a vast clearing lay a creature in silence.

It was a fox, but certainly no ordinary fox.

Its body was pinkish-white, its fur like the finest silk, flowing with dreamlike luster in the faint light. Behind it, nine great tails spread out like a peacock's display, pink flames dancing at the tip of each one.

Most absurdly, as everyone drew closer, the fox's body began to blur. Faintly, it transformed into a half-human half-beast phantom. It was the outline of a woman with peerless beauty, fluffy fox ears atop her head and nine tails swaying behind her. Those narrow fox eyes gazed tenderly at Qian Mo.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Phantom Demon Fox! And a supreme existence on the verge of taking human form!

"Little Brother~"

A voice so soft it numbed the bones sounded directly in everyone's minds. It seemed to carry hooks that could snare one's soul and tie it with a bow.

"This servant has waited for you for so long~ Is this the legendary Auspicious Angel? Your scent... smells so good~"

The Phantom Demon Fox did not attack. It elegantly rose to its feet and walked toward Qian Mo with the graceful gait of a cat, swaying with every step. That look in its eyes was not the way one looked at prey, but rather... a future husband.

"Clang!"

A clear sword cry rang out.

The Angel Holy Sword in Qian Renxue's hand instantly left its sheath, its tip aimed directly at that shamelessly flirtatious fox.

"You shameless beast!" Qian Renxue's brows stood on end, Killing Intent boiling around her. "Take your filthy eyes off my Younger Brother! Otherwise, I'll chop you up and turn you into a scarf!"

At the same time, Zhu Zhuqing's aura changed as well. If Qian Renxue was righteous judgment, then Zhu Zhuqing was a beast guarding its food.

"Meow—!"

A low cat roar squeezed from her throat. Illusory cat ears seemed to appear above her head, and the hairs along her back practically stood on end.

This fox... was dangerous! Not merely dangerous in strength, but dangerous in an instinctive, species-level sense of competing for a mate! This was the aura of top-tier Green Tea!

"He's mine!" Zhu Zhuqing coldly spat out four words. The claws in her hands gleamed with chilling light, ready to pounce and shred that vixen's face at any moment.

Sitting between them, Qian Mo watched the scene and could not help raising a hand to cover Zhu Zhuqing's eyes—though the gaps between his fingers were spread wide as he openly inspected the beast ear girl with great interest.

"Are soul beasts this competitive nowadays?" Qian Mo could not help complaining. "Coming with her own skin just for a sacrifice? If this were my previous life, she'd definitely be a top supporter killer."

The Phantom Demon Fox completely ignored the Killing Intent of the two women. It walked up to the barrier, separated from Qian Mo only by that thin light screen. It gave him a flirtatious wink and even lowered its ears in grievance.

"Little Brother, don't mind those two fierce women." The demon fox sounded pitiful, its tea artistry instantly reaching full power. "This servant isn't like them. They only know how to wave blades and weapons around. This servant is sweet, can warm your bed, act cute, and even help you cultivate mental power~"

"Choose me~"

"As long as you nod, everything this servant has will be yours~"

Was this a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? This was clearly a Hundred-Thousand-Year Green Tea that had cultivated into a spirit!

"You're courting death!!"

Qian Renxue could no longer endure it. Her sixth soul ring suddenly lit up. "Angel's Roar!"

A massive Golden Sound Wave exploded outward. Zhu Zhuqing refused to be outdone as well. Her body transformed into a streak of black lightning, and the Netherworld Slash, accompanied by a sharp whistle that tore through space, shot straight for the fox's neck.

"If you want to die, I'll grant your wish!"

Yet facing the pincer attack of two great experts, the Phantom Demon Fox neither dodged nor evaded. A sinister smile even appeared at the corner of its mouth.

Thud.

Its front knees went weak, and it directly knelt before the charging Zhu Zhuqing.

That kneel completely stunned Zhu Zhuqing. The Netherworld Slash in her hand stopped abruptly three inches above the fox's head, the fierce wind scattering the fox's fur.

"Big Sister!" The demon fox lifted its head, its watery big eyes brimming with tears, wearing a pitiful expression.

It looked at Zhu Zhuqing and said something that shattered everyone's worldview. "I know Big Sister doesn't like me."

"But I love Brother's aura too much. Without that aura, I'll die."

"Since I can't have Brother himself..." The demon fox gave Qian Mo a loving glance, then turned decisively toward Zhu Zhuqing with an expression of solemn righteousness. "Then I'll become part of Big Sister's body!"

"As long as I become Big Sister's soul ring and soul bone, I can become Big Sister's helmet, become Big Sister's armor, press against Brother every day, and stay by Brother's side forever!"

"Come, Big Sister! Kill me! Don't pity me just because I'm a delicate flower!"

The entire place fell silent.

Even Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan gaped, his Orchid Finger left trembling in the wind.

This logic... was utterly flawless! Was this the legendary—if I become your equipment, you'll have no choice but to take me on dates with your male god? And every time you get intimate, I'll be watching?

Zhu Zhuqing's hand holding the blade trembled violently. Looking at the fox before her with its neck stretched out and an expression that screamed, "Hurry up and chop me," an unprecedented feeling of grievance surged within her.

Kill it? That would fulfill its perverse wish.

Spare it? It was the mission target for her Fourth Soul Ring, and an exceptional one at that.

"This fox..." Qian Mo watched from behind in astonishment and could not help giving a thumbs-up. "With that level of awareness, its path is wide open."