Creating Opportunities

The three were not headed for the forest where the Duchy raised Soul Beasts, but a wild Soul Beast Forest north of the Duchy. It was not particularly large, and compared to Soul Beast Forests like the Star Dou Great Forest and Sunset Forest, the Soul Beasts within were far inferior.

Even so, there were still quite a few Thousand-Year and Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts there, more than enough for Huangfu Ji at his current stage.

Cracking their whips and urging their horses onward, the three arrived at their destination in just two days.

As it was a wild Soul Beast Forest, it had not been enclosed. Naturally, no one dared conduct business here. Unlike those Soul Beast Forests where Soul Beasts were raised in captivity, the nearest market was over fifty li away.

Looking at the endless sea of trees before them, Zhao Yuan could not help but shudder.

"Why do I feel a little scared?"

Since awakening his Martial Soul, this was his first time entering a wild Soul Beast Forest to hunt Soul Beasts.

"What's there to be afraid of? With the three of us joining forces, is there anything we can't do?" Liu Erlong glanced at Zhao Yuan, radiating incomparable confidence from head to toe.

After looking at the forest, Huangfu Ji dismounted.

"We can only proceed on foot through the forest ahead."

After tying up their horses, the three entered the forest on foot.

Not long after entering, they discovered a seven-hundred-year Soul Beast. However, they did not alert it and simply detoured around it. This was also why there was no market outside the forest.

There were already hundred-year Soul Beasts active around the outskirts, much less deeper inside.

Most merchants were ordinary people, and few Soul Masters did business. They had no way to fight Soul Beasts.

Soul Masters generally did not need to do business. Even a Soul Master with only One Ring could easily find a wealthy household willing to hire them at a high price.

The three continued deeper into the forest.

Huangfu Ji walked at the front, clearing the way, while Zhao Yuan and Liu Erlong kept watch to his left and right.

Looking at Huangfu Ji's back, Zhao Yuan sidled up to Liu Erlong.

"Erlong, pretend you twisted your ankle. Act a little more delicate, and Grand Duke Huangfu will definitely carry you."

"A delicate beauty always makes people want to cherish her."

Liu Erlong bared her teeth and rolled her eyes at him, then pointed at a large tree not far away.

"Do you see that tree?"

Zhao Yuan nodded. "I see it. What about it?"

He could not see anything unusual about the tree, nor was it a plant-type Soul Beast.

Liu Erlong said, "Go find a rope, hang it from that tree, and go hang yourself."

"Go on."

"Why?" Zhao Yuan hurriedly retreated two steps.

Suppressing her voice, Liu Erlong said coldly, "You talk too much."

Then, gritting her teeth, she threatened Zhao Yuan again.

"If you keep spouting this nonsense, I'll personally hang you from that tree and let you swing like a pendulum. With the rope around your neck."

"Let's not. The world is such a wonderful place—I still want to see more of it." Zhao Yuan covered his neck with both hands and backed off to the side.

"What are you two talking about? Zhao Yuan, why are you covering your neck?" Hearing the commotion behind him, Huangfu Ji turned around and saw Zhao Yuan clutching his neck.

Zhao Yuan lowered his hands.

"It's nothing. Nothing at all."

Liu Erlong also smiled and shook her head, then waved her hand.

"It's nothing. We were just joking around. Keep clearing the way."

Without asking further, Huangfu Ji continued leading the way.

They searched until afternoon, but the three still failed to find a suitable Soul Beast.

After clearing out an open space, the three sat down to rest.

"Are Thousand-Year Soul Beasts really that scarce in this forest? Why haven't we encountered a single suitable one?"

Zhao Yuan sat cross-legged, feeling thoroughly frustrated. They had searched for half a day and did encounter Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, but they were mostly unsuited to Huangfu Ji, and all were only around one thousand to fifteen hundred years old.

They had not encountered a single two-thousand-year Soul Beast.

Huangfu Ji looked up at the sky. It was already afternoon, and nightfall was not far away.

"Let's set up the tents here. We'll have to spend the night in the forest."

"You two set up the tents. I'll gather firewood." Zhao Yuan got up and quickly left. Before going, he did not forget to give Liu Erlong a thumbs-up to encourage her, but she acted as though she had not seen it.

Once only the two of them remained, the surroundings suddenly fell silent. Even the wind seemed to stop.

Liu Erlong sat there and discreetly glanced at Huangfu Ji. When he looked over, she immediately lowered her head again, her cheeks visibly reddening.

"Let's set up the tents." Huangfu Ji stood and took three tents from the storage Soul Tool at his waist. The two then began setting them up.

Before long, the tents were finished. Huangfu Ji scattered medicinal powder around the area to ward off snakes, insects, rats, and ants, while Liu Erlong patrolled the surroundings.

"There aren't any Soul Beasts nearby." After returning, Liu Erlong told Huangfu Ji what she had found.

Huangfu Ji nodded. Without Soul Beasts, they would not have to worry about danger. There were not many Soul Masters who came here to hunt Soul Beasts; after half a day in the forest, they had not encountered a single person. As for powerful Soul Masters, that was even less likely.

The strongest person in the entire Qingyang Duchy was only a Soul Douluo. Such a person would not come here to hunt Soul Beasts.

When Zhao Yuan returned carrying an armful of firewood, he saw the two sitting cross-legged and cultivating.

"Seriously..." Zhao Yuan was speechless. He had specifically gone to gather firewood to create an opportunity for them, yet instead of talking about their feelings, they were cultivating here.

Why cultivate at a time like this? Couldn't they take this chance to make things official first?

Soul Power could be cultivated anytime. But if someone ran off with somebody else, they would truly be gone.

He heavily tossed the firewood onto the ground, and the resulting noise immediately startled the two.

Liu Erlong opened her eyes and looked at Zhao Yuan with displeasure.

"Keep it down. Can't you see we're cultivating?"

Zhao Yuan snorted and walked to the side without saying a word.

Night fell, and the sky was studded with stars.

The three lit a bonfire, its glow illuminating their faces.

As Zhao Yuan roasted the meat, he watched Huangfu Ji and Liu Erlong. He kept wondering whether these two were ever going to get together. Liu Erlong obviously liked Huangfu Ji, yet she did not even realize it herself.

In his view, Liu Erlong had always been straightforward in everything she did and never beat around the bush. If she liked someone, she should just take him.

And what did Huangfu Ji's status as a Grand Duke matter?

Liu Erlong was talented. There was a high chance she would become a Titled Douluo in the future, and even if she did not, becoming a Soul Douluo was practically guaranteed. With talent like hers, status was not a problem.

After the meat was cooked, he sprinkled it with seasonings and handed portions to Huangfu Ji and Liu Erlong, then took another piece for himself and dug in heartily.

The night was quiet, and the surroundings were pitch-black, making one feel an involuntary trace of fear from the depths of their heart.

After eating and drinking their fill, Huangfu Ji told the other two to return to their tents and rest while he remained behind to keep watch.

Holding a wooden stick, Huangfu Ji boredly poked at the bonfire.

"Soul Beasts, Soul Beasts, hurry up and come."

He had not expected suitable Thousand-Year Soul Beasts to be so scarce in this forest. They had not encountered even one. If they could not find one tomorrow either, he might have to search somewhere like Sunset Forest.

Just as he was growing bored, a sudden sound came from underground.