Soul Hunting Forest, Unicorn Scaled Armor Beast

Early morning.

Tang San silently followed Yu Xiaogang out of Nuoding Academy, preparing to set off for the Soul Hunting Forest.

Everything they had experienced yesterday had been like a nightmare to the two of them.

After Yu Xiaogang woke from his "coma," neither of them mentioned what had happened in the Bamboo Forest.

"Little San, believe me. I will definitely cultivate you into the most outstanding Soul Master on Douluo Continent."

Feeling that the halo of his Martial Soul theory master status might have been tarnished in Tang San's eyes, Yu Xiaogang tried to salvage some of his image.

Tang San nodded vigorously and said with a smile,

"Teacher, I believe you. I said it before—once my teacher, a father for life. I, Tang San, am not someone who would betray my master and dishonor my ancestors."

"Good child."

Yu Xiaogang was deeply moved.

After entering the city to prepare a carriage and purchase everything they would need in the Soul Beast Forest, they had just left the city in the carriage when they heard the sound of galloping hooves behind them.

Before Tang San and Yu Xiaogang could turn around, the horse pulling their carriage suddenly went weak in the legs and collapsed onto the ground.

No matter how the driver tugged at it, the horse refused to get up.

"It's them again."

As the hoofbeats drew closer, Tang San looked toward the sound and saw two strange horses racing toward them, each with a horn growing from its forehead and scales covering its limbs.

More importantly, the three people sitting atop those horses were the very people who had been haunting Tang San and Yu Xiaogang's dreams.

Tang San abruptly pulled down the carriage curtain. He did not want to see Lin Qi and the others, much less let them see him.

"They should be heading to the Soul Hunting Forest too."

Yu Xiaogang had seen Lin Qi and the others as well.

Tang San said grimly, "Lin Qi also has Innate Full Soul Power. He must be going to obtain his first Soul Ring."

"Once we both obtain our first Soul Rings, I will definitely defeat him in front of everyone and wash away the humiliation he caused me."

"Little San, how about reconsidering?" Yu Xiaogang asked hesitantly.

"Teacher, you don't believe I can defeat Lin Qi?"

Tang San's expression turned even colder.

"Of course not." Yu Xiaogang hurriedly explained. "You possess Twin Martial Souls. The later stages are when you will truly come into your own."

"Lin Qi has Innate Full Soul Power with just one Martial Soul, so the quality of his Martial Soul must be very high. Little San, you..."

"Teacher."

Tang San suddenly interrupted Yu Xiaogang.

To Tang San, Yu Xiaogang's doubt was the greatest humiliation.

"I hope you can believe in me, just as I believe in you. I can definitely defeat him."

Tang San was full of confidence.

Even without relying on his Martial Soul, the Tang Sect techniques he had mastered were enough to let him defeat Lin Qi.

"Of course I believe in you. Little San, your talent is far greater than Lin Qi's."

Since Tang San had put it that way, what else could Yu Xiaogang do? He could only believe him.

"By the way."

Tang San did not want to dwell on this subject.

"Teacher, what kind of horses are Lin Qi and the others riding? Why do they have horns on their foreheads?"

"Those aren't horses. They're Soul Beasts."

"Soul Beasts?"

"Yes." When the topic turned to Soul Beasts, Yu Xiaogang's confidence returned.

"They are Unicorn Scaled Armor Beasts, particularly outstanding in speed."

Tang San asked curiously, "Can Soul Beasts be tamed too?"

"That... is very difficult. Soul Beasts are proud and unruly by nature, and very few can be tamed by humans."

In fact, Yu Xiaogang had never seen a Soul Beast tamed by a human.

"I see."

Tang San's eyes darkened uncertainly.

Although Lin Qi might not have noticed him, one of them was racing along atop powerful Soul Beasts while the other could only sit in a carriage—and the carriage horse had been frightened into collapsing on the ground.

That kind of unintentional display was even harder for Tang San to bear.

Isn't it just that you found a powerful teacher? I don't need a teacher who only has strength to surpass you.

Yu Xiaogang did not feel good either.

After all, this comparison reflected the difference in strength between him and Master Meng.

Clearly, though they were both teachers, he was inferior to Master Meng in both strength and wealth.

Just as master and disciple sat in silence, the horse lying on the ground was finally driven back to its feet by the driver.

"How old are those two Unicorn Scaled Armor Beasts?" Tang San broke the silence.

"The horns between their brows exceed five inches. They should be over five thousand years old."

Bitterness rose in Yu Xiaogang's heart.

Not only was he weaker than Master Meng, but if the Unicorn Scaled Armor Beasts ridden by Master Meng and Lin Qi got serious, he would not even be able to defeat them.

"Five thousand years? Are there Soul Beasts over five thousand years old in the Soul Hunting Forest?"

"Most likely not. The Soul Hunting Forest mostly contains ten-year and hundred-year Soul Beasts. Soul Beasts over a thousand years old are very rare."

"Master, there aren't many Soul Beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest. Why not go to a larger Soul Beast Forest?"

Xiao Wu rode the same Unicorn Scaled Armor Beast as Lin Qi, sitting behind him as she asked Master Meng.

"High-level Soul Beasts are indeed scarce in the Soul Hunting Forest, but I know of a kind of Soul Beast deep within it that is very suitable for Little Qi's Mountain River Sword Martial Soul."

"Oh."

Xiao Wu nodded and said nothing more.

Lin Qi bumped his shoulder backward.

"Are you hoping Master will take me to the Star Dou Great Forest so that, once we reach your home turf, you can show off a little?"

"No, I'm not. Don't talk nonsense."

Xiao Wu shook her head repeatedly, firmly denying Lin Qi's words.

What do you mean, show off? I wanted to show off the connections of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

Even if I'm a Reserve Soul Ring, I'm still a Reserve Soul Ring with style. I have underlings too.

"Heh."

Lin Qi smiled. How could such a small scheme possibly escape him?

"Don't worry. The next time we absorb Soul Rings, we'll go to the Star Dou Great Forest."

Lin Qi still wanted to trigger system rewards from Xiao Wu. Once they reached the Star Dou Great Forest, Xiao Wu's background would surely be revealed.

"Really?"

Xiao Wu's head had been resting against Lin Qi's back, but it suddenly shot upward.

"No, I mean I know the Star Dou Great Forest very well. I can help you find Soul Beasts that suit you."

The Unicorn Scaled Armor Beasts were extremely fast. Lin Qi and the others covered four to five hundred li in only half a day.

They neither paid a fee nor forced their way in. Master Meng merely took out a token, and they were allowed through.

"Master, what kind of token is that?"

Lin Qi noticed that the token Master Meng had produced was different from Yu Xiaogang's. Instead of a sword, hammer, and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, it bore a swan.

"I had dealings with the Heaven Dou Empire's previous previous emperor. I got this token from him."

Lin Qi suspected that Master Meng was not only an all-rounder, but also a treasure chest who could pull out something useful anytime, anywhere.

Although only those with a writ issued by Spirit Hall could enter the Soul Hunting Forest,

the soldiers guarding the Soul Hunting Forest belonged to the Heaven Dou Empire. This token was likely something that could command them, one of the Heavenly Dou Imperial Family's minor privileges.

"Little Qi, once we enter the Soul Hunting Forest, you will generally have to handle every situation yourself. Unless absolutely necessary, I will not intervene."

As Lin Qi's teacher, Master Meng intended not only to teach him, but also to test and temper him.

"Master, you really have faith in me. You only taught me swordsmanship yesterday, and today you're already making me fight Soul Beasts in actual combat."

Master Meng stroked his beard and said, "Your talent exceeds that of ordinary people, so naturally you must be held to standards beyond ordinary people."

"Oh, and this little Rabbit can help you as well."

Master Meng added another sentence.