An Encounter in the Star Dou Great Forest

A few days later, early in the morning, a carriage drove out through the main gates of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Seated inside were father and son, Yu Xiaogang and Yu Yuanzhen.

As such an important matter as his son's first Spirit Ring, Yu Yuanzhen naturally had to accompany him.

Especially since his son needed a Dragon-type Soul Beast with no additional attributes and the purer its bloodline, the better.

Such Soul Beasts were not easy to find. Although Thunderclap Forest near Blue Lightning City had Dragon-type Soul Beasts as well, they all possessed the Thunder Attribute.

Thus, Yu Yuanzhen was taking Yu Xiaogang to the Star Dou Great Forest to search for a suitable Soul Beast.

After boarding the carriage and waiting for it to settle slightly, Yu Xiaogang closed his eyes and began meditating.

Seeing his son work so hard, Yu Yuanzhen, who had originally planned to read a couple of travel journals or similar books, felt too embarrassed to do so.

They said fathers were their sons' role models.

Yet before Yu Xiaogang, he had not set much of an example as a father.

Instead, seeing Yu Xiaogang work so diligently so often made Yu Yuanzhen too embarrassed to rest, and he began spending more time cultivating as well.

So between this father and son, it was actually the son who set an example for the father.

If word of this got out, people would probably laugh themselves to death.

Shaking his head, Yu Yuanzhen ultimately entered meditation just like Yu Xiaogang.

And so, their journey to the Star Dou Great Forest passed amid Yu Xiaogang and Yu Yuanzhen's cultivation.

Of course, that did not mean they did nothing but cultivate.

Some rest and recreation were still necessary.

Burying oneself in arduous cultivation nonstop was no good either; balancing work and rest was the proper way.

After a long journey, Yu Xiaogang and Yu Yuanzhen arrived at the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Lush, verdant trees stretched before them. Looking out into the distance from higher ground, the layers upon layers of emerald green resembled an endless sea.

From time to time, the roar of fierce beasts or strange cries sounded from afar, startling birds resting among the trees into flight.

Yu Xiaogang looked at the dark, cavernous forest ahead and could not help but sigh. As expected of the largest Spirit Beast Forest on Douluo Continent, it was far more terrifying than Thunderclap Forest he had visited before.

"Father, legend says many Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts are hidden within the Star Dou Great Forest. But how many is 'many,' exactly?"

Yu Xiaogang asked curiously.

"Only the heavens could possibly know something like that."

Yu Yuanzhen shrugged. Exactly how many Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts existed within the Star Dou Great Forest had always been a source of curiosity for Soul Masters outside.

Once, a group of people had tried to uncover that secret. Of course, they had also coveted Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones and Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings, so they assembled First Team and ventured deep into the Star Dou Great Forest.

That team's lineup was exceedingly formidable: one Titled Douluo, two Soul Douluos, and three Soul Sages.

With such a lineup, even if they encountered a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, they should have possessed the strength to fight it.

Even if they could not defeat it, they could have split up and fled, safely returning with intelligence from the Star Dou Great Forest.

Yet after that team entered the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, they were never seen again.

Neither living nor dead, they vanished completely without a trace.

"Ever since then, the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest have become a place dreaded and feared by everyone."

"Not even Tang Chen, the invincible Clear Sky Douluo of his day, or Qian Daoliu, Spirit Hall's Angel Douluo, ever ventured into the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest."

"Though it is also possible that they did go in, and we simply do not know about it."

Yu Yuanzhen gave Yu Xiaogang a brief introduction to the secrets of the Star Dou Great Forest.

These matters had never been recorded in books and existed only in the casual conversations of Douluo Continent's powerful figures.

Thus, Yu Xiaogang showed immense interest as he listened to these secrets.

Yu Yuanzhen also rarely wore a smug expression, pleased to be sharing knowledge Yu Xiaogang did not know.

Not long after entering the Star Dou Great Forest, Yu Xiaogang understood why this place was the domain of Soul Beasts and a forbidden land for humans.

Every short distance they traveled, they encountered a Soul Beast. Most of the Soul Beasts appearing before them were a hundred years old, though there were no shortage of thousand-year ones.

Each time Yu Yuanzhen encountered one, he released the aura of a Titled Douluo and frightened it away. Otherwise, they had no idea how many battles they would have fought along the way.

"That is simply how the Star Dou Great Forest is. Soul Beasts are everywhere."

"Otherwise, there would not be so many Spirit Beast Forests across Douluo Continent raising low-level Soul Beasts for commoner Soul Masters to obtain their Spirit Rings."

"If those commoner Soul Masters came to the Star Dou Great Forest for their first Spirit Ring, the risk would be too great and the reward too small. It simply would not be worth it."

Yu Yuanzhen walked ahead, explaining these things to Yu Xiaogang.

"Father, I have always felt that Douluo Continent's cultivation system is rather strange."

"If human Soul Masters want to grow stronger, they must kill Soul Beasts to obtain Spirit Rings. If one day all Soul Beasts are killed, would Soul Masters no longer be able to grow stronger?"

Yu Xiaogang voiced the question that had lingered in his mind ever since he learned of Douluo Continent's cultivation system.

"Hahaha, you need not worry about that. How many Soul Beasts do Soul Masters really consume?"

"The greatest cause of Soul Beast deaths has always been hunting among Soul Beasts themselves."

"A Soul Master only gains nine Spirit Rings in a lifetime. Even with Twin Martial Souls, that is only eighteen in total."

"But what about a Soul Beast? It has to eat every day."

"Every time it eats, it must hunt and kill another Soul Beast."

"Some bloodthirsty Soul Beasts even kill a couple of Soul Beasts for fun when they have nothing else to do."

"Compared to Soul Beasts, the number of Soul Beasts consumed by us human Soul Masters is undoubtedly far, far smaller."

Yu Yuanzhen said with a laugh. Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang finally understood.

"That makes sense."

Having figured it out, Yu Xiaogang no longer dwelled on the matter.

Over the next few days, Yu Xiaogang and Yu Yuanzhen wandered through the Star Dou Great Forest.

During that time, they encountered many Dragon-type Soul Beasts, but either their age was unsuitable or they possessed attributes. In any case, none were the Soul Beast Yu Xiaogang needed.

Just as Yu Xiaogang thought they would have to continue searching like this, at noon one day, the roar of fierce beasts suddenly reached his ears.

Mixed in with it was an alarmed, furious shout.

"Not good! Stop them!"

Hearing that voice, Yu Yuanzhen immediately quickened his pace.

"Someone is fighting Soul Beasts?"

"Judging from the commotion, there are quite a few Soul Beasts!"

Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Xiaogang swiftly assessed the situation.

"Let's go take a look!"

Yu Yuanzhen grabbed Yu Xiaogang with one hand, then rushed toward the source of the sounds.

Upon arriving, Yu Xiaogang could not help but be stunned by the sight before him.

At that moment, a large pack of Soul Beasts was surrounding and attacking two Soul Masters.

And behind those two Soul Masters was a young girl who was absorbing a Spirit Ring.