Star Dou Great Forest (I)

The Star Dou Great Forest lay directly south of the Heaven Dou Empire, spanning the two great empires. It was the largest Soul Beast habitat on Douluo Continent, with a total area nearly equal to the territory of the Balak Kingdom. The terrain within the forest was extremely complex, and its Soul Beasts were abundant in both variety and number. Rumor had it that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts even existed within the forest.

Xue Ke and the others rested for the night in a small town outside the Star Dou Great Forest, only officially entering the forest the following morning.

Whether in her previous life or this one, it was Xue Ke's first time entering such a vast primeval forest. Ancient trees towered overhead, blotting out the sky and sun, while swamps and wetlands abounded. No matter which direction she looked, she could not see far into the forest, making it seem all the more mysterious and unfathomable.

Listening to the crisp chirping of birds, Xue Ke took a deep breath and greedily inhaled the scent unique to nature, feeling refreshed and at ease.

"Your Highness, our current location is in the outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest. If we continue inward for another four hours or so, we will enter the more dangerous mixed region."

"I understand, Elder Mo."

"What kind of Soul Beast does Your Highness intend to hunt this time?" another Soul Sage asked.

"My initial plan is to hunt a Crimson Flame Scaled Beast between ten thousand and twenty-five thousand years old. If we truly cannot find one, then we will settle for an Earth Profound Turtle of a similar age."

"Your Highness wishes to absorb a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring? How can that be possible? The maximum age for a fourth Soul Ring cannot exceed five thousand years. Does Your Highness not know that?" Elder Mo urgently reminded her.

Xue Ke stopped. Three Soul Rings—yellow, purple, and purple—appeared around her as she said, "My second Soul Ring is three thousand years old, and my third Soul Ring is seven thousand years old. So why can't my fourth Soul Ring be a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring?"

As for the spiritual shock caused by absorbing a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring, Xue Ke simply said, I don't care. With the Sunflower Scripture, along with having absorbed the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, Xue Ke's spiritual power had already reached the level of a Soul King. Absorbing a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring would naturally be no problem.

"Elders, please rest assured. I would never joke around with my own life."

The group wandered through the outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest for more than two hours, yet still failed to find the Soul Beast Xue Ke wanted. The sky gradually darkened, so they could only stay in the outer region for the night and enter the mixed region the next morning.

Five tents were quickly set up. After filling her stomach, Xue Ke entered her tent to cultivate, while the four Soul Sages took turns keeping watch through the night.

In order not to expose her secret, and also to avoid unnecessary trouble and misunderstandings, Xue Ke did not enter the Dao Demon Space to cultivate.

Early the next morning, the group set out and arrived in the mixed region.

Elder Mo was responsible for scouting ahead, while the other three Soul Sages surrounded Xue Ke and vigilantly watched their surroundings.

Many powerful ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts lived in the mixed region, and the four Soul Sages did not dare relax in the slightest.

"Roar—" A huge fiery-red lion charged toward Xue Ke and the others from afar at incredible speed. It stood more than three meters tall, dark-red flames flickering all over its body. The plants caught in its path were instantly burned to ashes.

"It's a Blazing Lion. It appears to have around ten thousand years of cultivation. Everyone, be careful!" Elder Mo warned from the front.

Xue Ke concentrated Soul Power in her eyes and discovered that the Blazing Lion seemed extremely panicked. It also bore numerous wounds, as though something were hunting it down.

"Fourth Soul Skill, Sweep Through the Army!"

One of the Soul Sages beside Xue Ke unleashed his Soul Skill and brought his staff down hard on the lion's head.

The Blazing Lion let out an enraged roar after being struck. Opening its bloody maw, it spat a massive dark-red fireball toward Xue Ke.

The three Soul Sages immediately stepped in front of Xue Ke and received the fireball. At the same time, numerous Soul Rings lit up as they launched attack after attack at the Blazing Lion. Before long, they knocked the lion to the ground, leaving it barely alive.

"Everyone, please stop!" An aged voice came from nearby.

Three elderly men could be seen hurrying toward Xue Ke's group from the distance, accompanied by two young men. Before long, they arrived before them.

All three old men wore Spirit Hall attire. Judging by the badges on the chests of their robes, their status within Spirit Hall was certainly not low.

The two young men behind them both appeared to be around twenty years old. One of them stood about one meter ninety tall, with neat black short hair standing upright like steel needles. He was rather handsome, and his entire body exuded a strange, demonic aura.

The other young man was also around one meter ninety tall. He had fiery-red hair, as well as strange fiery-red patterns on his face. His eyes carried an arrogant expression, as though he looked down upon the world.

Elder Mo also returned to Xue Ke's side. The four Soul Sages had clearly recognized the identities of those before them. They stared at the other side with wary expressions, protecting Xue Ke in their midst.

One of the old men stepped forward, clasped his hands slightly, and said:

"Everyone, this Blazing Lion was discovered first by our Spirit Hall. The wounds on its body are proof—we have been hunting it for quite some time. We hope you can return it to us."

The four Soul Sages did not answer, instead turning in unison to look at Xue Ke in the middle.

Xue Ke stepped forward and gave the old man opposite her a noble's salute. Smiling, she said, "Since you discovered it first, we naturally have no reason to claim it by force."

Another old man on the other side stared intently at Xue Ke. Her attire was extraordinary, and she exuded a noble air from head to toe. Yet what shocked the old man was Xue Ke's level of Soul Power.

"This young lady is so young. If this old man is not mistaken, you must not even be thirteen yet, correct? Yet you have already broken through Rank 40. The younger generation is truly formidable!"

At those words, the eyes of the two young men lit up as they both turned to look at Xue Ke.

"If everyone from Spirit Hall has no further business, then we shall take our leave. If fate permits, we will meet again someday."

The Star Dou Great Forest was fraught with danger, and Xue Ke did not wish to say much more to these people. Although she carried the Angel Token given to her by Qian Renxue, she would not use it unless absolutely necessary.

The black-haired young man walked up to Xue Ke and extended a hand. He said calmly, "Hello, my name is Xie Yue. May I ask if I can be friends with you, Miss?"

"Xie Yue?" Xue Ke had not expected to encounter him here. Then that red-haired man on the other side, acting like an utter fool, had to be Yan.

Xue Ke remained outwardly composed. She gave him a polite smile, extended her hand to shake Xie Yue's, and said, "My name is Xue Ke. It is a pleasure to meet you!"

A trace of surprise flashed through Xie Yue's eyes. "So you are Princess Xue Ke, the genius of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. No wonder you broke through to Soul Ancestor at such a young age. I am ashamed to compare myself to you."

They released each other's hands. Xue Ke modestly said, "I have also heard of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation. Is Brother Xie Yue not also one of heaven's favored sons?"

"We will surely meet again before long. Let us part ways here today."

"I look forward to seeing you again, Xue Ke." Xie Yue watched as Xue Ke and her group gradually disappeared into the distance, murmuring to himself.