Child Bride

"You girl, don't look so reluctant. Even if you're willing, that kid might not take a fancy to you." Dugu Bo curled his lips, unimpressed.

Dugu Yan shot a glare at her grandfather, who had no sense of dignity as an elder. She knew he thought highly of the young man, but there was no need to practically shove his granddaughter at him. She might as well have been picked up off the street.

Turning back to Lin Ye, she lowered her voice. "Don't listen to his nonsense. He's like this sometimes—flighty and undignified. You'll get used to it."

Lin Ye smiled. "Then Sister Yan, would you be willing?"

"Ah!" Dugu Yan was momentarily stunned, then asked uncertainly, "Xiao Ye, what do you mean?"

"Sister Yan, I really like you. What do you think of me?"

Once the confirmation sank in, Dugu Yan's eyes lit up with surprise. Happiness came so suddenly.

Beside them, Dugu Bo was even more energized. With a wave of his hand, he set the tone, as if afraid Lin Ye might change his mind.

"Good kid, you've got good taste! I approve of this match."

With that, Dugu Bo burst into hearty laughter.

Dugu Yan was overjoyed, her gaze toward Lin Ye growing warmer and more tender. "Hurry up and grow up, big sister will wait for you."

To not miss this golden opportunity, Dugu Yan cast aside a girl's reserve, unconcerned about any talk of an older woman with a younger man.

Lin Ye smiled faintly. A free wife on the house—what was there to complain about?

He wasn't about to play the upright gentleman. After all, his life goals were eating, drinking, having fun, and chasing girls—punching down on little thugs and kicking Yu Xiaogang's ass.

"Grandfather Dugu, take a look for me. How many years of soul ring can I absorb now?"

After consuming the Whale Rubber, Lin Ye's physical strength had been greatly enhanced. Combined with the Ice Fire Tempering Golden Body, the soul ring he could withstand far exceeded what an ordinary soul master's First Soul Ring would allow.

Hearing this, Dugu Bo grabbed his hand and probed his soul power into his body to examine it.

Not checking was one thing; checking was a shock. Afraid his judgment was off, Dugu Bo also pinched Lin Ye's arms and calves.

After repeated checks, he looked at Lin Ye as if he'd seen a ghost. "Kid, how is your physical body this tough? Even a Beast Martial Soul Soul Elder can't match you!"

Soul Elder? So that meant he could now grind Yu Xiaogang into the dirt with just his physical strength? The thought crossed Lin Ye's mind, but he shook his head. Who would compare himself to that old waste Yu Xiaogang? That would be too degrading.

Right now, Lin Ye's main concern was his soul ring. "Grandfather Dugu, so what do you think I can absorb?"

Dugu Bo thought for a moment and gave a conservative estimate. "Around three thousand years."

"Alright, then let's not waste time. Let's set out now. Grandfather Dugu, Sister Yan, I have other matters to attend to this time, and it'll take a while. Don't wait for me here."

"So urgent? Fine, let's go." Dugu Bo said.

Lin Ye waved his hand in refusal. "I have other things to handle on this trip, and it'll take some time. Grandfather Dugu, take Sister Yan back first. No need to wait for me."

Dugu Bo fell silent. Since Lin Ye didn't specify what the matter was, it meant it wasn't convenient to say. He didn't pry.

"Will you be gone long? How about coming back to Heaven Dou City with me this time, okay?" Dugu Yan showed reluctance.

"About a month or so. As for Heaven Dou City, forget it—I still have things to do here," Lin Ye replied.

"Sigh, I really don't get you. What's the point of staying in such a small place?"

Lin Ye: "..."

He couldn't exactly tell her he was lying in wait here, ready to set a trap for Tang San.

"Alright, Sister Yan. I'll come see you in Heaven Dou City when I have time."

He paused, then took out the Herb Catalogue from the Dragon Pattern Jade Pendant, flipped to a page, and tore it out.

"Sister Yan, the Earth Dragon Golden Melon is indeed a celestial herb, but its age is still a bit low. Take this and eat it when you get back. It'll help with your future cultivation."

The celestial herbs in the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well had been harvested once by Lin Ye from a future timeline. What grew there now were second-growth plants, naturally inferior in age to the first batch Lin Ye held.

Dugu Yan took it and looked down.

"Eight Petal Immortal Orchid, gentle medicinal properties, can purge impurities from the body..."

Besides the text description, there was an illustration—an eight-petal orchid, pure white and crystalline, giving off an air of lofty purity.

After bidding farewell to the grandfather and granddaughter, Lin Ye immediately set out with Snow Empress and Bing Di, heading for the Star Dou Great Forest.

The Star Dou Great Forest was the largest soul beast forest on the Douluo Continent, home to the most terrifying soul beasts.

Around nine in the morning, the sun was shining brightly.

Lin Ye and his two companions had already arrived at the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.

By the roadside stood a warning sign.

"Fifty li ahead, you will enter the territory of the Star Dou Great Forest. Soul beasts roam. Please be cautious."

As they drew closer to the forest, the surrounding air grew cooler.

This place made soul beasts fear. The Star Dou Great Forest was like a soul beast opening its abyssal maw, waiting for young lives to enter. No one knew whether what awaited inside was opportunity or the devouring of life.

But with Snow Empress and Bing Di here, Lin Ye could swagger through the Star Dou Great Forest without a care.

The Star Dou Great Forest could be divided into three main areas, based on the strength of the soul beasts.

In the Outer Area, only decade, century, and millennium soul beasts roamed; ten-thousand-year soul beasts were rarely seen.

Past the Outer Area was the Mixed Area, the region with the greatest variety of soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest.

Generally, thousand-year and ten-thousand-year soul beasts live here; for a hundred-year soul beast to appear in the Mixed Area, it usually has to rely on the strength of its clan.

Further in from the Mixed Area lies what is called the Core Area. Although this region is also quite vast, the number of soul beasts is far less than in the Mixed Area.

Because in the Core Area, hundred-year soul beasts are virtually extinct, thousand-year soul beasts are not numerous, and ten-thousand-year soul beasts are the main theme.

Of course, occasionally the figure of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast can also be seen.

And the very central area of the Core Area belongs to the true king of the Star Dou Great Forest. It would not be an exaggeration to call it the Core Circle within the Core Area.

After Lin Ye and the other two entered the Star Dou Great Forest, they traveled without pause, charging straight into the Mixed Area.

Although he was looking forward to his soul skill, Lin Ye was not too impatient. Spirit-type soul beasts were already rare, and those that met his requirements were even harder to find. He had already prepared himself for a long struggle.

As they went deeper, the surrounding trees grew taller, and the jungle became denser.

The trees were extremely thick, too large for several people to wrap their arms around.

Moreover, every tree towered into the clouds; in terms of height, they were at least several hundred meters tall.

The crowns were lofty, blotting out the sky and covering the sun. Even with the morning sun hanging high, the jungle was quite dark and damp.