Qin Ming led Long Chen and the others into Sunset Forest.
Their goal was to find a Thousand-Year Soul Beast with self-healing abilities, so that Ye Lingling could obtain her third Soul Ring and further improve her healing abilities.
They ventured deeper into the forest, gradually nearing the areas where Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were likely to appear.
Suddenly, a sleek Shadow Demon Leopard, its body covered in dark markings, burst out of the trees.
Its eyes were like two cold stars in the abyss, gleaming with a savage light.
Qin Ming quickly warned everyone:
"Be careful! It's a Thousand-Year Shadow Demon Leopard!"
Leopard Type Soul Beasts had decent self-healing abilities. This Shadow Demon Leopard was a Thousand-Year Soul Beast, making it exactly the target they had come to find.
Seeing this, Long Chen released his Dark Night Demonic Lute Martial Soul without hesitation and shielded Ye Lingling behind him.
Yu Tianheng also released his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, a powerful aura surging as lightning coiled around him.
Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul quietly manifested as well, ready to attack at any moment.
Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Yu Feng, and Osler all released their own Martial Souls, too.
The group quickly surrounded the Shadow Demon Leopard.
The Shadow Demon Leopard was nimble, like a phantom in the darkness, and incredibly fast. It wouldn't be easy to deal with.
It let out a furious roar and lunged at Osler, who was closest.
Osler had a Ghost Leopard Martial Soul and was fast, too. He dodged the attack with a sidestep.
Just then, a lute sounded.
As Long Chen unleashed his Second Soul Skill, a huge Nine-Tailed Fox appeared above the Shadow Demon Leopard.
The Shadow Demon Leopard slowed considerably, its gaze growing hazy.
Seeing this, Yu Tianheng immediately unleashed his lightning power.
Blue-violet bolts crackled across the Shadow Demon Leopard's body, leaving it numb all over.
The others seized the opportunity and joined the attack.
Restrained by Long Chen and beset by the group, the Shadow Demon Leopard gradually weakened and fell to the ground.
"Lingling, go deliver the final blow!"
"All right."
Ye Lingling stepped forward and swung her blade, striking the Shadow Demon Leopard squarely in the throat.
The Shadow Demon Leopard breathed its last.
With the battle over, Qin Ming walked over to the group.
He hadn't joined the fight against the Thousand-Year Shadow Demon Leopard, intending instead to help the team improve their coordination.
"You all did well. Your teamwork was excellent."
The group exchanged smiles.
Ye Lingling said:
"Is anyone hurt? I can treat you."
"We're fine. Lingling, get yourself ready to absorb the Soul Ring."
Wisps of mist slowly rose from the Shadow Demon Leopard's corpse and gradually gathered in the air, forming a Thousand-Year Soul Ring that glowed purple.
Once Ye Lingling had composed herself, she drew the Soul Ring toward her and prepared to absorb it.
The others took a short break as well.
Long Chen quickly returned to peak condition.
He had wanted to stay by Ye Lingling's side and watch her wake after absorbing the Soul Ring.
But he had something more important to do now.
"Teacher, Lingling will need some time to absorb the Soul Ring. I'd like to gather some medicinal herbs nearby."
Qin Ming glanced around.
This didn't seem like a place where high-year Soul Beasts often appeared.
"Go ahead, but don't wander far. Stay nearby."
"All right."
Dugu Yan came over to Long Chen and said with a teasing smile:
"Teacher, I'll go with Xiao Chen."
"I'll go too. There's safety in numbers."
Yu Tianheng walked over as well.
Qin Ming considered it for a moment, then nodded and cautioned them:
"Be careful. Don't go too far, mark your route as you go, and return immediately if you encounter danger."
"Mm, we understand."
The three replied, then left the group.
Long Chen walked at the front, heading straight for the heart of the forest.
He knew that if he found the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison Array Dugu Bo had set up, he might be able to attract Dugu Bo's attention.
The three continued onward, going farther and farther until they were nearing the forest's heart.
Yu Tianheng suddenly said:
"Have we gone too far?"
"The medicinal herbs I'm looking for aren't found near the outskirts. Don't worry, I've been marking the way. We can just follow the markers back later."
"Fine. But we still shouldn't go too far, or the others will worry."
"Mm. Let's try to get back before Lingling finishes absorbing the Soul Ring."
The three continued on.
Suddenly, a powerful surge of Soul Power swept toward them.
Yu Tianheng's expression changed, and a sense of unease welled up inside him.
"Someone's nearby."
"Mm, I feel it too."
Long Chen sensed a sinister, terrifying aura.
Dugu Yan glanced around, a complex look crossing her face.
Suddenly, a chilling green figure appeared in front of them.
The icy aura made the temperature around them drop several degrees in an instant.
At the sight of the figure, Dugu Yan first startled, then broke into a delighted smile.
"Grandpa!"
The newcomer was Dugu Bo.
He wore a black robe, his expression stern, and his eyes gleamed with wisdom.
Seeing Dugu Yan, Dugu Bo furrowed his brows and asked:
"Yanyan, what are you doing here?"
Dugu Yan hurried over, looped an arm around one of Dugu Bo's, and said sweetly:
"Grandpa, I was just about to ask you the same thing. What are you doing here?"
"I came to look for some medicinal herbs."
"What a coincidence! We're looking for medicinal herbs, too."
After speaking, Dugu Yan pointed to Yu Tianheng and Long Chen and introduced them:
"Grandpa, these two are my teammates. This is Yu Tianheng, from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the captain of our School Team. This is Long Chen, the alchemy expert I told you about who makes Detoxification Pills."
Hearing this, Dugu Bo glanced over Long Chen and Yu Tianheng, his gaze tinged with suspicion and wariness.
"Yanyan, you came looking for medicinal herbs on purpose? Just the three of you?"
"No. We came to help our teammate Ye Lingling obtain her third Soul Ring. We've already killed the Soul Beast, and while she absorbs the Soul Ring, we're accompanying Long Chen to look for medicinal herbs."
Dugu Bo nodded, letting his gaze linger on Long Chen for a moment. A trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.
He knew just how troublesome the poison inside Dugu Yan was. For a boy who looked only thirteen or fourteen to make Detoxification Pills with some ability to suppress it was no small feat.
Dugu Bo had already heard Dugu Yan mention Long Chen before.
However, he had always been arrogant and hadn't taken Long Chen seriously.
Now that he had seen Long Chen in person, he sensed something indescribable about the boy.
"Kid, you made pills that can somewhat suppress the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison in Yanyan's body. Who taught you?"
Dugu Bo looked at Long Chen, his icy gaze enough to make anyone's heart tremble.
But Long Chen wasn't intimidated in the slightest. He replied calmly:
"I learned at an ordinary clinic in Heaven Dou City. It was nothing special."
Before you continue