Star Dou Forest

Nothing happened that night. The next morning, Lan Xiao Die had the inn waiter deliver breakfast, and everyone began eating. Once they were full and satisfied, they prepared to set off toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

Whoosh, whoosh...

At that moment, a powerful Soul Power aura came from afar. Ye Liangchen ran to the window and saw a longsword appear in the sky, carrying three people swiftly toward the Star Dou Forest.

At the front of the sword stood a white-haired old man in a light blue robe. He looked exceptionally handsome and was most likely Sword Douluo. Behind him stood a refined middle-aged man holding a porcelain-doll-like little girl in his arms. They were probably Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong.

Watching Sword Douluo disappear into the distance, Ye Liangchen thought Sword Flight looked incredibly cool. Once he cultivated his Sword Spirit in the future, he would definitely develop a Sword Flight skill as well.

Sword Douluo was also one of the ultimate handsome men of Douluo Continent, on the same level as Qiandao Liu in terms of looks. Then again, most Soul Masters who used swords tended to be handsome.

"As expected of Sword Douluo! He can even carry two people while flying on a sword." Su Lin could not stop praising Sword Douluo's flying skill.

"Little Chen has a Sword Spirit too. He'll be able to fly on a sword in the future." The Lan Xiao Die sisters stroked Ye Liangchen's little head. They were filled with anticipation for the little fellow's future achievements.

"Eat up! We need to set out afterward too." Lan Xiao Die urged everyone to finish their food quickly.

Soul Hunting Town was still over a hundred li away from Star Dou Forest. The final stretch of road was extremely rugged, and carriages could not travel through it.

To reach their destination as quickly as possible, Lan Xiao Die directly picked Ye Liangchen up in her arms and raced toward Star Dou Forest. Su Lin and Lan Xiao Ling followed on either side.

Whoosh, whoosh...

High-level Soul Masters were incredibly fast. An hour later, they had already arrived at the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Star Dou Forest was the largest Soul Beast forest on Douluo Continent, half again as large as the entire Balak Kingdom. The vast forest lay between the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire. Forty percent of it was within Heaven Dou Empire territory, while the remaining sixty percent belonged to Star Luo Empire.

Spirit Hall was located at the border between the Two Great Empires, only about six hundred kilometers from Star Dou Forest. With the resources of the entire Star Dou Great Forest behind it, it truly occupied a uniquely advantageous position.

Star Dou Great Forest was also home to the greatest variety of Soul Beasts. Soul Beasts needed by ordinary Soul Masters could generally be found here. However, Star Dou Great Forest was also the most dangerous Soul Beast forest on all of Douluo Continent. Rumor had it that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts existed at the heart of the forest.

That was only what the people of Douluo Continent knew. As a transmigrator, Ye Liangchen knew that the Silver Dragon King and a group of Fierce Beasts over two hundred thousand years old were hidden deep within Lake of Life in Star Dou Forest. That was the most dangerous place on the entire Douluo Continent.

Ye Liangchen looked over the magical Star Dou Forest in awe. Towering trees, exotic flowers, and rare grasses filled the place. Of course, Blue Silver Grass was still the most abundant plant.

Squeak, squeak...

Rustle, rustle...

Awoo...

Having just entered the outer region of the forest, they saw birds and beasts under a hundred years old darting through the woods, letting out all kinds of cries from time to time.

"Little Chen, Star Dou Forest is the forest with the most Soul Beasts on the entire continent..."

Along the way, Lan Xiao Die introduced Ye Liangchen to Star Dou Great Forest and taught him survival knowledge for entering Soul Beast forests. She, Su Lin, and Lan Xiao Ling formed a triangle around the little fellow as they headed deeper into Star Dou Forest.

Ye Liangchen kept his eyes and ears open, guarding against attacks from Soul Beasts. Although three experts were protecting him, he had to learn how to protect himself in a forest like this.

"Little Chen! Auntie has a sword here. Take it for self-defense."

Lan Xiao Die took an exquisite three-foot longsword from her Soul Tool and handed it to Ye Liangchen.

"Okay, Aunt Lan."

After taking the longsword Lan Xiao Die handed him, Ye Liangchen suddenly felt inspired and wanted to practice his Sword Techniques. He began swinging the sword around.

"Aunt Lan! This sword is beautiful. Can you give it to me?" Ye Liangchen asked with a grin.

"Silly child! I took this sword out to give it to you."

Lan Xiao Die smiled sweetly. Liu Ru Yan had given her this sword back then. At the time, she and her sister had not yet married Yun Han Xing. They had traveled the continent with Ye Feng, living free and carefree lives. Looking back now, the memories were countless.

"Thank you, Aunt Lan!"

Ye Liangchen had long since memorized the exquisite sword moves of Myriad Plum Blossom Swordplay. Following the moves in his mind, he began to dance with the sword.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

Thrust, chop, sweep, Whirlwind Thrust, diagonal thrust...

The longsword moved through Ye Liangchen's hand like a wandering dragon, incredibly nimble. Blossoms of sword light radiated sharp auras, dazzling beyond compare.

Soul Power coated the blade, giving it tremendous destructive force. Several trees as thick as bowls three meters away were severed by the sword edge, filling Ye Liangchen with the feeling that, sword in hand, the world was his.

Worthy of being Sword God Ximen Chuixue's peerless swordplay! To Soul Masters of Douluo World, it was simply a divine skill.

Ye Liangchen remembered that Sword Saint Ye Gucheng's Celestial Flight swordplay was even stronger than Ximen Chuixue's swordplay. Once he learned Celestial Flight in the future, it would surely be incredibly impressive.

"This little fellow is truly a swordsmanship genius. His swordplay feels even stronger and more exquisite than his father's."

Watching Ye Liangchen turn swordsmanship into something so spectacular, the three women retreated to the side and quietly watched him practice. They felt immensely gratified.

"Aunt Lan! I think you can learn Myriad Plum Blossom Swordplay too. If you master these Sword Techniques, they'll be just like Self-Created Soul Skills."

After completing over a hundred sword moves, Ye Liangchen felt extremely refreshed. To improve the strength of those around him, he introduced the mysteries of Myriad Plum Blossom Swordplay to Lan Xiao Die and the others, hoping they would learn swordsmanship in the future.

They were all his family, and Ye Liangchen hoped they would become stronger. He would not be like Tang San next door, hoarding the Tang Sect's ultimate arts and refusing to teach even his own wife, Xiao Wu.

"Mm! It's time for us to change our way of thinking. This peerless swordplay looks just like a Self-Created Soul Skill when Little Chen uses it."

"However, swordplay this precious must not be passed around carelessly. Otherwise, the consequences will be severe."

After hearing Ye Liangchen, the three women exchanged looks and silently came to the same decision. Skywater Academy's Extreme Style teaching model needed to change as well.

"We'll arrange this after returning to the academy. For now, let's search for Soul Beasts first. Su Lin, have you decided on your seventh Spirit Ring?"

"Soul Beasts like Ice Toad, Blue Scale Flood Dragon, and Blue Flag Arrow Fish would all work."

"Then we'll first find Sky Azure Vine for Little Chen before heading deeper into the forest."

The Lan Xiao Die sisters and Su Lin discussed the seventh Spirit Ring. Ye Liangchen listened quietly beside them, feeling that the Soul Beasts Su Lin wanted all had water attributes. It was rather extreme, probably due to Skywater Academy's Extreme Style teaching model.

Ye Liangchen remembered that the Soul Beasts killed by the Strength Clan were all strength-type. Their Martial Soul seemed to be called Great Strength Gorilla, which had also caused every member of that clan to grow as burly as king kong. All their Soul Skills had strength attributes. They were extreme even among extremists.

The group headed deeper into Star Dou Forest, and the Soul Beasts they encountered grew increasingly powerful. Snakes as thick as water barrels and twenty meters long crawled forward with their tongues flickering.

Hiss, hiss...

The giant snake's hissing was terrifying. Ye Liangchen felt that it could swallow a two- or three-hundred-pound strongman whole.

Crack...

A giant centipede over ten meters long had densely packed legs as thick as small bowls. The two pincers in front of its head were like enormous sickles. It killed a goat in one strike and swallowed it whole.

The sight reminded Ye Liangchen of the Centipede Demon from A Chinese Ghost Story.

Awoo...

Chirp, chirp...

Gray wolves as large as calves swiftly hunted weaker Soul Beasts. Numerous Plant Soul Beasts, frightened by the commotion, wrapped themselves up with their branches. Some trees dozens of meters tall even ran at high speed. In the sky, birds of prey over ten meters wide screeched as they whistled over the group's heads.

Looking at these powerful Soul Beasts, Ye Liangchen's scalp tingled. It felt as though he had entered Monster World. Seeing such savage beasts for the first time, he was still somewhat unaccustomed to them.

"Little Chen! With us here, there's no need to be afraid." Seeing Ye Liangchen's nervous expression, Lan Xiao Die gently patted his back.

"It's normal to be scared when seeing Soul Beasts for the first time. We were the same as children." Lan Xiao Ling and Su Lin smiled beside him.

"I'm not scared. I'm judging the ages of these Soul Beasts." Ye Liangchen refused to admit he was afraid even if it killed him.

Carefully observing the markings on these Soul Beasts, he estimated that they were around three hundred years old. Soul Beast Encyclopedia recorded the markings displayed by many Soul Beasts at different stages of life, making them easy to identify.

Ye Liangchen had only skimmed the surface of Soul Beast Encyclopedia. It seemed he needed to master this knowledge as soon as possible. It was experience accumulated by countless generations of Soul Masters on Douluo Continent.

The group continued deeper into the forest when a violent wind suddenly rose ahead, followed by a howl.

Awoo...

"Clouds follow dragons, wind follows tigers. This is a tiger-type Soul Beast, and a very powerful one at that. Stay alert." Lan Xiao Die had everyone stop and prepare for battle.

Whoosh, whoosh...

After a gust of wind swept past, a massive Ghost Tiger pounced at them. It was approximately eight thousand years old.

Hiss, hiss...

Rustle, rustle...

Immediately afterward, a three-meter-long giant scorpion and a twenty-meter Spotted Giant Python attacked from both sides. They were roughly five thousand years old.

In the distance, a Man Faced Demon Spider around five thousand years old crouched on a large tree, silently watching everything.

"Hmph! These savage Soul Beasts that haven't even reached ten thousand years dare treat us as food? Little Ling, let's go. End this quickly."

"Su Lin! Protect Little Chen."

Lan Xiao Die released her Martial Soul and called to her sister, ready to fight.

Cry, cry...

Buzz, buzz...

A phoenix cry rang out as an Ice Phoenix appeared behind Lan Xiao Die. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black—eight Spirit Rings slowly rose from her body.

Lan Xiao Ling also released her Jade Dolphin. Two yellow, two purple, and three black Spirit Rings appeared.

"Sis! Should we kill them all?"

"No need to kill them all. Driving them away will be enough. Killing these Soul Beasts will draw stronger Soul Beasts with the scent of blood. Besides, these Soul Beasts are excellent resources. It would be a waste to kill them, and we may need them later."

Whoosh, whoosh...

First Spirit Ability: Ice Seal

Lan Xiao Die unleashed her Soul Skill. In an instant, countless blocks of ice erupted from the ground, immediately freezing the charging Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.

Fifth Spirit Ability: Water Cannon Attack

Lan Xiao Ling also unleashed her Fifth Spirit Ability, Water Cannon Attack.

Bang, bang, bang...

Several water cannons shot rapidly from her hands and accurately struck the frozen Soul Beasts, blasting them away in an instant. Even the Man Faced Demon Spider on the distant tree was hit precisely.

Awoo...

Hiss, hiss...

Soul Beasts that had lived for several thousand years possessed a trace of intelligence. After being blasted away, they knew they had encountered formidable opponents and immediately fled.

Ye Liangchen witnessed Lan Xiao Ling's Water Cannon Attack. It was practically like artillery fire. Even from twenty meters away, it had such devastating power. It was truly impressive.

"Little Chen! What do you think?"

Su Lin smiled as she looked at the astonishment in the little fellow's eyes while holding him in her arms.

"Aunt Lan's Soul Skills are amazing." Ye Liangchen waved his hands excitedly.

"Let's go!" Lan Xiao Die called for everyone to continue onward.

They searched the forest for an entire day without finding the Soul Beasts they wanted. Along the way, they encountered two waves of savage Soul Beast attacks, and Ye Liangchen even killed a hundred-year Netherworld Wolf. He found it incredibly thrilling.

At that moment, they found a cave ahead, roughly twenty square meters in size. It was very dry inside, and there was a small river two hundred meters from the entrance. It was an ideal camping spot, so Lan Xiao Die suggested they rest there for the night.

"We'll spend the night here and continue searching tomorrow."

After entering the cave, they found no animals inside, and the ground was clean. Su Lin and Lan Xiao Ling skillfully set up the tents, while Ye Liangchen helped out. He had watched Bei Ye's Wilderness Survival program in his previous life, so he found the experience of surviving in the wild extremely exciting.

Lan Xiao Die went into the forest to gather dry firewood, then carried back over a dozen buckets of water from the river. She lit a fire outside the cave and boiled a pot of hot water, preparing dinner.

When they had passed through Suotuo City, Lan Xiao Die had purchased large quantities of rice, flour, grain, oil, cookware, and various dried vegetables and meats. Everything was stored in her Soul Tool, enough to feed the four of them for one or two months.

Lan Xiao Die had brought so many food supplies because Ye Liangchen was still young and growing. His meals had to be nutritious; she could not let him chew dry rations every day.

"Sis! What are we having tonight?" Lan Xiao Ling asked with a cheerful smile.

"Dried winter bamboo shoots with cured beef, stir-fried wild lily, braised dried carp, and egg drop soup. Conditions are limited, so this is all I can make."

"Wow! It's been so long since I last had food made by the dean."

"Su Lin! Have you not eaten enough of my cooking before? Hurry over and help. You're my mother's student too, so you have to call me Senior Sister when we're outside."

"As you command, beautiful Senior Sister."

After setting up the tents, Su Lin and Lan Xiao Ling also came over to help. The three women chatted and laughed, creating an exceptionally warm scene.

Sitting some distance away and watching them, Ye Liangchen felt as though he were watching the Beauty Private Cuisine program from his previous life. It was quite a feast for the eyes.

An hour later, a lavish dinner was ready. The enticing fragrance filled the air, making everyone's mouths water.

"Little Chen! Go wash your hands and come eat." Lan Xiao Die called to Ye Liangchen, who was meditating and cultivating.

"Okay, Aunt Lan." With delicious food waiting, Ye Liangchen was in an excellent mood.

After a satisfying meal, Lan Xiao Die took out a large pot and a wooden tub and began heating water, while Su Lin and Lan Xiao Ling went to bathe in the distant river.

"Little Chen! Hurry and bathe. Auntie will stand guard outside." Lan Xiao Die poured the hot water into the wooden tub and told Ye Liangchen to wash up.

Good grief! Were they here to hunt Soul Beasts or to travel? Seeing this scene, Ye Liangchen found it incredibly amusing.

"Thank you, Aunt Lan!"

Ye Liangchen soaked in the wooden tub, feeling completely relaxed. This kind of life was far too comfortable.

After a while, Su Lin returned, and Lan Xiao Die went to the river for a bath as well. Women loved cleanliness, especially beautiful women like them.

After all that fuss, the sky had turned pitch-black, so dark that one could not see one's own hand. Fortunately, the bonfire still burned, illuminating the entire cave.

"Little Chen! Go to sleep now." Seeing that it was late at night, Lan Xiao Die interrupted Ye Liangchen's cultivation and told him to sleep.

"Okay, Aunt Lan!"

Ye Liangchen crawled into the tent and went to sleep, quickly falling into a deep slumber.

"Su Lin, Little Ling, go sleep. I'll keep watch tonight."

"Sis! We'll sleep during the first half of the night. Su Lin and I will take watch during the second half, then you can sleep."

"Alright! It's settled."

After cultivating for an hour, the three women arranged their resting shifts. Spending the night in a Soul Beast forest meant they had to remain vigilant against Soul Beast attacks at all times.

After entering the tent, Su Lin lay down beside Ye Liangchen and once again hugged the little fellow in her arms like a body pillow.

"Su Lin! I feel like you're doing this on purpose. Do you really have to hug the little fellow to fall asleep?" Lan Xiao Ling was speechless at the woman's behavior.

"Big Sister Little Ling! As Little Chen's teacher, and with us in Star Dou Forest, I have to be responsible for his safety. This is called close protection." Su Lin ignored Lan Xiao Ling's teasing and continued holding Ye Liangchen, giving him the warmest care.

"I know you were a little unwilling to accept your defeat to Liu Ru Yan back then. Don't tell me you're planning to make a move on her son? Don't you dare do anything reckless!" Lan Xiao Ling felt there was something very wrong with this woman.

"Big Sister Little Ling, you're overthinking it."

Su Lin gave Lan Xiao Ling a bewitching smile. Even if I did have such thoughts, it would be impossible. By the time the little fellow grows up, I'll already be old.

Ye Liangchen was sleeping soundly, but he felt as though something had enveloped him again. It carried a pleasant fragrance and felt very comfortable.

In his daze, he found that he could not turn over, so he reached out to move around. The next moment, he touched something soft and squishy, instantly waking up. He discovered that he was once again in the embrace of his beautiful teacher, Su Lin.

What the hell! Why is this happening again? How am I supposed to sleep like this? What a sin!

Back in Soul Hunting Town, this woman had promised the Lan Xiao Die sisters that she would protect him closely. She had truly become addicted to sticking close to him. It was completely ridiculous.

The dean had told him before that Su Lin had pursued his father back then. However, his mother, Liu Ru Yan, had stood in her way, so she never succeeded.

Could this woman be planning to make a move on him now? Although that kind of thing was rather exciting.

Thinking of this, Ye Liangchen began silently reciting the Ice Heart Incantation in his heart.

If the heart is as clear as ice, heaven may collapse without causing alarm.

Though all things change, remain still; let the spirit be joyful and calm...

To help himself fall asleep, Ye Liangchen silently recited the Ice Heart Incantation five times before finally calming down and slowly drifting into sleep.