Departure for the Soul Hunting Forest

After successfully taking the Blue Silver Emperor and the Spirit Bone, Ye Liangchen walked out of the cave and stood on a protruding rock on the cliff face. He carefully examined the cave Tang Hao had carved out and discovered another Mechanism Stone above the entrance.

"This guy really went to great lengths, turning the entrance into something like this."

Ye Liangchen found another protruding rock and pressed it down with his hand. With a thunderous rumble, the stone above the entrance fell, sealing the cave once more.

Once everything was settled, Ye Liangchen jumped straight out beyond the waterfall, spread his Wind Thunder Wings, and flew to the bank opposite the Deep Pool.

Seeing Zhu Zhu Qing still gathering medicinal herbs in the distant Mountain Forest, Ye Liangchen called out to her, "Zhu Qing, it's time for us to leave."

"I'm coming, Brother Chen."

"Whoosh, whoosh..."

Zhu Zhu Qing swiftly ran toward Ye Liangchen, carrying over a hundred medicinal herbs in her hands, her face brimming with a cheerful smile.

"Brother Chen, what did you find?"

Zhu Zhu Qing handed the herbs to Ye Liangchen and asked curiously.

"I found an unusual Blue Silver Grass. It seemed pretty good, so I planted it in a flowerpot."

With a thought from Ye Liangchen, the Blue Silver Emperor appeared in his hand.

"Buzz, buzz..."

At that moment, the Blue Silver Emperor seemed to sense sunlight and freedom. Its leaves swayed joyfully, and it extended a tender vine that gently curled around Ye Liangchen's finger.

Ye Liangchen had no intention of telling anyone around him about the hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor or the Spirit Bone.

"Brother Chen, isn't this Blue Silver Grass?"

"Why are there Golden Veins on its leaves? This Blue Silver Grass is too strange."

Zhu Zhu Qing reached out and gently touched the Blue Silver Emperor's leaves. In an instant, it extended another tender vine and lightly curled it around Zhu Zhu Qing's finger.

"Brother Chen, this Blue Silver Grass is so interesting."

Zhu Zhu Qing had never seen such a magical Blue Silver Grass before and could not help gently stroking its leaves.

"Blue Silver Grass is a Plant Soul Beast to begin with, but this one is somewhat special. I plan to bring it back and plant it in the manor's garden, so it can grow."

After taking away the Blue Silver Emperor, Ye Liangchen would find a way to strip Tang San of his Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline. That way, Tang San would be unable to awaken the Blue Silver Emperor Spirit and could only grow into a burly man who knew nothing but how to swing a giant hammer, just like his father.

The Blue Silver Emperor currently had only a trace of instinctive response. Its soul consciousness was likely still in deep slumber. Once its cultivation became higher in a few years, it might awaken.

After the Blue Silver Emperor sacrificed its hundred-thousand-year cultivation to Tang Hao, it had turned into a seed. Now, it could be considered reborn.

"Let's go! We're heading to the Soul Hunting Forest north of Nuoding City to find your third soul ring."

Ye Liangchen stored the Blue Silver Emperor in the Game Backpack and left the valley with Zhu Zhu Qing.

"Alright, Brother Chen." Hearing that she was about to obtain her third soul ring, Zhu Zhu Qing was extremely excited.

Meanwhile, on the official road leading to the Balak Kingdom, Tang San was carrying Xiao Wu as they traveled. The two chatted affectionately along the way, both in high spirits.

Suddenly, Tang San shuddered all over, his body went limp, and he stumbled forward, falling to the ground with Xiao Wu. His head struck the ground as well.

"Ow! Xiao San, what's wrong with you? How could you fall while walking perfectly well?" Xiao Wu rubbed her aching head, tears nearly spilling from her eyes.

"Xiao Wu, sorry. I think I tripped over a rock."

Tang San was too embarrassed to tell Xiao Wu that he had suddenly shuddered and gone weak all over. He could only fool her by saying that he had tripped over a rock.

"I told you long ago that you should rest properly, but you insisted on listening to Master and using meditation in place of sleep. A few days ago, you dropped a hammer right on your own foot while forging, and now you can't even walk steadily."

Xiao Wu had hit her head on the ground and developed a large bump. She felt a bit resentful toward Tang San. He had promised to protect her, yet now he had made her fall hard enough to get a bump on her head.

"Xiao Wu, are you hurt?" Tang San hurriedly helped Xiao Wu up, deeply worried.

"I've got a huge bump on my head. It hurts so much. I'll walk by myself now—I don't want you carrying me anymore."

Xiao Wu did not dare let Tang San carry her now. She was afraid he might fall again if he was careless, leaving her to suffer once more.

"Xiao Wu, I'm sorry. It's all my fault."

Tang San gently touched the bump on Xiao Wu's head, his heart aching. At the same time, he cursed himself inwardly. Damn it! Why did I suddenly shudder? This is already the third time.

"Xiao San, make sure you rest more in the future. Don't listen to Master about everything."

"Alright! I'll definitely make sure to rest."

After resting for a while, Xiao Wu took Tang San's hand, and they continued onward.

By the time Ye Liangchen and Zhu Zhu Qing returned to Nuoding City, it was already evening, so they had no choice but to find an inn to stay at.

The next morning, the two bought some necessities for entering the Soul Beast Forest, hired a carriage, and set off for the Soul Hunting Forest north of Nuoding City.

"Brother Chen, the Soul Hunting Forest is guarded by Spirit Hall soldiers. How are we supposed to get in?"

Zhu Zhu Qing asked Ye Liangchen curiously. The Soul Hunting Forest was a place where the empire raised Soul Beasts. Without a Spirit Hall Pass, one could not enter freely.

"Don't worry. I have a Pass."

Ye Liangchen had a Pope Token in his Soul Tool, allowing him to enter the Soul Hunting Forest whenever he wished. He simply did not know how the guards would react upon seeing the Token. Still, it would not be a problem. Those guards were merely small fry; once the Token appeared, they would probably be frightened into kneeling.

The Soul Hunting Forest, four hundred kilometers north of Nuoding City, contained only low-level Soul Beasts, at most a few Thousand-Year Soul Beasts. Ye Liangchen planned to take Little Cat in for a look. If they could not find what they needed, they would head straight for the Star Dou Forest. After all, he had a powerful trump card in hand now—even if a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast appeared, he could still kill it.

A few days later, the two finally arrived at the small town on the outskirts of the Soul Hunting Forest. It was much like Soul Hunting Town on the outskirts of Star Dou Forest, though considerably smaller in scale.

In a place where all sorts of people gathered, Ye Liangchen and Zhu Zhu Qing both wore bamboo hats to conceal their faces. Zhu Zhu Qing also put away her tail accessory.

Some vendors hawked all kinds of goods, while many soul-hunting squads recruited Soul Masters to join their hunting parties.

"What type of Soul Masters are you two? Would you like to join our Mountain Cat Team? We guarantee you'll be satisfied with the treatment."

At that moment, a Soul Elder-level man extended an invitation to Ye Liangchen and Zhu Zhu Qing.

Soul Masters were highly sought after in places like this. Whenever a team lost members, they would immediately recruit newcomers to replenish their ranks.

The Mountain Cat Team had lost two members during a previous soul hunt. When its leader spotted Ye Liangchen and Zhu Zhu Qing, he immediately invited them.

"Thank you, but we won't be joining."

Ye Liangchen directly refused the Mountain Cat Team's invitation. Setting aside the question of their character, he had no need for any team.

"Why not join our team, then?"

"Thank you for the offer, but we still won't be joining."

Several other soul-hunting teams also extended invitations to Ye Liangchen, but he rejected them all. Taking Zhu Zhu Qing with him, he quickly headed toward the entrance of the Soul Hunting Forest.

"Halt. The Soul Hunting Forest is a restricted area. Without a pass, you may not approach freely."

When Ye Liangchen and Zhu Zhu Qing reached the forest entrance, several Spirit Hall soldiers stopped them. Not far away, over a hundred soldiers had formed several small squads and patrolled the outskirts of the Soul Hunting Forest with spears in hand, preventing anyone from sneaking inside.

"This is my pass."

Ye Liangchen took out the Pope Token from his Soul Tool and waved it before the soldiers.

"P-Pope Token!"

"Greetings, my lord."

"What are your orders, my lord? We stand ready to serve you."

Sure enough, the moment the Pope Token appeared, the soldiers immediately knelt and respectfully saluted Ye Liangchen.

"Get up. Do your jobs properly, and don't let this matter leak."

"Open the gate. We're going in to obtain soul rings."

Seeing them drop to their knees the instant the Pope Token appeared, Ye Liangchen put on an act and gave the Spirit Hall soldiers a few instructions.

"As you command, my lord."

"Would you like us to summon people from the Nuoding City Spirit Branch Hall to help?"

The leading soldier assumed Ye Liangchen was the disciple of some high-ranking Spirit Hall figure, so he even offered to help hunt Soul Beasts.

"No need. We're strong enough."

"Keep this matter confidential, and don't inform the Nuoding City Spirit Branch Hall either. Everyone is busy with work, so there's no need to delay them."

After putting away the Token and giving the soldiers a few more instructions, Ye Liangchen took Zhu Zhu Qing into the Soul Hunting Forest.

"That lord was so nice. He didn't put on any airs at all. I wonder whose disciple he is?"

"Hey, don't pry into such matters. We just need to do our jobs."

As they watched Ye Liangchen and Zhu Zhu Qing disappear, the soldiers quietly discussed their identities. But they were merely lowly figures at the bottom of Spirit Hall and did not dare to speculate recklessly.

"Brother Chen, those soldiers just called your token a Pope Token. How do you have something like that?"

Zhu Zhu Qing was completely bewildered. Legend had it that the Pope Token belonged to the Pope of Spirit Hall, a symbol of power and status.

"Little Cat, don't worry about it. It's just a token."

"The Pope Token was an heirloom left behind by my parents. I heard that when Pope Bibi Dong assumed the position of Pope, my parents and Aunt Lan attended her coronation ceremony. They probably received it then."

Ye Liangchen had taken out the Pope Token merely to test its authority. Sure enough, it worked perfectly. Seeing the Pope Token truly was like seeing the Pope.

"Brother Chen, who were your parents? Can you tell me?" Zhu Zhu Qing stared at Ye Liangchen and asked curiously.

"My father was Ye Feng, and my mother was Liu Ru Yan. They were killed three months after I was born, so I can't even remember what they looked like."

Ye Liangchen felt that his so-called parents in this world had simply been Tool People arranged by the Time-Space Administration. After bringing him into this world, they had exited the stage.

"Brother Chen, your... your parents were actually Ye Feng and Liu Ru Yan?" Zhu Zhu Qing was instantly shocked upon hearing their names.

"Zhu Qing, you know my parents?" Ye Liangchen wondered whether his so-called parents in this world had really been that famous.

"I heard the elders mention them. They said that your parents had already reached level 89 Soul Douluo by the age of forty. They were true super geniuses. Unfortunately, they later died in an accident. Otherwise, they would certainly have become the youngest Titled Douluo.

"Your parents traveled across the continent and often upheld justice, so they were extremely famous. Many major powers wanted to recruit them, but they refused them all."

"I never expected Brother Chen to have such an extraordinary background."

As Zhu Zhu Qing spoke of the legends surrounding Ye Liangchen's parents, her face revealed admiration and longing, like that of a devoted little fan.

"So what if they were famous? Didn't they still die in the end?"

Ye Liangchen felt that his so-called parents must have beaten up Soul Masters from many powerful factions. After all, such factions always had arrogant and overbearing people among them. If his identity was exposed in the future, some people might come looking to cause him trouble.

But it did not matter. He had more than enough trump cards. Whoever came would be out of luck.

"Brother Chen, I'm sorry. I brought up something painful."

Zhu Zhu Qing spoke softly, feeling somewhat guilty.

"It's fine."

"Now we need to stay sharp. To find a Thousand-Year Soul Beast, we have to head deeper into the forest. Let's hope this trip succeeds!"

Ye Liangchen reminded Little Cat. After all, the girl was still just a tiny fry, far too weak.

"Don't worry, Brother Chen."

Zhu Zhu Qing believed that with two soul rings and Soul Power at level 30, protecting herself should not be a problem.