Star Dou Great Forest

Xilai City.

A year ago, the poorly run restaurant next to Wu's Blacksmith Shop quietly changed hands. After some renovations, it put up a brand-new sign—Yuhao Soul Tool Shop.

Just from the name, it was clear that Huo Yuhao had taken over the place.

But people were never content.

The income from blacksmithing had already been considered decent in Xilai City, more than enough for Huo Yuhao and his mother to live a stable life.

However, after Huo Yuhao came into contact with soul tool crafting in the World Ten Thousand Years Later, he gave up his work at the blacksmith shop, took over the storefront, and switched to selling soul tools.

Most of the goods sold in the shop were low-tier first- and second-level soul tools crafted by Huo Yuhao.

Though their levels were not high, in the relatively backward Star Luo Empire—especially in a small city like Xilai City—they were undeniably rare items.

With their exquisite designs, practical functions, and relatively affordable prices, Yuhao Soul Tool Shop quickly made a name for itself.

Not only did local soul masters and somewhat well-off families in Xilai City come to browse, customers from several nearby cities often came specifically to make purchases after hearing of it.

As business flourished by the day, the income it brought in was far beyond what blacksmithing had once earned.

Huo Yuhao and his mother lived better and better, and what made him happiest was how greatly his mother Huo Yun'er's health had recovered.

Her once pale, haggard face had regained a healthy flush. Her frequent, suppressed coughing had long since disappeared, and the sorrow in her eyes had been replaced by peace and contentment.

The Yuhao Soul Tool Shop was brightly lit, with all kinds of delicate low-tier soul tools neatly displayed in glass cases along the walls.

At the back of the shop, beside a broad workbench, Huo Yuhao was bent over his work.

A slender engraving knife in his hand traced fine, steady core magic circle patterns onto soul tool metal, his expression focused.

"Ding-dong!"

The crisp chime of the doorbell sounded along with the soft noise of the shop door opening.

Huo Yuhao's engraving knife paused slightly. He lifted his head and saw a familiar figure—it was Wu Ming from the neighboring Wu's Blacksmith Shop.

Huo Yuhao set down his engraving knife and came around from behind the workbench. "Uncle Wu? Please, have a seat."

Over the past two years, the two had indeed gotten along quite well.

Back when Huo Yuhao had been learning the trade at the blacksmith shop, Wu Ming had taken good care of him. Later, after Huo Yuhao opened this soul tool shop, they became neighbors.

With just one glance, Huo Yuhao keenly caught the flicker of unease in Wu Ming's eyes.

He knew that Wu Ming had not come for an ordinary neighborly chat, but to ask for help.

Sure enough, Wu Ming sat down as instructed, rubbing his hands awkwardly over his knees as obvious hesitation crossed his face.

The shop fell quiet for a moment, with only the faint ticking of the soul tool clock audible.

At last, as though he had made up his mind, Wu Ming lifted his head and looked at Huo Yuhao with an earnest gaze.

"Brother Huo, I came this time... because I have something I'd like to ask your help with."

Huo Yuhao picked up the warm kettle, poured Wu Ming a cup of warm water, and gently pushed it before him.

"Uncle Wu, do we really need to be so formal with each other?"

"Just say what it is. If I can help, I'll certainly do my best."

Hearing that, Wu Ming's heart warmed, and much of his hesitation and embarrassment faded.

He picked up the cup and took a sip, steadying himself. No longer beating around the bush, he directly explained why he had come.

"Brother Huo, it's like this. My disappointing son has finally ground his soul power up to level ten."

"I was thinking of asking you to accompany us into the Star Dou Great Forest and help him obtain his First Soul Ring."

Huo Yuhao had met Wu Ming's son, Wu Yang, several times. His Innate Soul Power was only level one.

Now sixteen years old, he had only barely cultivated to level ten through sheer persistence.

After making his request, Wu Ming's face showed embarrassment again, and he hurriedly added, "Of course, I can't let you make the trip for nothing. Whatever it costs, you... you can just name the price."

He knew the going rates. In a place like Xilai City, hiring a reliable two-ring Soul Grandmaster to accompany someone into the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest would easily cost several hundred Gold Soul Coins.

If one hired a Soul Elder, the price started at a thousand Gold Soul Coins.

Though his blacksmith shop's business was fairly prosperous, it was still a small operation, and he also had to support his son's cultivation. He could not come up with too much money all at once.

The reason he had sought out Huo Yuhao, an eight-year-old boy, was that about half a year ago, he had personally seen him easily defeat a two-ring Soul Grandmaster without even using his Martial Soul.

That scene had deeply shocked Wu Ming.

Only then did he understand that this gentle and courteous young neighbor's true strength likely far exceeded his expectations.

Within the limited connections and knowledge of an ordinary blacksmith like himself, the only person capable of helping him—and possibly willing to do so—seemed to be the boy before him.

After asking, Wu Ming became even more anxious.

He looked at Huo Yuhao expectantly, waiting for his response.

The Star Dou Great Forest was, after all, fraught with danger. Though Huo Yuhao was quite strong, he was still young, so it would have been perfectly understandable for him to refuse.

However, Huo Yuhao merely pondered for a moment before saying decisively, "Uncle Wu, just pick a time that's convenient for you. I'm available anytime."

Wu Ming was stunned at first. Then he realized that Huo Yuhao had agreed!

The enormous surprise instantly swept away the unease in his heart. He was so excited he nearly rose from his chair, hurriedly saying, "Then... tomorrow! Tomorrow morning—would that work for you?"

"Yes."

Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement.

A huge weight lifted from Wu Ming's heart. With gratitude and a hint of embarrassment, he asked, "Brother Huo, thank you so much for this! Then... how much will it cost?"

Seeing the nervous yet sincere look in his eyes, Huo Yuhao understood that if he said he wanted nothing in return, Wu Ming, with his straightforward and proud nature, would never accept it.

So, after a brief thought, he said, "Uncle Wu, just give me three hundred Gold Soul Coins."

The amount was far below what Wu Ming had expected, and he immediately understood that Huo Yuhao was deliberately looking after him.

He was even more moved, his eyes growing hot. He knew that declining again or insisting on paying more would only make them seem distant.

He nodded firmly, committing this profound kindness to heart.

"Alright! Brother Huo, I, Old Wu, will remember this favor!"

"Tomorrow morning, I'll bring Little Yang over to meet up with you!"

The next day, after riding in a carriage for nearly half the day, they finally arrived at the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Towering trees blocked out the sky, vines twisted around them, and the distant cries of unknown creatures drifted through the air. The scent of soil and rotting leaves mingled in the forest.

Although Huo Yuhao was the youngest, he took the lead at the very front.

Behind him followed the visibly tense blacksmith Wu Ming, along with Wu Yang, who was entering a Soul Beast forest for the first time and felt both excitement and fear.

This was indeed Huo Yuhao's first time personally entering the Star Dou Great Forest, but in the Spirit Pagoda ten thousand years in the future, he had already undergone countless trials in the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Walking through this real forest now, there were subtle differences, but the instincts and vigilance born from countless simulated battles made him appear entirely at ease.

After passing a stretch of warning signs reading, "Soul Beasts ahead. Danger!" they had truly entered the outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest.

The initial journey was fairly peaceful. They encountered only ordinary wild animals without any Soul Power fluctuations, not even catching sight of the lowest-grade ten-year Soul Beast.

Suddenly, Huo Yuhao, walking at the front, stopped without warning. He raised his right hand in a signal for them to halt.

Wu Ming and Wu Yang's hearts jolted. They immediately held their breath, their muscles tensing as they nervously scanned the surrounding woods.

"Screeeech!!!"

At that moment, a sharp, piercing shriek erupted from the canopy not far ahead to the side!

Immediately afterward, a brownish-yellow shadow tore through the branches and leaves like an arrow loosed from a bow, carrying a foul wind as it pounced directly through the air at the three of them!

Wu Yang's face turned pale with fright, while Wu Ming instinctively tried to shield his son behind him.

Yet faced with this sudden attack, Huo Yuhao did not even fully turn around. He merely tilted his head slightly and casually glanced at the incoming shadow.

In an instant, the brownish-yellow figure charging at them so fiercely froze eerily in midair, then fell straight down.

With a muffled thud, it crashed into the grass several steps away from them. It twitched twice, then stopped moving.

Still shaken, Wu Ming and his son cautiously craned their necks to look over.

Lying in the grass was an ape-like creature about a meter long, covered in brownish-yellow fur, with sharp hooked claws on its limbs and pointed fangs protruding from its mouth.

Its eyes had rolled back, and there seemed to be blood around its nose and mouth. It was clearly dead.

Only then did Huo Yuhao's calm voice sound. "It's fine. It was only a seventy-year Wind Baboon."