One of Humanity's Forbidden Zones, the Star Dou Forest

"Ah... So we can only rely on ourselves? I thought Teacher Lin would personally step in. That would have saved us a lot of trouble..."

Yufeng scratched his head and spoke somewhat dejectedly.

The Shimo brothers felt the same way. Whenever they had obtained soul rings in the past, Teacher Qin Ming had personally helped them defeat the soul beasts they needed, rarely allowing them to take part themselves.

Now that Ling Ling had said this, the Shimo brothers, who had just been full of energy, suddenly looked as though they had lost all will to live. Were they really going to have to fight soul beasts to the death?

As they pondered this, Lin Yuan, standing atop the Azure Dragon, arrived in an instant. The surging force suddenly swept up a tornado from the ground before them.

Intimidated by that energy, the members of the Heaven Dou Battle Team involuntarily took two steps back.

Ye Lingling said happily, "Teacher!"

Lin Yuan nodded, tossed Xiao Wu from his hand onto the ground, and said softly, "Since everyone is ready, we can set out now."

"Yes!"

The members of the Heaven Dou Battle Team looked enviously at the Blood Fiend Azure Dragon beneath Teacher Lin. That was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast capable of shocking the entire Douluo Continent, yet it had now become Lord Lin Yuan's mount.

If they could have a soul beast of that caliber as a mount, how wonderful would that be? They would surely rise to great heights.

The Star Dou Forest lay directly south of the Heaven Dou Empire. It was a vast forest inhabited by soul beasts and one of humanity's forbidden zones. Its danger was no less than that of the Extreme North.

Likewise, the Star Dou Forest was also the largest soul beast forest. Its area was nearly equal to the territory of the Balak Kingdom, stretching across the borders of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire.

Two-fifths of its land lay within the Heaven Dou Empire, while the other three-fifths belonged to the Star Luo Empire. It was an enormous primeval forest with complex terrain.

There were wetlands, swamps, and more. The soul beasts there were also exceptionally terrifying. The closer one got to the center of the forest, the more powerful the soul beasts became.

There were even Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts inside. Any Soul Master with sufficient strength and good fortune could find the soul ring best suited to them there.

At the outermost edge of the Star Dou Forest lived ten-year and hundred-year soul beasts. Further within were areas where hundred-year and thousand-year soul beasts gathered, with the occasional Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast.

Beyond that was a region dominated by Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts, while the innermost area was the core zone, also known as Star Lake.

Da Ming, the Sky Azure Bull Python, and Er Ming, the Titan Giant Ape, lived there, along with some soul beasts that were at least fifty thousand years old and possessed powerful bloodlines.

"..."

After two days, the group arrived at the perilous outskirts of the Star Dou Forest. Looking at the towering ancient trees before them, the children of the Heaven Dou Battle Team could not help but feel oppressed.

Mist curled through the forest like ghosts, spiraling upward as though it had cloaked the entire forest in an air of mystery.

Every living creature in that terrifying forest exuded an eerie aura, making it impossible not to feel fear.

Sitting atop the Azure Dragon's head, Lin Yuan looked down at Osler and the others. "Use the knowledge you normally learned to search for soul beasts. Do not disturb any Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts here. You only need to find ones suitable for yourselves."

Osler wore a miserable expression. "Ling Ling, what should we do next?"

"What else can we do? We search directly for soul beasts suitable for us. Besides, Teacher Lin Yuan already said that as long as we don't provoke Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts, everything will be fine."

Yufeng tidied his short blue hair, smiling as he released his martial soul wings and hovered in midair. "Let's go. We'll make this quick and find soul beasts suited to us as soon as possible."

The others nodded in agreement and ran toward the depths of the Star Dou Forest, searching for information about soul beasts that belonged to them.

"Master, are you really certain these children won't encounter danger? This is the Star Dou Forest. There are soul beasts everywhere that can kill them. One careless mistake, and they might truly lose their lives."

Shang Que could not help asking at this moment.

Lin Yuan answered softly, "Don't worry. With my spiritual power covering this place, every Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast will be driven away. The ones left behind will all be suitable for them."

The Blood Fiend Azure Dragon, Shang Que, smacked his lips and said with a smile, "Master, you really are sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. By the way, Master, how do you plan to deal with that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? Will you keep her by your side?"

"I haven't decided yet..."

Lin Yuan looked at his palm and said softly, "I currently have only one martial soul. If another martial soul can emerge later, perhaps then I will personally take her soul ring."

Shang Que could not quite understand.

What did he mean by another martial soul?

Could it be that his master's Asura Sword martial soul could mutate and give birth to another martial soul?

Shang Que shook his head. Whether his master could obtain another martial soul in the future or not, he believed his master would never lay a hand on him. After all, he had followed his master for many years, and their hearts were already connected.

As for that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, the Soft Bone Charm Rabbit, she was merely a pet raised by his master. If his master was in a bad mood one day, killing her outright would not be a problem at all.

At the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest, the members of the Heaven Dou Battle Team were also doing their best to search for soul beasts suited to themselves, while indirectly protecting Ye Lingling's safety.

As the only Support System Soul Master on the team, Ye Lingling could instantly restore them to full health even if they were all seriously injured. She was absolutely a top-tier healer on the battlefield.

"Ling Ling, when we fight, you must stand behind us. With Yu Tianheng, our Assault System Soul Master, gone this time, I, Yufeng, am serving as captain."

Yufeng flashed Ye Lingling a smile and struck a cool pose. "Don't worry, I'll protect you."

Ye Lingling's expression remained cold. "You should protect yourself. Back at the Soul Arena, it was your impatience that caused us to lose the match. If the captain weren't absent, I would have scolded you already."

"Uh..."

Yufeng's lips twitched. He immediately turned around, his face flushing red as he said, "That was all in the past. I forgot about it long ago.

And Ling Ling, you're not allowed to bring it up again... Besides, a true man does not boast of past glories. If the others find out, I won't have anywhere to show my face."

Ye Lingling said nothing. She did not even spare Yufeng a glance, remaining as cold and emotionless as ever, like a piece of ten-thousand-year ice marrow that kept everyone at arm's length.

Yufeng rubbed his forehead and mocked himself. "Sigh, Ling Ling's personality really is too hard to win over. I guess I have no hope~"