Sunset Forest

Sunset Forest was one of the three great soul beast gathering grounds on Douluo Continent, and also the soul beast forest closest to Heaven Dou City.

From ten-year soul beasts to ten-thousand-year soul beasts, Sunset Forest had everything one could want.

At this point, a month had passed since the awakening of their martial souls.

After a full month of recuperation, Su Yu had finally made up for the deficiencies in his body. Under Qian Renxue's lead, he entered Sunset Forest.

Inside the royal carriage, Qian Renxue asked in a testing tone, "Xiao Yu, you've read quite a few books about soul beasts this month. Are there any soul beasts you have your eye on?"

Su Yu thought for a moment before saying, "Preferably a social species. I plan to hunt the beast king of a pack and use it as my first soul ring."

Qian Renxue's eyes lit up. "Why choose that?"

Su Yu summoned the Brass Book and explained, "My martial soul not only records the fundamental rules of the world, but also emanates an indescribable majesty. You could even say that it represents authority."

Qian Renxue nodded. When his martial soul had awakened, everyone present had been highly powerful, so they had not paid much attention to that pressure.

But among opponents of the same rank, that pressure would be enough to intimidate the enemy, leaving their mind muddled and their movements full of openings. It could even make them stand frozen in place, unable to resist!

"I don't know where the rules of the world come from, but I do know that the rules of an empire are set by its emperor!"

Qian Renxue nodded approvingly, then turned to look out the window.

A light screen floated in midair by the carriage window.

[White Intelligence · Past: Over the past month, Wang Fugui, the Crown Prince's Residence chef, set aside an extra portion before serving each meal and ate it himself.]

[Purple Intelligence · Future: Tomorrow, Su Yu will absorb a soul ring produced by the Golden Lion King and obtain a first soul skill with an exceptionally high compatibility.]

Looking at the glaring white intelligence above, Qian Renxue sighed softly.

Over the past thirty days, nearly fifty of the intelligence reports she had refreshed had been this damned white intelligence.

Most of the rest had been yellow intelligence.

As for intelligence of actual value, there had only been two entries:

Black Intelligence · Future: In several months, Ning Rongrong of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will awaken the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda with level nine Innate Soul Power.

Purple Intelligence · Past: Seven days ago, Count Lionheart Cyril met privately with Prince Xuexing.

A Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda with level nine Innate Soul Power was unprecedented.

But if she could not break through the limitations of her martial soul, then even with Innate Full Soul Power, she would at most become a Soul Sage.

Thus, Qian Renxue did not take it to heart.

As for Count Lionheart—

While posing as Xue Qinghe, Qian Renxue had proposed many policies that benefited the people, inevitably offending a number of nobles.

However, most of those nobles were cowards who only bullied the weak. They dared to resent her, but not to speak out.

Qian Renxue had not expected someone to secretly meet with Xue Xing.

Coupled with the system's earlier mention of "playing the wastrel,"

Qian Renxue had already become wary of Xue Xing and Xue Beng. She had even considered sending her only remaining younger brother to the afterlife.

Before long, the carriage came to a stop, and Qian Renxue led Su Yu out.

Qian Renxue reminded him, "Xiao Yu, once we enter Sunset Forest, do not leave the guards' protection. Understand?"

Su Yu nodded. "Rest assured, Brother Xue. I value my life. I won't recklessly court death."

Protected by the guards, Qian Renxue and Su Yu entered the forest, which was filled with insect chirps and beastly roars.

Unlike Star Dou Forest, the trees here were not as tall or lush.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, scattering patches of light across the ground.

At Qian Renxue's signal, half the guards dispersed to search for a suitable soul beast for Su Yu.

Seeing this, Su Yu could not help but sigh. Living off a powerful woman really was wonderful in the early stages. If not for the risk of getting chopped to death by Asura and the Sea God later, it would have been perfect.

With that thought, Su Yu covertly glanced at Qian Renxue, who was disguised as Xue Qinghe.

Even now, Su Yu still did not understand how the young mistress of Spirit Hall had found him before his awakening.

Two hours later, most of the guards returned, bringing back the locations of several soul beast packs.

"Gale Demon Wolf pack, Golden Lion pack, Black Rock Ape pack, Savage Blood Elephant pack..."

"The beast kings of these packs are all around three hundred and fifty to four hundred and twenty years old. Which one do you want?"

Su Yu rubbed his chin, looking slightly hesitant. "If I remember correctly, among these soul beasts, the Golden Lion has the strongest bloodline, right? Let's go with that."

Qian Renxue nodded and looked at one of the guards. "Lead the way."

"Yes, Your Highness."

By a vast lake, dozens of Golden Lions lounged in the shade, grooming one another's fur.

Within the pride, a male lion over four meters long continuously prowled around, displaying the bearing of a king.

Its limbs were thick and powerful, its claws sharp and keen, and its entire body was covered in golden fur.

"Move!"

At Qian Renxue's command, every guard except Snake Lance and Chi Xue summoned their martial souls.

Su Yu stood beside Qian Renxue and watched the well-coordinated guards display their skills.

Some used Martial Soul Possession and charged into the lion pride, confronting them head-on.

Others stood at a distance, unleashing soul skills to harass them from the flanks.

Under the cover of the other guards, a Soul King whose martial soul was chains arrived before the Lion King.

"Fifth Soul Skill, Self-Binding Spirit Lock."

The black soul ring beneath the Chain Soul King's feet lit up. A golden chain appeared around the Lion King and bound it tightly.

"Roar!"

Faced with this bizarre situation, the Lion King roared. The Lion King struggled. The Lion King could do nothing.

Seeing that the guards had succeeded, Qian Renxue tugged Su Yu's arm. "Let's go."

After the four of them had walked some distance, the guards also broke away from the lion pride and followed after them.

Qian Renxue took a dagger from her storage Soul Tool and handed it to Su Yu. "Go on."

After taking the dagger, Su Yu's face showed a strange mixture of excitement, nervousness, and helplessness.

He slowly approached the Golden Lion King. Following the guards' instructions, he plunged the dagger between the Lion King's eyes and directly scrambled its brain.

Then yellow Soul Power surged forth, quickly forming a yellow soul ring.

Su Yu pulled out the dagger, wiped it clean, then sat cross-legged beside the Golden Lion King's corpse. He summoned his martial soul and drew the soul ring toward himself.

The soul ring's power poured into his body, filling him to the brim in an instant.

Su Yu could not help letting out a muffled groan. His body trembled continuously, as though he were enduring immense pain.

Qian Renxue stood nearby, her eyes filled with anticipation.

An hour later, a yellow halo bloomed beneath Su Yu, forming a circular ring.

Feeling the surging Soul Power within his body, Su Yu slowly opened his eyes.