Star Dou Forest

Time passed, and August drew to a close.

For the past two months, Xue Yuheng, Xiao Xiao, and Xue Qingwu had gone to the Advanced Division's simulation area every afternoon after class to challenge the Heavenly Ranking.

The upperclassmen in the Advanced Division had all heard about the three oddballs who'd arrived in the Junior Division.

Two seven-year-old girls were enough to hold their own against Soul Ancestors aged sixteen or seventeen.

Xue Yuheng had actually made the two of them impose a few restrictions on themselves. For example, they could use only one Soul Skill per battle and weren't allowed to use awakened divine skills.

Winning wasn't the point. The main purpose was to gain experience in actual combat.

This had also helped Xue Qingwu fully adapt to the way humans fought.

The simulation area had a space the academy had awarded to the three of them. They also had sole control over its surveillance, so they didn't need to worry about privacy.

The water in the simulated pool was crystal clear. Sunlight spread across its surface, making it shimmer.

Xiao Xiao had shot up to a height of one meter sixty. Her lake-blue two-piece swimsuit hugged her figure, outlining the graceful curves of a girl just beginning to blossom.

Her wet black hair clung to the side of her neck. Droplets slid along her fair collarbone and disappeared beneath the edge of her swimsuit, an alluring sight.

Xue Qingwu wore a simple white one-piece swimsuit. Her skin was nearly translucent, and her white hair was loosely twisted into a bun, with a few stray strands falling beside her cheeks.

She sat quietly on the pool's edge, her fair feet gently tapping the water.

Xue Yuheng lounged on a floating recliner, wearing nothing but black swim trunks. He idly swirled a glass of iced juice in his hand as he gazed at the water.

"You're going to help Senior Yu get her fourth Soul Ring?" Xiao Xiao swam over and leaned on the edge of his recliner, looking up at him with a pout. "Xiao Xue, you sure know how to suck up."

With Xue Yuheng's help, Yu Mengdi's Angel Martial Soul had evolved into the quasi-god-level Six-Winged Angel, and her Innate Soul Power had risen from level eight to level ten.

She wielded the Ultimate Light and Ultimate Holiness attributes.

The main material for her advancement, the Heart of the Angel, had been difficult to find.

Xue Yuheng had even mobilized the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect's resources and searched the entire continent.

In the end, he found several nearly extinct Angel Beasts in a large Soul Beast forest within the Star Luo Empire and killed one.

He transferred the rest to his own Star Forest and raised them there.

"After her Martial Soul evolved, the upper limit of her fourth Soul Ring's age increased threefold." Xue Yuheng set down his glass, his tone calm. "An ordinary Thousand-Year Soul Ring can't withstand the power of a Six-Winged Angel. She needs a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. Star Dou is a good choice."

"Hmph, that's just an excuse." Xiao Xiao pouted, then climbed onto the recliner on all fours and leaned over toward him. "You went to so much trouble to help her. Why don't you show a little concern for me?

"I've been exhausted these past two days fighting Senior Wei Ran, who's supposedly Tianzheng's number-one Soul Ancestor."

"What kind of compensation do you want?" Xue Yuheng asked helplessly.

Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up at once. She gave his arm a shake. "Give me a massage! Make it nice and relaxing, or I'll tell Sister Qingwu you're playing favorites."

Xue Yuheng chuckled and placed his hands on her rounded shoulders.

Xiao Xiao's eyes narrowed in bliss, and she let out a kittenlike moan.

"A little to the left... A bit harder... Yes, right there!"

Xue Qingwu glanced back from the pool's edge, smiling. Then she turned back and kicked at the water.

"You're the only one who'd dare order him around like that," Xue Qingwu said lightly. "Anyone else would've been frozen into a statue and tossed into the pool by now."

"Of course. Xiao Xue and I are the closest." Xiao Xiao lifted her chin smugly, only for Xue Yuheng to deliberately press harder. She grimaced in pain but didn't dare pull away, so she could only grumble under her breath.

The setting sun stretched their shadows long. By the time they'd packed up and left the simulation space, the sky beyond had already turned orange-red.

"Tomorrow morning at eight. Meet at the south gate of Tianxing City," Xue Yuheng reminded them. "Bring your usual Soul Tools and food. I'll go to the teaching office and request a month's leave."

"Got it!" Xiao Xiao waved and dragged Xue Qingwu off toward the girls' dormitory, skipping all the way.

Early the next morning, at the south gate of Tianxing City.

The morning mist hadn't yet cleared, but the gate was already bustling with people.

Soul Masters with packs on their backs had gathered in groups of three or five, most of them heading toward the Star Dou Forest.

Yu Mengdi was already waiting there.

She wore a neat white outfit, her long golden hair tied in a high ponytail. A small pack rested on her back, and a short sword with gold trim hung at her waist.

When she saw the three approaching, she went to greet them at once, a faint smile on her face.

"Good morning, Junior Yuheng, Junior Xiao Xiao, Junior Qingwu."

"Good morning, Senior Yu!" Xiao Xiao greeted her with a wave.

Xue Qingwu gave a slight nod.

"We're all here. Let's go." Xue Yuheng set off first, heading out of the city.

The four followed the main road south for over an hour, until an endless stretch of dark green forest finally appeared in the distance.

That was the Star Dou Forest.

The Star Dou Forest was roughly the size of the Huaguo where Xue Yuheng had lived in his previous life. It was clearly divided into three regions according to Soul Beast strength and danger.

The outer region lay at the forest's edge. The trees were sparse and the vegetation low, with ordinary Soul Beasts ranging from a hundred to a thousand years old throughout. Though they were numerous, they posed no deadly threat, making the area a common destination for low-level Soul Masters to explore and hunt Soul Beasts.

The mixed region was the transitional zone between the outer and core regions. The vegetation grew denser, and all kinds of Soul Beasts lived together. Soul Beasts ranging from ten thousand to tens of thousands of years old were common, and the danger rose sharply.

The core region was home to the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts. Even Super Douluos had to proceed with caution there. It was recognized throughout the Douluo Continent as a forbidden land of life.

"It's even more magnificent than I imagined," Yu Mengdi murmured as she gazed at the endless forest.

Yu Mengdi had graduated from the Venerable-level Elite Hall of the Dou Ling Empire. She hadn't been at Tianzheng Academy for long, and this was her first time visiting the Star Dou Forest.

"We've already been here several times on weekends over the past two months," Xue Yuheng said as they walked. "We've been learning the terrain and the Soul Beasts' habits in the outer region. This time, we'll head straight to the edge of the mixed region. That's where we'll find a suitable fourth Soul Ring for you."

Yu Mengdi felt a warmth in her heart. So Prince Gan had made preparations long ago.

The four picked up their pace and soon entered the outer region of the Star Dou Forest.

The air beneath the trees was damp. Sunlight streamed through the gaps between the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Every now and then, a few Hundred-Year Soul Beasts peeked out from the undergrowth. The moment they sensed the group's presence, they shrank back and vanished without a trace.

Xue Yuheng led the way, while Xiao Xiao skipped along beside him, occasionally picking wildflowers and tucking them into everyone's hair.

Xue Qingwu walked in the middle, her expression as cool as ever. Yu Mengdi brought up the rear, warily watching their surroundings.

The four chatted as they walked, and the sun gradually sank toward the west.

"We'll camp here." Xue Yuheng stopped and pointed to an open clearing ahead.

The ground was level, a clear stream ran alongside it, and a rock face stood behind it. It was an ideal place to camp.

The four took supplies from their storage Soul Tool Rings and began setting up their tents. Xue Yuheng worked quickly and had three tents up in less than fifteen minutes.

He had one to himself, Yu Mengdi had one, and Xiao Xiao and Xue Qingwu preferred to share.

Yu Mengdi wanted to help, but quickly realized there was nothing she could do. She could only stand to the side and pass them ropes and pegs, her cheeks turning faintly red.

After the tents were up, Xue Yuheng gathered some dry firewood and lit a campfire in the middle of the clearing. Orange flames danced, driving off the chill in the forest.

"Isn't it dangerous to make a fire?" Yu Mengdi asked anxiously. "Soul Beasts are sensitive to light and smells. It could attract them."

Xue Qingwu sat beside the fire and held out her hands to warm them. "With me here," she said calmly,

"they won't dare come."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried authority.

Yu Mengdi was taken aback, then quickly understood.

From what she'd seen, the white-haired girl before her might have looked only seven years old, but even Xue Yuheng treated her with considerable deference.

Ordinary Soul Beasts were one thing; even thousand-year-old Soul Beasts probably wouldn't dare approach this area.

Yu Mengdi relaxed and said no more.

"This little bit of meat isn't even enough to get stuck in my teeth." Xiao Xiao looked at the few skewers Xue Yuheng had taken out and pursed her lips in dissatisfaction.

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and dashed into the nearby woods.

Less than ten minutes later,

Xiao Xiao returned, carrying a huge Iron Savage Bull on her shoulder.

Its body was covered in black scales, and a pair of thick horns grew from its head. At a glance, it was clearly a thousand-year Soul Beast.

It was already dead, yet Xiao Xiao carried it effortlessly on her shoulder as if it were a little chicken.

Yu Mengdi stared in shock.

She knew how fearsome a thousand-year-old Iron Savage Bull was. An ordinary Soul Ancestor would have to struggle mightily to hunt one alone, yet Xiao Xiao had taken only ten minutes and looked completely at ease.

"That should be enough to eat, right?" Xiao Xiao tossed the Iron Savage Bull onto the ground, dusted off her hands, and raised her chin smugly.

Xue Yuheng shook his head helplessly, took out a dagger, and began to prepare the meat.

He worked with practiced ease, quickly cutting off a large, well-marbled piece and threading it onto a sharpened branch to roast over the campfire.

Farewell, Bull Brother.

Fat sizzled as it dripped into the flames, filling the air with an enticing sound.

The rich aroma of meat soon spread through the forest. Xue Yuheng sprinkled on some seasoning he'd ground beforehand, making the fragrance even more mouthwatering. Their stomachs began to growl.

Yu Mengdi sat nearby, unable to stop herself from swallowing as she breathed in the aroma.

She came from a commoner family in the Dou Ling Empire. After becoming a Soul Master, she hadn't cared much about food.

And she'd never had this kind of outdoor barbecue. But now, watching the meat turn golden and crisp over the campfire, she couldn't resist.

Xue Yuheng noticed her awkwardness and held out a cooked skewer. "Try some. I'm not bad at this."

Yu Mengdi hesitated, then took it with a blush.

She took a cautious bite. The beef was crisp on the outside and tender within. Its savory aroma mingled with the seasoning, instantly winning her over.

"Delicious!" Yu Mengdi's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help exclaiming.

She forgot all about being reserved and ate heartily.

She finished one skewer in no time. Xue Yuheng handed her another, and she took it with a blush.

Around the campfire, the four ate barbecue and chatted.

Xiao Xiao ate with grease all over her mouth, constantly praising Xue Yuheng's cooking. Xue Qingwu ate little, sitting quietly to the side and taking an occasional bite of the skewer in her hand.

Yu Mengdi gradually loosened up too, chatting and laughing with them.

Night deepened, and the campfire slowly died down.

"Let's all get some rest." Xue Yuheng put out the last of the embers. "We'll set out for the mixed region first thing tomorrow."

The three nodded and returned to their tents.

The forest fell quiet again, broken only by the occasional chirp of insects.

Moonlight spilled through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Xiao Xiao and Yu Mengdi soon fell asleep, their steady breathing audible inside their tent.

Xue Yuheng sat inside his tent with his eyes closed, resting while his divine sense spread out to keep watch over their surroundings.

Who knew how long had passed?

In the tent next door, Xue Qingwu suddenly opened her eyes. She got up and stepped outside.

Her ice-blue pupils lit up in the darkness like two cold stars.

She turned toward the core region of the Star Dou Forest, a grave look flashing across her eyes.

An intensely hot, domineering aura belonging to a Ferocious Beast was slowly approaching from deep within the core region.

Xue Qingwu knew that aura all too well. It carried the oppressive fire attribute of a force that could scorch the heavens and boil the seas.

Among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, it ranked eighth and had cultivated for two hundred and sixty thousand years: the Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff.

The Scarlet King.

Why was it coming toward the outer region?