Star Dou Forest

Time flowed on, and it was now the end of August.

For the past two months, Xue Yuheng, Xiao Xiao, and Xue Qingwu had gone to the advanced department's mimicry area every afternoon after classes to participate in challenges for the Heavenly Ranking.

The seniors in the advanced department were already aware that three oddities had arrived in the primary department.

Two seven-year-old girls were enough to engage in evenly matched battles against sixteen or seventeen-year-old Spirit Ancestors.

Xue Yuheng had actually imposed some self-constraints on the two of them, such as only using one spirit skill per battle and forbidding the use of awakened divine skills.

Victory was not the point; practical combat experience was the primary goal.

Xue Qingwu also used this to fully adapt to human combat methods.

In the mimicry area, within a mimicry space awarded to the three of them by the academy, they held full monitoring rights, so there was no need to worry about privacy issues.

The water in the simulated pool was clear to the bottom, and the sunlight overhead spread across the surface, shimmering with ripples.

Xiao Xiao had now shot up to a height of 1.6 meters, and a lake-blue two-piece swimsuit clung to her body, outlining the delicate, budding curves of a young girl.

Damp black hair clung to the side of her neck, and water droplets slid down her fair collarbone into the edge of her swimsuit, looking exceptionally alluring.

Xue Qingwu wore a simple white one-piece swimsuit, her skin so fair it was nearly transparent, her white hair loosely pinned into a bun with a few stray strands hanging by her cheeks.

She sat quietly by the edge of the pool, her fair feet gently splashing the water.

Xue Yuheng lay on a lounge chair floating on the water, wearing only black swimming trunks, spinning a glass of iced fruit juice in his hand while looking at the water surface nonchalantly.

"Are you going to help Senior Yu get her fourth spirit ring?" Xiao Xiao swam over to his side, clinging to the edge of the lounge chair and looking up, her lips pouting. "Little Xue, you're quite good at currying favor, aren't you?"

With Xue Yuheng's help, Yu Mengdi's Angel spirit had evolved into a quasi-god-level Six-Winged Angel, and her innate spirit power had increased from level eight to level ten.

She wielded the attributes of Ultimate Light and Ultimate Holiness.

The main material for the promotion, the Heart of the Angel, was quite difficult to find.

Xue Yuheng had mobilized the resources of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect and turned the continent upside down.

In the end, he found a few near-extinct Angel Beasts in a large spirit beast forest within the Star Luo Empire and killed one.

The remaining ones were relocated by Xue Yuheng and kept in his own Star Forest.

"After her spirit evolved, the upper limit of her fourth spirit ring's age tripled." Xue Yuheng put down his juice glass, his tone flat. "An ordinary thousand-year spirit ring cannot withstand the power of a Six-Winged Angel; it requires a ten-thousand-year spirit ring, and Star Dou is a good choice."

"Hmph, excuses." Xiao Xiao curled her lips, climbed onto the lounge chair using her hands and feet, and leaned over his shoulder with her back to him. "You went to such great lengths to help her, why don't you care about me?

I've been exhausted these past two days battling that Senior Wei Ran, who is known as the number one Spirit Ancestor of Tianzheng."

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

Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up instantly, and she shook his arm. "Give me a massage! It has to be nice and comfortable, otherwise I'll tell Sister Qingwu that you're playing favorites."

Xue Yuheng chuckled and reached out to press on her rounded shoulders.

Xiao Xiao squinted her eyes in comfort, letting out a kitten-like moan.

"A little to the left... use a bit more force... yes, right there!"

Xue Qingwu by the pool glanced over with a smile in her eyes before turning back to kick the water.

"Only you would dare to order him around like that." Xue Qingwu's voice was light and airy. "If it were anyone else, they would have been frozen into an ice sculpture and thrown into the pool long ago."

"That's because I'm the closest to Little Xue." Xiao Xiao raised her chin triumphantly, only to have Xue Yuheng deliberately increase the pressure, making her wince in pain. She didn't dare to dodge, so she could only mutter complaints under her breath.

The setting sun stretched the shadows of the three of them long, and by the time they packed their things and left the mimicry space, the horizon outside had already been dyed orange-red.

"Gather at the south gate of Tianxing City tomorrow morning at eight." Xue Yuheng instructed. "Bring your usual spirit tools and food; I will go to the dean's office to ask for a month's leave."

"Got it!" Xiao Xiao waved her hand and skipped away with Xue Qingwu toward the girls' dormitory.

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

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the city gate was already bustling with noise.

Spirit masters carrying packs moved in groups of three or five, most of them heading toward the direction of the Star Dou Forest.

Yu Mengdi was already waiting there.

She wore a sharp white outfit, her long golden hair tied into a high ponytail, a small pack on her back, and a short sword with gold trim tucked into her waist.

Seeing the three of them approaching, she immediately walked up to meet them with a faint smile on her face.

"Junior Yuheng, Junior Xiao Xiao, Junior Qingwu."

"Morning, Senior Yu!" Xiao Xiao waved with a smile.

Xue Qingwu nodded slightly, acknowledging the greeting.

"Everyone is here, let's go." Xue Yuheng took the lead and walked toward the outside of the city.

The four of them walked along the official road to the south for more than an hour before a boundless dark green forest finally appeared in the distance.

That was the Star Dou Forest.

The area of the Star Dou Forest was roughly equivalent to the Huaguo where Xue Yuheng lived in his previous life, and it was clearly divided into three major zones based on the strength and danger level of the spirit beasts.

The outer perimeter was the outermost edge of the forest, where the trees were sparse, the vegetation was low, and it was filled with ordinary spirit beasts ranging from a hundred to a thousand years old. Although they were numerous, they posed no fatal threat and were a regular area for low-level spirit masters to explore and hunt for spirit rings.

The Mixed Zone is the transition area between the outer perimeter and the core, where the vegetation grows increasingly dense and the species of spirit beasts are a chaotic mix. With spirit beasts ranging from ten thousand to several tens of thousands of years in age coexisting, the danger level climbs sharply.

The Core Zone is occupied by the Ten Great Fierce Beasts, a place that even a Super Douluo must approach with caution; it is recognized across the Douluo Continent as a forbidden zone for life.

"It's even more spectacular than I imagined." Yu Mengdi gazed at the rolling sea of forest and sighed softly.

Yu Mengdi graduated from the Elite Hall of the Douling Empire's nobility and had not been at Tianzheng Academy for long; this was her first time visiting the Star Dou Forest.

"The three of us have already been here several times over the weekends these past two months," Xue Yuheng said as he walked. "We've been staying in the outer perimeter to familiarize ourselves with the terrain and the habits of the spirit beasts. This time, we're heading straight to the edge of the Mixed Zone, as that is the only place where we'll find a fourth spirit ring suitable for you."

A warmth spread through Yu Mengdi's heart; it turned out that Prince Gan had already made all the preparations.

The four of them quickened their pace and soon stepped into the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Forest.

The air in the forest was humid, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground.

Occasionally, a few hundred-year spirit beasts would poke their heads out from the grass, but upon sensing the aura radiating from the group, they would immediately shrink back in fear and vanish without a trace.

Xue Yuheng walked at the front to clear the path, while Xiao Xiao skipped along beside him, occasionally picking wildflowers to tuck into everyone's hair.

Xue Qingwu walked in the middle, her expression remaining cold and detached. Yu Mengdi brought up the rear, vigilantly observing the movements around them.

The four chatted about everything under the sun as they traveled, and the sun gradually began to slant toward the west.

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

The terrain here was flat, with a clear stream nearby and a stone wall at its back, making it an excellent spot for camping.

The four took tools out of their storage spirit rings and began to pitch their tents. Xue Yuheng's movements were efficient, and in less than a quarter of an hour, he had set up three tents.

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

Yu Mengdi wanted to help, but she found she couldn't get a hand in at all; she could only stand to the side, handing over ropes and stakes, her cheeks slightly flushed.

After the tents were set up, Xue Yuheng gathered some dry wood and started a bonfire in the center of the clearing. The orange-red flames danced, dispelling the chill of the forest.

"Isn't it too dangerous to start a fire?" Yu Mengdi said with some concern. "Spirit beasts are very sensitive to light and scent; it's easy to attract them."

Xue Qingwu sat by the bonfire, reached out to warm her hands, and spoke indifferently.

"With me here."

"They won't dare to come."

Her voice was not loud, yet it carried great authority.

Yu Mengdi was stunned for a moment before she realized the implication.

Judging by her usual behavior, the white-haired girl before her, who appeared to be only seven years old, was someone even Xue Yuheng had to treat with three parts reverence.

Let alone ordinary spirit beasts, even a thousand-year spirit beast would likely not dare to step within half a mile of this area.

Yu Mengdi set her mind at ease and said no more.

"This little bit of meat isn't even enough to fill the gaps in my teeth." Xiao Xiao looked at the few skewers of meat Xue Yuheng had brought out and pouted in dissatisfaction.

No sooner had she spoken than she turned and charged into the nearby woods.

Less than ten minutes later.

Xiao Xiao returned carrying a massive Iron Savage Bull.

The Iron Savage Bull was covered in black scales and had a pair of thick, sturdy horns on its head; it was clearly a thousand-year spirit beast.

At this moment, it had already lost its breath, and Xiao Xiao carried it on her shoulder with ease, as if it were nothing more than a small chick.

Yu Mengdi watched, dumbfounded.

She knew how terrifying the strength of a thousand-year Iron Savage Bull was; an ordinary Spirit Ancestor would have to exhaust all their might to hunt one alone, yet Xiao Xiao had done it in only ten minutes and looked completely relaxed.

"That should be enough to eat now." Xiao Xiao threw the Iron Savage Bull onto the ground, clapped the dust off her hands, and tilted her chin triumphantly.

Xue Yuheng shook his head helplessly and took out a dagger to begin processing the beef.

His movements were extremely practiced, and he soon cut off a large piece of meat with a good balance of fat and lean, skewering it on a whittled branch and setting it over the bonfire.

Brother Bull, go in peace.

The sizzling fat dripped onto the flames, making an enticing sound.

A rich, meaty aroma soon permeated the air, drifting through the forest. Xue Yuheng sprinkled on the seasonings he had ground beforehand, and the aroma became even more mellow, making everyone's stomachs growl.

Yu Mengdi sat to the side, swallowing her saliva as she smelled the fragrance.

She came from a commoner family in the Douling Empire, and after embarking on the path of a spirit master, she hadn't paid much attention to the desires of the palate.

Let alone this kind of wild barbecue, but looking at the golden, crispy meat skewers over the bonfire, Yu Mengdi truly couldn't resist.

Xue Yuheng noticed her embarrassment and picked up a cooked skewer to hand to her: "Try it, my skills aren't bad."

Yu Mengdi hesitated for a moment, then took it with a blushing face.

She took a cautious bite. The crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside beef exploded in her mouth, the flavor of the meat mingling with the spices and instantly conquering her taste buds.

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

She no longer cared about being reserved and began to eat in large mouthfuls.

Soon, she finished the first skewer, and Xue Yuheng handed her another, which she accepted with a flushed face.

Beside the campfire, the four of them chatted while eating roasted meat.

Xiao Xiao ate until her mouth was covered in grease, never ceasing to praise the culinary skills of Xue Yuheng. Xue Qingwu did not eat much; she simply sat quietly to the side, occasionally taking a bite of the meat skewer in her hand.

Yu Mengdi also gradually began to open up, laughing and talking with them.

As the night deepened, the campfire began to fade.

"Everyone go get some rest," Xue Yuheng said, extinguishing the last of the embers. "We set off for the Mixed Zone first thing tomorrow morning."

The three of them nodded and returned to their respective tents.

The forest returned to silence, save for the occasional chirping of insects.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows upon the ground.

Xiao Xiao and Yu Mengdi were soon fast asleep, the sound of steady breathing drifting from their tents.

Xue Yuheng leaned back inside his tent, closing his eyes to rest, though his spiritual sense remained spread out, vigilantly monitoring the movements around them.

It was unknown how much time had passed.

In the neighboring tent, Xue Qingwu, who had been lying with her eyes closed, suddenly snapped them open and rose to step outside.

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

She turned her head to look toward the direction of the core area of the Star Dou Forest, a hint of gravity flashing in her eyes.

An extremely scorching and overbearing aura of a fierce beast was slowly approaching from the depths of the core area.

That aura carried a fire-attribute pressure capable of burning the heavens and boiling the seas—an aura Xue Qingwu knew all too well.

Ranked eighth among the Ten Great Fierce Beasts, possessing two hundred and sixty thousand years of cultivation: the Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff.

Chi Wang.

Why would it be heading toward the outer perimeter?