The Duchess's eyes immediately filled with tears. "I knew it. I knew it."
"Oh, right." Duke Molong suddenly said, "Linyuan seems to have Innate Full Soul Power. I never expected that one child I brought home on a whim would be one in ten thousand with Innate Full Soul Power. Hahaha!"
It was plain from his tone that Duke Molong was bursting with pride.
Before he could finish laughing, the Duchess shot him a glare. "Don't go saying things like that in front of the child."
"Ahem!" Duke Molong knew he'd gotten a little carried away.
"Since Linyuan has Innate Full Soul Power, he has a head start over other children his age. I can't waste that advantage, so I plan to take him to the Star Dou Great Forest the day after tomorrow to obtain his First Soul Ring and make him a true Spirit Master."
The Duchess nodded. "You're right, there's no time to lose. Remember to bring plenty of people. The Star Dou Great Forest is full of danger, so don't let your guard down."
"Thank you for your concern, my lady. With a wife like you, what more could a man ask for?"
"Oh, give it a rest!" The Duchess spat at him. "Who said I was worried about you? I'm worried about Linyuan."
"After all these years, you still say one thing and mean another, my lady."
"Disgusting!"
With the couple showing off their affection in front of him, Xia Linyuan could only smile faintly and pretend not to notice.
As for Soul Rings, his Martial Soul wasn't like those of the Douluo Continent's natives, shackled by contracts. He didn't need to absorb a First Soul Ring to advance to the next level. Likewise, if he wanted to, he could absorb eight or ten Soul Rings in a row without a problem.
But he had no interest in any of that. He'd only pretended to have a Martial Soul and Soul Power to keep up appearances for the time being.
Although he was powerful enough to flatten the entire Douluo Continent, that would be far too boring. After all, he was only here to "clear his head."
Five days later.
As an Soul Douluo, Duke Molong could have reached the Star Dou Great Forest within a day, and several of his attendants were at least Soul Emperors. But since Xia Linyuan was still a "six-year-old" child, and because he wanted to train him, Duke Molong didn't bring him along. Instead, he had Xia Linyuan make the journey on his own.
The group stopped to rest after every stretch of road, so it took them three days to reach their destination—the Star Dou Great Forest!
They were still some distance from the Star Dou Great Forest, yet the air was fresher than anything they'd ever experienced in a human city.
A fresh breeze carrying the scent of plants swept over them. The pores all over Xia Linyuan's body seemed to open of their own accord as he greedily breathed in the crisp air of the Star Luo Great Forest.
The Star Dou Great Forest really is a blessed place, Xia Linyuan thought.
Remembering something, Xia Linyuan grinned, looking especially sinister.
Duke Molong had been secretly keeping an eye on Xia Linyuan. Seeing that sinister smile, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
This child has a wicked streak by nature. I hope he doesn't end up on the wrong path.
As they continued forward, a guard standing to Xia Linyuan's front left murmured, "Your Grace, there's a pack of wolves nearby. Most are Ten-Year Soul Beasts, with only a few Hundred-Year Soul Beasts. Should we make a move?"
Duke Molong shook his head. "If they don't provoke us, there's no need to act."
"Yes, sir."
Duke Molong thought for a moment, then took a dagger three inches long from his soul tool storage device and handed it to Xia Linyuan. "Linyuan, take this to defend yourself."
Xia Linyuan accepted the dagger. "Thank you, Dad."
The group continued onward.
As he led the way, Duke Molong taught Xia Linyuan about Spirit Beasts. He placed particular emphasis on what to do when they encountered a weak Spirit Beast that they didn't need: drive it away, and avoid killing it whenever possible.
When Xia Linyuan asked why, despite already knowing the answer, Duke Molong only said with a hint of melancholy, "This is the little bit of good fortune I can leave for those who come after me."
They had gone only two hundred meters into the Star Dou Great Forest when their group came under attack more than ten times. Almost all the attackers were Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.
The Soul Beasts below the thousand-year level had sensed the presence of these powerful people and had long since scattered in every direction.
One of the guards glanced at Xia Linyuan, who was completely surrounded by them, then murmured to Duke Molong, "Your Grace, forgive my frankness, but are we being too protective of the young master?"
Hearing his subordinate's words, Duke Molong suddenly realized it was true.
As a new father, he had tried to give Xia Linyuan as much of what he believed to be a father's love as possible. Somewhere along the way, though, he had also limited the boy's room to grow.
What was the point of possessing great strength if you didn't know how to use it properly?
Xia Linyuan was Duke Molong's son, but that title could only protect him for a time, not for the rest of his life.
With that thought, Duke Molong made a decision.
"Everyone, heed my command! Conceal your auras!"
As soon as Duke Molong finished speaking, he and the others seemed to fall from powerful Spirit Masters to ordinary people in the space of a few short breaths.
Xia Linyuan was a little surprised by the sight.
Powerful Spirit Masters all possessed a certain presence. Most people couldn't conceal that presence, even if they hid every trace of their aura. Only those who reached the state of returning to the natural could do so.
Yet throughout history, countless prodigies had been born. How many of them had managed to reach that state?
But these people standing before him seemed to have reached the very state so many longed for.
His golden eyes narrowed slightly, as if trying to see through it all.
But suddenly...
"A Yellow Rock Bear with about ten years of cultivation. Its flesh is like bronze and its bones like iron, so ordinary blades and spears can barely hurt it. Its weakness is its clumsy movements, and its vulnerable point is the central nerve three inches below the back of its neck..."
Before Duke Molong could finish, Xia Linyuan let out a quiet sigh and walked forward, dagger in hand.
He had fought countless battles while carrying out his world-ending duties in other worlds. Now he had to deal with a mere Ten-Year Yellow Rock Bear. It was a classic case of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut—complete overkill.
Looking at Xia Linyuan's somewhat slender back, Duke Molong felt a pang of concern. Still, he could only steel himself. "Linyuan, the Yellow Rock Bear is clumsy. Stay calm, and it won't be a match for you."
Xia Linyuan answered, but his gaze toward the Yellow Rock Bear was full of disdain.
In his eyes, the Yellow Rock Bear was riddled with weaknesses.
While Xia Linyuan's group studied the Yellow Rock Bear, it studied them too.
With its dim, muddled mind, it somehow sensed that these humans were unusual, especially the young human walking toward it.
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