Gu Ci sat in the courtyard, Zi Dian sprawled across his lap while Night Shadow lurked in the darkness.
He held the Nine-Heart Begonia Ye Lingling had given him, its petals glowing with a gentle white radiance beneath the moonlight.
Tomorrow, he would be heading to the Star Dou Great Forest.
A Thunder Attribute tiger type soul beast over thirty thousand years old.
He silently calculated the possible targets that might exist within the Star Dou Great Forest.
The Purple Lightning Thunder Tiger King? The Thunder Pattern Tiger Emperor? Or some unknown variant that had never been discovered?
He shook his head, put away the Nine-Heart Begonia, and closed his eyes.
Soul Power circulated slowly through his body. He had already crossed the threshold of level 30; what lay ahead was a longer road.
In the distance, in the direction of the Crown Prince's Mansion, a Soul Light glowed quietly in the night.
Qian Renxue stood beneath the lamp, holding a report that had just been delivered.
Gu Ci had broken through level 30 and would head to the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow to seek his Third Soul Ring.
After reading the report, she remained silent for a long time.
"A Thunder Tiger over thirty thousand years old," she murmured. "You certainly dare to dream."
She folded the report and tucked it into her robes before turning back toward the study. When she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and looked back toward Heavenly Workshop.
The Soul Light's white glow flickered in the darkness like stars fallen to the ground.
"Gu Ci," she said softly, "just how far can you go?"
No one answered her.
The night wind drifted past, bringing with it the chimes of a distant Bell Tower.
Dong, dong, dong. Three chimes. It was already late