Xiao Chen knew very well that the other party wouldn't help him for no reason.
So he asked, "What do I need to do for you?"
The female teacher smiled. "Let me introduce myself first. I'm Chu Ruolan, the teacher leading the group from Fabia Academy, and a Level 51 Control System Soul King. What should I call you, young man? What's your Soul Power Level?"
"Xiao Chen! Level 19 Soul Power, Ranged Weapon Soul Master!" Xiao Chen replied.
"A Ranged Weapon Soul Master? Not bad. You'll be able to make up for the others' weaknesses," Chu Ruolan said with a nod.
"To be honest, young man, I just made an agreement with the teacher leading the group from Canghui Academy. After both groups of students obtain their Second Spirit Rings, we'll come back here and have another match. But as you can see, we're one person short, so I wanted to invite you."
"If you agree, I'll help you hunt for your Second Spirit Ring. It'll be at least three hundred years old!" Chu Ruolan said.
"Deal!" Xiao Chen nodded. "But three hundred years is unnecessary. I only—"
"You're turning your nose up at three hundred years? Don't push your luck!" one of the Fabia Academy students interrupted before Xiao Chen could finish.
Chu Ruolan stopped her student, then said to Xiao Chen, "I meant that I'll find you a Soul Beast that's at least three hundred years old. If we're lucky and find one that suits you even better, I'll help you hunt that one instead!"
"Thank you," Xiao Chen said. "But there's no need to go to all that trouble. I only need a Ten-Year Spirit Ring!"
"Ten years?" Chu Ruolan and her four students all froze.
"Xiao Chen, are you sure you didn't misspeak?" Chu Ruolan asked, staring at him.
"Of course I'm sure. A ten-year Spirit Ring is easy to absorb, and it won't make you explode!" Xiao Chen said earnestly.
Chu Ruolan and the four students were speechless.
Some Soul Masters outside the hotel heard Xiao Chen and burst out laughing. They had never seen such a timid Soul Master.
"Teacher, what kind of helper did you find?" The girl beside Chu Ruolan couldn't help muttering under her breath.
"Don't tell me your First Soul Ring is also a white, ten-year one?" another boy asked, staring at Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen pretended to be surprised. "How did you know?"
The boy was at a loss for words. The others looked at one another, speechless.
"Ah." Chu Ruolan sighed softly, thinking, This child is only thirteen or fourteen, yet he's already reached Level 19. His talent is quite impressive.
Never mind that his First Soul Ring is ten years old. But if his Second Soul Ring is also ten years old... his future will truly be ruined.
Well, I might as well do a good deed. Once he comes with me into Star Dou Forest, if he reaches Level 20 Soul Power, I'll help him get a Second Soul Ring that's at least three hundred years old, no matter what.
Chu Ruolan had already made up her mind. Hunting a three-hundred-year Soul Beast would be easy for her, anyway.
"Xiao Chen, after breakfast, come with us into Star Dou Forest," Chu Ruolan said.
Xiao Chen was a little surprised. He hadn't expected Chu Ruolan to be willing to take him along after what he'd said.
He hadn't really wanted to go with Chu Ruolan. After all, he still needed to attach a Spirit Ring to his Second Martial Soul and couldn't let her see him do it.
But she'd already gone this far. If Xiao Chen refused now, he might arouse the suspicions of the Soul Masters around them.
Xiao Chen immediately nodded and cupped his hands. "Then I'll trouble you, Teacher Chu."
After breakfast, Xiao Chen set off with them toward Star Dou Forest.
The town was more than a hundred kilometers from Star Dou Forest. Along the way, Chu Ruolan deliberately slowed down to accommodate Xiao Chen.
But she soon realized that Xiao Chen's stamina was on par with her students', so she picked up the pace. About an hour later, they spotted a dense forest ahead.
Although they were only at the forest's outskirts, the trees already stood over twenty meters tall. Looking into the distance, they saw layer upon layer of shadows, and couldn't make out what lay within.
As Xiao Chen gazed at the boundless primeval forest and its towering ancient trees, he couldn't help feeling awed.
This was the most famous gathering place for Soul Beasts on Douluo Continent.
Even before they drew close, a vast, primal aura washed over them.
Before entering the forest, Chu Ruolan warned them sternly, "Remember, Star Dou Forest isn't a place where the country keeps Soul Beasts penned up. At any moment, you could be attacked by a thousand-year or even a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!"
"So once we enter the forest, don't go too deep. Stay close to me, and don't stray more than ten meters from my side. Understood?"
"Understood!" they answered in unison.
Then, at Chu Ruolan's command, they entered Star Dou Forest.
Chu Ruolan's four students consisted of two Attack System Soul Masters, one Control System Soul Master, and one Support System Soul Master.
The two at the front were clearing a path. The one on the left was Ma Yan, whose Martial Soul was a Gray Pattern Wolf. His Soul Power was exactly Level 20, and he hadn't obtained his Second Soul Ring yet.
The one on the right was Lin Feng, whose Martial Soul was an Azure Steel Sword. His Soul Power was Level 21.
The girl in the Control System was called Su Qing. Her Martial Soul was Twining Grass, and her Soul Power was Level 20. She hadn't obtained her Second Soul Ring yet.
The last one was Zhou Ming, a Support System Soul Master. His Martial Soul was a Green Bean Sprout, and his Soul Power was the highest of the four at Level 22.
Their team wasn't as well-rounded as the Shrek Seven Devils, but it was still quite a good lineup.
Xiao Chen and Zhou Ming were protected in the center of the formation. The group proceeded cautiously toward the depths of the forest.
After traveling for several dozen minutes, the team encountered a Soul Beast, but it was only a Ten-Year Spirit Beast.
Xiao Chen had already activated the system's detection function. Whenever a suitable Ten-Year Spirit Beast appeared nearby, the system would notify him.
He wasn't in a hurry yet. His Soul Power Level hadn't reached Level 20, after all. Although he could attach a Spirit Ring to his Second Martial Soul, he would have to separate from Chu Ruolan and the others to do so.
The team continued forward at a slow pace. Following Chu Ruolan's instructions, they deliberately avoided some lower-tier Soul Beasts. After traveling for about half an hour, they finally encountered a Black Mane Wolf.
"This Black Mane Wolf is around four hundred years old. It's perfect for Ma Yan!" Chu Ruolan said, then immediately made her move.
Her Martial Soul was Moon Cage Vine. She activated her First Soul Skill, Vine Bind, then followed it with her Fourth Spirit Skill, Moon Entanglement Lock. In an instant, the Black Mane Wolf was bound in place.
Vines also stuffed the Black Mane Wolf's mouth completely, preventing it from letting out a single howl.
"Ma Yan, attack!" Chu Ruolan said.
Ma Yan was ready. He pulled out a dagger and charged over, finishing off the Black Mane Wolf in just a few moves.
As soon as the Black Mane Wolf died, Ma Yan summoned his Martial Soul and began drawing its Spirit Ring into it. Then he started absorbing his Second Soul Ring.
Chu Ruolan and the others immediately spread out to protect Ma Yan as he cultivated, while keeping watch for any movement nearby.
Xiao Chen's gaze fell on the Black Mane Wolf's corpse, and his thoughts stirred. His system wanted to recover the Black Mane Wolf's soul.
"System, what do you need Soul Beast souls for?" Xiao Chen asked.
The system replied, "Heaven cherishes life. Soul Masters have to hunt Soul Beasts for Spirit Rings in order to grow stronger, which is very unfair to the Soul Beasts."
"But these are the rules of this world, and humans have no choice. Even so, after a Soul Beast dies, its soul remains bound by the restrictions of this world."
"This system recovers the souls. Once the Host completes the ultimate mission, these souls will be freed from the constraints of this world. That will be a great act of merit!" the system explained.
Before you continue