The trees in the Star Dou Great Forest were rather strange.
Although they competed for sunlight, they didn't block it all with their leaves. They left a little for the Soul Beasts and ordinary creatures on the ground.
The four of them landed in the Mixed Zone.
Sunlight fell across their clothes, casting faint glimmers.
"Elder Xuan, will you make the first move, or should I?"
Yan Shaozhe asked Xuan Zi politely. With two Titled Douluo here, it was naturally more convenient to split up. As long as they didn't get too far apart, the moment one released his aura, the other could arrive in an instant.
"You protect these two little ones. We'll start by looking for Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts."
"This little one's body is so strong."
"Anything below ten thousand years is out of the question!"
Xuan Zi took a swig of wine. A hint of domineering authority colored his words. He clearly meant to capture the Soul Beasts alive and let Lu Heqiu choose for himself. Whether Lu Heqiu chose one or not was none of his concern.
He was only responsible for fighting. The introductions and choosing were Yan Shaozhe and Lu Heqiu's business.
Yan Shaozhe nodded lightly, then flew off in another direction with Ma Xiaotao, keeping her safe. As long as they weren't too far from Xuan Zi, even if they ran into a Ferocious Beast, he could hold his own for a while. Nothing would go wrong.
Before long,
a sleeping Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast appeared before the three of them.
The beast was covered in dazzling colors and looked peerlessly beautiful. Antlers several meters long sprouted from its head, and its body was over ten meters long, with legs three or four meters in length.
Yan Shaozhe studied the antlers on its head, then took the initiative to introduce it to Lu Heqiu, who was nestled in Ma Xiaotao's arms.
"The Five-Colored Immortal Deer Beast. It has a gentle disposition and is suited to auxiliary Soul Masters who use the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda or other gemstone-type martial souls. This one is about... twelve thousand years old. You can mainly tell from the antlers on its head."
"The Soul Skill you gain should lean toward support or control."
"If an ordinary student were hunting for a fifth Soul Ring, I'd recommend this kind of Soul Beast. Do you want it?"
Yan Shaozhe didn't kill it outright. After all, this kind of Soul Beast was just as rare in the Star Dou Great Forest. If Lu Heqiu didn't want it, he could mark the location and leave it for another student.
Lu Heqiu waved his hand, his jade-like head shaking again and again. Yan Shaozhe immediately understood and flew off toward another place with Ma Xiaotao, putting some distance between them and Xuan Zi once more.
A moment later,
a Soul Beast that looked like a hippopotamus appeared before them. Yan Shaozhe only had to glance at it to identify it.
"The Water-Swallowing River-Treading Beast. It has an extremely strong territorial instinct and excels at defense and explosive attacks. It's suited to defensive Soul Masters or Power Attack System Soul Masters who lack defensive Soul Skills. This one is... twenty-three thousand years old."
"It's usually hunted for a Sixth Soul Ring. This Soul Beast is indeed somewhat suited to you. It might even give you the power to control water, which would be one suitable choice for your Body Martial Soul."
"The age is safe for you, too."
Ma Xiaotao's beautiful eyes shifted slightly. This Soul Beast really was suited to Lu Heqiu. If he chose it, there was a tiny chance he might gain a water-related Soul Skill, which would help keep him safe.
After all, with a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring as his First Soul Ring, Lu Heqiu would surely attract the attention of all kinds of factions in the future.
For a Soul Master like him, safety naturally came first.
What kind of attack power did a One-Ring Soul Master need?
Of course defense came first!
But Lu Heqiu, still in her arms, shook his head again. Clearly, he didn't want to choose this Soul Beast either. A trace of disappointment flickered in Ma Xiaotao's eyes. The little one wouldn't even choose a twenty-three-thousand-year Soul Beast.
What kind of Soul Beast was he looking for, then?
Surely he wasn't really going after a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?
Meanwhile,
Xuan Zi, too, came swooping down from high above with a Soul Beast in hand. Powerful vitality still radiated from him. He dropped the not-quite-dead beast in front of the three of them. Yan Shaozhe glanced at it and immediately recognized it.
"A Ghost Wolf Beast, around forty-eight thousand years old. You can tell its age from the wolf patterns on its body. It loves slaughter and devouring, and it comes with a berserk ability. It's the Soul Beast best suited to Power Attack System Battle Soul Masters."
"We usually recommend it to seven- or eight-ring Soul Masters. If they gain a berserk Soul Skill, it gives them a way to fight with their lives on the line. It's just that using this kind of Soul Skill always leaves them weakened afterward."
"And its age is far too high for you."
"I wouldn't recommend it."
Yan Shaozhe's judgment was fair and balanced. He kept Elder Mu's words in mind, never interfering with Lu Heqiu's choices. From beginning to end, he only offered advice; he showed no sign of making the decision for Lu Heqiu.
This was the choice best suited to the Body Martial Soul.
And the choice best suited to Lu Heqiu, too.
But Lu Heqiu still refused!
It made him suspect that the little one had never intended to hunt a Soul Beast at all, and only wanted to torment a bunch of old men like them!
Lu Heqiu offered no explanation. He simply pointed toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest. Xuan Zi's expression darkened as he looked in the direction Lu Heqiu indicated. He spoke crossly.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"You want to enter the inner area now?"
"Do you even know what Soul Beasts live in the inner area? Forget Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts—even Ferocious Beasts might appear there. They aren't fools who stay cooped up in the core area!"
Yan Shaozhe's expression had turned unpleasant, too. He knew what this little one wanted.
The little one wanted a Soul Beast with a higher age limit!
He might even want...
a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!
Hunting a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast for his First Soul Ring—did this little one mean to shock the entire continent?
"A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring can indeed give you two Soul Skills, and you're certain to get a Soul Bone, too."
"But can you withstand it?"
"Once you start absorbing the Soul Ring, even we won't be able to protect you. If we interrupt you midway, you'll never be able to cultivate again. Are you sure?"
Yan Shaozhe stared intently at Lu Heqiu. At last, Lu Heqiu nodded.
What he wanted...
was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring!
Before you continue