"Let's go."
Ling Xiao paid no attention to the venom in Yu Tianxin's eyes. He spoke to Hu Liena and Chrysanthemum Douluo, then swung himself onto his horse.
Hu Liena and Chrysanthemum Douluo mounted their horses as well and followed.
They passed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's group and headed toward Star Dou Forest at an unhurried pace.
From beginning to end, Ling Xiao didn't look at Yu Tianxin again.
As he passed the group, he cast a casual glance at Yu Xuan, who stood in a corner.
Yu Xuan looked up once, then lowered his head again.
There was no fear or jealousy in his gaze as he watched them.
Only an indescribable yearning and fervor.
The corner of Ling Xiao's mouth lifted in a barely perceptible curve.
Interesting.
Yu Xuan was even more interesting than he'd expected.
As Ling Xiao and the others gradually disappeared into the distance, Yu Tianxin turned to the elder leading their group.
"Elder, why didn't you step in just now and teach that brat a lesson?"
The elder explained, "Hmph! Didn't you see their escort? Even with my Soul Douluo cultivation, I couldn't see through him. That means his realm is above mine. I held back for your sake."
"When you're away from home, it's best to keep a low profile, so you don't provoke someone you can't afford to offend. Come on, let's keep moving."
The elder gave them one last warning.
Meanwhile, Hu Liena was still excitedly talking about the duel.
"Senior Yue Guan, did you see that? My junior brother's spear thrust was so cool!"
"He sent one of those so-called Blue Lightning Twin Stars of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan flying with a single move. Let's see if they dare act so arrogantly again!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo laughed in agreement, his voice full of admiration:
"Of course! Lord Ling Xiao is a born genius. At such a young age, he's already this powerful. Across the entire Douluo Continent, you wouldn't find another like him."
"Forget Yu Tianxin—even if Yu Tianheng joined in, he'd still be no match for Lord Ling Xiao."
He'd noticed it when Ling Xiao made his move.
His grasp of timing and the strength of his mental power far surpassed those of Soul Masters his age.
Add to that his peerless spear technique, and his future achievements would be limitless.
No wonder His Holiness the Pope valued this second disciple so highly.
Such talent and character were truly rare, even in a thousand years.
"All right, Senior Sister. That's enough praise."
Ling Xiao smiled helplessly.
"It was just one sparring match. There's nothing to be proud of."
"Yu Tianxin simply underestimated me and let his guard down. If he'd truly gone all out, I wouldn't have won so easily."
He'd won in a single move by catching Yu Tianxin off guard with mental control, while Yu Tianxin had looked down on him from the start.
In a direct clash, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's offensive strength was still formidable.
The carriage rolled on, gradually picking up speed.
Half an hour later, the trees around them grew taller and denser.
The scent of vegetation and the concentration of vital energy in the air also grew stronger.
At last, they had reached Star Dou Forest.
The three stopped at the forest's edge.
Before them, Star Dou Forest loomed like an ancient beast crouched upon the earth.
Ancient trees stretched endlessly, their towering crowns blotting out the sun. Thick branches and leaves sealed off the sky.
Beneath the forest's quiet facade lurked danger and killing intent at every turn.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's smile faded, and his expression turned grave.
"I'll take the lead. I ask that the two of you stay within a hundred meters of me, in case anything happens."
"Thank you for your effort, Senior Yue Guan."
Ling Xiao nodded slightly, his tone courteous.
"You're too kind, Lord Ling Xiao. This is my duty."
Chrysanthemum Douluo replied, quietly releasing the aura of a ninety-fifth-level Titled Douluo.
The low-level Soul Beasts along the way sensed the Titled Douluo's presence and scattered in terror.
The forest's outer reaches, usually roiling with hidden currents, fell quiet.
The pressure of a Titled Douluo was the best pass there was.
"Let's go."
Ling Xiao tightened his grip on his spear and stepped into Star Dou Forest first.
Hu Liena followed at his side, ready to strike at any moment.
Chrysanthemum Douluo took the lead, clearing their path and keeping watch for movement among the trees.
The three didn't stop, heading straight into the forest.
The path through the woods was rough.
Roots tangled across the ground, and the thick layer of fallen leaves was slick.
"Junior Brother, what kind of Soul Beast are you looking for for your second Soul Ring?"
Hu Liena asked softly, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings.
"We've been walking for nearly an hour. We've already come across plenty of Hundred-Year Soul Beasts. Why haven't you liked a single one?"
Along the way, they'd encountered quite a few Soul Beasts ranging from three hundred to seven hundred years old.
There'd been Iron Armored Rhinoceroses skilled at charging, Shadow Cats skilled at hiding, and even Jade Phosphorous Serpents skilled in poison.
Ling Xiao had only glanced at them before shaking his head, with no intention of stopping.
"For my second Soul Skill, I want to strengthen my Martial Soul, but I'd still like the main focus to be control."
Ling Xiao scanned the woods and calmly explained.
"Even if a typical control-type Soul Beast is the right age, it won't have much compatibility with my Martial Soul. There's no need to waste time."
His second Soul Ring would determine the attribute of his second Mythical Zoan Fruit.
He wanted the best possible fit. Better to have none than settle for less.
Hu Liena nodded in understanding.
"So that's why! Then I'll take my time searching with you!"
"Besides, my third Soul Ring won't be easy to find either, so we can take our time and choose together."
Sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground.
The three continued deeper into the forest, heading toward an area dense with Soul Beasts.
Ling Xiao gripped his spear and swept a sharp gaze across their surroundings.
The depths of Star Dou Forest felt even more oppressive than the outer reaches.
The branches of towering ancient trees completely blocked out the sky.
The mist among the trees grew thicker.
It carried a damp, moldy stench mixed with the smell of blood.
From time to time, the low growls of thousand-year Soul Beasts echoed from deep within the forest.
Ling Xiao, Hu Liena, and Chrysanthemum Douluo had been walking through Star Dou Forest for an entire day.
Since entering the forest, they'd encountered dozens of different Soul Beasts.
Still, they hadn't found a single candidate that perfectly matched Ling Xiao's needs.
By now, Hu Liena had grown used to her junior brother's pickiness.
The three continued deeper into the forest.
Not long after, they came across a Mysterious Steel Python beside a swamp.
The python was pitch-black, its scales gleaming like Mysterious Steel. It was over ten meters long.
It was seven hundred years old, skilled at binding and constricting its prey, and its bite carried paralyzing venom.
Chrysanthemum Douluo asked:
"Lord Ling Xiao, this Mysterious Steel Python is exceptionally skilled at binding and restricting its prey. Seven hundred years is also just right. It's a rare and excellent choice."
Ling Xiao still shook his head.
"The Mysterious Steel Python relies on physical constriction and crushing. It's a Power Attack System Soul Beast, which makes its uses too limited."
"Its venom also doesn't match my Plant-type Martial Soul very well, so its potential for growth is limited."
He looked over at the Mysterious Steel Python in the swamp, his tone calm.
"Let's look around some more."
Chrysanthemum Douluo paused, then said nothing more.
His Holiness the Pope had ordered that everything on this trip be done according to Lord Ling Xiao's wishes.
All he had to do was keep the two of them safe.
Before you continue