Departure, Destination: Star Dou Forest

"Brother Chen, what kind of fish did you catch this time? It tastes incredible."

"Yeah, I've never had fish this fresh before."

Su Chen was not stingy. After bringing the Sea Soul Beast back, he called over the children who had already attended his farewell meal.

Of course, none of them came empty-handed, and none of them had been idle either.

Those who lived by the mountains lived off the mountains; those who lived by the water lived off the water. Though Sea Burial Village was not particularly wealthy, making a living was far from difficult.

Every household had more or less some savings.

Su Chen did not take out all of the Sea Soul Beast. It was so large that just one cut of meat was enough for a hearty feast.

The chef was still that little girl who ambitiously wanted to marry Su Chen.

"Just eat. Why are you asking so many questions?"

"I can't eat anymore. I really can't."

The children all clutched their bellies and groaned.

The Sea Soul Beast's meat was firm, yet not tough. Su Chen had still overestimated their appetites.

More than half of the Sea Soul Beast meat remained, but everyone was already too full to eat.

"Pack it up. Take the leftover meat home."

Su Chen was also full and satisfied. He lazily waved his hand.

"Alright!"

"Great! I'll let my dad try this fish too. He said maybe he'll be able to catch one someday."

Besides the remaining Sea Soul Beast meat, Su Chen also wrapped up a large piece of raw meat for each of them.

The village had taken good care of him over the years. He would not treat a little Soul Beast meat like some precious treasure he could not bear to part with.

"Brother Chen, are you going to Soul Master Academy soon?"

As they were leaving, one of the children asked.

"Mm. I'm leaving tomorrow."

"Ah?"

The children all drooped dejectedly.

It could not be helped. Su Chen's affinity and leadership were simply that strong.

The next day.

When Su Chen prepared to leave Sea Burial Village, the children and many villagers came to see him off.

"Brother Chen, take good care of yourself when you're out there alone."

"Little Chen, do us proud. Strive to become an outstanding Soul Master."

"Brother Su Chen, will you come back?"

"Su Chen, take these with you."

The village had prepared a large bundle of dried provisions, several sets of clothes, and luggage for Su Chen. They only handed it to him at the moment of parting.

Several fisherman uncles from the village had originally intended to escort Su Chen to Soul Master Academy, but Su Chen refused.

It was not that he did not want to owe them any more favors. Rather, Su Chen had never planned to go to Soul Master Academy in the first place.

With the God of Destruction, this pendant grandpa, by his side, why would he need to waste his days at a junior Soul Master Academy?

Besides, the God of Destruction had set another destination for him, though it was not something he could tell them.

After accompanying Su Chen all the way to the main road, the burly village chief said:

"Little Chen, since you don't want us to take you to the academy, Old He from Sea Overturning Village is heading into the city too. You can ride in his ox cart. That'll put our minds at ease."

As he spoke, the village chief called out to the ox cart slowly approaching:

"Old He, hurry up! Is the ox pulling the cart, or are you pulling the ox? Stop dawdling!"

"Thank you, Uncle Village Chief."

Su Chen had been a little puzzled before. He had said there was no need to see him off, and everyone had really agreed.

So the village chief had arranged everything already. Riding an ox cart was hardly comfortable, but it was much easier than walking.

"Heh, you brat, you've learned to be polite now."

The village chief brought Su Chen to Old He's ox cart. Without caring whether Su Chen was willing, he picked him up and set him onto the cart.

"Old He, Little Chen is the treasure of our village. Be careful on the road. Don't let him get bumped or bruised."

"Don't worry. Even if it weren't for your old face, I'd still take good care of Little Chen."

The Old He the village chief spoke of was a dark-skinned man whose face was covered in wrinkles.

"Little Chen, what do you think? My girl's still thinking about you. How about I take you back to my place for a few days first?"

Old He grinned broadly, making the wrinkles on his face seem even deeper.

This Old He was one of the people who had expressed a desire to adopt Su Chen.

It could not be helped. Being too handsome came with such troubles.

"Dream on. Your daughter looks just like you—big and dark. Don't scare Little Chen."

The village chief and Old He exchanged a few laughing insults, then the village chief leaned close to Su Chen's ear and quietly reminded him:

"I could tell from when you were little that you'd grow up to be no ordinary person. The meat you had Xiao Ya take home yesterday was Soul Beast meat, wasn't it? You brat have some nerve. You haven't even gone to Soul Master Academy to study, yet you already dared to kill a Soul Beast. Don't do something like that again in the future."

The village chief was the most knowledgeable person in Sea Burial Village.

It was said that in his youth, he had followed a fleet out to the distant seas. It was no surprise that he recognized the meat as Soul Beast meat.

"Got it. I'm not that foolish," Su Chen said.

"Alright, we should get going too. Stop chatting."

Old He flicked the ox's back with a bundle of dry grass, and the cart began to move forward with a sway.

"Uncle Village Chief, don't let Xiao Ya keep waiting for me. I can't become your son-in-law after all."

Only after the ox cart had traveled some distance did Su Chen call out to the village chief, who was waving in their direction.

Xiao Ya was the little girl who had cooked Su Chen two meals, and she was also the village chief's daughter.

Old He, who was driving the cart, immediately burst into a barbell-like laugh.

"Heh, you little brat."

The village chief shouted with a laugh.

"I could tell at a glance you'd grow up to be a womanizer. I wouldn't dare push Xiao Ya into that fire pit. Get lost already."

The ox cart gradually picked up speed and completely left the village behind.

"So, Little Chen, are you already starting to miss home?"

As Old He drove the ox cart, he turned and spoke to Su Chen.

"I'm fine. We've barely gone anywhere yet. Besides, it's not as if I'll never come back."

After living in Sea Burial Village for more than six years, it was impossible for him not to feel attached.

But he was not exactly reluctant to leave. He was not truly just a child leaving home for the first time.

"That's good. You look like the kind of kid who'll accomplish great things."

The two chatted on and off like this until Su Chen felt the Pendant tremble slightly.

"Senior Destruction, where exactly is the destination you mentioned?"

Su Chen had already learned to communicate with the God of Destruction through spiritual power, so he no longer needed to speak aloud.

"Star Dou Forest."

The God of Destruction's answer was brief and direct.

"Star Dou Forest?"

Su Chen was somewhat surprised.

"That's right."

Thinking Su Chen did not know where Star Dou Forest was, the God of Destruction explained:

"That is the largest Soul Beast forest on Douluo Continent. Cultivate as you travel there. By the time your Soul Power breaks through level ten, you can obtain your first Soul Ring there."

It was not that Su Chen did not know of Star Dou Forest. He was confused why the God of Destruction wanted him to go there alone.

He was only a six-year-old child. He was supposed to go alone to such a dangerous Soul Beast forest?

Did the God of Destruction have some misunderstanding about his strength?

Even with the Hundred Battles Spear Art protecting him, he could not possibly deal with overly powerful Soul Beasts.

"Can you help deal with the Soul Beasts?"

For once, the God of Destruction did not answer directly.

"You need not worry about that. You only need to cultivate diligently. When you reach Star Dou Forest, the Soul Ring you need will naturally be there."

"Alright."

Su Chen had considerable faith in the God of Destruction's ability to get things done. So far, he had never failed to deliver on anything he promised.