Hurricane Wood Mountain Range

After entering the forest, the group proceeded according to Qing Zhengyue's arrangements.

Qing Hongyuan cleared the way at the front, his long blade cutting through the vines and shrubs blocking their path. His steps were steady.

Soul Power at the Soul King level circulated through his body, ready to erupt at any moment.

Shen Wanqing followed behind her husband. Her martial soul, the Jade Orchid, had already been summoned. A phantom of a jade-green orchid floated above her head, emitting a faint green halo.

Fine motes of light continuously spread from the orchid, falling upon Qing Hongyuan ahead of them and upon Liu Yunlan and Qing Mufeng behind him.

The Jade Orchid's support effect increased Soul Power recovery speed and reduced physical exertion.

Liu Yunlan walked in the middle of the group, holding her grandson's hand. Her right hand remained tightly wrapped around the poisoned dagger as her gaze swept over the shrubs on both sides. No slightest disturbance escaped her eyes.

Qing Zhengyue walked at the rear, his long blade held across his chest. Soul Emperor-level spiritual power spread outward, covering an area of several hundred meters.

Any soul beast that entered this range would be detected by him immediately.

The five moved neither too quickly nor too slowly, coordinating seamlessly without a single unnecessary movement.

Qing Zhengyue had not been studying the Wind Wood Dragon for merely a day or two.

Ever since deciding three months ago to hunt a third soul ring for his grandson, he had combed through every book on dragon-type soul beasts in the Qing Clan Library.

After screening more than a dozen possible targets, the Wind Wood Dragon had become his final and best choice.

It cultivated both wood and wind attributes and was highly compatible with the Azure Dragon.

At five thousand to eight thousand years old, it was well within his grandson's tolerance.

Its habitat was fixed in the Hurricane Wood Mountain Range, in the southern region of Star Dou Forest. They would not need to venture into the core area, making it relatively safe.

The five traveled through the forest for roughly two hours. The sky had become completely dark, yet Qing Zhengyue showed no intention of stopping.

"We're almost there," the old man said from the rear of the group. "The entrance to the Hurricane Wood Mountain Range is five li ahead."

The five li journey took them nearly half an hour through the forest.

When they passed through a dense patch of shrubs and their view suddenly opened up, Qing Mufeng finally saw the full expanse of the Hurricane Wood Mountain Range.

It was a stretch of rolling mountains. The slopes were not particularly steep, but the vegetation was extraordinarily dense. Vast tracts of broadleaf forest covered the mountainsides, the towering trees and their canopies blotting out the sky so completely that not even moonlight could filter through.

The air was thick with the scent of grass and wood, several times stronger than at the forest's outskirts.

"This is the Hurricane Wood Mountain Range."

Qing Zhengyue lowered his voice. "Wind Wood Dragons prefer places with dense wood attributes like this. We'll find an open spot on the outskirts and wait for one to come to us."

The five found a high point on the outskirts of the mountain range.

Mountains surrounded the high ground on three sides, while the remaining side was open, offering an excellent view.

From there, they could see a low valley below. Waist-high wild grass filled the valley, with several enormous ancient trees standing in its center, their canopies spread wide like umbrellas.

Qing Zhengyue judged that terrain like this was where Wind Wood Dragons most often appeared.

There was enough open ground for it to move around, as well as ancient trees to provide cover.

The five spread out and concealed themselves behind rocks and bushes along the edge of the high ground. They restrained their auras and waited patiently.

Time passed second by second.

Half an hour.

One hour.

Two hours.

Qing Mufeng lay behind a boulder, his body utterly motionless as his eyes remained fixed on the valley below.

His Azure Dragon Pupil was already active, a faint golden glow shimmering in his pupils. Every inch of land below lay within his sight.

He was very patient.

More than twenty years of harsh lessons from society in his previous life had taught him one truth.

Being anxious could not solve anything.

At last, after nearly four hours of waiting, the target appeared.

A series of heavy footsteps came from the woods on the eastern side of the valley, accompanied by the crack of snapping branches.

Qing Mufeng's Azure Dragon Pupil caught sight of that figure immediately.

What emerged from the forest was a massive lizard-like soul beast.

It was over five meters long and roughly one and a half meters tall at the shoulder. Its limbs were thick and powerful, its claws sharp as hooks.

Its entire body was covered in blue-green scales that gleamed with a damp sheen beneath the sunlight.

A row of fine spines ran along its back, stretching from the base of its neck all the way to the tip of its tail.

Its neck was long and slender, and its head resembled that of a lizard, but two short horns protruded from its forehead, their tips faintly blue.

Its eyes were the most striking feature.

Vertical golden pupils, identical to Qing Mufeng's eyes when he activated the Azure Dragon Pupil.

Wind Wood Dragon.

It walked slowly, every step carrying a lazy ease, as if this valley were its territory and nothing could make it wary.

Qing Zhengyue lay behind the foremost boulder, his eyes locked on the Wind Wood Dragon as his pupils narrowed slightly.

"Five thousand nine hundred years," the old man silently mouthed, his lips barely moving.

Behind him, Liu Yunlan heard the number, and the old woman's eyes brightened.

Five thousand nine hundred years—nearly six thousand. It was four hundred years older than their expected target, but still within an acceptable range.

This one.

Qing Zhengyue raised his right hand and made several gestures.

These were tactical hand signals agreed upon within the Qing Clan.

Hongyuan on the left flank, Wanqing on the right flank, Yunlan at the rear, Mufeng in the center.

I'll take the front.

The other four nodded at once and began moving soundlessly.

Qing Hongyuan circled out from the bushes on the left, his steps as light as a cat's, making no sound at all.

Shen Wanqing circled out from the right. The phantom Jade Orchid above her head had already dimmed its glow to avoid exposing her position.

Liu Yunlan held Qing Mufeng's hand as they slowly approached from behind. The old woman's pace was slow and steady, every step falling within the Wind Wood Dragon's blind spot.

Qing Zhengyue remained where he was, waiting for everyone to reach their positions.

Once the four had reached their designated spots, the old man took a deep breath and rose to his feet.

The aura of a Soul Emperor burst forth without restraint, pressing down upon the Wind Wood Dragon like a mountain.

The Wind Wood Dragon suddenly raised its head, its golden vertical pupils instantly locking onto Qing Zhengyue.

It sensed the threat.

A threat from a high-level soul master.

But it did not flee.

A five-thousand-nine-hundred-year soul beast already possessed considerable intelligence and pride.

In its understanding, this Hurricane Wood Mountain Range was its territory. Nothing existed that could make it flee without fighting.

It opened its mouth and let out a low roar.

The roar echoed through the valley, making the leaves rustle.

Qing Zhengyue gave it no more time.

"Attack!"

The instant his words fell, five figures moved at once.

Qing Hongyuan charged out from the left flank, four soul rings—

Two yellow and two purple—

Lighting up around him.

His martial soul, the Azure Snake, possessed him. A layer of blue scales covered his arms, and his hands transformed into sharp claws.

His fourth soul skill activated. A blue serpentine phantom shot from his body, racing straight for the Wind Wood Dragon's left flank.

Shen Wanqing rushed out from the right flank, four soul rings—

Two yellow and two purple—

Lighting up as well.

Her martial soul, the Jade Orchid, erupted at full strength. Three jade-green orchid phantoms bloomed above her head, and three rays of light descended upon Qing Hongyuan, Qing Zhengyue, and Qing Mufeng respectively.

Third Soul Skill: Jade Blessing.

Attack power increased, defense increased, and Soul Power recovery speed increased.

Second Soul Skill: Jade Protection.

A pale green shield formed around her allies, capable of blocking one fatal attack.

Liu Yunlan charged out from the rear, five soul rings—

Two yellow, two purple, and one black—lighting up.

Her martial soul was the Emerald Jade Snake, a mutated form of the Azure Snake that specialized in healing and poison techniques.

At that moment, she unleashed her fourth soul skill. Emerald-green poisonous mist sprayed from her sleeve, transforming into a venomous snake that bit toward the Wind Wood Dragon's hind leg.

Qing Zhengyue charged from the front, six soul rings—

Two yellow, two purple, and two black—lighting up.

His sixth soul skill activated, coating his long blade in a layer of black light. Even the air around the blade warped.

Qing Mufeng stood behind his grandmother and did not rush forward.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then suddenly opened them.

Azure Dragon Armor!