The next morning, dawn had barely broken.
At the main gate of Shrek Academy.
Huo Yuhao stood waiting there early, carrying a simple pack.
"Nervous?"
Xia Ming's voice came from behind him.
Huo Yuhao turned around and saw that Xia Ming had somehow appeared behind him.
"A little," he admitted honestly.
"Brother Xia Ming, where exactly are we going to hunt soul beasts?"
"The Star Dou Great Forest," Xia Ming said softly. "That's where you'll find the Soul Ring best suited for you."
The Star Dou Great Forest was near Shrek Academy, but Xia Ming did not intend to take Huo Yuhao in from that side.
In the original story, Huo Yuhao had entered the Star Dou Great Forest from the south, and Xia Ming intended to take the same route now.
Because they had to take a detour, the journey was nearly a thousand li.
Yet with Xia Ming carrying Huo Yuhao on a flying Soul Tool, they arrived in less than two hours.
Snow Empress and Ice Empress trailed far behind them.
They had promised to protect Xia Ming, though with his current strength, he scarcely needed protection anymore.
Still, neither showed any intention of leaving.
This time, Xia Ming had also told them not to stay too close, lest they scare off the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.
"Let's go in."
Xia Ming put away the flying Soul Tool and stepped into the forest.
Huo Yuhao vigilantly scanned the surroundings as his Spirit Eye Martial Soul quietly activated.
A pale golden glow flowed through his eyes, and his vision instantly became several times clearer.
But Xia Ming appeared exceptionally relaxed.
He did not even activate his Martial Soul, simply strolling forward as though taking a walk through his own backyard.
After walking for about fifteen minutes.
"Bzz—!"
An