Star Dou Great Forest! Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile!

Three days later.

At the first light of dawn, the group from Shrek Academy set off.

Flender led the team, with Zhao Wuji accompanying them. The three children, Fu Wen, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun, followed behind.

The group of five left Suotuo City and headed south.

Star Dou Great Forest was located to the southeast of Suotuo City, and the distance was not far.

At the speed of Flender and Zhao Wuji, traveling with the three children, they would arrive in about two hours.

"Master, is Star Dou Great Forest very big?"

Ma Hongjun walked beside Flender, looking up as he asked.

"Big."

Flender nodded: "Extremely big. It spans several empires and is the largest habitat for soul beasts on the continent."

"Are there ten-thousand-year soul beasts inside?"

"Yes, there are even hundred-thousand-year ones."

Ma Hongjun swallowed hard and shrank his neck.

"But don't worry, we aren't going to the core area."

Flender patted his head: "The soul beasts in the outer perimeter are at most a few thousand years old. With your master here, not even a fly will be able to get close to you."

Ma Hongjun chuckled, feeling relieved.

Oscar walked beside Fu Wen and lowered his voice to ask: "Xiao Wen, are you nervous?"

"Not nervous."

Fu Wen's expression was calm.

"That's a nine-hundred-year Century Soul Ring. Are you sure you can handle it?"

"I can."

Fu Wen glanced at him: "When have I ever lied to you?"

Oscar thought about it; it seemed he really hadn't.

"Fine, I believe you."

Two hours later, they arrived at Star Dou Great Forest.

Looking at it from the outside, it was an endless primeval forest.

The trees were tall and dense, their branches and leaves blocking out the sky and sun.

Standing at the edge and looking in, it was pitch black, like a giant beast with its mouth wide open.

"We're here."

Flender stopped and looked back at the three children.

"From now on, listen to my commands. Do not run around, do not speak loudly, and do not act alone."

"Understood!"

The three replied in unison.

Flender nodded and looked at Zhao Wuji.

"Old Zhao, you lead the way."

"Fine."

Zhao Wuji activated Martial Soul Possession, and the phantom of the Vajra Bear appeared behind him.

Three yellow, two purple, and two black—seven soul rings rose from beneath his feet.

The aura of a seven-ring Soul Saint spread out, and the low-level soul beasts at the edge of the forest fled in terror.

Flender also released his martial soul, Four-Eyed Owl, and seven soul rings appeared as well.

With two seven-ring Soul Saints clearing the path, let alone the outer perimeter, they could walk sideways even in the inner area.

"Let's go."

Flender waved his hand, and the group entered Star Dou Great Forest.

The light in the forest was very dim; the tall canopy blocked the sunlight completely.

The ground was covered in fallen leaves, feeling soft underfoot. Occasionally, small soul beasts could be seen darting through the bushes.

Ma Hongjun looked around curiously, while Oscar followed closely behind Zhao Wuji.

Fu Wen walked in the middle, his gaze scanning the surroundings.

He was observing the terrain and sensing the aura of the forest.

This is the Star Dou Great Forest.

It is countless times larger than the Soul Hunting Forest, and the variety and quantity of its soul beasts are incomparable to those of the Soul Hunting Forest.

However, the level of danger here is also far beyond what the Soul Hunting Forest can compare to.

But today is not for exploration; it is for hunting a soul ring.

The goal is clear, and we are heading straight to the point.

"Xiao Wen, do you remember the information you reviewed earlier?"

Flender asked while walking.

"I remember."

Fu Wen nodded: "Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile, Sub-Dragon Species, power-type soul beast. It likes to live by the river and feeds on fish and other small soul beasts. Its primary attack methods are biting and tail whipping. Its weaknesses are its eyes and abdomen."

"Not bad."

Flender nodded with satisfaction: "If we can successfully take down the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile this time, your second soul ring will be secured."

"Dad, when did you find out about this Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile?"

Fu Wen asked.

"Two months ago."

Flender said: "I inquired about it through an old friend from the Soul Hunting Forest. There is an Azure Sky River on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, and an Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile haunts the riverbank, with an age of around nine hundred years."

"I personally scouted the location twice to confirm its activity area and routine. This guy sunbathes on the rocks by the river every noon, without fail."

"So we can just head straight there now?"

Fu Wen asked.

"Head straight there."

Flender nodded: "At our speed, we will arrive in half an hour."

Half an hour later, the Azure Sky River was reached.

The river was very wide, the current rapid, emitting a rumbling sound.

There was an open area on the riverbank, overgrown with weeds and shrubs.

"We're here."

Flender stopped and lowered his voice: "Keep it quiet."

He pointed to a giant rock on the riverbank.

"That guy is on that rock."

Everyone looked in the direction of his finger.

On the giant rock lay a massive crocodile.

It was nearly five zhang long, its entire body covered in iron-gray scales.

The bony plates protruding from its spine looked like rows of sawteeth, gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

Its tail was thick and long, with barbs at the end.

Just lying there, it gave off an intense sense of oppression.

"Is this the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile?"

Ma Hongjun asked in a low voice, his voice trembling.

"Shut up."

Zhao Wuji glared at him.

Ma Hongjun quickly covered his mouth.

Flender observed the state of the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile, then turned to look at Fu Wen.

"Xiao Wen, look closely. This guy is around nine hundred years old, just right for you."

"You must remember its appearance and its aura. Because after you absorb its soul ring, its power will become your power."

Fu Wen stared at the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile without speaking.

His eyes were calm, but deep within them lay a trace of burning intensity.

This was his second soul ring.

"Old Zhao, move."

Flender said in a low voice.

Zhao Wuji nodded, his figure shooting out violently.

The aura of a seven-ring Soul Saint erupted instantly, and a giant palm condensed from soul power descended from the sky, slamming fiercely toward the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile.

The Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile sensed the danger and snapped its eyes open.

It wanted to flee, but it was already too late.

Flender followed closely behind, another massive hand of soul power striking from the side to seal off its retreat.

Bang! Bang!

With two muffled thuds, the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile was forcefully slammed onto the ground.

It let out an angry hiss, its body struggling violently as its tail whipped about frantically.

The ground was carved into deep trenches by its tail, sending gravel flying everywhere.

But before the power of two seven-ring Soul Saints, everything was in vain.

Flender stepped onto the back of the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile, pinning it firmly to the earth.

"Xiao Wen, come quickly!"

Fu Wen did not hesitate; he took off running.

He drew a dagger from his waist, his footsteps swift.

The Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile sensed the threat of death and struggled even more fiercely.

Its tail lashed out violently, whipping toward Fu Wen.

"Watch out!"

Zhao Wuji threw a punch, knocking the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile's tail off course.

Fu Wen seized the opportunity to rush forward, driving his dagger deep into the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile's eye.

Squelch!

Blood gushed out.

The Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile let out a shrill, miserable hiss, its body convulsed violently a few times, and then it went completely still.

That remaining eye stared fixedly at Fu Wen, filled with nothing but resentment.

Fu Wen released the dagger and took a step back.

He looked at the corpse of the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile, his expression calm.

"The weak are prey to the strong."

He whispered those six words.