Star Dou Great Forest! Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile!

Three days later.

The sky was barely beginning to lighten when the Shrek Academy group set out.

Flender led the way, with Zhao Wuji accompanying him. Fu Wen, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun followed behind.

The five of them left Suotuo City and headed south.

The Star Dou Great Forest lay southeast of Suotuo City, not very far away.

At Flender and Zhao Wuji's pace, even with three children in tow, they would reach it in about two hours.

"Master, is the Star Dou Great Forest really big?"

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

"Big."

Flender nodded. "Very big. It stretches across several empires and is the largest gathering place for Soul Beasts on the continent."

"Are there Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in there?"

"There are. Even hundred-thousand-year ones."

Ma Hongjun swallowed and hunched his shoulders.

"But don't worry. We're not going to the core area."

Flender patted his head. "The Soul Beasts on the outskirts are at most a few thousand years old. With me here, not even a fly will get near you."

Ma Hongjun grinned, reassured.

Oscar walked beside Fu Wen and asked in a low voice, "Xiao Wen, are you nervous?"

"Not nervous."

Fu Wen's expression was calm.

"That's a nine-hundred-year 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 hadn't.

"Fine, I believe you."

Two hours later, they reached the Star Dou Great Forest.

From the outside, it looked like an endless stretch of primeval forest.

The trees grew tall and dense, their branches and leaves blotting out the sky.

Looking in from the edge, it was pitch-black, like a giant beast with its mouth open.

"We're here."

Flender stopped and turned to look at the three children.

"From here on, follow my orders. Don't run off, don't speak loudly, and don't go anywhere alone."

"Understood!"

The three answered in unison.

Flender nodded and looked at Zhao Wuji.

"Old Zhao, take the lead."

"Sure."

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

Three yellow, two purple, and two black Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet.

The aura of a Seven-Ring Soul Saint spread out, frightening the low-level Soul Beasts at the forest's edge into fleeing in every direction.

Flender released his Martial Soul too, taking on the form of a Four-Eyed Owl. He also had seven Soul Rings.

With two Seven-Ring Soul Saints clearing the way, they could stride across the outskirts, let alone the inner perimeter.

"Let's go."

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

The forest was dim. Its towering canopy blocked out the sunlight completely.

Fallen leaves covered the ground, soft underfoot. Now and then, small Soul Beasts darted through the bushes.

Ma Hongjun looked around curiously, while Oscar stayed close behind Zhao Wuji.

Fu Wen walked in the middle, scanning his surroundings.

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

This was the Star Dou Great Forest.

It was countless times bigger than the Soul Hunting Forest, and the variety and number of Soul Beasts here were beyond anything the Soul Hunting Forest could match.

But it was also far more dangerous.

Still, they hadn't come to explore today. They had come to hunt a Soul Ring.

Their target was clear. They would get straight to the point.

"Xiao Wen, do you still remember the information you read before?"

Flender asked as they walked.

"I remember."

Fu Wen nodded. "The Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile is a Sub-Dragon Species, a power-type Soul Beast. It likes to live by rivers and feeds on fish and other small Soul Beasts. Its main attacks are biting and tail-swiping. Its weak points are its eyes and belly."

"Good."

Flender nodded in satisfaction. "If we can take down the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile without a hitch, you'll have your Second Soul Ring."

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

Fu Wen asked.

"Two months ago."

Flender said, "I heard about it through an old friend from the Soul Hunting Forest. There's a river called the Azure Sky River on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, and an Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile, around nine hundred years old, has been spotted along its banks."

"I came here myself twice to check things out and confirm its territory and habits. Every day at noon, the thing sunbathes on a rock by the river. Like clockwork."

"So we can head straight there now?"

Fu Wen asked.

"Straight there."

Flender nodded. "At our speed, we'll get there in half an hour."

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

The river was wide and fast-flowing, roaring loudly as it rushed by.

An open patch of land stretched along the bank, overgrown with weeds and bushes.

"We're here."

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

He pointed to a boulder by the riverbank.

"That thing is on that rock."

Everyone followed his finger.

A giant crocodile lay sprawled across the boulder.

It was nearly fifteen meters long, its entire body covered in iron-gray scales.

The bony plates rising along its back looked like rows of sawteeth, glinting coldly in the sunlight.

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

Even lying there, it gave off an oppressive presence.

"Is that the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile?"

Ma Hongjun asked in a whisper, his voice trembling.

"Shut up."

Zhao Wuji glared at him.

Ma Hongjun hurriedly covered his mouth.

Flender observed the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile for a moment, then turned to Fu Wen.

"Xiao Wen, take a good look. This one's around nine hundred years old, just right for you."

"Remember what it looks like. Remember its aura. Once you absorb its Soul Ring, its power will become your power."

Fu Wen stared at the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile without saying a word.

His expression was calm, but deep in his eyes burned a spark of heat.

This would be his Second Soul Ring.

"Old Zhao, move."

Flender spoke in a low voice.

Zhao Wuji nodded and shot forward.

The aura of a Seven-Ring Soul Saint erupted, and a huge palm condensed from Soul Power came crashing down on the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile.

Sensing danger, the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile abruptly opened its eyes.

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

Flender followed close behind. Another massive hand of Soul Power swept in from the side, blocking its escape.

Bang! Bang!

Two muffled impacts rang out as the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile was slammed to the ground.

It let out an enraged roar, its body thrashing violently as its tail lashed about.

Its tail gouged deep furrows in the earth, sending broken stones flying.

But against the might of two Seven-Ring Soul Saints, it was all in vain.

Flender planted a foot on the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile's back, pinning it firmly to the ground.

"Xiao Wen, hurry!"

Fu Wen didn't hesitate. He broke into a run.

He drew a dagger from his waist and raced forward.

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

Its tail whipped up and swung toward Fu Wen.

"Look out!"

Zhao Wuji punched, knocking the Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile's tail aside.

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

Squish!

Blood gushed out.

The Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile let out a shrill roar. Its body convulsed violently a few times, then went completely still.

Its one remaining eye stared fixedly at Fu Wen, full of unwillingness.

Fu Wen released the dagger and stepped back.

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

"The strong prey on the weak."

He murmured the four words.