Bright Clothes, Galloping Steeds, Target: Wind-Breath Dragon!

The next morning.

In the center of the square, fifty heavy cavalrymen stood in perfect formation.

These fifty men were the absolute elite, handpicked by Emperor Xue Ye from the Heaven Dou Royal Knights specifically to protect Xue Yao.

Every one of them possessed at least the cultivation level of a Soul Grand Master; when they formed a battle array, they dared to go head-to-head even against a Soul King.

On both sides of the Royal Knights were two hundred Royal Guards from the Farack Kingdom.

Although their equipment was not as luxurious as the Heaven Dou contingent, they were all the cream of the crop within the kingdom.

"Hahaha! Yao'er! This old man is late!"

Accompanied by a booming, hearty laugh, an old man in wide cyan robes walked out from the palace gates with a swagger, surrounded by a group of attendants.

Xue Yao, mounted on a snow-white steed, turned his head and couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

The man approaching was none other than Feng Cang, the old Dean of Godwind Academy and an eighty-second-level Soul Douluo.

Two years ago, this old man had been nothing but skin and bones, looking like a true ethereal sage.

But now?

After being pampered like a living ancestor in the Farack Kingdom for two full years, the old man's complexion was not only as rosy as an infant's, but he had even managed to grow a small potbelly!

The once-loose cyan wind robes now looked somewhat tight on him.

"Elder Feng, your complexion is truly getting better and better," Xue Yao greeted with a half-smile.

Feng Cang's old face flushed, and he coughed twice, patting his protruding belly.

"Ahem, well. The water and soil of Farack are quite nourishing."

But his expression immediately turned solemn as he walked in front of Xue Yao's horse, a flash of undisguised shock in his eyes.

Last night, when Xue Lang sent word overnight that Xue Yao was heading into the forest to hunt for his third soul ring, Feng Cang had spat out the premium Longjing tea he had just been drinking.

Eight years old? A third soul ring?! What kind of peerless monster was this!

That was why, early this morning, Feng Cang had pushed aside all his duties, insisting on leading the escort himself.

To witness the birth of an eight-year-old, thirtieth-level monster with his own eyes—his life would be worth it!

"Yao'er, His Majesty the King and the Queen are in the carriage behind. Today, this old man will clear the path for you personally! Even if a ten-thousand-year soul beast appears, it won't be allowed to touch a single hair on your head!"

Feng Cang patted his chest in assurance, the imposing aura of a Soul Douluo fully revealed.

"I leave it to you, Elder Feng," Xue Yao nodded.

"All troops, listen! Target, the southern foothills of the Sunset Forest! Move out!"

Bright clothes, spirited horses, and banners fluttering in the wind.

Xue Yao, dressed in a pure white, slim-fitting hunting outfit, sat upright on his white horse, a crystal-clear wind-attribute gemstone hanging from his waist.

Behind him flowed a silver river of steel—the Heaven Dou Royal Knights.

The commoners and merchants within Farack City watched this grand procession, their eyes filled with awe and fervor.

"Did you see that! That is our Viscount Sky Wind!"

"With a formation like this, even the princes of the Heaven Dou Empire couldn't compare!"

"You said it! Young Master Yao is the god of our Farack!"

The procession exited the city and galloped northward.

Although this area was not as terrifying as the heart of the Sunset Forest, it was still home to a large number of high-level soul beasts.

Half a day later, the main force officially stepped into the outer perimeter of the forest.

Once inside the forest, the "privileged" nature of this massive force was displayed to the fullest.

Ordinary civilian soul masters hunting for soul rings would be cautious, suppressing their aura for fear of attracting a swarm of soul beasts.

But Xue Yao's group? They didn't need any camouflage at all.

"Royal Knights, form a wedge formation, push straight through!" the captain of the knights ordered.

The fifty heavy cavalrymen immediately released their martial souls, their long spears forming a forest of steel, carving a wide path directly through the wilderness.

The low-level soul beasts on the periphery felt the massive, murderous aura of the army from afar and were instantly scared out of their wits, fleeing in terror.

This was the confidence of a great power. No need for luck, no need for hiding—pure, overwhelming force pushing forward!

The main force pushed in a straight line through the forest for two full hours, reaching the activity zone of thousand-year soul beasts.

The surrounding trees grew thicker, and the air was filled with a primitive, wild atmosphere.

"Halt!"

Feng Cang, who had been keeping his eyes closed to rest and using his spiritual power to sense the surroundings, suddenly snapped his eyes open.

He raised his right hand, and the entire procession came to an instant stop.

Feng Cang narrowed his eyes, gazing toward a steep cliff to the front right.

"Such pure wind element fluctuations..."

He turned his head to look at Xue Yao, a flush of excitement appearing on his chubby face.

"Yao'er, your luck is good. About three miles to the front right, there is a big one."

"The age... it definitely exceeds four thousand years, and is even approaching the five-thousand-year mark!"

Xue Lang and Gao Nianzhen, who were sitting in the luxurious carriage behind, also stepped out.

"Elder Feng, what kind of soul beast is it?" Gao Nianzhen asked with some nervousness. Although she was a Soul Saint, she dared not lower her guard when encountering a five-thousand-year-level soul beast in the wild.

Feng Cang did not answer directly; instead, he tapped his toes and leaped lightly onto the canopy dozens of meters high, as if he were a leaf devoid of weight. A moment later, he landed back on the ground, his eyes flickering with an intensely burning light.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Queen! And even more congratulations to Yao'er!"

Feng Cang was so excited that his voice rose by an octave. "That is a—Wind-Breath Dragon!"

Upon hearing the words "Wind-Breath Dragon," Xue Lang gasped.

Even Xue Yao, who had always maintained his composure, saw his eyes suddenly light up.

On the Douluo Continent, any soul beast that had even the slightest connection to the word "dragon," no matter how thin its bloodline, was absolutely an overlord among its peers.

And the Wind-Breath Dragon was one of the top-tier sub-dragon species of the wind element!

It not only possessed the formidable physical defense of the sub-dragon clan, but more terrifying was its absolute control over wind elements.

Ordinary soul masters who encountered a Wind-Breath Dragon of the same level were basically destined to be toyed with until death.

"Elder Feng, are you sure you didn't see wrong?" Xue Lang swallowed hard. "How could a sub-dragon species exist in this branch of the Sunset Forest?"

"There is no mistake!" Feng Cang said with certainty. "Its whole body is covered in cyan-gold dragon scales, it has wings on its back, and its breath carries intense, cutting air currents. This is definitely an adult Wind-Breath Dragon!"

He looked at Xue Yao, his tone carrying undisguised fanaticism.

"Yao'er, this Wind-Breath Dragon is around five thousand years old. For ordinary people, this is absolutely courting death."

"But for your Griffin Martial Soul... this is simply a tailor-made, top-grade third ring!"

"The physical essence of a sub-dragon, combined with top-tier wind attributes. Once you absorb it, your third soul skill will absolutely reach a terrifying, hair-raising level!"

Xue Yao dismounted and flexed his wrists, listening to the crisp popping sounds of his bones.

After searching for so long, he had finally encountered prey that caught his eye.

"Five thousand years, Wind-Breath Dragon." A sharp arc curled at the corner of Xue Yao's mouth. "This level of prestige is worthy of me."

He turned to look at the knights and his parents behind him.

"Everyone, retreat one mile and set up camp. Seal off the perimeter; do not let any other soul beasts approach or interfere." Xue Yao's tone was unquestionable, carrying the majesty of someone in a high position.

Xue Lang was stunned: "Yao'er, you want to take it on yourself? This is a five-thousand-year-old sub-dragon! Can't you just have Elder Feng beat it half to death first?"

"No need."

Xue Yao shook his head, directly rejecting his father's suggestion.

"I said it. For high-level soul beasts, only by crushing them head-on with absolute power can one obtain the most perfect, most pure soul ring."

"Elder Feng, come with me. If it tries to run, you are responsible for blocking its escape route." Xue Yao looked at Feng Cang and issued the order.

"As for the battle..."

"Screech—!"

A high-pitched, cloud-piercing eagle cry resounded through the forest.

The magnificent Royal Griffin suddenly manifested behind Xue Yao, its golden-cyan light illuminating the dim forest.

"Leave it to me to solve."

Xue Yao stomped his toes hard against the ground, his body transforming into an afterimage as he shot directly toward the cliff!

A youth in fresh clothes and on a spirited horse. Today, he hunts a dragon!