The three of them wasted no time at the forest entrance and headed deep into the Star Dou Great Forest.
The paths were choked with thorns and weeds. Afraid that the frail Yu Xiaogang might be bitten to death by a venomous insect hiding in the grass, Yu Yuanzhen took the lead, clearing a path with his dragon claws for all three of them.
They had come in a hurry, and Yu Yuanzhen had no interest in explaining things to Yu Mingxiao or teaching him about Soul Beasts.
But Yu Xiaogang had read the illustrated guide to Soul Beasts and considered himself remarkably learned. He never missed a chance to show off. Pointing to a bamboo plant beside the path, he said,
"That ten-year-old Sword Bamboo is also a Soul Beast—a plant-type Soul Beast. Its leaves are razor-sharp."
"Its defenses are weak, but its attacks are formidable. If provoked, it fires the sharp, swordlike leaves growing from its branches."
Yu Yuanzhen glanced at him but said nothing. If the boy wanted to talk, let him. It might liven things up.
The aura of a Titled Douluo spread outward, frightening off the Soul Beasts lurking nearby.
A dark green snake with a triangular head shot out of the grass ahead and vanished into the trees.
Yu Xiaogang said, "That Soul Beast was a Datura Snake. Its venom is extremely potent and contains a neurotoxin."
"A Datura Snake? Xiaogang, don't talk nonsense," Yu Yuanzhen said quietly.
Yu Xiaogang froze. "Dad, wasn't that snake a Datura Snake?"
"It was a Brahma Snake."
Yu Mingxiao glanced at him. "They look almost identical, but a Brahma Snake has a short tail and a swollen belly. A Datura Snake has a long tail and a slender body."
Yu Xiaogang looked up at his father. When Yu Yuanzhen did not disagree, his face fell. "Big Brother, how did you know it was a Brahma Snake?"
"You think I'm ignorant and have never read the illustrated guide to Soul Beasts?" Yu Mingxiao rolled his eyes.
Yu Xiaogang: "..."
Yu Yuanzhen patted his shoulder and sighed. "Xiaogang, I don't know what you've been doing these past few years. Learn from your brother with some humility. If you were even a tenth as outstanding as he is, I'd be satisfied."
"Mm." Yu Xiaogang forced a smile, but resentment surged inside him. I just didn't get a clear look at that Soul Beast! That's the only reason he had a chance to correct me. Learn everything from him? Dad, is that really how little you think of me!?
The three fell silent and continued deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest.
Before long, the auras of the surrounding Soul Beasts grew noticeably stronger. They had clearly entered the Mixed Zone of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Yu Yuanzhen took the two boys through the area, searching every inch for a light-attribute, dragon-type Soul Beast.
"Roar!!"
They had just crossed a stream when a hoarse beastly roar rang out, rapidly drawing nearer.
"Is there a fight nearby?" Yu Yuanzhen frowned. Lifting both boys, he leaped into a large tree and scanned the surroundings.
To the south, flames flared among the trees and great trunks crashed down. Two Soul Beasts were locked in a fierce battle.
One had a dragon's head and a horse's body, golden dragon scales covering it from head to hoof and a diamond-shaped gem set in its forehead.
The other was massive, with two horns and a hideous face like a demonic Prajna Beast.
Yu Mingxiao's eyes lit up when he spotted the dragon-headed horse. "Father, there's a Heavenly Dragon Horse over there. It looks to be around twelve hundred years old. I think it and I are destined for each other."
"Big Brother wants to absorb a thousand-year Heavenly Dragon Horse's Soul Ring?" Yu Xiaogang asked in shock.
"That's right," Yu Mingxiao said with a smile.
Yu Xiaogang's expression shifted. A twelve-hundred-year-old Heavenly Dragon Horse? Has Big Brother gone mad?
Doesn't he know a level-twenty Soul Master can only absorb a Soul Ring six or seven hundred years old at most?
Dad will stop him, won't he?
His thoughts whirling, he looked up at Yu Yuanzhen.
"A twelve-hundred-year-old Heavenly Dragon Horse?" Yu Yuanzhen thought for a moment, then nodded. "It may look like a horse, but its Dragon Clan bloodline is exceptionally pure. That's the one. Let's go."
Huh? Dad isn't stopping Big Brother? Have they both gone mad?
Yu Xiaogang was dumbfounded.
Only a level-thirty Soul Elder could absorb a Millennium Soul Ring. If his brother tried to force it, his body would surely burst apart.
Should he use his theoretical knowledge to persuade his father and brother to give up on that Millennium Soul Ring?
He was stubborn by nature, had endured cold looks throughout the sect, and was constantly compared to his brother.
But Yu Mingxiao was still his own flesh and blood.
Forget it. I won't say anything. Big Brother's the one who wants to absorb a Millennium Soul Ring. He can't blame me!
I'm the smarter one after all!
Yu Xiaogang's confidence returned.
Taking the brothers with him, Yu Yuanzhen bounded swiftly from trunk to trunk and soon reached a spot above the two Soul Beasts.
They were a Great Prajna and a Heavenly Dragon Horse.
"Stay on this branch and don't move. I'll be right back," Yu Yuanzhen instructed them before jumping down.
Lightning flashed from above. Yu Yuanzhen killed the Great Prajna with one punch, then gravely wounded the Heavenly Dragon Horse with another.
He looked around. Seeing no other Soul Beasts nearby, he brought Yu Mingxiao and Yu Xiaogang down.
"Mingxiao, finish it off," Yu Yuanzhen said.
Yu Mingxiao nodded and was about to kill the Heavenly Dragon Horse with his blade when something strange happened to the Great Prajna's corpse after its purple Soul Ring emerged!
"Father, look at the Great Prajna's head!"
"Hm?" Yu Yuanzhen turned toward it and saw golden light bursting from its head.
"Is that... a Spirit Bone? Could it be a skull?" Yu Yuanzhen's eyes lit up. A Thousand-Year Soul Bone might not be worth much, but it was still a Spirit Bone!
Suppressing the urge to extract it immediately, he turned to Yu Mingxiao with a smile. "Deal with the Heavenly Dragon Horse first. I'll collect the Spirit Bone afterward."
Yu Mingxiao nodded, drove his blade into the horse's eye, and twisted it around. The Heavenly Dragon Horse gradually went still.
A purple Soul Ring slowly rose from its corpse.
Yu Mingxiao sat cross-legged. Golden light surged around him as he summoned his Light Sacred Dragon Martial Soul, drew the Heavenly Dragon Horse's Soul Ring toward himself, and began to absorb it.
Yu Xiaogang glanced at him, then turned to Yu Yuanzhen, feigning concern. "Dad, what if Big Brother's body bursts apart while absorbing that Millennium Soul Ring?"
"Don't worry, Xiaogang. It won't."
Yu Xiaogang frowned in confusion. "Dad, why do you say that?"
"A level-twenty Soul Master can only absorb a Soul Ring six or seven hundred years old at most."
"That's the limit for ordinary talented Soul Masters. How could they compare to your brother?" Yu Yuanzhen raised his chin slightly, pride glinting in his eyes.
Yu Xiaogang had no answer. He would see whether his brother could withstand the surge of energy from that Millennium Soul Ring.
With that thought, he hurried backward and kept his distance, afraid he might be caught in the blast if his brother's body burst apart.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang retreat so far, as though desperate to get away, Yu Yuanzhen burned with anger.
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