The forest path was deep and quiet, broken only by the soft rustle of their footsteps over fallen leaves.
Gu Tian walked ahead with Meng Yiran, while Dragon Duke Meng Shu and Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang followed side by side. These two powerhouses, who had cut a swath through the Soul Master World for decades, were now studying the young man's back with curious, appraising eyes.
"Little friend Gu Tian, judging by your accent, you don't seem to be from the Heaven Dou Empire, do you?" Meng Shu leaned on his Dragon Head Cane and opened the conversation as if it were a casual question.
Gu Tian turned his head slightly, a gentle smile on his face. "Your eyes are sharp, senior. I was born in a remote village on the border of the Star Luo Empire, called Ancient Dragon Village. My parents were ordinary farmers, and their greatest wish in life was simply for me to live in peace."
"Ancient Dragon Village?" Chao Tianxiang furrowed her brow, searching her memory for the name, but coming up empty.
Appearances could be deceiving. How could a family of ordinary farmers have raised a boy with such an air and such a Martial Soul? The two exchanged glances, already labeling Gu Tian a "heir to a hidden clan" in their minds. They even wondered if he might be the Dragon God incarnate.
"May I ask where you're studying now, little friend?" Chao Tianxiang asked gently. "With your talent, surely it's either Heaven Dou Royal Academy or Star Luo Royal Academy?"
Gu Tian shook his head, his tone calm. "No, I'm studying at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy in Nuoding City. It's the academy that the Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang, belongs to—the one we just met."
"Nuoding Academy?" Meng Shu froze. How could an inferior junior academy possibly measure up to Gu Tian's talent?
He couldn't help stopping in his tracks. With a grave expression, he asked the question that mattered most to him: "Little friend, forgive an old man for asking, but how old are you? And what is your Soul Power Level?"
Gu Tian stopped too and turned around. The evening sun bathed his refined, handsome face, which held a hint of heroic spirit.
"This junior just turned six."
Gu Tian held out his right hand. As Nine-Colored Divine Light flowed around him, a ring of light rose from beneath his feet.
"My Soul Power is level twenty-three. My First Soul Ring is a thousand years old."
The purple Soul Ring radiated a noble, oppressive aura. It stood out in the dark forest so sharply that even the Dragon Head Cane in Meng Shu's hand was bathed in purplish red.
"Hiss—!"
Meng Shu sucked in a sharp breath, and the hand gripping his cane trembled. Six years old? Level twenty-three? A purple First Soul Ring?
He'd spent his whole life in the Soul Master World and heard countless tales of geniuses, but this monster, who had leaped past two Soul Ring realms, was simply beyond the bounds of human understanding! This wasn't a person—this was the son of a god!
Meng Yiran, standing beside him, was even more astonished. She covered her small mouth, her usually spirited eyes now sparkling with stars.
She'd always thought her innate level-five Soul Power was excellent, but beside Gu Tian, she felt she was worth less than the weeds by the roadside. Yet that inferiority quickly transformed into absolute admiration. Only a man as perfect as him deserved her reverence!
"Miss Yiran, if you don't mind, why not transfer to Nuoding Academy?"
Gu Tian smiled warmly at Meng Yiran, who looked as if she were about to turn into a lovestruck fangirl. "For a junior Soul Master academy, the quality of the teachers doesn't really matter. Before the age of twelve, you only need to reach level ten and obtain your First Soul Ring to graduate. But with me there, I can guarantee that your First Soul Ring, and every one after it, will be the best of its level."
Meng Yiran was overjoyed, her young heart pounding. She hurriedly turned to Chao Tianxiang and blinked at her like mad, the meaning of her hints unmistakable: Grandma, I want to go to Nuoding Academy! I want to be with Gu Tian every day!
Chao Tianxiang looked at her granddaughter, who seemed to have completely forgotten her family, and shook her head with a wry smile. If Yiran could stay with Gu Tian, then even a small academy like Nuoding's might turn out to be a stroke of fortune.
"About that... we'll discuss it with Yiran's parents when we get back," Chao Tianxiang said helplessly, though her tone had already softened considerably. Her meaning was clear: since her granddaughter wanted to go, they'd send her over.
"Now that we've settled that, we should get down to business."
Gu Tian turned and led the way toward a pile of rocks deeper in the forest.
"The snake we're looking for is just up ahead."
Gu Tian sneered inwardly. Tang Hao had caught a four-hundred-and-twenty-two-year-old Mandala Snake to prepare Tang San's First Soul Ring. But it had fled in terror at the pressure of his Dragon God aura. Judging by its direction, the beast should be hiding and trembling in the bushes up ahead.
"A Man Faced Demon Spider would be too ferocious for Miss Yiran, but this Soul Beast has highly potent poison and exceptional flexibility. Paired with Miss Yiran's Snake Head Cane, it's a match made in heaven."
As soon as Gu Tian finished speaking, a shrill hiss came from ahead.
"That's the one." Gu Tian gestured toward Meng Yiran. "Miss Yiran, this is a top-grade pick personally chosen by a certain Titled Douluo. You're getting a bargain."
At that moment, Meng Yiran couldn't see the Mandala Snake at all. All she saw was Gu Tian's handsome figure. She nodded firmly. "Mm! I'll do whatever you say!"
In the dark pile of rocks, a Mandala Snake more than four meters long flicked its purple tongue. The instant it recognized who had arrived, its cold, vertical pupils shrank into two tiny dots of terror.
"Yiran, be careful! It's a Mandala Snake!"
Meng Shu's expression changed. He slammed his Dragon Head Cane into the ground, and a muffled boom rang out. He stepped protectively in front of Meng Yiran and warned her solemnly, "This snake's poison is extremely potent, and its body is as tough as steel. It's not only incredibly fast but also highly aggressive. Judging by its size, it's at least four hundred years old. Even an ordinary Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster would be in for a rough time!"
Chao Tianxiang gripped her Snake Head Cane tightly too, her Soul Power poised to surge. The Mandala Snake was an apex predator among serpent Soul Beasts, ferocious and no easy opponent.
Infected by her grandfather's tension, Meng Yiran grew frightened and edged closer to Gu Tian. Her little hands clutched the hem of his clothes.
But in the next instant, something happened that left the Peerless Dragon and Snake couple dumbfounded.
The Mandala Snake was infamous throughout the Soul Beast Realm and should have lunged to attack. But when it sensed the faint Dragon God aura around Gu Tian, its massive body convulsed violently.
Its raised head seemed to have been struck by an invisible hand. With a smack, it slammed against the cold rock.
As Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang stared in a daze, the Mandala Snake didn't try to escape. Instead, as if it had seen a supreme deity, it frantically twisted its body and crawled to Gu Tian's feet.
Its triangular head repeatedly struck the ground with dull thuds, as if kowtowing and begging for mercy. It was so obsequious that it no longer looked like the overlord of the forest at all. It was like a stray dog that had found its master—and it even let out a faint, pleading whimper.
"How... how is this possible?"
Meng Yiran's eyes widened. She let go of Gu Tian's clothes and instinctively covered her mouth. She'd never heard of a Soul Beast begging a human for mercy in such a humanlike way.
Chao Tianxiang watched the scene, a glint flashing in her aged eyes. She studied the faint Nine-Colored Dragon Shadow behind Gu Tian, then glanced at the Snake Head Cane trembling slightly in her hand. At once, she had her answer.
"Old man, there's no need to be nervous," Chao Tianxiang said, drawing a deep breath. Her voice was full of shock and emotion. "If I'm not mistaken, little friend Gu Tian's Martial Soul is simply of too high a rank. Before this Martial Soul, all serpents bow their heads. This Mandala Snake has a trace of dragon blood flowing through it. It's begging its ancestor for forgiveness."
At her words, Meng Shu relaxed too, his expression growing even more complicated as he looked at Gu Tian.
A Dragon God Martial Soul... It could rob a four-hundred-year-old vicious beast of its will to fight outright. Such bloodline suppression was more terrifying than any Soul Skill!
Gu Tian looked down at the trembling Mandala Snake at his feet, a playful curve forming at the corner of his mouth. He lifted a foot and lightly prodded its head with his toe. His voice was cold. "Since you know to be afraid, then obediently offer yourself to Miss Yiran. Perhaps I'll let your spirit remain intact."
The Mandala Snake seemed to understand Gu Tian. It actually quieted down, lying motionless on the ground and giving up all resistance.
"Miss Yiran, go ahead."
Gu Tian turned to Meng Yiran, who was still dazed, and smiled gently. "I've already shaken its spirit. It won't dare resist. All you need to do is strike the final blow, and you'll be able to absorb this Soul Ring perfectly."
"Mm... mm!"
Meng Yiran came back to herself. She looked at Gu Tian's reassuring profile, her admiration threatening to overflow.
She took out her short blade and, under the watchful eyes of Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang, plunged it into the Mandala Snake's vital spot.
As the Mandala Snake's life ebbed away, a solid yellow Soul Ring slowly appeared. Meng Yiran sat cross-legged and began guiding the Soul Ring into her body.
Since Gu Tian had frightened the Mandala Snake out of its wits before it died, the resentment it left behind was slight. Meng Yiran's absorption went remarkably smoothly; she didn't even grimace in pain.
Half an hour later, Meng Yiran opened her eyes. A bright yellow Soul Ring revolved beneath her feet.
"I did it! Gu Tian, I'm a Soul Master now! And my Soul Power Level went up by two levels—I'm level twelve!"
Meng Yiran leaped up in excitement. Forgetting that her grandparents were there, she threw herself into Gu Tian's arms, wrapped her arms around his neck, and spun happily in a circle.
Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang watched them and exchanged a glance, feeling both relieved and helpless. Their precious granddaughter had clearly fallen completely under this young man's spell. Still, befriending a future powerhouse like him could only benefit the Meng family.
"Senior, it's getting late, so I should return to Nuoding City. If you get the chance, I hope you'll bring Miss Yiran to Nuoding Academy. I'll make sure to help her!"
Gu Tian patted Meng Yiran on the back, then signaled toward Gu Yue in the shadows. He looked toward Nuoding Academy and sneered inwardly: Tang San, you're still of some use to me. At the very least, I'm quite pleased with the Mandala Snake prepared for Meng Yiran!