Shen Zhou nodded. "Your body has met the standard. It's time to find your first Soul Ring."
"Boss, this emperor is coming too!"
Er Ha wagged its tail, its golden dog eyes brimming with excitement. "This Emperor hasn't been to the Star Dou Great Forest in ages. I'm going to catch up with those old fellows!"
"You want to catch up with them? More like scare them to death, right?"
Shen Zhou shot it a glance.
Er Ha chuckled and did not deny it.
It was now a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. In the outer regions of the Star Dou Great Forest, it was an unquestionable overlord.
Even the ferocious beasts in the core region had to show it some respect.
Ten thousand years ago, it had caused them no end of trouble. It had even maintained its own harem in the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Eighth Brother, I'll go with you."
Qian Daoliu emerged from the academy, with Golden Crocodile Douluo following behind him.
"No need."
Shen Zhou shook his head. "Big Brother, you and Second Brother should remain at the academy and hold the fort.
The Star Dou Great Forest may be dangerous, but I'm enough on my own."
Qian Daoliu considered it, then nodded in agreement.
Shen Zhou was a Titled Douluo, a super powerhouse with two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings. With Er Ha, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, beside him, there was indeed little in the outer regions of the Star Dou Great Forest that could threaten him.
"Go early and come back early."
Qian Daoliu patted Shen Zhou on the shoulder.
"Don't worry."
One man, one dog, and one boy set off for the Star Dou Great Forest.
The Star Dou Great Forest lay at the border between the Star Luo Empire, the Heaven Dou Empire, and the Sun Moon Empire. It was the largest and most ancient Soul Beast habitat on the Douluo Continent.
From White Tiger City, the journey on horseback took three days.
Shen Zhou did not ride. Instead, he led Huo Yuhao there on foot.
It was not that they could not travel faster. He simply wanted to use this opportunity to help Huo Yuhao adapt to the wilderness and learn some basic survival skills.
Such as how to tell direction, find water, start a fire and cook, and avoid the territories of dangerous Soul Beasts.
Over those three days, Huo Yuhao learned many things that could not be taught in books or at the academy.
He learned to identify directions by listening to the wind and judge whether large Soul Beasts lay ahead from birdsong.
He learned to determine the direction of water sources by observing the density of the vegetation.
Huo Yuhao's grilled fish, in particular, was absolutely incredible.
"Master, can you learn these things at the academy?"
Huo Yuhao asked as he gnawed on a piece of golden-brown roasted rabbit.
"You can, but it won't leave as deep an impression as learning through experience."
Shen Zhou was also gnawing on a rabbit leg, grease smeared all over his mouth. "When you go out into the world on your own someday, no one will have everything prepared for you.
These survival skills can save your life at critical moments."
Huo Yuhao nodded thoughtfully.
Er Ha crouched nearby, chewing raw rabbit meat with blood all over its mouth. As it chewed, it muttered, "Little brat, your boss is right.
When This Emperor roamed the Star Dou Great Forest back then, those Soul Masters who didn't know their own limits all ended up as meals for This Emperor."
"Brother Bai, you've eaten people?"
Huo Yuhao's eyes widened.
"Not really."
Er Ha licked its lips. "This Emperor is vegetarian."
Shen Zhou and Huo Yuhao both looked at the rabbit bones crunching loudly in its mouth.
"...I indulge in meat once in a while."
On the evening of the third day, the three finally reached the outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest.
In the distance, an endless primeval forest stretched across the horizon. Towering trees rose into the sky, their canopies blotting out the sun.
The setting sun cast its afterglow over the treetops, dyeing the entire forest gold and crimson.
The faint roars of Soul Beasts echoed from within the forest, deep and powerful enough to make the air tremble slightly.
"So this is the Star Dou Great Forest..."
Standing on high ground, Huo Yuhao gazed at the ancient, mysterious forest, a sense of reverence rising within him.
"Let's go. Night is coming. We need to find a safe campsite before dark."
Shen Zhou took the lead and headed into the forest.
As soon as they entered the forest, the light dimmed at once.
The towering trees blocked most of the sunlight, leaving only scattered patches of light filtering through gaps in the canopy.
The air was filled with the scent of rotting leaves, mixed with the fresh fragrance of earth and wildflowers.
Shen Zhou walked at the front with his Heavenly Eye Martial Soul activated. The golden vertical pattern in his right pupil slowly flowed, and everything within several hundred meters lay within his perception.
Even a squirrel hidden in a tree hollow could not escape his detection.
Er Ha walked at the rear, constantly sniffing the scents in the air.
As a former forest overlord, it possessed an instinctive sense of danger.
Huo Yuhao walked in the middle, gripping a short dagger in his hand—the weapon Shen Zhou had given him for self-defense. Though it could not compare to a true Soul Tool, it was enough to deal with some low-level Soul Beasts.
"Master, how deep are we going?"
Huo Yuhao asked quietly.
"Not too deep."
Shen Zhou replied, "A Hundred-Year Soul Ring will be enough for your first Soul Ring.
Hundred-Year Soul Beasts usually live in the middle and outer regions of the forest. We don't need to enter the core region."
Of course, Shen Zhou's real priority was whether he could catch the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.
"A Hundred-Year Soul Ring..."
Huo Yuhao felt both anticipation and nervousness.
Shen Zhou had told him that his Spirit Eye Martial Soul possessed the Mental Attribute, so it would be best for him to find a Soul Beast with the Mental Attribute.
Such Soul Beasts were relatively rare, but not nonexistent.
There were several common Mental Attribute Soul Beasts in the outer regions of the Star Dou Great Forest—such as Illusion Pupil Birds, Soul-Bewitching Butterflies, Soul-Absorbing Bees, and so on.
"Master, can I find a suitable Soul Beast with the Mental Attribute?"
"You can."
Shen Zhou's answer was firm. "If we can't find one, Master will take you deeper.
There are thousand-year and ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts with the Mental Attribute as well, but with your current body, the most you can withstand is a Hundred-Year Soul Ring."
Huo Yuhao nodded and said nothing more.
Suddenly, Shen Zhou stopped, and golden light flashed in his right eye.
"Someone's here."
Huo Yuhao instinctively tightened his grip on the dagger. Er Ha pricked up its ears and stared ahead warily as well.
A burst of hurried footsteps came from the woods ahead, accompanied by a crisp female voice.
"Bei Bei, hurry up!
I clearly saw that Illusion Pupil Bird fly this way!"
"Xiao Ya, slow down. Who knows how many Soul Beasts are in this forest? Running around recklessly is dangerous."
"Oh, why are you such a coward?
I'm the sect master of the Tang Sect. What am I afraid of?"
"Yes, yes, Sect Master Tang Sect, could you watch where you're stepping first?"
As soon as the words fell, a figure darted out of the woods.
It was a girl who looked thirteen or fourteen, petite and delicate, with long hair tied into a neat ponytail. Her face was round, her eyes large, and her entire person radiated liveliness and energy.
She wore a practical fitted outfit, with a short sword hanging at her waist. She moved with brisk, fiery energy.
A boy followed behind her, a head taller than she was. He had handsome features and a gentle temperament, with a helpless smile at the corner of his lips.
He wore a blue robe and moved with steady steps. At a glance, he was clearly a Soul Master who had cultivated for many years.
The two rushed out of the woods one after the other and nearly crashed into Shen Zhou.
"Ah!"
The girl abruptly stopped and stared wide-eyed at Shen Zhou's group.
"Who are you people?
What are you doing here?"
Her gaze lingered on Shen Zhou for a moment before shifting to Huo Yuhao and Er Ha. Finally, it settled on Er Ha, her eyes full of curiosity.
"This dog... is so white!"
Before you continue