Sky Dream Ice Silkworm

This was also the first time Bei Bei had seen one. He had only come across a few scattered mentions in Shrek's ancient texts.

It seemed that ten thousand years ago, the Eighth Enshrined of Spirit Hall, whose influence had reached heaven and earth, had possessed a white canine soul beast.

"Your Excellency truly is extraordinary," Bei Bei said sincerely.

As for whether the person before him was that Offering Elder from Spirit Hall, Bei Bei had never considered it.

Other than gods, who could live for ten thousand years without dying? Not even a Limit Douluo could manage that.

Much less the young man before him.

Shen Zhou did not respond. Instead, he took a map from his robes and spread it beside the campfire.

Before setting out, Shen Zhou had asked the system to generate a detailed map of the outer regions of the Star Dou Great Forest. It marked the habitats and activity ranges of various soul beasts.

Bei Bei and Tang Ya leaned over. When they saw the densely packed markings on the map, both drew in sharp breaths.

"This map... is way too detailed, isn't it?" Tang Ya widened her eyes. "It even marks the areas where Phoenix Tail Snakes might appear?"

"I was simply well prepared." Shen Zhou offered no further explanation and pointed to a mark on the map. "Phoenix Tail Snakes prefer warm, humid environments. Several streams converge in this area, and the vegetation is dense. There are many snake-type soul beasts here.

"The Phoenix Tail Snake you were chasing is most likely in this region."

Bei Bei studied the map carefully, then nodded in agreement.

"What about a hundred-year Mental Attribute soul beast?" Huo Yuhao asked softly.

"In this area." Shen Zhou moved his finger to the other side of the map. "Hundred-year Mental Attribute soul beasts are commonly found in open areas. Illusion Pupil Birds, Soul-Bewitching Butterflies, and Soul-Absorbing Bees are all present there.

"We can help Tang Ya find the Phoenix Tail Snake first, then head to this area to find your Soul Ring along the way."

"Good!" Tang Ya slapped her thigh, full of enthusiasm. "Then we'll set out first thing tomorrow morning and drag that damned snake out!"

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, sunlight filtered through the canopy and into the forest, dispelling the night's chill.

After a simple breakfast, the four packed up camp and headed deeper into the forest along the route marked on Shen Zhou's map.

Er Ha walked at the front, occasionally sniffing the air and using senses far keener than those of ordinary soul beasts to probe for danger ahead.

Bei Bei and Tang Ya walked in the middle, while Huo Yuhao followed closely behind Shen Zhou.

"Master, do you think I'll be able to find a suitable Mental Attribute soul beast?" Huo Yuhao asked quietly, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"You will." Shen Zhou's answer was certain. "Even if you can't, your master will help you find one."

"Then after I attach a Soul Ring, will I become an official Soul Master?"

"Yes. A one-ring Soul Master may only be at the lowest rank, but you will have crossed that threshold."

Huo Yuhao clenched his fists, his eyes brimming with anticipation.

After a month of body-tempering cultivation, not only had his body grown stronger, but his mindset had also matured considerably.

From the timid boy at the White Tiger Duke Mansion to a prospective Soul Master who now dared enter the Star Dou Great Forest in search of a Soul Ring, the changes of this past month were so great that even he found them unbelievable.

"Kid, don't be nervous." Er Ha turned around, his golden dog eyes full of the smug superiority of someone who had been through it before. "When This Emperor first came to the Star Dou Great Forest, that was truly thrilling.

"Guess what This Emperor encountered?"

"What?"

"A ten-thousand-year Black Bear. It broke several trees with a single slap.

"This Emperor had only just gained sentience then. I was so scared I ran for my life, and it took three days and three nights to shake it off."

"Senior White Emperor is amazing. You were able to escape from a ten-thousand-year soul beast when you were so small."

"Of course. This Emperor is a peerless genius!"

Shen Zhou could only shake his head as he listened from behind.

This stupid dog had not been chased by a ten-thousand-year soul beast back then. It had clearly been sent scrambling around by a hundred-year rabbit, then returned and bragged to him that it had been a ten-thousand-year Black Bear.

Forget it. He would let it keep some dignity.

After traveling for about two hours, the forest ahead suddenly opened up.

Several streams converged here, forming a wetland.

The water murmured softly, the air was humid, and the vegetation was so dense that there was almost no path through it.

Tang Ya stopped and lowered her voice. "This is the area. We lost it here last time."

Bei Bei released his Martial Soul. Blue-violet lightning danced in his palm as he cautiously observed their surroundings.

Shen Zhou opened his Heavenly Eye, a golden vertical pattern flowing through his pupils.

Everything within several hundred meters entered his perception—the fish in the water, the birds in the trees, the insects beneath the ground. Every trace of life appeared clearly in his mind.

Then, he caught an unusual presence.

"Northeast, one hundred and fifty paces. That dead ancient tree."

Everyone's gaze turned toward the ancient tree at once.

It was a massive old tree, its trunk so thick that three or four people would need to join hands to encircle it. Its crown had completely withered away, leaving only bare branches.

At the base of the trunk was a tree hollow as thick as a bucket, pitch-black and impossible to see into.

"It's inside," Shen Zhou said with certainty.

Tang Ya and Bei Bei exchanged a glance, then slowly approached.

Er Ha stood in front of Huo Yuhao, his dog eyes fixed tightly on the tree hollow.

"Xiao Ya, I'll do it." Bei Bei stepped forward and raised his right hand. Lightning flared brilliantly in his palm.

Thunder Dragon Claw!

A gigantic claw formed from lightning shot from Bei Bei's hand and blasted straight toward the tree hollow.

Boom!

The trunk exploded, wood chips flying everywhere.

A fiery-red figure shot out of the tree hollow at astonishing speed.

It was a snake around three meters long, its body covered in crimson-gold scales that glittered beneath the sunlight.

Its eyes were dark red, its vertical pupils icy cold, and its flickering tongue emitted a faint fishy stench.

Its most striking feature was its tail—a forked tip shaped like an open fan, entirely crimson like burning flames.

Millennium Phoenix-Tail Snake!

"Found you at last!" A glint flashed through Tang Ya's eyes. With a wave of her right hand, Blue Silver Grass surged wildly from her palm, transforming into dozens of vines that lashed toward the Phoenix-Tail Snake.

The Phoenix-Tail Snake was incredibly agile. It twisted and flipped through the air, slipping through gaps in the vines before landing on the ground. Its tail swept out, sending a scorching wave of air rushing toward Tang Ya.

"Careful!" Bei Bei stepped in front of Tang Ya. Lightning formed a barrier before him, blocking the heat wave.

Yet the Phoenix-Tail Snake had no intention of fighting. It turned and shot toward the depths of the forest.

"Trying to run?" Shen Zhou's voice came from behind.

He raised his right hand and flicked three fingers through the air.

Three sharp gusts of Soul Power tore through the air, striking precisely in the Phoenix-Tail Snake's path and blasting three large pits into the ground.

The Phoenix-Tail Snake was forced to stop. A flicker of wariness crossed its snake eyes as it turned toward another direction.

Shen Zhou pointed again, and another gust of force blocked its path.

"Back."

The Phoenix-Tail Snake refused to accept it. It changed directions three times in succession, but Shen Zhou sealed off every route in advance.

It finally realized that the young man who had yet to make a move was the true threat.

Its body coiled up, its head rising high. Its dark-red snake eyes stared fixedly at Shen Zhou as it let out a sharp hiss.

"It's going to fight desperately," Bei Bei warned in a low voice.

Before his words had even faded, flames surged across the Phoenix-Tail Snake's body, and fierce fire ignited over its crimson-gold scales.

Its speed suddenly doubled as it transformed into a streak of fire and charged straight at Shen Zhou.

Shen Zhou remained completely still. He did not even release his Martial Soul.

Just as the Phoenix-Tail Snake closed to within three meters of him, Er Ha moved.