Illusion Pupil Bird, Huo Yuhao's First Soul Ring

A silver-white figure shot out like lightning, moving so fast that even its afterimage could not be seen.

Before the Phoenix Tail Snake could react, Er Ha clamped down on its vital spot.

"This Emperor has been waiting for you forever!"

Er Ha held the Phoenix Tail Snake in his jaws, whipped his head around, and smashed it viciously into the ground.

Bang!

A crater formed in the ground. The Phoenix Tail Snake's scales shattered, and blood sprayed everywhere.

It struggled wildly, its tail lashing out, but Er Ha's four legs remained as steady as if they were nailed to the ground.

"White Emperor is amazing!" Tang Ya jumped up excitedly.

"Xiao Ya, now!" Bei Bei shouted.

Tang Ya snapped back to her senses. With a wave of her right hand, Blue Silver Grass grew wildly and burrowed into the Phoenix Tail Snake's body through its wounds.

At the same time, she formed a hand seal with her left hand, and a sharp blade condensed from Soul Power took shape in her palm.

"Blue Silver Thrust!"

Dozens of sharp Blue Silver Grass blades burst from the ground and pierced into the Phoenix Tail Snake's belly.

The Phoenix Tail Snake let out a miserable hiss. Its body convulsed violently a few times before finally falling still.

"Quick, use your Soul Power to guide the Soul Ring," Shen Zhou reminded her from the side.

Tang Ya nodded, sat cross-legged, and closed her eyes, guiding the purple Soul Ring drifting from the Phoenix Tail Snake's corpse toward herself.

The purple Soul Ring slowly descended onto her and merged into her body.

Tang Ya's brows furrowed slightly, and her face turned somewhat pale.

A Thousand-Year Soul Ring was still a little too much for her, but she gritted her teeth and persevered, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead.

Bei Bei stood guard anxiously nearby, ready to lend a hand at any moment.

After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Tang Ya opened her eyes and let out a long breath.

The purple Soul Ring now circled steadily around her, complementing the two yellow Soul Rings.

"I did it!" Tang Ya jumped up and threw her arms around Bei Bei. "Bei Bei, I did it! My third Soul Ring, a thousand-year one!"

Bei Bei was a little embarrassed by the hug, but he still gently patted Tang Ya on the back.

"Congratulations."

Shen Zhou stood to one side, watching the scene with a faint smile.

Tang Ya released Bei Bei, turned, ran to Shen Zhou, and gave him a deep bow.

"Big Brother Shen, thank you! If you hadn't helped us, who knows how much longer we would have had to chase it!"

"Just a small matter." Shen Zhou waved a hand. "Now, it is time for you to fulfill your promise."

"No problem!" Tang Ya patted her chest. "A hundred-year Mental Attribute soul beast, right? Leave it to me! Bei Bei and I have been roaming this forest for so long that we know exactly where every soul beast can be found!"

Shen Zhou glanced at her and smiled.

Tang Ya and Bei Bei were not particularly strong, but their familiarity with the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest did give them an advantage over him.

With them leading the way, finding a Mental Attribute soul beast would be much easier.

"Then let us go. Hopefully, we can find a suitable soul beast before nightfall."

After packing their things, the group continued deeper into the forest.

Er Ha carried the Phoenix Tail Snake's corpse in his mouth. No matter what anyone said, he refused to throw it away, claiming snake meat was highly nourishing and that he wanted to bring it back to make soup for Lao Da.

Huo Yuhao walked in the middle of the group. Looking at Tang Ya and Bei Bei walking side by side ahead of him, a warmth rose in his heart.

He had not expected to meet two such interesting people in the Star Dou Great Forest.

One was the carefree, energetic master of the Tang Sect.

The other was a gentle and refined heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.

Perhaps this was the fate his master had spoken of?

Shen Zhou walked at the rear, his Heavenly Eye slightly open as he remained vigilant of their surroundings.

His gaze occasionally swept over Tang Ya and Bei Bei's backs as he considered the future.

Although the Tang Sect had declined, its foundations remained.

Although the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan behind Bei Bei had weakened in the era of Douluo II, a starving camel was still bigger than a horse.

If he could draw these people into Spirit Hall's camp...

No rush. He would take it slowly.

Rebuilding Spirit Hall was not something that could be done overnight. It had to be done step by step.

For now, the most important thing was finding a suitable Soul Ring for Huo Yuhao.

Shen Zhou raised his head and looked toward a distant clearing, the golden vertical line in his right eye flickering faintly.

There, he sensed several weak Mental Waves.

A hundred-year Mental Attribute soul beast should be in that direction.

At the same time, there was also a mental aura that made even his heart tremble.

Although it flashed by in an instant, Shen Zhou still caught it sharply.

It was probably none other than that giant grub, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.

The corners of his mouth rose. Although the soul skills provided by that grub were not much to speak of, perhaps even useless, the appeal of a million-year first Soul Ring was still substantial.

After all, with the Heavenly Eye, he could unleash multiple divine abilities. As long as he raised his spiritual power, he would have nothing to worry about.

Shen Zhou did not say any of this aloud. He merely memorized the direction of that aura.

For now, he would first find a suitable Soul Ring for Huo Yuhao.

Having obtained a new Soul Ring, Tang Ya seemed pumped full of energy. She walked at the very front, clearing the way while humming an unfamiliar tune.

Bei Bei followed behind her, occasionally pulling her back and reminding her to watch for tree roots and vines underfoot.

"Xiao Ya, you just absorbed a Thousand-Year Soul Ring. Your Soul Power is still unstable, so do not get too excited."

"It is fine, it is fine. I feel great! This Phoenix Tail Snake's Soul Ring gave me two soul skills, one poison-type and one restraint-type. I will show you later!"

"Fine, fine. We will look when we get back."

Walking behind them, Shen Zhou listened to their conversation and smiled faintly.

Being young was nice.

After walking for about half an hour, the forest ahead gradually thinned out, giving way to an open grassland.

Sunlight streamed down from the sky onto the knee-high grass. A breeze passed through, sending waves through the field, making it as beautiful as a painting.

"This is the place." Tang Ya stopped and turned to Shen Zhou. "This grassland is where Mental Attribute soul beasts in the outskirts like to appear most often. Illusion Pupil Birds especially come here frequently to feed."

Shen Zhou nodded and opened his Heavenly Eye. The golden vertical line in his right eye slowly swirled.

Several birds circled in the sky above the grassland, but they were all ordinary birds, not soul beasts.

There were rabbits, field mice, and other small animals in the grass, but they were all ordinary creatures as well.

"To the east, on that crooked tree."

Shen Zhou pointed at a lone tree some distance away.

It was an old locust tree, its twisted trunk stretching toward the sky, its crown not particularly dense.

A bird perched on one of its highest branches.

The bird was small, only about the size of an adult's fist. Its entire body was pale purple, and its feathers gleamed with a metallic sheen under the sunlight.

Its eyes were the most eye-catching feature.

They were disproportionately large, with spiral-shaped pupils that seemed capable of drawing in one's soul.

A hundred-year Illusion Pupil Bird.

"Found it!" Tang Ya lowered her voice, her eyes full of excitement. "Bei Bei, look! It is an Illusion Pupil Bird! A hundred-year one!"

"Shh, keep your voice down. Do not scare it away." Bei Bei pressed a hand onto Tang Ya's shoulder.

Shen Zhou looked at Huo Yuhao and asked, "Yu Hao, what do you think of that Illusion Pupil Bird?"

Huo Yuhao studied the bird carefully, then closed his eyes to sense it before opening them again and nodding.

"Master, I can feel its Mental Wave. It is strong, but not so strong that I cannot endure it."

"Good eye." Shen Zhou nodded approvingly.

"A hundred-year Illusion Pupil Bird. Mental Attribute, speed type."