Yu Mengdi's Fifth Soul Ring

"Eighth Brother, excuse the interruption," Qian Daoliu said calmly.

Shen Zhou glanced at Yu Mengdi, then turned to Qian Daoliu.

"Big Brother, this is...?"

"Once you're done teaching, bring Yu Hao along too. Let him broaden his horizons."

Shen Zhou looked at Huo Yuhao, then at Yu Mengdi, and nodded.

"Sure, Yu Hao needs to build up some real combat experience too.

But Big Brother, what Soul Beast are you planning to hunt for Meng Di?"

Qian Daoliu did not answer directly. Instead, he looked at Yu Mengdi.

"You tell him."

Yu Mengdi stepped forward, took out a beast-hide map from her robes, and spread it across the ground.

The map detailed the terrain of the Star Dou Great Forest, with several locations marked by red circles.

"I looked into it. There aren't many Soul Beasts suited to the Angel Martial Soul.

Light-attribute Soul Beasts are rare to begin with, and those capable of providing a fifth Soul Ring are rarer still."

Yu Mengdi pointed at one of the red circles on the map.

"Here, in the middle region of the Star Dou Great Forest, there's a Soul Beast called the Bright Tiger. It's over ten thousand years old, has a light attribute, and possesses both speed and strength."

"Its Soul Ring can provide my Angel Martial Soul with a powerful attack-type soul skill, making up for my lack of offensive power."

Shen Zhou studied the marked location, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Bright Tigers? They're pack-dwelling Soul Beasts."

"A ten-thousand-year Bright Tiger is usually guarded by at least three to five thousand-year Bright Tigers."

"That's why I'll need Master to act." Yu Mengdi looked at Qian Daoliu, her eyes filled with trust.

Qian Daoliu gave a slight nod.

"Bright Tigers will do.

The fifth Soul Ring must be at least ten thousand years old. A Bright Tiger's Soul Ring is of decent quality, worthy of the Angel Martial Soul."

Shen Zhou considered it for a moment before nodding as well.

"Fine, then Bright Tigers it is.

But Big Brother, when are we leaving?"

"Today." Qian Daoliu kept it brief. "Yu Hao will come too, so he can gain some experience."

Huo Yuhao hurriedly rose to his feet and straightened his back.

"Master, I'm ready!"

Shen Zhou gave him a look. "Ready for what?

You haven't even mastered Mental Probe. Are you going to the Star Dou Great Forest to serve yourself up to the Soul Beasts?"

Huo Yuhao's momentum immediately deflated, though he still muttered under his breath.

"But Master and Offering Elder Qian will be there..."

Shen Zhou shook his head and did not continue tearing him down.

"Fine, come along.

But remember: no wandering off, no showing off. If there's danger, hide behind Offering Elder Qian."

"Got it, Master!"

Qian Daoliu turned and walked out of the Cultivation Room.

"Come on. Make your preparations. We leave in fifteen minutes."

Yu Mengdi followed behind him. When she reached the doorway, she looked back at Huo Yuhao and smiled faintly.

"Junior Brother, don't be nervous.

With Master around, nothing will happen."

Huo Yuhao felt a little embarrassed at being called "Junior Brother" and scratched his head.

"Senior Sister, you're also Offering Elder Qian's disciple?"

"Mm." Yu Mengdi nodded. "I only became his disciple recently.

But I'm older than you, so you're the Junior Brother."

Huo Yuhao looked at the four purple Soul Rings beneath Yu Mengdi's feet, then at his own one yellow and one colorless ring. The title "Junior Brother" suddenly felt entirely deserved.

He was indeed junior—not just in age, but in strength as well.

Shen Zhou patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't lose heart. Your Senior Sister has cultivated for over ten years, while you've only cultivated for a month.

Once you spend a few years at Martial Soul Academy, you won't be any worse than her."

Huo Yuhao nodded heavily, determination reigniting in his eyes.

Fifteen minutes later, at the academy's main entrance.

Qian Daoliu stood with his hands behind his back, his golden hair drifting in the morning breeze.

Yu Mengdi stood at his side. The phantom of angel wings flickered behind her back, a longsword hung at her waist, and a small bundle was strapped to her back.

Huo Yuhao stood beside Shen Zhou, clutching a short dagger Shen Zhou had prepared for him. Although Shen Zhou had said it would not be very useful in the Star Dou Great Forest, carrying it was still better than going empty-handed.

Shen Zhou checked their supplies one last time. Only after confirming they had brought everything necessary did he nod.

"Let's go."

Er Ha darted over from the side, wagging his tail.

"Lao Da, This Emperor is coming too!"

"Didn't you overexert yourself last night and enter the Consciousness Sea to recover?"

"I've recovered! This Emperor is full of energy now!" Er Ha spun around twice on the spot, showing off his condition.

Shen Zhou looked at him, then at the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm snoring soundly in the Consciousness Sea, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

Er Ha's "recovery" meant taking a nap in the Consciousness Sea and coming out lively again.

Meanwhile, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had been kept awake all night by him and was still catching up on sleep.

"Fine, follow along." Shen Zhou patted Er Ha on the head. "But don't steal the spotlight this time.

Big Brother is hunting a Soul Ring for Meng Di, not you."

"This Emperor knows! This Emperor is only going sightseeing!"

Qian Daoliu glanced at Er Ha without saying anything, then started toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

The group set out along the main road, morning light spilling over them and casting long shadows behind them.

Huo Yuhao walked in the middle of the group, watching Yu Mengdi's upright figure ahead of him. He silently resolved to grow stronger too—strong like his Senior Sister, strong like his Master.

Star Dou Great Forest, middle region.

Qian Daoliu walked at the front. His Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul was not released, yet the pressure belonging to a Peerless Douluo naturally spread through the area.

The surrounding Soul Beasts sensed that aura and scattered in terror, not daring to come close.

Yu Mengdi followed behind him, her Angel Martial Soul half-released. The phantom of Two Wings behind her back fluttered gently as she gripped her longsword and vigilantly scanned their surroundings.

Though Master was here and she did not need to worry about safety, she did not want to rely on him for everything.

She wanted to personally take part in hunting her fifth Soul Ring.

Huo Yuhao walked beside Shen Zhou, his Mental Probe operating at full force. Everything within dozens of meters was within his perception.

Though it was still crude and could only sense approximate locations and outlines, it was already tremendous progress for him.

Er Ha walked at the very back, constantly sniffing the scents in the air. His golden dog eyes occasionally flicked toward the grass by the roadside, as though searching for something tasty.

"We're here." Qian Daoliu suddenly stopped.

Ahead lay an open valley covered in green grass. A small stream ran through it, its babbling water echoing softly.

On the other side of the valley stood a natural stone cave. Its entrance was broad, while its interior was pitch-black and impossible to gauge.

"The Bright Tigers' nest." Yu Mengdi lowered her voice. "According to the records, Bright Tigers in this area build their nests in caves like this."

Qian Daoliu closed his eyes, extending his senses into the surrounding area.

A moment later, he opened them.

"There are three inside.

One ten-thousand-year one and two thousand-year ones."

Yu Mengdi tightened her grip on her sword hilt, and the phantom angel wings behind her became more solid.

"Master, I'll handle the two thousand-year ones.

Leave the ten-thousand-year one to you."

"Don't rush." Qian Daoliu raised a hand to stop her. "Let's assess the situation first."

He walked toward the cave entrance, his pace unhurried, as though taking a stroll.

Yu Mengdi followed closely behind. Shen Zhou led Huo Yuhao and Er Ha after them.

When they reached the cave entrance, Qian Daoliu stopped and raised his right hand. A ray of golden light shot from his palm and entered the cave.

"We'll hunt Meng Di's fifth Soul Ring today." Qian Daoliu kept it brief. "Have you finished your lesson?"