Su Chen and Bibi Dong came out of the Library Pavilion and saw a man dressed in a white robe embroidered with elegant chrysanthemum patterns.
He had handsome, gentle features and smiling eyes, and a faint chrysanthemum fragrance lingered around him.
A carriage stood beside him, as if it had been waiting for a long time.
"I'd planned to ask Yu Xiaogang to combine his theoretical knowledge with your situation and analyze your Martial Soul in detail. Then we could go straight to obtain a Soul Ring."
"I didn't expect something like this to happen, but the plan remains unchanged. We'll enter the Star Dou Great Forest today and hunt your First Soul Ring."
Bibi Dong stepped forward to greet Chrysanthemum Douluo.
"Xiao Chen, this is Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, one of the Titled Douluo in the Elder Hall."
"Greetings, Elder Chrysanthemum!"
"Hahaha!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo raised his pinky finger and let out a coquettish, feminine voice.
"Saintess, I've already heard. This boy actually has Innate Full Soul Power, and his Mutated Martial Soul is something the continent has never recorded before."
Chrysanthemum Douluo had partnered with Ghost Douluo for many years. Their Martial Souls were compatible, and they even had a Martial Soul Fusion Skill of their own.
Sensing the wisps of strange energy around Su Chen, his eyes brimmed with affection. Smiling, he teased:
"I've been with that old ghost Ghost Douluo for many years, so I know he loves sinister, shadowy powers. If he were here today, he'd surely be unable to tear himself away from you. He'd take an enormous liking to you."
"Unfortunately, he's away on a mission and won't be able to return to Spirit Hall anytime soon."
As he spoke, a glint of curiosity passed through Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes, and he felt the urge to test something.
Ghost Douluo's Martial Soul could produce a Fusion Skill with his own.
Perhaps this little fellow in front of him could also form a fusion ability with him.
Chrysanthemum Douluo decided to give it a try and quietly released a wisp of gentle Soul Power.
Carefully, he brought it close to the Nine Nether Yin Qi surrounding Su Chen, attempting to merge with it and resonate.
But in the next instant, the two forces remained clearly distinct.
An invisible pressure instantly repelled his Soul Power. There was no sign of resonance or fusion, not even the slightest hint of a connection.
Chrysanthemum Douluo paused, feeling somewhat disappointed, though not particularly surprised.
"Elder Chrysanthemum?"
"Ahem, it's nothing, nothing. We should get going as soon as possible!"
After exchanging a few greetings, the three climbed into the carriage that had already been prepared.
"Teacher, I heard the Soul Hunting Forest is closer to us?"
"Forget about going there. The Soul Beasts there have all been captured, and their species are thoroughly documented. There aren't many to choose from, unlike in the Star Dou Great Forest, where there are too many to count. If you're lucky, you might even come across a rare Soul Beast."
"Xiao Chen, remember this: the purer a Soul Beast's bloodline, the stronger the effect of the Soul Skill you obtain from it. So even if it takes a little longer, never settle for less."
A few hours later.
They were only at the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, yet the trees already blotted out the sky.
Though it was daytime, the surroundings were dim.
As far as the eye could see, plants grew wild, and the air was laced with the smell of grass and decay.
Chrysanthemum Douluo had disappeared who knew where. Su Chen figured that as long as no danger arose, he wouldn't show himself.
"Remember to stay close to me. In the Star Dou Great Forest, you have to stay alert and be ready for any sudden danger. If even I can't handle what happens, then remember one thing: leave me behind and run as far and as fast as you can. Don't worry about your teacher."
Bibi Dong held his hand as she and Su Chen made their way through the undergrowth.
Su Chen inexplicably felt a warmth spread through him. "Teacher, I won't leave you behind."
Bibi Dong rolled her eyes at him. "I'm worried you'll hold me back."
Su Chen: "..."
"Since you understand your own Martial Soul far better than other people do, tell me this."
"What path have you planned for your Soul Skills? Keep it simple. What kind of ability do you want from your First Soul Ring?"
Bibi Dong asked, wanting to see what he would say.
"Teacher, this disciple has already thought it through."
"The unorthodox path comes first. For my early Soul Skills, I'll prioritize abilities that enhance, restrain, and control. As for the later Soul Rings, I'll turn entirely toward overwhelming offense and slaughter."
Deep satisfaction welled in Bibi Dong's eyes, and her heart swelled with pride in her disciple.
Not only was his Martial Soul powerful, he even knew something about Martial Soul Theory.
As a Soul Ancestor, Bibi Dong had plenty of experience hunting Soul Beasts.
The Soul Beasts they encountered along the way were all easy for her to deal with.
Before long, a faint rustling came from the bushes in the shadowy forest ahead.
A black spider leg cut through the light. A spider Soul Beast, its body pitch-black and covered in dark purple patterns, slowly crawled out of the shadows.
Its eight long legs were as slender as spearheads, pale ghostly hairs sprouted from its joints, and dark green venom dripped from its sharp claws.
Bibi Dong looked up, a flash of surprise in her eyes.
"This is a Dream Shadow Spider nearly five hundred years old. This Soul Beast has a unique bloodline. If it can grow to its full potential, it won't be any weaker than the Death Spider Emperor. Xiao Chen, its attributes match your Martial Soul's darkness. Let this be your First Soul Ring. It's a little above the usual age limit, but it shouldn't be a problem for you. After all, your Martial Soul is no weaker than mine."
Bibi Dong was about to attack.
From the dark shadows deep in the forest, another black figure suddenly darted out.
It had the same black carapace and was the same kind of spider Soul Beast, but its body was longer and more streamlined than the first one's, and its Yin Qi was denser and deeper.
Bibi Dong's eyes lit up. "Another one! Unfortunately, this one is already over six hundred years old."
As Bibi Dong spoke, the spider that had darted out moved with astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, it pounced.
Its limbs stretched out as it landed heavily, clinging to the body of the Dream Shadow Spider, which was over five hundred years old.
The two Dream Shadow Spiders piled on top of each other.
Bibi Dong: "..."
Su Chen blinked.
His first time watching spider mating.
And he was watching it with his teacher.
He suddenly remembered one of the spider's habits.
Sure enough.
After observing the spiders' habits for half an hour,
the hulking female suddenly tightened all eight legs. Her sharp Spider Spears clamped down on the slender, weak-breathed male beneath her.
The male didn't struggle or resist at all. He didn't even make the most instinctive attempt to flee.
The next instant, the female's mouthparts snapped open, and she bit down on the male spider.
"Teacher, teacher, my Soul Ring's about to get eaten!"
Su Chen gently tugged at Bibi Dong, who was still staring in a daze.
"Ah—oh!"
Bibi Dong came back to herself, her pretty face faintly flushed.
She was at the age when love was first budding.
It was the first time she'd seen anything like this, and her curiosity had gotten the better of her.
She gave an awkward little cough.
As his teacher, she'd actually gotten so engrossed in watching.
The next moment, the Death Spider Emperor appeared behind her.
The four Soul Rings in her best configuration slowly rose beneath her feet.
Two yellow and two purple.
Bibi Dong abruptly charged forward. After activating Martial Soul Possession, her arms transformed, sprouting spider hairs. As she swept them through the air, a flash of cold light slashed toward the two spiders still entwined.
The two Dream Shadow Spiders were sent flying by the strike, landing at Su Chen's feet.
"Xiao Chen, ahem, today your teacher will teach you the first lesson of life."
"Kill it yourself."