Along the way, Qian Yufeng did not encounter any Fallen Spirit Masters causing trouble.
The villagers were living fairly well, and everyone wore smiles on their faces.
It was unlike the time he had led an expedition to suppress Fallen Spirit Masters, when people's faces had been filled with worry and unease.
Even with Spirit Hall personnel guarding the villages, those Fallen Spirit Masters had dared to launch suicidal charges without fear of death.
It was most likely related to the changes in policy and living conditions. Productivity had risen, and the Heaven Dou Empire had loosened taxes on the commoners under its rule while imposing many restrictions on the nobility.
As living conditions improved, children from many commoner families were more likely to awaken Innate Soul Power.
Yet within Spirit Hall's jurisdiction, many families lived even better than the commoners of the Heaven Dou Empire, and most of their children became Soul Masters.
"We'll be reaching the Star Dou Great Forest soon. It's been many years since I last came here!" Qian Yufeng said with a smile as he felt the air gradually growing more humid.
Qian Lingxin said, "Patriarch, if I remember correctly, it has been at least twenty years."
"The last time you came to the Star Dou Great Forest, you were leading a team in pursuit of the Fallen Spirit Master leader. After stepping down, you spent every day fishing."
There was still something she did not say: after all these years of fishing, the number of fish you caught still seemed countable on one hand.
Qian Yufeng revealed a nostalgic expression and said, "Yes, to be precise, it has been twenty-eight years."
That Fallen Spirit Master leader had entered the Star Dou Great Forest. Logically speaking, searching for him had been like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Unfortunately for him, at a crucial moment, Qian Yufeng noticed something unusual about the Blue Silver Grass on the ground.
In the end, they followed the special markings on the Blue Silver Grass and killed that man.
Only then did Qian Yufeng recall that there was a supreme tracking master within the Star Dou Great Forest.
The Blue Silver Emperor!
Ninety-nine percent of the Star Dou Great Forest's corners could not escape her sight.
The aura of Fallen Spirit Masters did indeed make most Soul Beasts avoid them.
After all, many Fallen Spirit Masters had slaughtered low-level Soul Beasts for cultivation back then, turning the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest into a complete mess.
If Spirit Hall had not suppressed them, many Soul Beast clans would probably have gone extinct by now.
Even so, the Star Dou Great Forest still launched Beast Tides every so often.
It was simply that the intervals had been extended by roughly ten years.
"A-Feng, you all say this forest is where the most Soul Beasts on the continent gather."
"But it seems to have fewer Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast auras than the sea!"
A-Luo sat atop the table in the carriage, staring at Qian Yufeng with wide eyes.
"The Star Dou Great Forest naturally isn't as vast as the ocean!"
"Even the entire continent is smaller than the ocean!"
"But one cannot judge everything by appearances. The Star Dou Great Forest has a long history, and there may be Soul Beasts here that we do not understand!"
Qian Yufeng spoke to A-Luo. The two truly were difficult to compare.
The Star Dou Great Forest was home to the continent's greatest number of Beasts of Calamity. Pick any one of them at random—Bi Ji excluded—and it could basically massacre everything in its path.
Beast God Di Tian possessed a terrifying cultivation of more than eight hundred thousand years. Even the nine-hundred-and-ninety-thousand-year Deep Sea Demonic Whale King could not claim a certain victory over him on land.
At present, these Beasts of Calamity lived in seclusion beneath Life Lake, concealing their auras, so naturally A-Luo could not sense them.
The current Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest were the Sky Azure Bull Python, the Titan Giant Ape, two Soft Bone Rabbits, and the Blue Silver Emperor.
"Oh!" A-Luo nodded as if she understood, though she was still puzzled inside. The ocean has existed for a long time too. Why didn't you say that?
The group arrived at the Knight Order stationed on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. After getting out of the carriage, Qian Yufeng immediately revealed his identity.
The commander of the Knight Order here had met Qian Yufeng before, so naturally he did not dare slight him.
Qian Yufeng did not enter their camp. He merely asked them to take good care of the carriage.
After giving those instructions, the three entered the Star Dou Great Forest.
Towering trees and sunlight filtering through gaps in the leaves... these formed the most common sights here.
Of course, plenty of inconspicuous Blue Silver Grass grew across the ground.
No one could have imagined that among this seemingly insignificant Blue Silver Grass clan, a supreme existence had emerged.
Qian Yufeng looked at the trees ahead, then lowered his gaze to the Blue Silver Grass and smiled.
He was sending the other party a signal that he had come looking for her.
Sure enough, after Qian Yufeng raised his head, the Blue Silver Emperor received the message.
She had learned much about the human world, and Qian Yufeng's smile was akin to a greeting and notification.
Why is he looking for me? The Blue Silver Emperor was puzzled.
When she had helped him deal with the Fallen Spirit Masters, it had been for the stability of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Yet that had allowed him to notice her existence, though he had never come to trouble her.
After so many years had passed, why had this human man suddenly come looking for her? What was his purpose?
The Blue Silver Emperor was highly wary of humans, but she had gathered quite a bit of information about Qian Yufeng.
He had only come to the Star Dou Great Forest ten times. Seven visits had been to obtain Soul Rings, and three had been to pursue Fallen Spirit Masters.
He had never indiscriminately slaughtered Soul Beasts. On the contrary, he had prohibited the casual hunting of weak Soul Beasts.
Beast Tides were special circumstances and did not count.
She did not know whether it was merely her imagination, but she felt that Qian Yufeng wished to seek coexistence between Soul Beasts and humans.
After thinking it over repeatedly, the Blue Silver Emperor decided to meet him.
Back on Qian Yufeng's side, the three released their auras. Ordinary Soul Beasts did not dare approach them and scattered in avoidance.
They advanced at an unhurried pace as Qian Yufeng waited for the Blue Silver Emperor's response.
A-Luo floated through the air as well, curiously examining the surroundings.
"There are many Soul Beasts here, but their auras are very weak. They are no match for A-Feng."
"In the sea, they would be A-Luo's food!"
After walking for ten minutes, A-Luo began to feel bored.
"A-Feng, are you looking for something?" She landed on Qian Yufeng's shoulder. Moving this slowly did not seem like something he would do.
"Yes, A-Luo is so smart. We should have an answer soon," Qian Yufeng said with a smile.
After saying that, he began observing the changes in the Blue Silver Grass. The blades formed arrows, pointing the way in a certain direction.
"She has given us an answer. Follow me."
With that, he took the lead and headed toward the Blue Silver Emperor's territory.
Thirty minutes later, they arrived at a gathering place of Blue Silver Grass.
The Blue Silver Grass growing here differed from what they had seen before. A small number of the blades bore pale golden patterns.
Qian Lingxin sensed a powerful aura within the grass ahead and immediately became vigilant.
Qian Yufeng, however, looked completely relaxed. He said to the two women, "No need to be so nervous. She has no ill intentions."
A-Luo wanted to fly higher to see the area ahead clearly, but the dense Blue Silver Grass made it difficult for her to sense the other party's aura.
"Elder Qian, may I ask why you have come to see me?"
An opening appeared in the grass formed by the Blue Silver Grass ahead. A woman with blue hair, blue eyes, and an air of nobility slowly emerged.
Curiosity flickered in her gaze as she looked toward Qian Yufeng and the other two.
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