Heading to the Star Dou Great Forest

[First mission with new students completed. Reward: 1000 Stellar Jades.]

Late at night, Amphoreus Academy.

Ye Qiong sat on the sofa, watching the mission completion notification on the system interface before him, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

This system was truly generous.

Not only was the assigned task low in difficulty, but it also rewarded him with 1000 Stellar Jades in one go.

With another four thousand Stellar Jades, I'll be able to pull cards again. I wonder what the next mission will be?

Thinking of this, Ye Qiong opened the mission interface.

However, he was stunned when he saw the tasks listed.

[Mission 1: Take disciples to the Star Dou Great Forest, participate in the main storyline, and seize the opportunity.]

[Mission 2: Break through to the Soul Saint rank.]

[Mission 3: Obtain a soul ring for a disciple about to break through.]

[All three missions must be completed to receive the reward: 4000 Stellar Jades and one special card.]

Being assigned three missions at once caught Ye Qiong by surprise.

What a coincidence. Both Phainon and I happen to need a soul ring to break through.

Even without the mission, Ye Qiong had already planned to take Phainon to the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow to obtain a soul ring.

But looking at the content of these tasks, Ye Qiong's mind immediately became active.

He stroked his chin.

If I remember correctly, the next part of the plot is Tang San obtaining the Eight Spider Lances.

Seizing someone else's opportunity might sound a bit unscrupulous, but since the target was Tang San, he felt absolutely no guilt. In fact, he felt a faint sense of excitement.

Eight Spider Lances? No, no, that opportunity is too small. If I'm going to take something, I'll go for something big.

Ye Qiong thought to himself as he summoned his baseball bat martial soul. Looking at the empty soul ring slot on it, a smile appeared on his face.

The next morning, Ye Qiong had Jiang Zhu notify everyone to gather at the plaza.

Wang Sheng walked out of the dormitory building yawning, arriving last at the plaza with a sleepy look on his face.

Jiang Zhu glared at him. "Hurry up, the teacher is waiting."

Hearing this, Wang Sheng immediately shook his head and trotted into the formation.

Ye Qiong scanned the group and announced that they were heading to the Star Dou Great Forest today.

Bai Chenxiang's eyes lit up instantly. "Teacher, are you going to help Phainon obtain his soul ring?"

Ye Qiong nodded. "That's right. Phainon is at level thirty, so he needs his third soul ring."

Hearing this, a look of anticipation appeared on Phainon's face.

Ye Qiong pulled Tribios over and continued, "This time, your task isn't just to watch; you are to participate in the training."

"Teacher, are there many soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest?"

"Many, and they are all very dangerous."

The group felt a bit nervous upon hearing this. They had all heard that the Star Dou Great Forest was extremely dangerous and a forbidden zone for humans.

Jiang Zhu clenched her fists. "Teacher, we will definitely do our best."

Ye Qiong said no more, instead raising his hand to signal Tribios.

Seeing this, Tribios nodded and raised her hand, summoning a golden triangular gate.

Seeing the gate, everyone widened their eyes.

"This... what is this?"

Tribios smiled slightly:

"This is the soul skill of my martial soul, the Gate of Ten Thousand Paths. It can take you directly to the Star Dou Great Forest."

Bai Chenxiang stared at the golden triangular gate, her eyes full of curiosity as she muttered under her breath:

"Direct travel? If this were used to skip class, wouldn't you be home in the blink of an eye?"

Tribios had sharp ears and glanced at her with a smile.

Bai Chenxiang immediately lowered her head, pretending she hadn't said anything.

Phainon also stared at the gate, though he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, but he did not dwell on it.

Ye Qiong took the first step forward:

"Keep up, don't fall behind."

Passing through the portal, the surrounding scenery changed instantly.

Dense woods, tree crowns that blotted out the sun, and thick, decaying branches and leaves beneath their feet.

From time to time, the roars of beasts drifted from the distance.

Wang Sheng looked around:

"We're here already? That was too fast."

Jiang Zhu looked at Tribios with stars in her eyes:

"Teacher Tribios, you are just too amazing."

Tribios looked at everyone's reactions and smiled gently, saying nothing.

Her martial soul was just like that; it could open a portal to anywhere on the Douluo Continent at will.

Seeing this, Ye Qiong clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention back:

"From now on, you must explore this forest on your own."

Wang Sheng was stunned:

"Explore on our own? Teacher, aren't you coming with us?"

Ye Qiong shook his head: "I have other important matters. Teacher Tribios will be watching you from the shadows, but unless you encounter danger you cannot handle, she will not intervene."

"But Teacher, we aren't familiar with this place."

Ye Qiong looked at Jiang Zhu, who had spoken:

"That is why you must explore it yourselves. Hunting soul beasts and finding targets that suit you—all of this depends on you. You must cooperate with each other and utilize the advantages of everyone's martial souls."

Phainon looked at Ye Qiong:

"Principal, let me lead the team."

Ye Qiong glanced at him and nodded:

"Very well, from this moment on, you are the captain."

Everyone expressed their agreement regarding Phainon becoming the captain.

His strength was something everyone had witnessed.

With the captaincy in his hands, everyone felt at ease.

Seeing that everyone had reached a consensus, Ye Qiong turned to look at Tribios.

Tribios nodded at him and walked to the side with him.

"Principal, where are you going?"

Ye Qiong replied in a low voice:

"The core area. I need a new soul ring."

Tribios was taken aback:

"The core area? The soul beasts there are at least ten thousand years old."

Ye Qiong smiled:

"That is exactly why I must go."

Tribios wanted to say more, but Ye Qiong raised a hand to interrupt her.

"I leave the children here to you. You only need to keep an eye on them and ensure nothing happens to them."

Tribios looked into his eyes and finally nodded:

"Very well, I will take good care of them. Principal, you must be careful on this trip."

"Rest assured, wait for my return."

Facing the departure of the two teachers, Phainon took a deep breath.

They then began to simply assign everyone's positions and tasks.

Everyone cooperated obediently.

Bai Chenxiang spread her Sharp-Tailed Swift wings and flew above the canopy to scout, while Jing Ling moved rapidly between the tree trunks on the flank, Wang Sheng and Huang Yuan walked in front to clear the path, Jiang Zhu stayed in the center, and Phainon brought up the rear.

The group slowly ventured deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest in this formation.

After walking for about an hour, Bai Chenxiang suddenly descended rapidly from the sky.

Her face was somewhat pale: "There are signs of fighting ahead, blood on the ground, and the corpses of soul beasts."

Phainon frowned:

"Take me to see."

Bai Chenxiang led the way, and the group soon arrived at an open clearing.

Three soul beast corpses lay on the ground, all killed by a single blow.

The wounds were very clean, as if sliced open by something sharp.

Wang Sheng squatted down to examine them: "These wounds... they don't look like they were made by soul beasts."

Jing Ling quickly checked the surrounding ground:

"There are claw marks left by large soul beasts, at least two or three of them."

Phainon stared at the corpses, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter.

"A powerful soul beast has been here, and its strength is not weak."

Jiang Zhu was somewhat worried:

"Then what should we do?"

Phainon remained silent for a moment, slowly stood up, and looked ahead:

"Continue forward, but be more careful. If we encounter that soul beast, do not engage; go around it."