Sunset Forest

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

As the sky began to brighten, Liu Erlong and Mo Li had already departed Heaven Dou City and arrived outside the Sunset Forest.

The Sunset Forest was located in the northern territory of Heaven Dou City, situated in the heart of the Heaven Dou Empire. Although the quantity and variety of soul beasts within could not compare to the Star Dou Great Forest, it was still a significant gathering place for them.

Most of the soul beasts there were between a thousand and ten thousand years old, while those exceeding ten thousand years were exceptionally rare.

However, one could not overlook the dangers of the Sunset Forest as a large-scale habitat for soul beasts.

Mo Li stood at the edge of the forest, gazing out. The mountain ranges stretched on endlessly, disappearing into the distance, his line of sight obstructed by towering trees.

Walking through the forest, he had to occasionally reach out to push aside the bushes blocking his path. A faint chill permeated the jungle, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of plants. The temperature was lower than it was outside, which helped wake up the slightly drowsy Mo Li.

The trees in the Sunset Forest were somewhat sparse, and the vegetation consisted mostly of low-lying shrubs, grasses, and a large amount of Blue Silver Grass, making it easy to move through without much resistance.

The two of them headed directly from the outskirts toward the core area.

"Given your situation, I suggest choosing a Fire Spirit Kite around four hundred years old for your first soul ring; that would be the safest bet." Liu Erlong walked in front, speaking as she moved.

Although the origin of Mo Li's martial soul was mysterious, it was clearly a fire-attributed avian type, so choosing a Fire Spirit Kite of about four hundred years was quite appropriate in terms of attributes and compatibility.

Of course, this was just Liu Erlong's opinion.

Mo Li had his own ideas. He did not intend to follow the beaten path; choosing a Fire Spirit Kite was fine, but the age of the soul ring could not be limited to just four hundred years.

Possessing a top-tier martial soul like the Nine Nether Sparrow, combined with his innate full soul power, his true target was a soul beast around six hundred years old!

Since it concerned his future achievements and development, Mo Li decided to have a serious talk with Liu Erlong about it.

"Sister Erlong, is it possible to find a Fire Spirit Kite around six hundred years old?"

"What?"

Liu Erlong's footsteps faltered. She turned around to look at him, her brows slightly furrowed. "Didn't I tell you that the limit for a first soul ring is four hundred and thirty-two years? That was proposed by a master of theory."

Mo Li shrugged indifferently. "I don't know who proposed this theory, but whoever did is either stupid or malicious. Not to mention how that precise figure of four hundred and thirty-two years was even derived."

"Take beast martial souls and plant martial souls, for instance; their absorption limits are already different. Did the person who proposed this theory ever consider whether his set of rules applies to beast martial souls or plant martial souls?"

"You..."

"Sister Erlong, you can examine my body. My physical constitution should be much stronger than that of an average soul master."

After hearing Mo Li's words, Liu Erlong was stunned for a moment. However, upon hearing the latter half of his sentence, she skeptically extended her hand, and a gentle stream of soul power flowed through her fingers into Mo Li's body.

A moment later, she withdrew her hand, her expression one of surprise.

Under her perception, Mo Li's physical constitution was indeed much stronger than that of an average soul master. On this point, Mo Li had not lied to her, but...

"Even if this theory isn't entirely correct, it's still not allowed!" Liu Erlong's expression turned solemn as she shook her head.

"Why not?" Mo Li felt a bit helpless. Don't tell me Sister Erlong is still trying to protect the prestige of that 'Grandmaster'? If so, today is going to be difficult.

"Is this so-called master of theory really worth defending?"

Mo Li felt a bit disappointed. Even if he had the ability to absorb a six-hundred-year soul ring, it would all be for nothing if he couldn't get past Liu Erlong.

"What?" Liu Erlong paused. Seeing the disappointment on Mo Li's face, she felt inexplicably agitated, but she suppressed the feeling and explained earnestly, "It's not for him; it's for you."

"Absorbing an over-limit soul ring carries immense risk. If something were to go wrong, how could I ever bear the responsibility!"

The absorption limit of a soul ring had a certain relationship with physical constitution, but it was not absolute. Although she didn't know why Mo Li was so confident, she would never let him take such a risk lightly.

"Sister Erlong, my martial soul is special. My body can withstand a five or six-hundred-year soul ring."

If his first soul ring could reach six hundred years, he would be far ahead of his peers from the very start.

The two argued over this, but no matter how Mo Li explained it, Liu Erlong refused to let him put himself in danger.

"I said no, and that's final! If you don't care about your own life, someone else does!"

Seeing the furious Liu Erlong, Mo Li felt a bit awkward, but his heart warmed. He knew Liu Erlong was worried about his safety.

However, he didn't want to waste his unique advantages either.

"Who else would care?"

Mo Li asked softly, which choked off Liu Erlong's anger for a moment. She took a deep breath, looked away, and said with some impatience, "I care, so what!"

Seeing Liu Erlong's intensity drop significantly with that statement, Mo Li couldn't help but smile.

"Sister Erlong, watch closely."

Mo Li stopped talking, deciding to prove himself with strength. Black flames surged, and the Nine Nether Sparrow martial soul manifested proudly behind him!

He pushed his martial soul's aura to the limit. The terrifying pressure originating from the Nine Nether Sparrow's bloodline spread out, and the soul beasts within several hundred meters immediately fled in panic, as if facing a natural predator. The area was cleared in an instant.

Liu Erlong, being the closest, saw it all. She felt the pressure of the superior being, rooted deep in the bloodline, most clearly and profoundly.

Seeing Liu Erlong fall silent, Mo Li retracted his martial soul.

"Sister Erlong, my martial soul is truly powerful. What will it take for you to believe me?"

Listening to Mo Li's near-helpless tone, Liu Erlong looked at him with complex eyes and said, her tone somewhat unnatural, "You certainly have a knack for using that martial soul to scare soul beasts."

The two looked at each other and smiled at the same time.

"But have you truly thought this through? This isn't a game."

After a silence, Liu Erlong asked once more.

Her tone was incredibly serious; she dared not, and could not, imagine the consequences should Mo Li fail.

She looked at Mo Li, but was met only by his resolute gaze.

From Mo Li's eyes, Liu Erlong saw a determination that could not be shaken. She pressed her lips into a thin line, and after a long moment, finally sighed helplessly, "Very well. Since you do not wish to take the path I have arranged for you, I will not force it."

"But if anything feels wrong during the absorption process, you must tell me immediately, do you hear me!"

Mo Li nodded his head like a pestle pounding garlic.

"Don't worry, Sister Erlong!"

With matters having reached this point, Liu Erlong said no more. She glanced at Mo Li and reached out her hand toward him.

Seeing this, Mo Li thought Liu Erlong was going back on her word. He grew anxious, took a step back, and hurriedly said, "Sister Erlong, you aren't going to change your mind this quickly, are you? A Soul Master must keep their word!"

"In your eyes, am I really such a fickle person who goes back on her word!"

Liu Erlong was furious. Earlier, seeing Mo Li stand his ground with such a composed demeanor had put her at ease, but the moment he opened his mouth, he infuriated her all over again!

The palm that was originally meant to land on Mo Li's head suddenly veered, pinching his right cheek with a hint of punishment.

"I was wrong, Sister Erlong, mmm-mmm..."

Knowing he had spoken out of turn, Mo Li could only let Liu Erlong torment him.

A moment later, the soft hand that had been pinching his cheek hesitated for an instant before moving to the top of his head, gently stroking his hair.

Mo Li looked up in surprise, meeting Liu Erlong's gaze, which was filled with helplessness yet also deep gratification.

"Looking at you just now, you really did seem like you had grown up."

"Much more pleasing to the eye than usual."

Hearing this, Mo Li awkwardly scratched his head. Just a moment ago, he had been single-mindedly focused on persuading Liu Erlong while also not wanting her to worry about him, which was why he had unleashed the full might of the Nine Nether Sparrow without reservation.

He had done it solely to make Liu Erlong believe that he possessed the ability to absorb a six-hundred-year-old soul ring.

Liu Erlong withdrew her hand; she, too, sincerely hoped that Mo Li could go further.

After this, although Liu Erlong still harbored concerns in her heart regarding the age of the soul ring, she no longer argued, choosing instead to believe in Mo Li.