After saying goodbye to Gu Yuena, Lin Shuo didn't leave right away. Instead, he told Di Tian to keep a closer eye on the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
The little one had only him for company in the Star Dou Great Forest. Though the Divine Realm had vanished, Tang San might have left some contingency behind on Douluo Continent before his departure. With the Auspicious Beast away from Lin Shuo, it was better not to let her leave the Star Dou Great Forest on her own.
Only after he'd finished making all the arrangements did Lin Shuo truly set off.
Scarlet King was already crouched beside Lake of Life, waiting for him. All three of his heads dipped in unison when they saw Lin Shuo. Lin Shuo swung himself onto Scarlet King's broad back.
"Let's go. To the outer region." Lin Shuo patted Scarlet King's back.
Scarlet King gave a low growl. With Sky Dream Ice Silkworm beside him, he shot off like a red bolt of lightning, racing toward the outer reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Huo Yuhao had arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest around the time of Shrek Academy's enrollment. Lin Shuo only had to wait outside the forest and catch him when he came by.
"Scarlet King, this is far enough." When they reached the outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest, Lin Shuo jumped down from Scarlet King's back and headed out of the forest.
Scarlet King lowered his head slightly. After watching Lin Shuo leave, he raced back toward the core region.
"Tian Meng, use your Spiritual Detection to see if there are any Soul Masters with spirit-type abilities nearby." Lin Shuo casually tasked Tian Meng with searching for Huo Yuhao as he strolled through the Star Dou Great Forest. Although Lin Shuo had lived in the forest for the past twelve years, he had only visited its outer region a handful of times.
As far as he could remember, Huo Yuhao had met Bei Bei and Tang Ya outside the Star Dou Great Forest. Fortunately, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had powerful spiritual energy. All he had to do was have him search with it.
Lin Shuo and Sky Dream Ice Silkworm searched outside the Star Dou Great Forest for an entire day.
Tian Meng's Spiritual Detection had an enormous range, almost enough to cover the entire outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Master, I found a little girl. She should have a spirit-type Martial Soul!" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm called excitedly to Lin Shuo after detecting her.
"A little girl?" Lin Shuo stopped in his tracks at Tian Meng's words and fell silent.
He thought for a while. Had he simply come across another Soul Master with a spirit-type Martial Soul, or was something off about the Peerless Tang Sect world he'd transmigrated into?
"Tian Meng, I'll go over by myself. Keep the spiritual link open and wait for my signal." After pondering for a moment, Lin Shuo spoke to Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.
"Yes, Master!" After sensing that the little girl's Soul Power was weak, Tian Meng relaxed. He dipped his head slightly and watched as Lin Shuo went alone.
Following the location Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had given him, Lin Shuo crossed through the forest and made his way toward the little girl.
As he drew closer, Lin Shuo finally got a clear look at her.
She was a very pretty blue-haired girl wearing plain gray clothes. Her figure was slender and slight, and her face a little gaunt. Her features were gentle, with a small, delicate nose. Beneath long eyelashes, her eyes were a deep blue. She had just finished cleaning the fish she'd caught and was lighting a campfire to roast it.
Lin Shuo's expression turned a little strange at the sight. Huo Yuhao really had become a girl.
"Little girl, what are you doing out here all alone?" Seeing Huo Yuhao, Lin Shuo slowly approached her.
Huo Yu'er turned at the sound of his voice. When she saw Lin Shuo's handsome face, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
Lin Shuo saw it and the corners of his mouth curled a little higher. Just like in the original story, Huo Yuhao was still a shy, bashful little thing who blushed when a boy came near.
"My name is Lin Shuo. I'm here to train in the Star Dou Great Forest. What's your name, little girl?" Lin Shuo sat on a rock beside Huo Yuhao.
"I-I'm Huo Yu'er," she said, her little face flushed.
Lin Shuo smiled. "Miss Huo, they say every meeting is fated. Would you sell me one of those grilled fish?" Now that he'd made it to the Peerless Tang Sect era, not trying Little Huo's grilled fish would mean his trip had been for nothing.
"B-Big brother, you can have one," Huo Yu'er stammered, her face turning even redder.
Lin Shuo chuckled. "Miss Huo, don't be nervous. We're probably about the same age. Here are some seasonings and fruit I carry with me." As he spoke, Lin Shuo took several jars and bottles along with some spirit fruit from his storage ring and offered them to Huo Yu'er. The fruit had been gathered by other Soul Beasts in the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest and presented to him. It could strengthen the body and speed up Soul Power cultivation.
Huo Yu'er took a small bite. The moment the fruit's flesh melted in her mouth, she froze. A gentle warmth flowed through her limbs and transformed into Soul Power, spreading slowly through her body. The exhaustion from days of roughing it outdoors lifted by half. Though Huo Yu'er didn't know what kind of fruit it was, she could tell it had to be expensive.
"Big brother, this is too precious..." Huo Yu'er looked up, her deep blue eyes full of uncertainty. She wanted to return the fruit, but then she noticed she'd already taken a bite. At once, she didn't know what to do with herself.
"It's fine, Miss Huo. Besides, weren't you going to treat me to grilled fish?" Lin Shuo cut her off, then asked, "Miss Huo, did you come here to obtain a Soul Ring?"
Huo Yu'er finished grilling the first fish and handed it to Lin Shuo, nodding slightly. Lin Shuo accepted it. Seasoning was sprinkled evenly over its golden-brown, lightly charred skin, and its aroma drifted into his nose. He took a bite. The outside was crisp, the inside tender, and the flavor was savory and well balanced—far better than the first fish, which had only been seasoned with salt.
"It tastes great." After trying it, Lin Shuo gave his honest opinion. Grilled fish made from these ingredients really did taste excellent. Little Huo's grilled fish lived up to its reputation.
At his words, Huo Yu'er's lips curved upward, then quickly pressed back down.
"About your Martial Soul..."
"That smells amazing!" A delighted young woman's voice called from a distance. Looking toward the sound, Lin Shuo saw a lively black-haired girl staring fixedly at the grilled fish in his hand. A boy about her age followed behind her. They were Bei Bei and Tang Ya.
As they drew closer, Bei Bei's usually mild, scholarly expression turned grave. He stared at Lin Shuo in shock. Just moments earlier, his Martial Soul had issued a frantic warning, and within seconds, cold sweat had broken out across his back. He had the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul with its Bright Sacred Dragon bloodline, yet in front of this young man, he felt an urge to drop to his knees and submit. It was a direct suppression at the level of their Martial Souls.
He took a deep breath and forced down the turmoil of his Martial Soul. Stepping forward to shield Tang Ya behind him, he clasped his hands toward Lin Shuo. "I'm Bei Bei, from Shrek Academy. This is Tang Ya, also from Shrek Academy. We came here to obtain Soul Rings. Please forgive us for intruding."
Lin Shuo took in Bei Bei's reaction and understood. Though Bei Bei's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul carried the bloodline of the Bright Sacred Dragon, any dragon Martial Soul could only be suppressed in his presence. Or rather, any Beast Martial Soul was naturally a cut below his.