Three days later, outside the Star Dou Forest.
The convoy came to a slow stop beside a small stream. Old Wang, who had been riding at the front, swung down from his horse and headed toward one of the carriages.
"Honored sirs and madams, we've reached the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest."
Old Wang stood before the carriage and bowed. "It's already dark, so we'll rest here for the night. Tomorrow, we can enter the Star Dou Forest and hunt Soul Beasts."
"Mm. We'll do as you say and rest here for the night, then head into the Star Dou Forest to hunt Soul Beasts tomorrow."
"In that case, this subordinate will take his leave." With that, Old Wang stepped away from the carriage and went to tell his brothers to start a fire and prepare dinner.
Inside the carriage, after answering Old Wang, Xu Jiujiu leaned listlessly against the wall. She idly toyed with her hair, then tilted her head to look at Liu Lin, who was reading a book about Soul Beasts.
"Fiancé." Xu Jiujiu scooted up beside Liu Lin and tugged at his arm, her voice carrying a hint of coquettishness.
"Stop reading and come down for a walk with me. I haven't been out of Star Luo City in ages."
Hearing Xu Jiujiu, Liu Lin closed his book. When he looked up, he saw her expectant gaze.
"Mm, we've been riding in the carriage for a long time. We should get some fresh air. Come on." Liu Lin set down his book and nodded, agreeing to her request.
"Okay." Xu Jiujiu's eyes lit up at his answer. She took his hand and led him out of the carriage.
As she stepped down, Xu Jiujiu seemed to remember something. She turned to Elder Lin, who was resting with his eyes closed inside the carriage.
"Elder Lin, Liu Lin and I are just going for a walk nearby. Don't worry about us."
Inside the carriage, Elder Lin opened his eyes at Xu Jiujiu's words and replied in his deep, aged voice, "All right."
Elder Lin released his spiritual power, covering a ten-mile radius to ensure that he could reach them at once if they encountered danger.
At Elder Lin's reply, Xu Jiujiu led Liu Lin away to explore the area.
"It's so much nicer outside. Being cooped up in the carriage was so boring. Don't you think so, Liu Lin?"
Xu Jiujiu brought Liu Lin to a grassy patch and basked in the warmth of the evening breeze. Then she turned to ask him.
"It was pretty boring." Liu Lin nodded in agreement when Xu Jiujiu suddenly turned to ask him.
"Honestly, you don't have to just agree with me. You looked pretty engrossed in that book back in the carriage." Xu Jiujiu heard his answer and couldn't help pouting.
Liu Lin felt a little awkward at her words and rubbed his nose.
He didn't know much about fire-attribute Soul Beasts on the Douluo Continent, so he'd asked his maid, Xiao Xue, to borrow a book about Soul Beasts. He wanted to learn more, so he wouldn't encounter one without knowing what it was, and so he could choose his First Soul Ring properly.
During the three days on the way to the Star Dou Forest, Xu Jiujiu had been bored in the carriage and wanted to chat with Liu Lin.
But she hadn't expected him to spend all three days absorbed in a book.
"Your fiancée isn't as interesting as a book, huh? Sometimes I really wonder if you're pretending." Xu Jiujiu muttered, then pointed to the spot beside her and beckoned Liu Lin over. "Never mind, Liu Lin. Come sit with me for a while."
Liu Lin wasn't sure what else to do, so he went to the spot Xu Jiujiu had pointed out and sat beside her.
"And the other day, I told you not to call me 'Your Highness, Princess.' Call me by my name. Have you got that straight? If you forget again, I'll have to punish you."
When Liu Lin sat down beside her, Xu Jiujiu put on a stern face as she spoke. Then she raised her little fist at him.
"All right, I understand, Jiujiu." Liu Lin smiled as he answered.
Hearing him say that, her face flushed.
"Enough talking. Let's just sit here quietly for a while."
The two sat side by side on a rock, gazing at the stars beneath the night sky. For a time, neither spoke.
They remained there until a middle-aged man appeared behind them and respectfully said, "Elder Lin says it's getting late. He asked me to bring you both back for dinner and some rest."
"Mm." Xu Jiujiu stood and dusted herself off. Liu Lin got up from the rock as well, then followed the middle-aged man back to the convoy.
By the time they returned with the middle-aged man, Old Wang had made fish soup and served a bowl to everyone.
Xu Jiujiu and Liu Lin each received a bowl when they returned. After they finished eating, they went back to the carriage and rested with their eyes closed, waiting for the next day.
The next morning, just as the sky began to brighten.
Old Wang and the other Soul Kings were already ready to set out, waiting for orders.
"Young Master Liu, we're about to enter the Star Dou Forest. What are your requirements for your First Soul Ring?"
Old Wang went over to Liu Lin and asked what sort of First Soul Ring he wanted.
"I need a fire-attribute Soul Beast around seven hundred years old. An Earth Fire Lizard Dragon would be best, but a Red Fire Lion would do too."
Old Wang's mouth twitched when he heard Liu Lin. If anyone else had told him that, he would have thought they'd had too much to drink.
"All right, I understand. We'll do our best to find an Earth Fire Lizard Dragon around seven hundred years old. But forgive me for asking—can you withstand a Soul Ring that old?"
"I'll be fine. Just focus on hunting it and bringing back the Soul Ring." Liu Lin dared to absorb a Soul Beast of around seven hundred years as his First Soul Ring because he had a safeguard.
The day he awakened his Martial Soul, his body had been tempered by Ultimate Ice and Ultimate Fire, greatly strengthening his physique. He'd also asked Elder Lin to examine him along the way, and Elder Lin had told him that around seven hundred years was the oldest Soul Ring he could absorb.
Besides, he'd decided to hunt a Soul Ring now instead of waiting until he'd eaten a few pieces of Whale Rubber and then hunting a thousand-year Soul Beast for his First Soul Ring.
He thought that would draw too much attention. The Star Luo Empire might not be able to protect him. It would be more worthwhile to raise the age of his Soul Rings in the future, once he obtained a godhood.
After Old Wang finished asking, he led the convoy toward the Star Dou Forest.
About three hours later, Elder Lin opened his eyes inside the carriage and called out to Old Wang, "There's an Earth Fire Lizard Dragon up ahead, around seven hundred and twenty years old."
When Old Wang heard Elder Lin, he understood at once. He leaped down from his horse, activated Martial Soul Possession, and revealed six Soul Rings behind him. Then he ran straight toward the direction Elder Lin had indicated.
About ten minutes later, Old Wang returned, dragging a badly wounded Earth Fire Lizard Dragon that was on the verge of death.
"Young Master Liu, I've brought back the Soul Beast you wanted. Give it the final blow, and you can absorb its Soul Ring."
At Old Wang's words, Liu Lin hurried out of the carriage.
Seeing the Earth Fire Lizard Dragon barely clinging to life, Liu Lin took out the dagger Xu Jiujiu had just slipped him and plunged it toward the dragon's head.
The Earth Fire Lizard Dragon let out a furious roar before its body collapsed to the ground. A deep yellow Soul Ring drifted up from its body.
Following the method Elder Lin had taught him, Liu Lin sat cross-legged and slowly guided the Soul Ring toward the top of his head.
Xu Jiujiu also got out of the carriage, watching Liu Lin absorb the Soul Ring with a worried expression.