The group skirted the Man Faced Demon Spider's web trap and continued deeper into the forest.
The air grew increasingly damp, and mist thickened among the trees, considerably reducing visibility.
The soft carpet of fallen leaves gave way to tangled roots and slick moss, making it all too easy to slip.
"Watch your footing!"
Zhao Wuji warned them in a low voice. His steps were steady as a mountain, each one landing firmly.
They had not gone far when Zhao Wuji stopped again.
Pointing at a massive rotting log split by lightning, he said, "Look over there."
Everyone followed his gesture. At the broken end of the log, a colony of black ants, each about the size of a fist, scurried back and forth, carrying wood chips.
Their heads bore a pair of huge mandibles that gleamed with a metallic sheen, making them look particularly vicious.
"These are Ink-Armored Thousand-Jin Ants."
Zhao Wuji began his field lesson. "They're a strength-type Soul Beast. Don't let their small size fool you. A single one is strong enough to flip an adult bull. Their nests are usually deep underground, with a complex network of tunnels. Look at the width of their mandibles—about three fingers across. That means the queen of this colony has cultivated for at least a thousand years."
"A thousand-year ant queen?"
Ma Hongjun smacked his lips. "How many soldier ants must she have? If we stir up a hornet's nest—no, an ant's nest—won't they chew us down to the bone?"
"That's why the best thing to do when you encounter a colony-dwelling Soul Beast is to go around it."
Zhao Wuji said, "Their Soul Rings contain pure strength attributes, but they're not suitable for Oscar. Oscar, what kind of Soul Skill do you want?"
Oscar scratched his head and said somewhat sheepishly, "Teacher Zhao, I already have healing and detoxifying abilities. It'd be great if I could get a flying Soul Skill. Then, if I can't beat someone, I can at least run faster."
"Hahahaha!" Ma Hongjun was the first to laugh. "Oscar, you're certainly practical!"
Zhao Wuji nodded too. "Flying through the skies or burrowing through the earth really is the best way for an auxiliary Soul Master to stay alive. All right, then. From here on, we'll focus on finding a flying Soul Beast."
The group set out again, their goal now clearer.
After walking a while longer, they came upon an open clearing in the forest.
Wildflowers of every color bloomed across the clearing, and flocks of butterflies fluttered among them. It was a breathtaking sight.
"Wow, it's beautiful!" Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu exclaimed almost in unison.
"Don't be fooled by appearances." Zhao Wuji's voice cut in, shattering the lovely mood.
He pointed at a giant moth among the flowers, its wingspan over a meter and its wings patterned with eye-shaped markings. "That's a Phosphor-Powder Giant Moth, a mental-type Soul Beast. When it beats its wings, it shakes loose phosphor powder that can induce sleep and hallucinations. Inhaling it will plunge you into an illusion."
Everyone's hearts tightened. Looking at the beautiful sea of flowers again, they felt a chill crawl down their backs.
"This Phosphor-Powder Giant Moth's antennae are about half a meter long. Judging by that, it's around nine hundred and eighty years old, close to a thousand. Though it's a flying Soul Beast, its flying ability is weak. It relies mainly on its phosphor powder to attack, and it hasn't lived long enough anyway. So, it's out."
Zhao Wuji made his decision without hesitation.
As they continued onward, the light in the forest dimmed, and the surrounding trees grew taller and thicker. Some of their trunks were even covered in strange fungi and vines.
Suddenly, a deep rumbling came from ahead, and the ground began to tremble faintly.
"What was that?" Dai Mubai asked warily.
Zhao Wuji signaled for everyone to stop and listened for a moment. Then he pointed at a cliff wrapped in enormous vines. "The sound came from over there. If I'm not mistaken, it's a Forest Giant Tortoise feeding."
The group cautiously skirted a patch of bushes, and the sight before them made them gasp.
Beneath the cliff, a giant tortoise with a shell over four meters across, like a small hill, was slowly chewing on some hard ore.
Every bite boomed like thunder. Fragments of stone tumbled from the corners of its mouth, piling up on the ground.
"My goodness..." Oscar gaped. "That shell could probably withstand even a Soul Emperor's attack!"
"This is a seventeen-hundred-year-old Forest Giant Tortoise."
Zhao Wuji sounded impressed too. "It's a purely defensive Soul Beast, gentle in temperament and unlikely to attack unless provoked. Its shell is an excellent material for making top-tier shields. Unfortunately, its Soul Ring's attributes are too limited. It only increases defense and has no other effects, so no one in our group needs it."
They had discovered several thousand-year Soul Beasts in a row, yet none suited Oscar's needs. The group couldn't help feeling a little downhearted.
The Star Dou Great Forest was teeming with Soul Beasts, but finding one with the right age and attributes really did take luck.
Just then, a sharp whistle split the air overhead.
"Look out!" Zhao Wuji bellowed, shoving Ning Rongrong away from him.
Everyone jerked their heads up. A fiery-red shadow flashed between the treetops, moving so fast they could barely make out its shape.
The shadow circled once in the air, then landed on a thick branch not far away.
Only then did everyone get a clear look at it.
It was a snake about six or seven meters long, its entire body covered in fine red scales.
Its body looked like the finest ruby, gleaming brilliantly even in the dim forest light.
The strangest thing was its head, crowned with a fleshy comb, while its tail resembled the dazzling feathers of a phoenix.
"A Phoenix-Tail Crested Serpent!" Tang San cried out. "It flies incredibly fast, and it's hot-tempered and highly aggressive!"
Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up. "That's right! It's one! Look at its length and the color of its crest—it's bright red, and its body is nearly seven meters long. That means it's at least fourteen hundred years old! Oscar, your luck has finally turned!"
The Phoenix-Tail Crested Serpent had clearly spotted the group too. Coiled around the branch, it raised its head high. Its bright-red crest quivered slightly as its golden, slit-pupiled eyes fixed coldly on the intruders below. A threatening hiss escaped its mouth.
Oscar's face flushed with excitement. "Teacher Zhao, that's the one! I can feel it—its aura is a perfect match for mine!"
"Good!"
Zhao Wuji's imposing presence filled the air as a powerful aura surged from him. "This Phoenix-Tail Crested Serpent will be your third Soul Ring! But I won't step in and help you directly."
"Huh?" Ma Hongjun froze.
"You're a team, and hunting for Soul Rings is the best combat training," Zhao Wuji said, folding his arms across his chest. "You'll all attack together and learn how to work as a team in a complex environment. I'll watch from the side. I'll only step in if you're in mortal danger."
At those words, an almost imperceptible glint flashed in the eyes of Tang San and Dai Mubai at the same time.
The opportunity had come!
"Spread out! Prepare for battle!" Dai Mubai shouted, moving first.
"White Tiger Protection Barrier!"
With a roar, Dai Mubai's body swelled instantly. His muscles bulged, and pale golden tiger stripes spread across his body.
Like a tiger unleashed from its cage, he charged straight toward the tree where the Phoenix-Tail Crested Serpent perched.
Tang San reacted just as quickly, and the third Soul Ring beneath his feet lit up.
"First Soul Skill, Bind!"
The battle was about to begin.