A few days later, outside Sunset Forest.
Ling Feng had taken the long way around and returned to Sunset Forest to hunt Soul Beasts.
It wasn't because the Star Dou Great Forest lacked Soul Beasts suitable for him, but because Sunset Forest was safer.
There were no Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in Sunset Forest, but there were plenty of Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts—enough to meet Ling Feng's needs.
Holding the map Bibi Dong had given him, Ling Feng found a Soul Beast that suited him.
"My target is a Man Faced Demon Spider that's over twenty thousand years old, but I'm afraid I won't be able to take it down alone!"
Although Ling Feng had a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skill, he still wasn't strong enough to take on a twenty-thousand-year Soul Beast.
Even if he managed to kill it by some stroke of luck, he would still need someone to protect him while he absorbed its Soul Ring.
I wonder how Liu Erlong's doing, Ling Feng thought.
It had been more than half a year since they last parted.
Liu Erlong should have broken through to Soul Ancestor by now. She ought to be able to help him a little.
Even if she couldn't help him kill the Soul Beast, she could protect him after he did.
Ling Feng searched the supply town, but learned that Liu Erlong hadn't accepted a mercenary commission in six months.
Could she have gone back to Heaven Dou City?
Ling Feng took out the address Liu Erlong had given him more than half a year ago and headed for Heaven Dou City.
The address Liu Erlong had given him was in the city's southwest district.
Ling Feng had been to Heaven Dou City before, so he found her place without trouble.
There was a river nearby, and several pleasure quarters lined its banks. Liu Erlong's home wasn't far from them.
When Ling Feng reached the address, he found an ordinary home that didn't look like a Soul Master's residence at all.
A Soul Master like Liu Erlong should at least have a manor, shouldn't she?
Ling Feng knocked on the door and waited outside for a while.
"Who is it?" a sharp female voice called from inside.
She really is home! Ling Feng breathed a sigh of relief.
There were no communication devices on Douluo Continent. If you wanted to find someone, you had to search for them in person. If you missed them, who knew when you would see them again?
"It's me, Ling Feng!" he called.
As soon as Ling Feng finished speaking, the door swung open, revealing a graceful woman in a loose, azure dress.
"Erlong, long time no see!" Ling Feng said with a smile.
"Yeah, long time no see. I thought you'd forgotten all about me!" Liu Erlong replied.
After giving Ling Feng her address, she had returned home whenever she had the chance, hoping that one day he would come to see her.
But more than half a year had passed, and she hadn't even caught a glimpse of him.
"What, you're not going to invite me in?" Ling Feng asked.
Liu Erlong stepped aside and welcomed him in.
Her home didn't look especially prosperous, but it was still better than an ordinary family's.
"My place is pretty shabby, and I don't have much to offer you. I hope you don't mind," Liu Erlong said.
Ling Feng shook his head. "We're friends. How could I mind?"
"Besides, my home is even shabbier than yours. I can't remember how many years it's been since I last went back," he added.
Only then did Liu Erlong relax. "Did you come to Heaven Dou City for a mission, or...?"
Ling Feng had already confessed to her last time that he was with Spirit Hall.
Liu Erlong also knew that Spirit Hall's base was Spirit City, not Heaven Dou City.
So Ling Feng must have had some other reason for coming here.
"To be honest, I came to hunt a Soul Beast and break through to Soul Ancestor," Ling Feng said.
"I'd like you to help me hunt it, then protect me while I absorb its Soul Ring."
"You're the only person in Heaven Dou City I can trust," Ling Feng said.
Liu Erlong felt a surge of joy. It felt good to be needed and trusted.
Ever since her mother passed away, she hadn't known what to do with her future.
Now Ling Feng was asking for her help, and it gave her a sense of purpose.
"Sure. I know Sunset Forest very well, so I can take you there to hunt a Soul Beast!" Liu Erlong said.
Ling Feng had known she would agree. At last, the weight lifted from his heart.
But her strength was too low. She probably wouldn't be able to help much.
"Erlong, what's your strength now?" Ling Feng asked.
The last time he met Liu Erlong, he'd only known that she was a Soul Elder and that her Soul Power was a little higher than his. He hadn't known her exact level.
Now Ling Feng could no longer sense Liu Erlong's Soul Power, which meant she had probably broken through to Soul Ancestor.
"I'm a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor. I just broke through to level forty-two," Liu Erlong said.
"Level forty-two? You're still a little weak!"
Well, I did ask her for help. How could I not give her something in return? Ling Feng thought.
He still had several Immortal Herbs. Most of them were useless to him, and he'd planned to give them to others anyway.
Liu Erlong's current strength made her a good fit to take an Immortal Herb.
But which one should he give her?
The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower would suit Liu Erlong. It could strengthen her fire-based attacks.
The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum was another option. It could help her open her extraordinary meridians, forge an indestructible body, and increase her strength.
Ling Feng thought it over and decided to give her the Earth Dragon Golden Melon.
Although the Earth Dragon Golden Melon was a soil-type Immortal Herb, which didn't complement Liu Erlong's lightning-and-fire attributes, it could improve her bloodline, making it ideal for her dragon Martial Soul.
Once her bloodline improved, her Fire Dragon Spirit would grow stronger, enhancing her lightning-and-fire attributes, as well as her strength and defense.
With that decided, Ling Feng didn't hesitate any longer.
"Erlong, thanks for agreeing to help me. I have an herb here that's suitable for you. Take it."
Ling Feng took a specially made medicine box from his Soul Tool, set it on the table, and pushed it toward Liu Erlong.
"An herb? I can't accept it!" Liu Erlong shook her head.
"I already felt guilty accepting the Gold Soul Coin card you gave me. How could I take your herb, too?"
"Besides, you told me the secret of Whale Rubber, allowing me to absorb a seven-thousand-year fourth Soul Ring. I haven't repaid you for that yet!"
After successfully absorbing a seven-thousand-year Soul Ring, Liu Erlong admired Ling Feng even more.
Yu Xiaogang's theories said that the upper limit for an ordinary Soul Master's fourth Soul Ring should be five thousand years.
But she had absorbed a seven-thousand-year Soul Ring, making her stronger than most Soul Ancestors.
"Erlong, you're too polite. We're friends, aren't we?"
"Besides, I'm not doing this without a reason. This herb can make you stronger, which means you'll be better able to help me."
"We'll be facing a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast this time. With our current strength alone, we might not be up to the task."
Only then did Liu Erlong remember that Ling Feng's third Soul Ring was already a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. Naturally, he would want to absorb one for his fourth, too.
"All right, then," Liu Erlong finally agreed.
She quietly resolved to give Ling Feng a generous gift someday.
She had come from humble beginnings and knew all too well that a friendship built on taking without giving wouldn't last long.
"Since that's settled, go ahead and eat the herb," Ling Feng said.