The next day!
Early that morning, Qi Dao's family packed water and provisions and set out for the Soul Hunting Forest.
The Soul Hunting Forest lay four hundred li northeast of Notting City. It was one of the places where the Heaven Dou Empire kept Soul Beasts in captivity.
Most low-level Soul Masters entered the Soul Hunting Forest to hunt for their First Soul Ring.
Of course, the forest mostly held Ten-Year and Hundred-Year Soul Beasts. Thousand-year beasts were exceedingly rare.
Anyone seeking a Soul Ring over a thousand years old had to venture into a natural hunting ground, such as the Star Dou Great Forest, Sunset Forest, or Extreme North.
The Soul Hunting Forest had another drawback: it held far fewer varieties of Soul Beasts, especially rare ones with powerful bloodlines.
But Qi Dao did not think his First Soul Ring had to come from some extraordinary Soul Beast.
The one that suited him was the best!
If he could raise the Soul Ring's age while still finding one that suited him, so much the better.
If he could not absorb a Soul Ring at the very limit of his ability, there was no need to get hung up on it and fight to the bitter end.
The three of them traveled by carriage for an entire day before reaching their destination.
Outside the Soul Hunting Forest stood rows of houses and shops. Vendors' cries rose and fell, and the streets bustled with activity.
Once the carriage stopped, Qi Dao's family soon arrived at a house.
They pushed open the door. Five people were inside, some sitting and some standing, all members of Qi Father and Qi Mother's Soul Hunting team.
Though they called it a team, it had only seven members, including Qi Father and Qi Mother.
The five turned toward the family as soon as they appeared. The two who had been sitting rose to greet them.
"Captain, vice-captain, you're here!"
Qi Father smiled faintly. "Thanks for the effort this time, everyone!"
A gentle-looking woman smiled. "Captain, no need to be so formal. A Dao is our nephew too."
The others chimed in.
That was one of the benefits of their Soul Hunting team.
Whenever a team member's child needed a Soul Ring, the team helped hunt one without question.
A slightly stout, middle-aged man sighed. "A Dao's only nine this year, isn't he? He's already reached level ten. Are you sure there wasn't a mistake when they tested his Soul Power at his Martial Soul awakening?"
"Exactly. I had innate level-two Soul Power, and it still took me six whole years to reach level ten."
"Each generation brings forth new talent. A Dao will surely surpass us and become a powerful Soul Master."
The team members glanced at Qi Dao with curiosity, but even more with envy.
Especially when they compared him to their own children. Their tempers flared, and their fists began to itch.
After a little more small talk, Qi Father said, "All right, let's go!"
Everyone nodded and left the house.
Soon, they reached the entrance to the Soul Hunting Forest.
A patrol of a hundred soldiers guarded the area. When they spotted Qi Dao's group, they came forward at once.
"Your pass!"
Qi Father immediately took a token from his waist.
The token was a pass to the Soul Hunting Forest. Obtaining one required the joint guarantee of three nobles.
Without a pass, no one could enter the forest to hunt Soul Beasts.
Qi Father had asked Headmaster Hans to intervene years ago before he finally obtained it.
After checking Qi Father's token, the soldier let them through.
"Go on in!"
Once they entered the Soul Hunting Forest, the gentle-looking woman asked, "Captain, do you have a target in mind for A Dao's First Soul Ring?"
Qi Father looked at Qi Dao.
Qi Dao spoke up. "Aunt Ye Hui, let me answer that."
"I want my First Soul Ring to come from a metal-attribute Soul Beast. An Ironclad Turtle, Iron-Boned Steel Wolf, Silver-Winged Bird, or Golden Sword Bamboo would all work."
"Also, I hope to absorb a Soul Beast that's at least five hundred years old for my First Soul Ring."
"Five hundred years?!"
Everyone except Qi Father and Qi Mother cried out in shock and turned to stare at Qi Dao.
Ye Hui looked gravely at Qi Father and Qi Mother.
"Captain, absorbing a Soul Ring is no game. If it goes wrong, he could die!"
The others also looked worried.
Most of the team members came from humble backgrounds, and their First Soul Rings had only been Ten-Year Soul Rings.
As far as they knew, even a First Soul Ring just over a hundred years old was remarkable.
In all their years, they had never heard of anyone whose First Soul Ring exceeded five hundred years.
Forget First Soul Rings—even the Second Soul Rings of those present were generally between three and five hundred years old.
That was why Qi Dao's wish to absorb a First Soul Ring over five hundred years old had shocked them so deeply.
Seeing their reactions, Qi Father and Qi Mother exchanged looks that said they had expected as much.
Qi Father had no choice but to explain. "I know what you're worried about, but rest assured. A Dao wouldn't dare absorb a Soul Ring over five hundred years old without good reason to believe he can do it."
"He's my son. I'm even more worried about his safety than you are. If he weren't truly confident, how could I agree to help him hunt a Soul Beast over five hundred years old?"
After he put it that way, the others still found it somewhat absurd, but they could only choose to trust him.
The group headed deeper into the Soul Hunting Forest. They encountered quite a few Soul Beasts along the way, but most were only Ten-Year Soul Beasts and posed no threat.
After all, every member of Qi Father and Qi Mother's seven-person team was a Soul Master above Level Twenty-Five.
Hundred-Year Soul Beasts were no problem for them. Working together, the seven would not fear even an ordinary thousand-year beast.
"Uncles, aunties, Ironclad Turtles are highly territorial and like to roam shallows and muddy riverbanks. We could check the waters in the mixed zone first. We might find something there," Qi Dao suggested as he walked among them.
The others gave him surprised looks.
Ye Hui said, "A Dao, you certainly know your theory!"
Qi Dao answered modestly, "I liked reading at the academy. My teachers taught me a lot."
"All right. Let's follow A Dao's suggestion and check the waters in the mixed zone."
With a destination in mind, they picked up their pace.
Several hours later.
A vast expanse of water came into view.
The Soul Hunting Forest was enormous, with mountains, lakes, and all manner of habitats.
"Ironclad Turtle!"
A burly middle-aged man in the team pointed to a dark turtle crawling lazily across a distant shoal.
Another person shook his head.
"A pity. Judging by its size, it hasn't even reached a hundred years."
"No rush. We'll keep looking. These waters cover a huge area."
Qi Dao surveyed the surroundings and offered another suggestion.
"If there's an Ironclad Turtle over five hundred years old in the Soul Hunting Forest, it must hold a dominant position in these waters. It would occupy the best territory for its daily hunts."
"Also, Ironclad Turtles are drawn to metal. If we find ore containing metal, we can search around that area..."
The others looked taken aback by Qi Dao's analysis and insights.
One of them could not help saying, "That A Dao really knows his stuff!"
"Even if he doesn't become a powerful Soul Master, he could become a master of theory."
Qi Dao raised an eyebrow.
A master of theory?
On the Douluo Continent, that was hardly a compliment!
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