Journey to Star Dou Forest

"Not in a hurry. First, I need to set a direction. My physical strength still needs to improve."

Yang Jian stood up, returned the book to its original place, stretched his stiff neck, and walked out of the library.

Moonlight flowed like water across the bluestone path.

He followed the route he had taken here, and this time, he did not get lost.

When he returned to the small courtyard, two maidservants had already been waiting at the gate for quite some time.

"Young Master Yang Jian, you're back."

The maidservants sighed in relief and hurriedly carried the prepared food boxes into the room.

Before long, the table was filled with steaming dishes: soup stewed with hundred-year soul beast meat, roasted soul beast steaks, several delicate vegetable dishes, and a bowl of white rice.

Yang Jian sat down and began eating in large mouthfuls.

Cultivating the Eight-Nine Mysteries every day consumed an enormous amount of energy. He could now eat far more than when he had first arrived.

Over the following days, Yang Jian's life became regular.

During the day, he went to the library to read and supplement his knowledge in every area: soul beast habits, soul ring combinations, continental geography, the distribution of the major clans and factions—he read everything.

At night, without fail, he cultivated the Eight-Nine Mysteries.

Yue Guan occasionally came by to teach him some fundamentals of cultivation, such as how to better control soul power and sense the flow of soul power within his body.

Yang Jian learned with great focus. After all, Yue Guan was a level ninety-five Titled Douluo; even a few casual pointers from him would benefit Yang Jian endlessly.

Time passed day by day.

One morning, Yang Jian sat cross-legged on his bed and slowly opened his eyes.

He clenched his fist, feeling the abundant strength within his body, and the corners of his lips curled upward slightly.

Three months. The first layer of the Eight-Nine Mysteries had already been cultivated to its peak.

Each time this cultivation method advanced by a layer, it required soul power rank as support.

His soul power was still at level ten. If he wanted to continue cultivating the second layer, he had to first break through to level eleven and obtain his first soul ring.

"The Eight-Nine Mysteries aren't as difficult as I imagined. I've made smooth progress all the way, without any bottlenecks at all."

Yang Jian muttered to himself as he carefully sensed the changes in his body.

Over the past three months, his transformation had been nothing short of complete rebirth.

His former sallow, skinny appearance had vanished. Although he was still smaller than others his age, the outlines of muscle could faintly be seen beneath his skin, and his entire bearing had been renewed.

Most importantly was his physical strength.

After three months of uninterrupted tempering through the Eight-Nine Mysteries, his physical constitution was now comparable to that of a Soul King-level powerhouse, while his spiritual power had risen to the same level.

He could completely absorb a ten-thousand-year soul ring.

It was not just himself. The Howling Celestial Dog had not been idle over the past three months either.

Basically every day, Yang Jian released the Howling Celestial Dog to cultivate beneath the sunlight and moonlight.

The Howling Celestial Dog's aura was now many times stronger than it had been three months ago. By Yang Jian's estimate, it was roughly equivalent to a thirty-thousand-year soul beast.

"Yang Jian, are you up?"

Just then, a set of footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.

Yue Guan's voice followed, carrying a few more notes of gravity than usual.

Yang Jian hurriedly got out of bed and opened the door.

Yue Guan stood at the courtyard gate in a purple robe, a faint smile on his bewitching face.

But the instant his gaze landed on Yang Jian, that smile visibly stiffened.

"You brat..."

Yue Guan looked Yang Jian up and down, his eyes growing increasingly astonished.

He could clearly sense that the child before him had undergone a world-shaking change in physical strength compared to three months ago.

That restrained yet abundant vitality was even stronger than that of some Soul Kings.

"How did you train your body like this?" Yue Guan could not help asking.

Although he had come to guide Yang Jian every few days over the past three months, and each time had noticed an improvement in the boy's physical qualities, this rate of growth was simply beyond reason.

Yang Jian scratched his head and put on an innocent expression. "I'm not too sure either. Ever since my martial soul awakened, my physical strength has automatically improved every day."

"Uncle Yue, is there a problem with that?"

Yue Guan fell silent for a moment. In the end, he could only attribute it to the unique nature of the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber martial soul.

After all, it was a top-tier weapon martial soul that Bibi Dong herself had described as "not inferior to the Clear Sky Hammer."

"There's no problem." Yue Guan shook his head, then changed the subject. "Pack up. Get ready to depart."

Yang Jian froze. "Where to?"

"To hunt a soul ring." Yue Guan looked into his eyes. "Your physical strength is already sufficient."

Yang Jian's heart jolted. The day he had waited three months for had finally come.

But he did not immediately nod. Instead, he raised his head and looked at Yue Guan seriously.

"Uncle Yue, can I choose the soul ring myself?"

Yue Guan raised an eyebrow slightly. "What soul ring do you want?"

Yang Jian took a deep breath and gave the answer he had decided on long ago.

"A Titan Giant Ape."

"A Titan Giant Ape?"

Yue Guan raised his brow slightly upon hearing that. Before he could say anything, Yang Jian added, "Actually, a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear would be even better."

"I've researched this for three months. These two soul beasts are the most suitable for the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber, and they should grant some good soul skills."

Yue Guan looked at him, a trace of approval flashing through his eyes.

"Those three months in the library weren't wasted." Yue Guan nodded. "These two soul beasts are indeed top-tier choices for strength and offense."

"However..."

He changed the subject. "You won't find creatures like that in an ordinary Spirit Hunting Forest. We'll have to go to the Star Dou Forest. Titan Giant Apes and Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears mostly live in the core region of that area."

Yang Jian had expected this already, so he was not surprised.

"Then let's go to the Star Dou Forest."

Yue Guan glanced at him and was about to say something when hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the courtyard.

"Elder Ju!"

Hu Liena ran into the courtyard, panting. Her chestnut hair had been tousled by the wind, and an excited flush colored her delicate face.

"Why are you here?" Yue Guan asked.

"I was passing by just now and heard that you're going to the Star Dou Forest to hunt a soul ring." Hu Liena's gaze fell on Yang Jian, her eyes filled with curiosity. "Little Junior Brother is getting his first soul ring? I want to come watch too!"

Yue Guan frowned. "Hunting soul rings is no child's play, especially in a place like the Star Dou Forest..."

"I won't cause trouble!" Hu Liena hurriedly promised, clasping her hands together as she looked at Yue Guan pleadingly. "Elder Ju, I promise I'll stay obediently behind you and won't run around."

Yue Guan pondered for a moment before finally nodding.

"Fine."

"Thank you, Elder Ju!"

Hu Liena cheered and ran over to Yang Jian's side, studying him curiously. "Little Junior Brother, what soul beast do you want for your first soul ring?"

"A Titan Giant Ape," Yang Jian answered truthfully.

Hu Liena's smile froze on her face.

"What did you say?"

"A Titan Giant Ape," Yang Jian repeated. "Or a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear would work too."

Hu Liena opened her mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.

She looked toward Yue Guan, hoping this Titled Douluo would tell her that Yang Jian was joking.

But Yue Guan did not deny it. He merely said flatly, "Let's depart."