First Steps into the Star Dou Great Forest

"Tch, what's so great about a Soul King without even a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring? And that Su Sanjia, honestly!"

Xiao Wu had grown somewhat dissatisfied with Su Sanjia. In her eyes, someone like Ye Zhiqiu, who did not even possess a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, was not worth mentioning. Tang San, however, saw things differently. He also felt that Dai Mubai had been too impulsive. Tang San agreed with Su Sanjia's words; after all, in his previous life, he had seen far too many stunning geniuses die before reaching their potential. Still, Tang San would not take the initiative to argue with Xiao Wu. He merely murmured agreement from the side.

After this incident, no one was in the mood to chat anymore. Su Sanjia was the first to leave the table. After tossing the innkeeper a bag of Gold Soul Coins for the restaurant's repairs, he went upstairs to rest. Once Su Sanjia had left, Dai Mubai finally opened up, his tone full of resentment and dissatisfaction toward Su Sanjia. Only...

It was as though he were performing a one-man show. Xiao Wu occasionally chimed in with a sentence or two, while Tang San remained silent. Ma Hongjun focused solely on eating, and Oscar excused himself, claiming he was full, after Dai Mubai had barely spoken a single sentence. Ning Rongrong ignored him, feeling considerable disdain for Dai Mubai. What Dai Mubai found even harder to accept was the icy look in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes—his own fiancée.

Dai Mubai was so frustrated that he nearly spat out blood. Muttering to himself, he felt like something... what was it again?

A sudden cry rang out from outside the hotel.

"Come and see! Come and see! The Clown Circus is touring through town! A Soul Grandmaster-level Clown King performs with all his heart—don't miss it as you pass by!"

Dai Mubai:...

The night passed without incident.

The next day, led by the three teachers Zhao Wuji, Li Yusong, and Lu Xingbin, the group entered the Star Dou Great Forest.

At first, Zhao Wuji had intended to let Dai Mubai continue serving as the leader. But considering what had happened the previous night and Dai Mubai's current state, he shook his head. After some thought, he handed the responsibility to Tang San, the only control-type Soul Master among the students.

As for why he did not give it to Su Sanjia...

Heh. With Su Sanjia's lazy temperament, it would be a miracle if he agreed.

It had to be said that Tang San was quite capable at commanding. Under his careful arrangements, the group bypassed several Soul Beasts. Although some people felt that was unnecessary, Tang San said that Soul Beasts were living creatures too. If they slaughtered them without restraint, would there still be any Soul Beasts left in the forest?

Without realizing it, Tang San had gained another huge wave of favor from Xiao Wu.

Zhu Zhuqing, as an agility-attack-type Soul Master, scouted ahead, while Su Sanjia, also an agility-attack-type Soul Master, guarded the rear. As they gradually ventured deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest, the surroundings became increasingly primitive, and the scent of Soul Beasts in the air grew stronger. No matter how cautious Tang San was, they still encountered two groups of hundred-year Soul Beasts and one thousand-year Soul Beast.

Unfortunately, that thousand-year Soul Beast was not suitable for Oscar.

After they had continued onward for an unknown length of time, the expressions of Zhao Wuji, Li Yusong, and Lu Xingbin changed. Information suddenly came from Zhu Zhuqing at the front of the group.

"A Soul Beast is approaching!"

"It's flying three or four meters above the ground and moving extremely fast! It's long and narrow, around six to eight meters long, like a snake!"

Based on the information Zhu Zhuqing had sent back, Tang San quickly identified the Soul Beast in his mind.

"A Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent! Judging by its characteristics, it should be around thirteen hundred to eighteen hundred years old! Whether in terms of its Soul Ring or its attributes, it's extremely suitable for Oscar!"

Tang San's knowledge of Soul Beasts was astonishing. Even Su Sanjia had to admit he could not compare, since Su Sanjia mainly studied light-attributed Soul Beasts suited to himself.

"Good kid, you're in luck! This thing is extremely hard to come by! Little monsters, I'll leave this snake to you. No problem, right?"

Zhao Wuji chuckled as he patted Oscar on the shoulder. Tang San nodded in response, rapidly considering how to capture it. Just as he was about to say something, a streak of golden light flashed past.

"Brother Sanjia, I'll leave my Soul Ring to you!"

The moment Oscar saw that golden light, he knew his Soul Ring was secured!

"Second Soul Skill, Energy-Gathering Laser!"

A beam of golden light shot straight at the rapidly approaching Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. Su Sanjia's angle was extremely tricky. The beam pierced through the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's neck without being fatal, but the immensely powerful Laser instantly robbed it of its ability to fly. Its slender body fell from the air and smashed into the ground. It was clearly on its last breath.

"Uh..."

Tang San swallowed the words that had been on the tip of his tongue. It felt like he was just about to take a dump, only for something to force it back inside. It was unbearably uncomfortable.

"That was some impressive speed! Little Ao, do it. Once you absorb its Soul Ring, the effect of your next food should be related to flight!"

Su Sanjia handed Oscar a dagger. Oscar accepted it excitedly. Given his relationship with Su Sanjia, saying anything more would only seem pretentious. Without hesitation, Oscar plunged the dagger into the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's head. A purple Soul Ring condensed from the corpse of the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

The purple Soul Ring emitted powerful fluctuations of Soul Power. Oscar eagerly sat down cross-legged. Drawn by his Soul Power, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's Soul Ring settled around his body. With Oscar's current physical strength, absorbing this Soul Ring would not take much time.

"You really are something, kid! By the way, Sanjia, do you have any preferred choices for your Soul Ring? With us three old fellows here, we'll make sure you get what you want!"

After ordering everyone to set up camp on the spot, Zhao Wuji came over to Su Sanjia. Faced with Zhao Wuji's question, several Soul Beasts Su Sanjia had selected flashed through his mind. Yet even he knew that the Soul Beasts he wanted were exceptionally rare. Finding one at all would already be fortunate, let alone one at the ten-thousand-year level.

After chatting with Zhao Wuji for a few moments, Su Sanjia calculated the time. It was almost here.

Sure enough, just as Su Sanjia was thinking this, an angry feminine shout suddenly came from the forest in the distance!

"Who was it?! Who killed my Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent?!"