Spirit Hunting Forest

"Is it stronger than a hundred-year Soul Ring?"

"Why not try it?"

"How?"

Su Chen raised his hand.

"Stand back."

Hu Liena immediately retreated to Bibi Dong's side.

Su Chen gripped the Purple Thunder Spirit Sword. With a thought, the thunder Soul Ring descended onto the blade.

There was none of the painful struggle that came with absorbing a Soul Ring.

The Soul Ring seemed as though it had always belonged to this sword. The moment it touched the blade, it melted into it.

The Purple Thunder Spirit Sword trembled faintly.

A thin streak of lightning shot from the sword tip and struck the edge of the platform.

A charred sword mark appeared on the stone.

Hu Liena sucked in a breath.

"This is your first soul skill?"

"More or less."

"What's it called?"

Su Chen looked at the sword tip.

"Thunder Attraction."

"What does it do?" Bibi Dong asked.

"Wherever sword intent reaches, thunder follows. Its power is average for now, but taking down a ten-year soul beast won't be a problem."

Hu Liena wrinkled her nose.

"You made such a terrifying Soul Ring, and it can only kill ten-year soul beasts?"

"A first soul skill is a foundation, not something meant to crush people to death in one move."

"Then that sword strike just now?"

"I didn't use a soul skill. I was just testing the sword."

Hu Liena fell silent.

Bibi Dong raised her hand and touched the Purple Thunder Spirit Sword.

This time, the sword did not resist.

The instant her fingertips neared the sword's ridge, a faint thunderous intent traveled along her soul power.

With the realm of a Title Douluo, she naturally would not be harmed by such a small amount of power, but she could sense its potential for growth.

This Soul Ring was not the end.

It would grow as Su Chen deepened his understanding of thunder arts.

In other words, the age of a Soul Ring might have been meaningless to Su Chen from the very beginning.

Bibi Dong withdrew her hand.

"You are not walking the old path of soul masters."

"Mm."

"No one before you has verified this path."

"Then I'll be the first."

Bibi Dong looked at the child before her, yet an indescribable shock stirred within her.

From half a rank of soul power to rank ten, from an ordinary iron sword to the Purple Thunder Spirit Sword, from a self-created cultivation method to a self-condensed Soul Ring.

Every step had been taken across ground no one had ever walked.

Yet Su Chen showed no trace of panic. He did not even regard this matter, enough to shake the entire continent, as any great feat.

Bibi Dong suddenly spoke.

"You still intend to go to the Spirit Hunting Forest?"

"I do."

Hu Liena immediately turned toward him.

"You already have a Soul Ring, so what are you going there for?"

"To see how I fare in actual combat."

Su Chen put away the Purple Thunder Spirit Sword.

"I can attract lightning, condense a ring, and wield a sword now. But if I truly encounter a soul beast, whether I can fight it and how I should fight it are things I need to test for myself."

"You can find soul masters in the academy to train with you."

"People at the academy know when to hold back. Soul beasts don't. Cultivation isn't just for show."

Hu Liena wanted to go with him, but then remembered that her soul power was inferior to Su Chen's. If she entered the forest, she might only hold him back, and her expression grew conflicted.

Bibi Dong asked on her behalf.

"You want to enter the Spirit Hunting Forest alone?"

"The outer region will do."

"No."

There was no room for negotiation in Bibi Dong's tone.

"You may train on your own, but you cannot go without a protector. You are Spirit Hall's Holy Son and this one's disciple. The Spirit Hunting Forest contains not only soul beasts, but also hunting parties, bandits, and people who should not be there."

Su Chen thought for a moment.

"A protector is fine, but don't follow too closely."

"Why?"

"If someone is watching, the soul beasts won't dare come out. I'm going in to build courage, not take a stroll."

Hu Liena could not help but laugh.

"You still need to build courage?"

"My courage isn't lacking, but my experience is."

Bibi Dong pondered for a moment.

"Yue Guan."

A figure entered from outside the hall.

Yue Guan was dressed casually today and still held a cup of fruit tea, clearly having rushed over the moment he received the message.

"Your Holiness, you called for me?"

"Su Chen is going to the Spirit Hunting Forest to train. Follow him in secret. Do not reveal yourself unless his life is in danger."

The smile on Yue Guan's face faded somewhat.

"His Highness has only just condensed his Soul Ring, and he is going into the forest alone?"

"Elder Ju, there's no need to worry."

Su Chen looked at Yue Guan.

"If I can't beat them, I'll run."

Yue Guan narrowed his eyes.

"Why does that not make me feel any more at ease?"

"Then follow from farther away. If there's real danger, come out and clean things up."

"Fine."

Yue Guan's tone was unusually serious.

"But first, three rules. First, do not pass the third marker in the outer region. Second, if you encounter a soul beast over a hundred years old, observe first and do not force a fight. Third, the moment you hear my voice transmission, retreat immediately."

"What if I don't retreat?"

Yue Guan smiled very gently.

"Then I'll tuck Your Highness under my arm and carry you back. The Holy Son is young; throwing a little tantrum is perfectly normal."

Su Chen was silent for a moment.

"That sounds less like protection and more like kidnapping."

"As long as it works, that's enough."

Bibi Dong nodded.

"You leave tomorrow."

Hu Liena hurriedly spoke.

"Teacher, I also..."

"You are not allowed to go."

"Why?"

"You will remain in the hall and continue practicing the Clear Mind Soul-Calming Mantra."

Hu Liena immediately deflated.

Su Chen patted her shoulder.

"Senior Sister, when I return, I'll bring you a soul beast pelt."

"Who wants something like that?"

"Then I'll bring some herbs."

Hu Liena turned her face away.

"I'm not a child."

"Fine, then I won't bring anything."

"Uh... you can bring a little of the herbs."

Early the next morning, at Wuhun City's north gate.

Su Chen had changed out of the Holy Son's ceremonial robes and wore only a fitted black outfit suitable for movement. A short sword hung at his waist, and he carried no pack on his back.

Yue Guan stood some distance away, his brows rising.

"You're going just like that?"

"What else should I bring?"

"Water, rations, medicine, a firestarter—at least bring one of those."

"There's water in the forest."

"What if you get hungry?"

"I'll find fruit."

"What if you get hurt?"

Su Chen raised the Purple Thunder Spirit Sword.

"I'll try not to get hurt."

Yue Guan stared at the little face that treated this as perfectly reasonable, unable to speak for a long while.

Hu Liena came running over with a bundle in her arms.

"Take this."

Su Chen accepted it and weighed it in his hand.

"What is this?"

"A water skin, dried meat, medicine, and insect-repelling powder."

"Didn't you say you weren't going?"

"I'm not going, but that doesn't mean I can't prepare things."

Hu Liena lifted her chin.

"Don't get the wrong idea. I just don't want you starving to death in there and coming back to embarrass Spirit Hall."

Su Chen opened the bundle and looked inside.

The dried meat had been cut neatly, and the medicine had been divided into small packets.

"Got it."

"Got what?"

"Senior Sister talks tough, but she's kind enough."

Hu Liena's ears reddened.

"Just go already."

Su Chen waved, then turned and headed toward the Spirit Hunting Forest.

Yue Guan did not follow.

After Su Chen had gone far away, Yue Guan's figure flickered and disappeared into the shadows by the road.

Bibi Dong stood atop the city wall, watching that small figure.

The lightning patterns on the Purple Thunder Spirit Sword flickered faintly beneath the sunlight.

"Yue Guan."

A reply came from the darkness.

"Your Holiness."

"Keep him safe."

"This subordinate understands."

Before the entrance to the Spirit Hunting Forest, Su Chen stopped.

Vegetation tangled together ahead, and the woods were filled with a damp scent.

Su Chen touched the bundle at his waist and muttered softly.

"My first time going out to train. I should find something not too fierce to practice on first."