Ten-Thousand-Year Lockbone Black Tortoise

At that, a faint blush rose to Zhang Lexuan's cheeks, and a trace of shyness appeared in her eyes.

But Zhang Lexuan took a deep breath and quickly suppressed that embarrassment. She looked at Ye An with utmost seriousness. "Because right now, Xiao An is the most important person in my heart. You're my future husband, so I don't want anything to happen to you."

Her blunt words caught Ye An slightly off guard.

Wait, was she really going for a direct confession?

So this was... an older sister's charm?

Huh?

No, that wasn't right!

Including my age from my previous life, I'm older than Zhang Lexuan!

Forget it. Older sisters really are the best!

Ye An reached out and took Zhang Lexuan's soft, fair hand in his. "Sister Lexuan, you're just as important to me. So give me a little more time. I'll avenge our grievances with you."

Zhang Lexuan smiled softly and didn't pull her hand away, merely giving a quiet hum of assent.

"I've never doubted Xiao An's talent. I'm just afraid... that he'll leave me behind, until I can no longer even see his back."

After voicing those words silently in her heart, Zhang Lexuan couldn't help glancing at Ye An's already handsome face.

She was five and a half years older than Ye An, yet with that five-and-a-half-year advantage, her soul power was only about ten ranks higher than Xiao An's. With his talent for cultivation, it wouldn't be long before he caught up to her—or even surpassed her.

She wanted to become Xiao An's support, not a burden holding him back.

"Let's go, Sister Lexuan. Get a good night's rest. Tomorrow, we'll set off for the Star Dou Great Forest. A Ten-Thousand-Year third ring... I really am looking forward to it!"

Hearing the excitement in Ye An's voice, Zhang Lexuan smiled gently, her eyes and brows carrying a tender serenity.

Deep within the Mixed Area of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Four figures moved slowly through the forest. They were Ye An, Zhang Lexuan, Du Busi, and Jin Peng.

Since Ye An already possessed the qualifications to absorb a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring beyond his rank, there was naturally no reason to delay along the way. They hurried all the way to the Star Dou Great Forest.

At that moment, Zhang Lexuan was hooked around Ye An's arm, her full, rounded curves pressing heavily against it. Her manner had clearly become much more intimate.

Feeling that soft touch, Ye An couldn't help sighing inwardly.

Daily praise: older sisters are the best!

Du Busi still had his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze occasionally falling upon Ye An and Zhang Lexuan with undisguised admiration. Meanwhile, Golden Body Douluo Jin Peng stared fixedly at Ye An as though he were looking at a monster.

People said that the Shrek in Shrek Academy represented a kind of monster. In Jin Peng's eyes, Ye An was the greatest monster of all!

A nine-year-old with a Silver Rank Second Awakening of his Martial Soul!

What kind of concept was that!?

In the Body Sect's history spanning thousands of years, such talent had been utterly unprecedented! Moreover, throughout those thousands of years, every person who achieved a Silver Rank Second Awakening of a Body Martial Soul—and did not die young—had without exception become a Titled Douluo.

In other words, at merely nine years old, Ye An had already completely opened the path to becoming a Titled Douluo!

And having completed a Silver Rank Second Awakening at only nine, he still possessed limitless room to grow. A Golden-Grade Awakening was no longer an impossible dream!

No wonder the Sect Master had convened an overnight meeting of the sect's upper ranks before their departure and officially named Ye An as the Sect Master's successor.

A nine-year-old Young Sect Master of the Body Sect... it would be enough to make countless jaws drop.

Although Du Busi had yet to spread the news far and wide, the decision had already received unanimous approval from every elder in the sect. There hadn't even been a single dissenting voice.

Jin Peng shook his head and withdrew his gaze from Ye An, a sudden impulse rising in his heart.

He could hardly wait to see Shrek Academy suffer in front of Ye An once Ye An had fully grown.

Just imagining that scene was delightful!

"Xiao An, our goal for this trip is to hunt a Soul Beast with fifteen thousand years of cultivation for you. Ideally, it shouldn't exceed twenty thousand years at most. And with your White Bone Martial Soul being so unusual, there may not be many Soul Beasts suited to you. Be prepared to be patient."

Du Busi glanced at Ye An and Zhang Lexuan, instantly seeing the eagerness in Ye An's heart. "Either Jin Peng or I will capture this Soul Beast. You will only be responsible for delivering the killing blow and absorbing the Soul Ring."

"I know you've just completed the Second Awakening of your Body Martial Soul and want to test your strength. But... not this time. Only after you comprehend Unity of Heaven and Man can you try hunting Soul Beasts for yourself."

Although Ye An felt somewhat disappointed, he didn't question Du Busi's decision.

Though his physical constitution and spiritual power had both undergone a qualitative leap, and his Martial Soul had completed its Silver Rank Second Awakening, he still only had two Soul Rings. Facing a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was still too dangerous.

But by the time he obtained his fourth Soul Ring, he could try hunting Soul Beasts independently.

"Also, you will inevitably hunt Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in the future, so there is something I need to make clear to you beforehand. There are quite a few Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, but... it's best not to hunt too many of them here. The ocean is a better choice."

Hearing that, Ye An subconsciously glanced at Du Busi.

It seemed Du Busi had become a little traumatized by the beast tide, terrified that hunting too many Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts would trigger another one.

"This disciple understands."

"Good. As long as you understand."

Du Busi nodded, the corner of his eye sweeping to one side.

Jin Peng Douluo reacted a moment slower than Du Busi, but he too instinctively turned his gaze in that direction.

Not far away lay a clear lake.

Compared with the Lake of Life in the Core Area of the Star Dou Great Forest, this lake was obviously much smaller. Yet neither Du Busi nor Jin Peng was focused on the water itself. Their attention was clearly fixed on the enormous Soul Beast beside the lake.

The lake was clear as a mirror, reflecting the towering ancient trees around it. By the shore, an enormous creature lay quietly prone.

It was a gigantic tortoise covered in deep, dark green. Its shell alone exceeded five meters in diameter, like a small hill. Unlike ordinary tortoise Soul Beasts, its shell was covered in dense bone-like patterns. Those patterns crisscrossed one another, naturally forming an image resembling chains.

Its neck was even more extraordinary. Along each side of its thick neck was a row of exposed bone plates, layered one over another like interlocking clasps.

Seemingly sensing Du Busi and Jin Peng's gazes, the enormous black tortoise slowly raised its head, revealing a pair of brilliant golden eyes.