Dawn.
Quan Family Residence.
In the courtyard.
Quan Batian stood there.
His eyes were closed as he rested.
His gaze suddenly sharpened.
That aura was still there.
Last night had not been an illusion.
He raised a hand.
A streak of Destruction Thunder Force swept across the outskirts of the residence.
A muffled groan came from the bushes.
A shadowy figure vaulted over the wall and fled.
Fast.
Quan Batian did not pursue.
He lowered his hand.
He looked in that direction.
"Dark Soul Cult..."
After a pause.
"They came to probe us."
Quan Cangtian walked over.
"Grandfather."
Quan Batian looked at him.
"You're here."
"That aura just now..."
"You sensed it too?"
Quan Cangtian nodded.
"Dark Soul Cult?"
"That's right. They came to probe us."
Quan Cangtian frowned.
"Why are they targeting the Quan Family?"
Quan Batian fell silent for a moment.
"Possibly because of Heavenly Fire."
Quan Cangtian's gaze sharpened.
"Heavenly Fire?"
"Evil Soul Masters are very interested in Heavenly Fire. Back in Tianhun City, you used Heavenly Fire. People from the Dark Soul Cult saw it."
Quan Cangtian said nothing.
Heavenly Fire...
It was because of him.
"What should we do?"
"We'll go to the Star Dou Great Forest first. We'll deal with the Dark Soul Cult after we return. They're only probing us for now and won't make a move yet."
"Alright."
Quan Batian looked at him.
"This trip to the Star Dou Great Forest must be a quick one. Don't give the Dark Soul Cult an opportunity."
"Understood."
That morning.
Quan Cangtian gathered Huo Yuhao, Zixiao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao.
Everyone arrived.
"We leave today. We're going to the Star Dou Great Forest."
Huo Yuhao asked.
"The Star Dou Great Forest?"
"You need your second and third Soul Rings. The Spirit Eye is a spiritual Martial Soul, so you need spiritual Soul Beasts. The Star Dou Great Forest has Mutated Twin Cyclopes, top-tier spiritual types."
Huo Yuhao nodded.
"Alright."
Zixiao spoke.
"I need my fourth Soul Ring too."
Quan Cangtian looked at her.
"Mm. A twenty-thousand-year Thunder Vein Sub-Dragon."
Zixiao said nothing.
She merely nodded.
"I'm going too."
"So am I."
Quan Cangtian nodded.
"Alright. We're all going."
Huo Yuhao asked.
"Big Brother, how old should my second Soul Ring be?"
"Three thousand years. Your third Soul Ring will be six thousand years."
Huo Yuhao froze for a moment.
"Three thousand years? I'm level thirty. Can I absorb that?"
"You can. I'll use Abundance Power to protect your meridians."
"...Alright."
Quan Batian walked before the group.
Everyone looked at him.
"The Star Dou Great Forest is dangerous."
He swept his gaze over them all.
"The Outer Zone contains ten- and hundred-year Soul Beasts. They pose no threat to you, but don't let your guard down. The Mixed Zone contains thousand- and ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts. That is your target. The Core Zone has ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts; Zixiao's Thunder Vein Sub-Dragon is there. The Great Fierce Land has hundred-thousand-year ferocious beasts. Do not go there."
He looked at Huo Yuhao.
"Yuhao, your second Soul Ring will be three thousand years, and your third will be six thousand years. The Mutated Twin Cyclops is a spiritual type and can be found in the Mixed Zone."
"Yes."
He looked at Zixiao.
"Zixiao, your fourth Soul Ring will be twenty thousand years. The Thunder Vein Sub-Dragon is a lightning-element sub-dragon species, found at the edge of the Core Zone."
"Mm."
"I'll stand guard throughout the journey. Cangtian will use Abundance Power to protect Yuhao's meridians. When he absorbs the Soul Rings, Cangtian will remain at his side."
He looked at everyone.
"Do you all understand?"
"Understood."
Quan Batian nodded.
"Set out."
The Nine Heavens Thunder Roc took flight.
Huo Yuhao looked out the window.
"Yuhao, are you nervous?"
"Not at all. Big Brother is here."
Wang Dong looked at Quan Cangtian.
Quan Cangtian stared out the window without speaking.
Zixiao stood beside him.
She said nothing.
Quan Cangtian looked at her.
"What's wrong?"
Zixiao shook her head.
"Nothing."
Quan Cangtian smiled.
He reached out and pulled Zixiao in front of him.
Zixiao froze for a moment.
Quan Cangtian stood on tiptoe, trying to pat her head.
He could not reach.
Zixiao crouched down.
Quan Cangtian's hand fell upon her head.
He gently rubbed it.
Zixiao's face reddened slightly.
Xiao Xiao watched the scene.
She turned to look out the window.
She thought to herself.
I have to work hard too.
One day, I'll stand by his side too.
That afternoon.
The Nine Heavens Thunder Roc flew over the Star Dou Great Forest.
Everyone looked down.
An enormous forest stretched beneath them.
It blotted out the sky and sun.
"We're here."
The Nine Heavens Thunder Roc descended.
Everyone got off.
Quan Batian looked at the forest.
"From here onward lies the Star Dou Great Forest. The Outer Zone contains ten- and hundred-year Soul Beasts. They pose no threat to you, but don't let your guard down. The Mixed Zone is our true target. Let's go."
Everyone followed Quan Batian into the forest.
Evening.
The forest was dense.
It blotted out the sky and sun.
Quan Batian cleared the way ahead.
Quan Cangtian walked beside Huo Yuhao.
Zixiao followed beside Quan Cangtian.
Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao followed behind.
The deeper they went, the denser the Soul Beast auras became.
"We've entered the Mixed Zone. Stay alert."
Everyone nodded.
Suddenly—
Quan Batian stopped.
He raised a hand, signaling everyone to halt.
He looked toward the front left.
"There's an aura from a spiritual Soul Beast."
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up.
"It's a Mutated Twin Cyclops. Around three thousand years old."
Quan Cangtian looked at Huo Yuhao.
"Are you ready?"
"Mm."
"Let's go."
Everyone followed Quan Batian toward the front left.
Deep within the forest.
A low roar rang out.
Everyone slowed their steps.
Quan Batian led the way.
He lowered his body and moved through the bushes.
Quan Cangtian followed behind.
Huo Yuhao stayed close behind.
Zixiao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao brought up the rear.
Quan Batian stopped.
He crouched down and looked ahead.
The others crouched as well.
Ahead—
There was a clearing.
At the center of the clearing stood a Soul Beast.
It had two heads.
Each head had one eye.
A cyclops.
No, the two heads shared one body.
A Mutated Twin Cyclops.
Three thousand years old.
It was huge.
Three meters tall.
Its gray skin was covered in rock-like patterns.
Its two eyes were different colors, one blue and one red.
It was gnawing on a large tree.
The trunk had been torn to pieces by it.
Quan Batian spoke in a low voice.
"That's it. The Mutated Twin Cyclops. Three thousand years old."
He looked at Huo Yuhao.
"You."
Huo Yuhao nodded.
He stood up.
His Spirit Eye activated.
Mental Detection opened to its fullest extent.
He locked onto the Mutated Twin Cyclops's mental core.
"Its mental core is in its left eye. The blue one."
Quan Batian nodded.
"Cangtian."
Quan Cangtian stepped forward.
He summoned his Abundance Martial Soul.
Emerald green light enveloped Huo Yuhao.
Abundance Power flowed into Huo Yuhao's meridians.
Huo Yuhao felt warmth spread through his meridians.
It was stable.
Quan Batian looked at Huo Yuhao.
"Move."
Huo Yuhao charged out.
The spiritual power of his Spirit Eye erupted.
The Mutated Twin Cyclops sensed him.
It turned its head.
Its two eyes fixed on Huo Yuhao.
The blue eye unleashed a mental attack.
Huo Yuhao felt as if his head had exploded.
But he held on.
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's spiritual power surged from within his Consciousness Sea.
It helped him block the mental attack.
Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth.
The Spirit-Devouring Silver Knife left its sheath.
A silver-white blade flash streaked through the air.
He charged at the Mutated Twin Cyclops.
His blade slashed toward its blue eye.
The Mutated Twin Cyclops roared.
It swung its fist.
The enormous fist smashed toward Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao twisted aside and dodged.
His blade cut across its arm.
Its gray skin split open.
But no blood flowed.
Rock-like skin.
Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth.
His spiritual power condensed.
Golden light burst from his Spirit Eye.
He locked onto the blue eye.
The Spirit-Devouring Silver Knife thrust forward.
The silver-white blade light pierced through the blue eye.
The Mutated Twin Cyclops screamed.
Its mental core had been pierced.
Both eyes lost their light at the same time.
It collapsed.
Quan Batian walked over.
He raised a hand, and a wave of pressure slammed into the Mutated Twin Cyclops.
Huo Yuhao killed it.
A Soul Ring emerged.
A purple Soul Ring.
Three thousand years old.
Quan Batian looked at Huo Yuhao.
"Absorb it."
Huo Yuhao nodded.
He sat down.
Quan Cangtian walked over.
Abundance Power enveloped Huo Yuhao.
Emerald green light protected his meridians.
Huo Yuhao began absorbing the Soul Ring.
[Joy Envoy Bullet Screen]: Mutated Twin Cyclops! A 3,000-year Soul Ring! Huo Yuhao's second Soul Ring acquired!
Huo Yuhao absorbed the Soul Ring.
Purple light poured into his body.
His meridians swelled.
But Abundance Power protected them.
Huo Yuhao felt his spiritual power rising.
His Spirit Eye was growing stronger.
His second Soul Ring had been completely absorbed.
He opened his eyes.
His gaze shone brightly.
Quan Cangtian smiled.
"How is it?"
"Very strong. My spiritual power has increased by at least double."
Quan Batian nodded.
"Not bad."
He looked into the depths of the forest.
"There's another one. Six thousand years old. A Bloodline Awakened Twin One-Eyed Giant King."
"Deeper inside."
Quan Cangtian looked at Huo Yuhao.
"Rest for a while. Then we'll continue."
"Alright."
Before you continue