Just then.
Qian Renchuan suddenly looked up at the sky.
He had no idea how long absorbing the Soul Ring had taken, but the sun had already set.
The light in the Star Dou Great Forest had dimmed.
Mist rose around them.
"Uncle Yue Guan, Uncle Gui Mei."
"It's getting late. Why don't we rest here?"
"We can head deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow and look for the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear. What do you think?"
Naturally, no one objected to Qian Renchuan's suggestion. They all nodded in agreement.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei moved quickly.
Before long, they had pitched several tents nearby.
Gui Mei turned into a dark shadow and set several small warning bells around the camp, ensuring they would know at once if some reckless Soul Beast wandered in.
A campfire slowly came to life.
Its warmth drove away the chill.
As for dinner, the ingredients were right beside them.
The fifteen-hundred-year-old Scale Armor Beast had a tough shell, but its meat was rich in Soul Power and highly nourishing.
Yue Guan volunteered. He cut off several chunks of meat, skewered them on branches, and set them over the fire to roast.
Half an hour later.
Qian Renchuan stared at the blackened roast meat in his hand, its burnt smell rising to his nose, and fell into thought.
After a long while, he muttered,
"If only my little brother were here."
The camp fell abruptly silent.
Late that night.
Qian Renxue and Yue Guan had each gone back to their tents to rest.
Gui Mei had turned into a hazy black shadow and hidden among the treetops beyond the camp to keep watch.
Beside the campfire.
Only Qian Renchuan remained, sitting cross-legged and still hungry.
He smacked his lips, then called inwardly,