Entering the Star Dou Great Forest

"Lin Hao, take the lead. Tang San, follow Lin Hao, and Oscar, follow Tang San.

Fatty, Xiao Wu, take the left and right flanks. I'll bring up the rear. Keep this formation once we enter the forest, and stay alert at all times. Let's go."

The Shrek group agreed with Dai Mubai's arrangement.

After they left Shrek Academy, Zhao Wuji placed all six of them under Gravity Crush, though this time it was only a third as strong as each person's usual dose.

The six felt the pressure bearing down on them, but none complained. After all, they were here to help Ma Hongjun and Oscar obtain their second Soul Rings and get some training along the way.

"Move out!"

At Zhao Wuji's command, the group began running in formation.

As they pressed on under the added pressure, their stamina drained rapidly.

Fortunately, Oscar's First Soul Skill, Recovery Big Sausage, was highly effective. It restored stamina and swept away physical fatigue.

With a sausage conjured from Oscar's martial soul every half hour, everyone could stay full of energy.

The Star Dou Great Forest lay southeast of the Balak Kingdom, with a small section bordering it. Suotuo City was also in the kingdom's southeast, less than five hundred kilometers from the forest.

That naturally made it the best place for Shrek Academy's students to obtain Soul Rings.

With Oscar's sausages to sustain them, the Shrek Academy group covered over four hundred kilometers in a single day. By nightfall, they were already close to the Star Dou Great Forest.

Seeing that they could not reach their destination that day, Zhao Wuji ordered a rest. They had just arrived at a Spirit Hunting Town outside the forest.

Many such towns supplied Soul Masters around the Star Dou Great Forest. They practically ringed the entire place.

On the Douluo Continent, no matter which direction one approached the Star Dou Great Forest from, one would find a Spirit Hunting Town nearby.

The group entered the town. Shops lined the streets, selling just about everything.

Most catered to Soul Masters. Some specialized in weapons, armor, antidotes, or restorative medicines. Even the clothing shops sold special outfits with a dozen or more pockets, useful for carrying supplies on an adventure.

Zhao Wuji and Flender led the Shrek group farther down the street.

Flender pointed to an ordinary-looking hotel ahead. "We'll stay there. Rest tonight and set out at dawn. You'll pay for your own rooms and meals."

The hotel was a two-story building, with a simple restaurant on the ground floor and guest rooms upstairs.

Once inside, Flender booked a twin room and took Zhao Wuji straight upstairs.

After a quick discussion with the others, Lin Hao booked a four-person room for the four boys, then a room with a large bed for himself and Xiao Wu.

No one objected. Everyone was paying their own way.

"Let's eat before we go up. After a whole day of sausages, I feel sick just thinking about another one." Ma Hongjun had voiced what everyone was thinking.

"Sure. My treat!"

The six found a table in the corner, sat down, and ordered.

After dinner, Lin Hao returned to his room, bathed, and fell asleep with soft, sweet-smelling Xiao Wu in his arms.

The night passed uneventfully. At the first hint of dawn, Zhao Wuji's booming voice roused everyone.

The sun rose slowly in the east. The pale streak on the horizon widened, and the sky gradually brightened.

After breakfast, they left the town and picked up their pace. The Star Dou Great Forest was close now.

Even from a distance, Lin Hao could faintly feel waves of fresh air blowing toward him.

At last, the Shrek group reached the Star Dou Great Forest. Ahead of them stood trees over twenty meters tall.

Flender descended from above and landed in front of the six Shrek students.

"The Star Dou Great Forest is just ahead. This time, our goal is to help Ma Hongjun and Oscar obtain their second Soul Rings.

"They told me last night what Soul Beasts they need.

"And I've gathered information on both of those Soul Beasts."

"Once we enter the forest, none of you is to go more than twenty meters from me. Oscar, stay close to my side. And no one attacks a Soul Beast without my order. Understood?"

"Understood."

Zhao Wuji and Flender looked over the group. Then Zhao Wuji waved a hand. "Move out!"

Once inside the forest, Flender led the group toward Moon-Watching Lake, more than a hundred li away.

According to the information they had bought, Pure Soul Jade Lotus grew in the lake, while Clearheart Bamboo could be found around its shores.

The terrain inside the Star Dou Great Forest was complicated. Near the entrance, enough people had passed through to wear paths into the ground. But the deeper they went, the fainter those paths became, until they vanished altogether.

So the job of clearing a way fell to Lin Hao, who had Clones.

He summoned three Clones to forge ahead. Whenever they encountered a large group of weaker Soul Beasts, he changed course and went around them.

Moving in fits and starts, the Shrek group reached the area near Moon-Watching Lake after five hours.

There, Zhao Wuji took the six students to search the surrounding area for Clearheart Bamboo. Flender flew low toward the lake to look for Pure Soul Jade Lotus.

With five Clones searching, Lin Hao soon found a Clearheart Bamboo Grove through one of them.

He instantly transferred his true body to that Clone and used his Purple Demon Eyes to search the grove for Clearheart Bamboo between seven hundred and nine hundred years old.

After a careful search, he found five stalks suitable for Oscar's second Soul Ring.

One of them, a little over nine hundred years old, was the best fit.

Lin Hao transferred his true body back to the Clone beside the Shrek group.

"Teacher Zhao, my Clone found a Clearheart Bamboo Grove. There's a stalk in it that's a little over nine hundred years old and would be perfect for Oscar's second Soul Ring."

"Should we go hunt it now, or call Headmaster Flender first?"

Oscar's face lit up when he heard they had found the Soul Beast he needed for his second Soul Ring.

"Really? Teacher Zhao, let's go!"

"All right!" Zhao Wuji said. "Move out!"

Following Lin Hao's directions, the Shrek group soon reached the Clearheart Bamboo Grove. One of Lin Hao's Clones was keeping watch there; he had already dismissed the others.