The first soul ring (revised)

"Ice Crystal Phoenix."

Guang Ling recalled, "When I found that little phoenix a few days ago, it was around fifteen hundred years old. Just right for your third soul ring."

"A phoenix? Is that really suitable?" Tang Yue asked doubtfully. She was genuinely afraid Guang Ling would lead her straight into a ditch.

"Of course, sweetheart. Don't you trust me?" Guang Ling said with absolute confidence. "I already confined that soul beast when I went there last time. Once you've absorbed your second soul ring, we can go straight over and finish it off!"

What?

Confined it?

The corner of Tang Yue's mouth twitched. "Grandpa Guang Ling, you locked it up, but you're not there to guard it. Aren't you worried someone else will reap the benefits?"

"What's there to worry about?" Guang Ling understood what Tang Yue was getting at. He ruffled her hair and said, "Cheeky girl, do you think I haven't thought of what you've thought of? How could I let some other soul master profit from a soul beast meant for you?"

"..."

His words sounded lovely, but Tang Yue was not convinced. She might tuck Guang Ling safely into her pocket, only for him to kick her into a ditch. This was no prejudice-every conclusion had evidence behind it.

Three days passed in no time. Qian Daoliu made a rare trip outside, and to avoid attracting attention, they all shared a luxurious carriage. Knowing Tang Yue was somewhat prone to motion sickness, Guang Ling installed soul tools on the wheels to smooth out the ride. Although they reduced the jolting, even the slightest lapse in the driver's attention could send horses and passengers tumbling and wreck the carriage.

Guang Ling had wanted to drive, but Qian Daoliu did not trust him, and neither did Azure Luan. Tang Yue said nothing, but her silence gave her answer too. In the end, Guang Ling could only sit beside Tang Yue and sulk, while the weak and helpless Chrysanthemum Douluo-Yue Guan-became their driver.

Spirit City was quite a distance from the Star Dou Great Forest. Azure Luan had originally planned to fly them there, saving both time and effort, but Guang Ling insisted that Tang Yue got wing-sick. Left with no choice, they had taken a carriage instead.

The Star Dou Great Forest lay due south of the Heaven Dou Empire, straddling its border with the Star Luo Empire. This vast primeval forest was almost as large as the entire Balak Kingdom, with two-fifths of its area within the Heaven Dou Empire and three-fifths within the Star Luo Empire.

The outermost reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest were home to ten-year soul beasts and hundred-year soul beasts. Farther in, hundred-year soul beasts and thousand-year soul beasts gathered, with the occasional ten-thousand-year soul beast among them. Beyond that lay the region dominated by ten-thousand-year soul beasts, also known as the core area. Only the Sky Azure Bull Python, the Titan Giant Ape, and a few soul beasts at least fifty thousand years old with powerful bloodlines lived in Star Lake. The core area was forbidden ground for humans, and ordinary soul masters would not venture into it lightly.

The place where Tang Yue had opened her eyes again had been the middle region of the Star Dou Great Forest, where thousand-year soul beasts gathered. She was not quite sure why a thirty-thousand-year soul beast had appeared there at the time. She could only be certain she had been in the middle region because she had stayed up late over the past three days to study the entire distribution map of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Several days later, the party safely reached the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Tang Yue hopped down from the carriage and gazed at the magnificent entrance to the Star Dou Great Forest. After two months, I, Hu Hansan, am back!

"The first soul ring must be no more than five hundred years old, and the second soul ring no more than a thousand. We can find hundred-year soul beasts on the outskirts. Third Brother, go scout ahead and see whether there are any suitable soul beasts."

Qian Daoliu gave the instructions. This was precisely why he had not objected when Tang Yue proposed bringing Azure Luan along.

Azure Luan nodded and summoned his Martial Soul Avatar, then circled the entire perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest. Soon, he returned with good news. "Eldest Brother, I found a four-hundred-and-thirty-year-old Ice Scorpion. It's purebred and in excellent condition. It should suit little Yue."

Qian Daoliu did not immediately respond. Instead, he turned to Yue Guan, who nodded and said, "The Ice Scorpion is a rare ice-attribute soul beast, and it's venomous as well. It's very suitable for the little girl."

"Mm. Yueyue, shall we go, then?" Only after receiving Yue Guan's confirmation did Qian Daoliu turn to Tang Yue and ask softly.

His tone was worlds apart from the one he used with the others.

Tang Yue was accustomed to Qian Daoliu's preferential treatment. She nodded and followed him into the Star Dou Great Forest.

With three Titled Douluos and a Peerless Douluo escorting her, none of the soul beasts on the forest's outskirts dared approach Tang Yue lightly. She walked in the middle, safely surrounded by their protection. Azure Luan led the way at a leisurely pace, afraid she might not be able to keep up.

Soon, they reached the place Azure Luan had indicated.

"Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss-"

Beneath the dense canopy of towering trees, a scorpion radiating an icy aura crept slowly forward. Its body was relatively small, but its pincers were enormous. Dappled sunlight fell across it through gaps in the forest, revealing what set this Ice Scorpion apart-it had spirit markings on its body!