Time flashed past like a white horse glimpsed through a crack, and three years had passed in the blink of an eye.
At the edge of the Sunset Forest, a small figure followed closely behind an old man. The boy gazed into the gloomy forest, curiosity sparkling in his eyes.
"Grandpa, are we here to hunt Soul Beasts?" The little boy's childish voice echoed through the forest.
The old man was tall and thin, looking almost like a javelin. His hair and beard were dark green, and his eyes gleamed like emeralds. His expression was utterly stiff, his cheeks deeply sunken. His green hair was a tangled mess, and he wore only a plain gray robe.
The weathered old man walked unsteadily ahead of him. At the boy's question, his expression grew heavy.
He nodded, turned around, and said in a hoarse voice, "Yes. There aren't many high-quality poisonous Soul Beasts in the Soul Hunting Forest. The Sunset Forest has more venomous snakes and insects. Since you're hunting for your second Soul Ring, this place suits you better."
The little boy asked in confusion, "Does it have to be poisonous?"
The old man sighed helplessly. "Soul Masters strengthen their advantages based on their own Martial Souls. Our Dugu Jade Phosphor Snake lineage is destined to deal with poison."
"But I've seen the elders at home suffer terribly when their poison flares up." The little boy's voice grew subdued.
The old man said gloomily, "Alas, everyone in our Dugu Family spends their life racing against Heaven. As long as we're strong enough, we can suppress the poison. So, Fu'er, you must work harder at cultivating. You must control the poison, not let it harm you."
The little boy nodded silently, a trace of determination and persistence entering his gaze.
In the