After killing the Ice and Fire Demon Tiger, Tian Chen withdrew the earth spikes piercing its body and tore open its five-meter-long carcass with his sharp claws without a second thought.
After searching for a while with a frown, he sighed helplessly.
"Looks like I took too much for granted. Soul Bones are even rarer than I imagined."
He took some clean water from his Soul Tool, washed the blood off himself, nodded to Li Kai and Zhang Ping beside him, and walked over to Hu Liena and Xie Yue without a word.
He had only been trying his luck anyway. He had never really expected an Ice and Fire Demon Tiger with only a hundred years of cultivation to drop a Soul Bone. Of course, getting one would have been ideal, but if it did not drop one, he could hardly force it.
In any case, with his grandfather's strength, at worst, they could simply sweep through the Star Dou Great Forest when the time came. If the odds were low, they could make up for it with numbers. Completing his set of Soul Bones would not be particularly difficult.
Tian Chen withdrew his gaze after only a glance at Hu Liena. Looking at Yan, who lay unconscious on the ground with severe injuries, he gave a derisive chuckle.
So this was a simp? How laughable.
Tian Chen did not believe that a supremely gifted, proud woman like Hu Liena could be won over by simping. Only by crushing her in every respect, leaving his shadow in her heart, and making her unknowingly develop a desire to submit could he take the right approach.
Withdrawing his gaze from Hu Liena and Xie Yue, Tian Chen wrapped his voice in Soul Power and spoke calmly.
"Teacher Li, shouldn't you announce the results of this trial?"
Before Tian Chen had finished speaking, two dark figures appeared before the group in an instant. Li Yuan smiled and nodded at Tian Chen.
"Dad, I've already obtained my first soul ring!"
Seeing his father approach, Li Kai, who had just become a Soul Master, naturally had to show off a little.
The pride in his words was plain to see.
Li Yuan reached out with his right hand and proudly rubbed Li Kai's head. He was already very satisfied with his son.
In terms of talent, Li Kai naturally could not compare to Tian Chen, or even to Hu Liena and the other two.
But the most important thing in life was knowing contentment. With his son's talent, and with him following Tian Chen, reaching the Titled Douluo level was not impossible.
He exchanged a glance with the Soul King teacher beside him, who still did not quite dare to look Tian Chen in the eye.
The teacher nodded, grabbed Yan from where he lay unconscious on the ground, and motioned for the group to follow him.
Li Yuan brought up the rear. Tian Chen and the others could be considered the most gifted members of Spirit Hall's generation, so he could not afford to be careless.
The Soul Hunting Forest was not particularly large, at most only the size of an ordinary city. It fell far short of the Star Dou Great Forest, whose area easily spanned several provinces.
Moreover, the trees in the Soul Hunting Forest were not particularly dense, which reduced the possibility of getting lost inside.
In less than half an hour, the group reached the exit of the Soul Hunting Forest.
Li Yuan nodded to the squad of Soul Masters guarding the entrance, then led Tian Chen and the others unhindered to a camp.
Stationed at this camp was the squad of Soul Masters who had escorted the students there earlier. The students who had already been eliminated were also staying there temporarily.
"Chen Ying, take Yan to Teacher Zhou of the support system for treatment. I'll take Tian Chen and the others to see the dean."
Chen Ying was the Soul King teacher who had been carrying Yan.
He did not dare neglect Li Yuan's instructions. After all, Li Yuan was only in his fifties and had already reached the Soul Saint level. He was someone who could at least cultivate to the Soul Douluo level, and was also a strong contender to become the next dean.
He was not someone an ordinary teacher like Chen Ying could afford to offend.
He immediately nodded to Li Yuan with a broad smile, then carried Yan into a tent.
Looking at Hu Liena and Xie Yue following silently behind him, Li Yuan considered it for a moment and decided to explain.
There was no helping it. Given their status as the Supreme Pontiff's personal disciples, Li Yuan still did not dare slight them on the surface.
"Hu Liena, Xie Yue, Chen Ying and I followed you throughout this trial. Tian Chen's team won this trial. I'll be taking Tian Chen and the others to collect their rewards now. If you have nothing else to do, you're free to go about your own business. Our junior class will have three days off to rest and recover."
"Yes, Teacher!"
"But Tian Chen, wait a moment. I have something to say to you."
"If you have something to say, hurry up and say it here."
Tian Chen already had some idea of what Hu Liena was thinking. He gave Li Kai, who was winking and making faces at him, an irritated swat, then stepped forward and spoke as he calmly looked at Hu Liena, whose golden hair was tied in a neat ponytail.
Hu Liena seemed unable to bear the awkward atmosphere. She felt as though she had made a very foolish decision.
Her pretty, originally fair face flushed bright red. She stammered for ages without managing to get anything out.
In the end, she was only seven years old. Regardless of her strength, she was still immature in mind.
Looking at Tian Chen's impatient face, she suddenly felt a little aggrieved again. Glistening tears kept swirling in her clear eyes, and both her hands clutched the hem of her skirt tightly.
Seeing Hu Liena's bashful manner, how could Tian Chen fail to understand what was on her mind? She simply wanted to thank him for saving her this time.
On that point alone, he did not particularly dislike Hu Liena. Besides, her looks were top-tier, and Tian Chen did not mind being a scumbag for a bit.
But Tian Chen had no intention of accepting her thanks now. He still needed to keep her dangling a little longer, or he would not be able to carry out his plan.
Feigning impatience, he waved his hand and gestured to Li Yuan.
"If there's nothing else, stop bothering me. Teacher Li, let's go see the dean."
I'm definitely taking the little fox.