"Don't worry, junior brother!" "Your senior sister guarantees you won't suffer the slightest harm~"
Hu Liena was wild with joy, affectionately taking Ye Han's hand and leading him outside.
At the same time, she did not forget to call out to the two women still standing stunned in the courtyard:
"Teacher! Elder Ling Yuan! Let's hurry and set off to hunt a Soul Ring for junior brother!"
Bibi Dong's lungs nearly burst with anger, while Ling Yuan felt something she could not put into words.
And so, the party of four set off for their destination, Sunset Forest.
Sunset Forest.
One of the continent's three most famous gathering grounds for Soul Beasts.
But whether in area or number of Soul Beasts, it ranked last among the three.
Its limited habitat made it difficult for Soul Beasts of great age to emerge here.
Never mind Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts-even seventy- or eighty-thousand-year Soul Beasts were exceedingly rare.
This indirectly meant that Soul Masters seeking powerful Soul Rings almost never set foot here.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had remained unknown to the outside world for so long precisely because so few powerful individuals ventured deep inside to explore.
Of course, the greater reason was the protection of the Jade Phosphor Seven Absolute Flower, which kept those unskilled in poison far away.
For the reasons above, Soul Masters still in their growing stages were also more inclined to hunt Soul Rings in Sunset Forest.
Spirit City was extremely far from Sunset Forest.
But to a Titled Douluo, that was nothing.
Ling Yuan carried Ye Han as they traveled, while Bibi Dong took Hu Liena.
As sunset approached, the four of them successfully arrived outside Sunset Forest.
The moment they came to a stop, Hu Liena ran over and hugged Ye Han, smiling sweetly as she said:
"Junior brother Xiao Han, make sure you stay close to your senior sister once we go inside~"
As he felt her touch, Ye Han took the opportunity to burrow into her embrace, wriggling around as he said:
"Mhm, mhm! I'll be good and stick close to senior sister Nana. I love senior sister Nana the most~"
Hu Liena, her love-addled brain in full sway, thought little of this blatant act of taking liberties.
Along the way, she had recognized Ye Han as yesterday's dirty little child and doted on him even more.
After all, Ye Han had been so pitiful yesterday. She absolutely could not let anything like that happen again!
Watching this, Ling Yuan felt a little uncomfortable, but quickly composed herself.
Bibi Dong, standing beside them, was simply furious, yet could only feign calm as she interrupted:
"It's getting late. Let's move!"
"Once we're inside, our first priority is hunting Nana's Third Soul Ring!"
At Bibi Dong's command, the four entered Sunset Forest.
Dense trees blocked the sunset's lingering glow, and the light dimmed.
Sunlight could only spill through the scattered gaps, dappling the ground.
Following their plan, they first searched for a suitable Third Soul Ring for Hu Liena.
After some searching, they soon found a demon fox Soul Beast in the outer reaches that suited Hu Liena.
Bibi Dong severely wounded it with ease, and after delivering the finishing blow, Hu Liena began absorbing its ring on the spot.
"Xiao Han, did what just happened frighten you?"
Ling Yuan bent down and asked softly.
Ye Han burrowed into Ling Yuan's embrace and said coaxingly:
"With big sister Ling Yuan protecting me, I'm not scared at all~!"
A smile spread across Ling Yuan's lovely face, and she affectionately rubbed Ye Han's head.
Their affectionate interaction displeased Bibi Dong, who suddenly interrupted:
"According to our information, there are quite a few dark-attribute lesser dragons around four hundred years old in the outer reaches of Sunset Forest."
"Elder Ling Yuan, stay here and watch over Nana. I'll personally take Xiao Han to hunt his First Soul Ring."
At the mention of hunting a Soul Ring, Ye Han immediately remembered the second trial's requirements and hurriedly said:
"Teacher, for my First Soul Ring, I want to absorb the ring of a two-thousand-year Soul Beast!"
Both Ling Yuan and Bibi Dong froze at his words.
Once Bibi Dong recovered, her brows immediately knitted tightly as she reprimanded him:
"Nonsense! The absorption limit for a First Soul Ring is 423 years. Exceed that, and your body will inevitably burst and kill you because you can't withstand it!"
Ye Han did not need to guess to know this was Yu Dashi's bullshit theory, and immediately retorted:
"The upper age limit for absorbing Soul Rings isn't fixed or absolute!"
"The maximum age of a Soul Ring someone can withstand can increase as a Soul Master's physical strength improves!"
"A powerful Martial Soul, consuming aged whale rubber, and absorbing Soul Bones can all improve a Soul Master's physical strength!"
"I ate three pieces of ten-thousand-year whale glue and absorbed a ninety-thousand-year Soul Bone. My body is strong enough to absorb a two-thousand-year Soul Ring now!"
Ling Yuan listened patiently and somehow felt that it made a great deal of sense.
Bibi Dong's already displeased expression grew even darker. The 423-year absorption limit for a First Soul Ring was a conclusion Xiao Gang had reached through blood-vomiting effort in his research.
Then, through her efforts to promote it, the entire Douluo Continent had come to strictly follow this rule.
If improving physical strength could raise the absorption age limit, wouldn't that mean Xiao Gang's theory was wrong?
And since she was the one who had promoted this rule, wouldn't she and Xiao Gang become sinners who had misled the world?!
Xiao Gang's theory could not be wrong!
Bibi Dong flatly rejected him, her expression dark:
"No matter how strong your physique is, the absorption limit for a First Soul Ring can only be 423 years. Not even one year more!"
After saying this, she was so angry that she struggled to calm herself.
She immediately lost all inclination to take Ye Han hunting for a Soul Ring and waved a hand at Ling Yuan:
"Elder Ling Yuan, I'll leave it to you. Go and get it done!"
Ling Yuan could not have asked for more and quickly nodded, accepting the order.
She took Ye Han by the hand and left, as though afraid Bibi Dong would suddenly change her mind.
Ye Han was relieved too. Ling Yuan would definitely agree to take him hunting for a two-thousand-year Soul Ring.
If Bibi Dong took him hunting for a Soul Ring, she would definitely follow that Grand Shit fellow's bullshit theory!
Bibi Dong, I'll prove through my actions that your beloved Yu Dashi's bullshit theory is wrong! Just you wait!
Before leaving with Ling Yuan, Ye Han cast Bibi Dong a mocking glance and silently made his decision.
He wondered how she would react when she saw that the First Soul Ring he hunted was two thousand years old.
Would she begin to question her firm belief in Yu Dashi's theory, or would she continue believing blindly?
Just thinking about it gave him something to look forward to!
"Xiao Han, are you still determined to hunt a two-thousand-year Soul Beast for its ring?"
Once they were far away, Ling Yuan turned her head to gaze at Ye Han and asked seriously.
"Mhm, mhm! Big sister Ling Yuan will support me, right~?"
Ye Han held Ling Yuan's delicate hand and swung it coaxingly, his eyes filled with hope.
Whether the Dragon God's second trial could proceed smoothly rested on this one decision of Ling Yuan's!
"All right, all right, I support you. I'll take you to find a suitable Soul Beast right now~"
Brimming with affection, Ling Yuan picked Ye Han up and headed deeper into the forest.
In her heart, she firmly believed this little fellow could definitely do it!
However, before they had gone far, some traces ahead caught Ling Yuan's attention.
"These are... signs of a Dark Lightning Lesser Dragon's activity?"
"Judging by the footprints, it's right around two thousand years old!"
"Dual-attribute lesser dragons are extremely rare. This Soul Beast suits you very well!"
Delighted, Ye Han hurriedly said:
"Then let's hurry after it!"
Ling Yuan nodded and followed the trail.
Before long, the two caught up and caught sight of it.
The Dark Lightning Lesser Dragon was pitch-black all over, with enormous wings sprouting from its back.
Dark lightning currents covered its entire body, darting about like lightning serpents, making it look tremendously fierce and imposing.
Yet it seemed to have suffered a grievous injury, lying collapsed at the foot of a large tree, barely breathing!
"It looks like it was severely wounded fighting other Soul Masters or Soul Beasts just now."
"We've landed a windfall for nothing. Hurry over and kill it so you can absorb its Soul Ring."
Ling Yuan chuckled softly, then her beautiful eyes flashed as she took out a dagger.
Ye Han took the dagger and walked over, excitedly approaching to finish it off.
But just then, a stern, commanding shout suddenly rang out:
"Stop!!!"
The voice carried surging Soul Power, abruptly knocking the dagger out of Ye Han's hand.
Ye Han and Ling Yuan looked toward the voice and saw a man between middle and old age in green robes slowly walking over.
Behind this man followed two more people, a man and a woman.
(End of chapter)