Led by Qin Ming, the group quickly arrived at the town closest to the Star Dou Great Forest.
Although it's described as nearby, it's actually nearly 100 kilometers from the edge of the forest.
The main reason for this is to guard against the Soul Beast that occasionally rush out of the forest.
This town is a unique entity that exists entirely in relation to the Star Dou Great Forest.
The streets were lined with shops, including general stores selling dry food and clothing, blacksmith shops selling weapons and Protector, and pharmacies supplying various medicines.
Of course, the most common places were inns and restaurants where Soul Master teams could stay.
Compared to the outside world, the prices of everything here are more than double.
After all, transporting supplies here inherently carries considerable risks and costs.
It was already dark when they arrived in the town.
Qin Ming was clearly quite familiar with the area. He led the group through the somewhat crowded streets and found a restaurant that looked fairly clean and tidy as their place to stay.
After settling their luggage, the group went to the second floor of the restaurant for a meal.
The second floor is an open-plan dining area with more than a dozen square tables.
There were already quite a few people seated, talking quietly among themselves, creating a somewhat noisy atmosphere.
Qin Ming ordered some food, and everyone sat around two tables to eat.
The food wasn't particularly exquisite, but the portions were generous. Just as everyone was engrossed in their meal, a commotion and intense fluctuations of Soul Power suddenly erupted from the open space not far from the restaurant.
The commotion was quite loud; even the second floor could clearly hear it.
"What's going on outside?" Yu Feng looked up curiously out the window, but it was already dark, and he couldn't see clearly.
"It looks like they've started fighting." Osler also put down his chopsticks.
Qin Ming frowned, but made no move to get up.
Such conflicts between Soul Master were not uncommon in the town, and he didn't bother with them as long as they weren't affected.
Lin Mo hadn't paid much attention at first, but when he subconsciously focused his gaze and looked through the window at the open space below illuminated by torches and Soul Power, he suddenly stopped.
Because his Body Martial Soul has awakened the Spirit Eyes, his eyesight is now excellent, and he can see the scene below clearly even in such dim light.
On the open ground, eight people were locked in a fierce battle.
The person being Beat Up was a short, stout middle-aged man with a gloomy face; beneath his feet flashed one white and two yellow lights.
Two purple soul rings and five Soul Ring.
It was clearly a Soul King.
Judging from the situation after his Martial Soul Possession, this should be Ye Zhiqiu, the outer court director of the Canghui Academy in his memory, who possesses the Black Tortoise Martial Soul.
He Beat Up by seven teenagers, four boys and three girls, who looked to be around the same age as Lin Mo and his friends, but dressed much more simply.
However, Lin Mo's gaze quickly Lock-On onto two of them.
One was a boy Entanglement in Blue Silver Grass, and the other was a pretty girl with long scorpion braids, both moving with agility.
Tang San and Xiao Wu.
Although he had matured considerably compared to five years ago at the Nuoding Academy, Lin Mo still recognized him at a glance.
The time, place, and people all match up.
Lin Mo's heart skipped a beat, and he inwardly cried out in alarm.
He knew all too well what was going to happen next.
Sensing Xiao Wu's presence, the Titan Giant Ape Er Ming will soon emerge from the Lake of Life in the core area of Star Dou Great Forest.
Once the aura of the 100,000-year-old Titan Giant Ape is unleashed, it will inevitably cause a huge uproar.
This was practically a landmark event of this period.
Lin Mo suddenly felt like he couldn't swallow the food in his mouth.
If he could, he would turn around and leave this town right now, as far away from the Star Dou Great Forest as possible.
The problem is, he can't leave now.
His purpose in coming here was to obtain his Fifth Soul Ring, but he hasn't even seen the Soul Ring yet, so why is he running away?
He couldn't very well go up to Qin Ming and say, " Teacher Qin, I have a feeling we might encounter Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast on the outskirts of the forest. Shall we run?"
That's impossible and unrealistic.
The most important thing right now is that we can't stay here any longer.
At the very least, we absolutely cannot associate with those people from the Shrek Academy anymore.
Otherwise, what if they run into Er Ming, who's out to meet Xiao Wu? Even if Er Ming, at Xiao Wu's behest, doesn't kill the Shrek members, what if they do?
Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast can blow down trees with the wind it stirs up when it walks; if he were accidentally caught in the crossfire, he wouldn't even have a place to complain.
Lin Mo's brows furrowed unconsciously, and his expression changed slightly.
His unusual reaction naturally caught the attention of Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, who were sitting next to him.
" Lin Mo, what's wrong?" Dugu Yan leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "Among those people down there—are there any you know?"
Lin Mo snapped out of his reverie and nodded.
"Hmm." His voice wasn't loud. "Among those two groups below, two are my former classmates from the Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy."
"Classmate?" Dugu Yan blinked.
"They're the two classmates I mentioned before, those with Innate Full Soul Power," Lin Mo added.
Upon hearing this, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling's eyes immediately lit up.
Lin Mo had briefly mentioned these two people, Blue Silver Grass and Rabbit Martial Soul, during a casual chat with them earlier.
At the time, they lamented that it was such a waste to have Trash Martial Soul paired with top-tier talent.
I never expected to run into them here.
"Is it them?" Dugu Yan looked out the window again with great interest.
"Yes." Lin Mo nodded.
"Why don't you go down and say hello to them?" Ye Lingling asked softly, "After all, it's been several years since we last saw them."
Hearing this, Lin Mo nodded, "Alright then, since we've run into each other here, let's go say hello."
As he spoke, he turned to Qin Ming, " Teacher Qin, there are two of my former classmates downstairs. I'll go say hello and be right back."
Qin Ming nodded. "Go ahead, be careful, and remember not to get involved in their conflict."
"Clear."
Lin Mo stood up, and Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling followed behind him.
The three of them went downstairs to the open space outside the restaurant, but the atmosphere had become extremely tense.
Just as Ye Zhiqiu was about to put further pressure on the juniors in front of him, he suddenly turned his head to look in the direction where Lin Mo and the other two were.
Ye Zhiqiu's gaze first fell on Lin Mo, then swept over Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling behind him.
His gaze finally settled on the boy in black. Although he looked young, he sensed a hint of danger emanating from him.
Ye Zhiqiu stopped abruptly. He stared warily at Lin Mo and the other two, and said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, this is a matter between the Canghui Academy and these rude juniors. Please do not interfere."
Lin Mo ignored him and turned his gaze directly towards the Shrek Seven Devils.
Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others immediately showed wariness, as if they mistook Lin Mo and his group for reinforcements from the Canghui Academy.
Only Tang San and Xiao Wu were momentarily stunned when they saw Lin Mo.
Tang San frowned slightly, scrutinizing Lin Mo just as carefully.
In five years, Lin Mo's appearance has changed quite a bit. He has grown much taller, and his features have lost their childishness, making him look much more handsome and mature.
However, Lin Mo's appearance still overlapped with the child in Tang San's memory who used to wander around carrying an egg.
" Lin Mo ----?" Tang San asked uncertainly.
Lin Mo gave a faint smile and nodded to Tang San and Xiao Wu.
" Xiao Wu, Tang San, it's been a long time."