While Tang San was deep in thought in his room staring at the empty pill box at the Shrek Academy, a long-planned Soul Hunting Operation was quietly underway at the Godwind Academy, thousands of miles away.
Feng Qingxuan stood on the training ground behind the mountain, his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant horizon. The morning light had just swept over the mountaintop, enveloping the entire academy in a pale golden halo.
Since breaking through Level 90, he has not been in a hurry to obtain his Ninth Soul Ring —first the Five Elements Exchange Tournament, then the founding of the Pill Pavilion, and one academy matter after another. As the dean, he couldn't put any of them aside.
Furthermore, the target is Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, which is not only extremely rare but also requires careful preparation; otherwise, the consequences could be disastrous.
But things are different now. Sword Douluo Chen Xin has agreed to help. Level 96, Seven Kill Sword, the number one offensive Martial Soul in the world. With him in front to hold the line, plus Dugu Bo's poison control, the three of them working together, hunting down Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is no longer a pipe dream.
"Father."
Feng Qingxuan turned around. Feng Lingtian walked up from behind, carrying a bulging deerskin medicine pouch.
"Is everything ready?" Feng Qingxuan asked.
"I have prepared thirty Meridian-Warming Pill and Thirty Soul-Fortifying Pill, twenty Origin-Replenishing Pill to replenish Soul Power, ten Antidote Pill, and three Life-Sustaining and Pulse-Protecting Yang-Restoring Pill."
Feng Lingtian handed over the medicine pouch. "I also prepared one for Bai Yu —she's also aiming to acquire her Third Soul Ring this time. She's already taken the Flexibility Strengthening Pill, and I've also prepared two more Origin-Replenishing Pill, just in case."
Feng Qingxuan took the medicine pouch and nodded. "Has everyone arrived?"
"They've all arrived. Lin Yuan, the Agility Attack System instructor, is with Bai Yu, along with Li Ji, the Food System instructor, providing logistical support."
Feng Lingtian paused, "Father, the three Rejuvenation Pills at the bottom of the medicine pouch were refined from Immortal Herb from the core area of Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well Yang-Restoring Pill Well. As long as there's still a breath left, they can be saved."
Feng Qingxuan looked at his son and patted him on the shoulder. "I understand. The academy and the Pill Pavilion are now in your hands, brothers."
Feng Lingtian nodded.
Outside the mountain gate, three carriages were already prepared. Sword Douluo Chen Xin sat at the front of the first carriage, wearing a gray robe, and was resting with his eyes closed.
His hands rested idly on his knees, making him look like an ordinary, thin old man. But everyone present knew that the Seven Kill Sword would appear in his hands the moment he became serious.
Dugu Bo stood beside the second carriage, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth. Seeing Feng Qingxuan emerge, he spat out the grass and lazily greeted him, "Finally here."
Bai Yu and her two teachers stood beside the third carriage. Lin Yuan, Soul Saint of Agility Attack System, was responsible for escorting Bai Yu to and from the carriage; Li Ji, Soul Emperor of Food System, was responsible for logistical support throughout the journey. Bai Yu stood between her two teachers, the Wind Chime on her wrist tinkling in the morning breeze.
Feng Qingxuan stood between the three carriages, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. "Everyone's here, let's get down to business. Our destination is the core area of Star Dou Great Forest."
There are two objectives: First, to obtain the Third Soul Ring for Bai Yu. After entering the outer perimeter of the core area, the priority is to find Thousand-Year Soul Beast suitable for the Wind Chime Martial Soul.
"It's just a Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Elder Lin can handle it alone; Bai Yu can finish it off. Once the Soul Ring absorption is complete, Elder Lin will immediately lead Bai Yu back to the academy. Second, hunt down my Ninth Soul Ring, Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast."
Feng Qingxuan looked at Lin Yuan: "Elder Lin, Bai Yu's safety is in your hands. Don't delay before returning to the academy." Lin Yuan nodded.
Feng Qingxuan then looked at Li Ji: "Elder Li, you are in charge of setting up the supply points. Leave one after each advance to ensure the retreat route is unobstructed." Li Ji responded.
Feng Qingxuan turned to Sword Douluo and Dugu Bo, cupped his fists and said, " Sword Douluo, Senior Dugu, I'll leave the task of containing and controlling the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast to you two. I'll provide support from the flanks and find an opportunity to deliver the final blow."
Chen Xin opened her eyes and nodded slightly. Dugu Bo waved his hand. "Enough nonsense. Once we reach the core area, my Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Poison will give it a good start. This 100,000-year-old beast has thick skin and tough flesh, but as long as it's alive, it's not immune to poison."
"Let's go." Feng Qingxuan mounted his horse. The whip cracked in the air, and the three carriages sped south along the official road.
For the first two days, the road was relatively smooth. On both sides of the official road were continuous farmland and scattered villages, with occasional caravans passing by.
Teacher Li replenished food and water at each post station. He was Food System Soul Emperor. Although his combat ability was not strong, his logistical support during the march was impeccable.
Teacher Lin stood guard outside the carriage. The perception range of Soul Saint of the Agility Attack System is much wider than that of Soul Master of the same level. No sound or movement within a radius of several hundred meters can escape his ears.
Bai Yu sat in the third carriage, the Wind Chime on her wrist swaying gently with the carriage's bumps.
After taking the pill, she could feel her Soul Power increase significantly, but she could only determine the exact level after obtaining her Third Soul Ring.
This deep dive into the core area of Star Dou Great Forest was an unprecedented adventure for her.
"Nervous?" Teacher Lin sat opposite her, holding a short knife.
Bai Yu shook her head, her fingers unconsciously flicking the Wind Chime on her wrist. Ding-a-ling—the crisp sound of the bell echoed through the carriage.
"It's good that you're not afraid. The Soul Beast in the core area are all ancient creatures that have lived for thousands or tens of thousands of years. But with Sword Douluo and Poison Douluo holding the line, your task is to find a suitable Soul Beast, get its Soul Ring, and then retreat with me." Teacher Lin put the short knife back into his boot and leaned against the car wall to close his eyes and rest.
Bai Yu looked down at the Wind Chime on her wrist. The strings of bells gleamed with a faint bluish light in the dimly lit carriage, and although the sound had stopped, the lingering resonance still trembled gently in the air.
The Wind Chime Martial Soul's support effects are among the best in the entire Godwind Academy —Cleansing Mind and removing control effects, Gale Speed boost, and Wind Guard Damage Reduction—each of which is a powerful tool in team battles.
The reason the Soul Hunting Team brought her along this time wasn't just to let her casually obtain a Soul Ring. The wind Wind Chime could play a far more valuable role in crucial moments than the damage an ordinary Soul Elder could deal.
On the fifth day, the convoy crossed the low mountain range that stretched across the southern part of the Balak Kingdom. The moment they crossed the ridge, the outline of the Star Dou Great Forest appeared on the horizon—a vast, boundless ocean of deep green that stretched from their feet to the horizon, looking like a silent, giant wall from afar.
Dugu Bo stood on the hood of the car, gazing at the forest, his usual lazy expression gone.
"The last time I came to the Star Dou Great Forest was twenty years ago," Dugu Bo suddenly said. "Back then, I was still Soul Douluo, and I wanted to hunt a 50,000-year-old snake-type Soul Beast. I waited outside the core area for a whole month."
"And the result?" Sword Douluo Chen Xin rarely asked a question.
"Then we encountered a 100,000-year-old beast, which turned tail and ran." Dugu Bo grinned, "It ran faster than a rabbit."
Chen Xin's lips curled up slightly. He tapped his fingertips lightly on his knee, as if sensing some kind of aura that only he could perceive.
On the evening of the seventh day, the convoy arrived at a small town on the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The town is small, with only one main street and a few dozen households, but because it is located at the entrance to the forest, it is a popular resting and supplying place for Soul Master throughout the year, making it quite lively.
The innkeeper in town, having seen countless Soul Master come and go, merely raised an eyebrow when he saw three carriages drive in. "How many days are you staying?"
"Stay for one night." Feng Qingxuan dismounted.
The sky had completely darkened. The lanterns in front of the inn swayed gently in the night breeze, their dim yellow light drawing a circle of varying sizes on the muddy ground.
Less than three miles east of the town, the shadow of the Star Dou Great Forest stretched across the night, darker than the sky and heavier than the mountains.
The night wind blew from that direction, carrying a rich, almost damp scent of grass and trees, as well as an indescribable sense of oppression—not the pressure of Soul Power, but a pure, primal silence belonging to the top of the food chain.
Bai Yu stood beside the carriage, the Wind Chime on her wrist tinkling softly in the night breeze. The sound was faint, but it carried exceptionally far in the darkness.
Dugu Bo stood at the entrance of the inn, glanced in the direction of the forest, and suddenly his playful expression vanished, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.
"What's wrong?" Feng Qingxuan noticed the change in his expression.
Dugu Bo remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I don't know. I just feel that the wind is blowing a bit strangely."
Everyone looked towards the dark forest. In the darkness, nothing could be seen. But everyone could sense that something was waiting for them in the depths of that darkness.