After leaving Star Luo City, the carriage headed north toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
After several days on the road, the three finally reached one of the continent's most famous Soul Beast gathering places.
From a distance, the endless forest looked like a green ocean, its dense canopy blotting out the sky and sun. Soul Beast roars occasionally echoed from deep within, inspiring awe in those who heard them.
"We finally made it to the Star Dou Great Forest!"
Xiao Xiao stood at the forest entrance, looking around with boundless energy, her face full of excitement and curiosity.
"Uncle Zhong, based on the information we gathered earlier, let's start by looking for traces of Rock-Armored Stone Turtles in the outer region."
"Yes, young master."
Xiao Zhong answered and went ahead to clear the way.
The three entered the forest.
For the next few days, Xiao Yan and his companions remained in the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
During that time, they encountered plenty of Soul Beasts, but never found a suitable Rock-Armored Stone Turtle.
It was not until the morning of the fourth day that Xiao Yan finally found traces of their target.
After some searching, they succeeded in finding a Rock-Armored Stone Turtle approximately eighteen hundred years old.
With Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhong working together, Xiao Xiao personally joined the fight as well.
In the end, Xiao Xiao succeeded in killing the Rock-Armored Stone Turtle and smoothly absorbed her third Soul Ring.
Her third Soul Skill was called Giant Spirit. It enlarged her Martial Soul while increasing its weight and the power of its mental impact. It was truly a godly skill for clearing out small fry!
Once everything was over, the three packed their belongings and prepared to return to Xiaoshan City.
But on their way back, just as they emerged from the dense woods, they heard the sounds of fighting ahead.
Xiao Xiao stopped in her tracks instinctively.
"Brother, it sounds like someone's in danger up ahead!"
Xiao Yan frowned slightly. Before he could speak, a Soul Beast's roar rang out nearby.
A disheveled figure then came stumbling out of the bushes.
It was a boy who looked no more than eleven or twelve. He wore plain clothes, his face was smeared with dirt, and he looked panicked.
A small Ten-Year Soul Beast was in hot pursuit behind him.
The legendary Soul Beast, the Wind Baboon!
The boy was clearly exhausted. He stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.
"Stop!"
Seeing this, Xiao Xiao released her Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron without hesitation.
As Soul Power surged, a great bronze cauldron appeared.
Her figure flashed as she swiftly moved in front of the boy and sent the Soul-Suppressing Cauldron smashing toward the pursuing Soul Beast.
Bang!
A muffled impact rang out.
The Ten-Year Wind Baboon was sent flying. It struggled a few times after hitting the ground, then went still.
The danger had passed.
Xiao Xiao withdrew her Martial Soul and turned to look at the boy behind her.
"Are you all right?"
The boy stared blankly at her, seemingly still unable to recover from the danger he had just faced.
After quite a while, he hurried to his feet and bowed deeply to Xiao Xiao.
"Thank you! Thank you so much! If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would've..."
His voice trembled slightly as he spoke.
Xiao Xiao waved a hand and smiled. "You don't have to be so polite. It was just a Wind Baboon."
The boy looked at the girl before him, who was about his age yet could easily drive off a Soul Beast, his eyes full of gratitude.
"My name is Xiao Xiao."
Seeing that he was shy and quiet, Xiao Xiao took the initiative to introduce herself, then pointed at Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhong nearby.
"That's my brother, Xiao Yan, and Uncle Zhong."
"My name is... Huo Yuhao."
After speaking, Huo Yuhao silently committed the names "Xiao Xiao, Xiao Yan..." to memory and solemnly thanked her again.
Seeing that he still looked shaken, Xiao Xiao could not help asking another question.
"Why did you come to the Star Dou Great Forest alone? It's dangerous here. Where's your family?"
Huo Yuhao's expression dimmed slightly, but he quickly shook his head.
"I came here to find a Soul Beast suitable for me and obtain my First Soul Ring."
He lowered his head as he spoke.
"It's just that I'm too weak. I didn't expect even the Soul Beasts in the outskirts to be so dangerous."
Hearing this, Xiao Xiao glanced at Xiao Yan, a little sympathy rising in her heart.
"In that case, why don't we help you look?"
Huo Yuhao raised his head sharply, a flicker of pleasant surprise in his eyes.
"Really?"
"Of course!"
Xiao Xiao was just about to continue when a calm voice came from behind her.
"No."
She froze and turned to look at Xiao Yan.
"Brother?"
Xiao Yan walked slowly over to them, his gaze lingering on Huo Yuhao for a moment before he spoke indifferently.
"This was his own choice."
Xiao Xiao grew anxious.
"But it's dangerous for him to stay here alone!"
"That has nothing to do with us."
There was not the slightest change in Xiao Yan's tone.
"Besides, finding a Soul Beast is his own business."
Xiao Xiao opened her mouth to say more, but Xiao Yan raised a hand to interrupt her.
"We can save him once, but there's no need for us to take on all the risks he faces afterward."
Xiao Xiao fell silent.
She knew her brother had a point, but seeing Huo Yuhao all alone, she still felt bad.
Huo Yuhao, meanwhile, understood what Xiao Yan meant.
He hurriedly waved his hands. "It's all right! Big Brother Xiao Yan is right. You've already saved me. I can't trouble you any further."
With that, he bowed to Xiao Xiao again.
"Xiao Xiao, thank you. If I ever get the chance, I'll repay you!"
Xiao Xiao looked at him and finally sighed softly.
"Then please be careful."
"I will!"
Huo Yuhao nodded firmly.
Xiao Xiao glanced back at Huo Yuhao, but in the end she followed her brother.
Huo Yuhao stood where he was, watching the three figures gradually recede into the distance. He did not look away for a long time.
He clenched his fists tightly and made a silent vow.
One day, he too would become strong enough that he would no longer have to rely on other people's help as he had today.
Strong enough to personally make the people who had caused his mother's death pay and demand answers from that cold-blooded man to his face!
Huo Yuhao felt as though his heart were burning, his chest full of indignation!
He feared death, but feared even more that he would be unable to avenge his mother!
"Young man, where is this?"
Within Huo Yuhao's Sea of Consciousness, the violent fluctuation of his emotions had caused Electrolux to awaken early.
What Xiao Yan did not know was that Electrolux, whom he had been searching for all along,
had at some unknown point turned into a gray bead and fallen asleep in Huo Yuhao's Sea of Consciousness.
Inside the carriage, the atmosphere was a little strange.
Xiao Yan rested with his eyes closed.
Xiao Xiao deliberately turned her head away, refusing to look at him.
"What's wrong? Angry with your brother?"
"No," Xiao Xiao replied coldly.
"What good does it do you to sulk at me over a stranger?" Xiao Yan asked.
"That was a life! If we ignored him and he really died in the forest, I'd feel guilty for the rest of my life!" Xiao Xiao said, sounding angry for the first time.
"Everyone has to die, you and I included, unless we can break through our limits and reach level one hundred," Xiao Yan sighed.
Xiao Xiao would not listen to his explanation. All she knew was that she might have gotten someone killed.
"There's no need to sulk at me. I've already sent Uncle Zhong to keep an eye on him. Once that Huo Yuhao gets his Soul Ring, Uncle Zhong will come back."
After explaining, Xiao Yan paid Xiao Xiao no further attention.
Unconvinced, Xiao Xiao pulled back the carriage curtain and found that someone else really was driving. Uncle Zhong was no longer at the reins.
"Brother, you're so kind!"
With the weight off her mind, Xiao Xiao's face immediately lit up with a smile. "Brother, let me massage your legs!"
Deep down, Xiao Yan did still have a little kindness in him after all.
Huo Yuhao was a pitiful person too, after all.