Time flew.
Reckoning that the time was near, Chu Qing set out for the Star Dou Great Forest, where he kept watch for Huo Yuhao while searching for a suitable Fifth Soul Ring.
In the end, they settled on a sixty-thousand-year-old Snake-Haired Gorgon Stheno in the mixed zone.
After absorbing the Soul Ring, Chu Qing was quite pleased with the Soul Skill he obtained. Having a faction backing him really did save him a great deal of trouble.
"Great-uncle, I'd like to take this chance to train in the outer zone. I'll return on my own within three months."
Xue Zhan was still a little worried, but when Chu Qing raised his hand to remind him of the Man Faced Spider Emperor external finger bone, he nodded his agreement and cautioned:
"Watch out for other Soul Masters."
Xue Zhan left on the surface, but he continued to follow in secret.
Chu Qing headed for the outer zone. On the way, he encountered a five-thousand-year-old Four-Winged Thunderbird and promptly took it down, releasing his First Soul Ring to draw it in and absorb it.
Watching from the shadows, Xue Zhan suddenly understood.
"So that's how it is, you rascal. That Azure Soul Ring actually has such a marvelous use."
Chu Qing was completely unaware of this. Once he reached the outer zone, he hunted Soul Beasts with the elemental attributes of the Four Symbols while searching in the direction of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion and the territory of the Wind Baboon population.
Along the way, he encountered quite a few Soul Masters. Some saw how young he was and came looking for trouble, but they were eaten by Soul Beasts.
More than twenty days later, he was gloomily roasting fish by a stream when a delighted, sweet cry rang out, making him brighten.
"That smells wonderful!"
A handsome young man and a beautiful young woman followed the smell over. Seeing their bearing and appearance, Chu Qing immediately perked up. Unless something unexpected had happened, the two had to be Tang Ya and Bei Bei.
"Are you selling that roast fish?"
Tang Ya looked ready to drool.
"No."
"I only prepared my own portion. This pile is just enough for me."
"Catch your own. There are plenty of fish here."
Chu Qing glanced at them, then turned his gaze back to the fish, thinking that Huo Yuhao should be in the Star Dou Great Forest by now as well.
"Sorry to bother you."
Tang Ya studied Chu Qing. He was alone in the Star Dou Great Forest, so Tang Ya thought he must be quite capable. It would be good if they could bring him into the Tang Sect.
Bei Bei noticed Tang Ya's gaze and felt a pang of jealousy.
He's looking at handsome guys again.
With a gentle, faintly lazy smile, he said:
"Xiao Ya, gather some firewood in the woods nearby. I'll catch the fish."
As he spoke, lightning surged from his hand and blasted into the stream, blowing up the fish.
With a boom, water splashed everywhere.
Chu Qing looked up, thinking that Bei Bei really was quite scheming. Soul Power rippled from him, and the droplets splashing toward him all veered away.
At the same time, more than a dozen half-cooked fish were blasted onto the bank.
Bei Bei noticed that Chu Qing hadn't gotten wet at all and realized that he probably wasn't simple. A water-attribute Soul Master? His control is that strong? he thought, while offering an apologetic smile:
"Sorry, brother. I didn't expect such a big splash."
"It's all right. I didn't get wet anyway."
A faint smile touched Chu Qing's lips. There was nothing to gain from clashing with them over something so trivial, so he simply treated them as children.
Tang Ya, who had been splashed all over, naturally knew Bei Bei's temperament. Both pleased and annoyed, he said:
"Bei Bei, what are you up to?"
Bei Bei put on an apologetic smile.
"Xiao Ya, it was an accident, an accident."
Tang Ya gave a dainty huff and said:
"You'd better have all the fish cleaned by the time I get back with the firewood."
Bei Bei promised readily.
Tang Ya spread his hands and released Blue Silver Grass. Before long, the Blue Silver Grass had gathered quite a few dry branches from the woods.
Bei Bei was cleaning the fish, a little unsure where to start. He looked up and said:
"Hehe, Xiao Ya, how did you get back so quickly?"
"Let me help you." Tang Ya spoke helplessly.
Clearly, neither of them was an expert, and they fumbled with the fish for quite a while.
Tang Ya spoke full of nostalgia:
"If only Huo Yuhao were here now. We really shouldn't have parted ways with him."
Hearing this, Chu Qing immediately lost his composure. Since Huo Yuhao had parted ways with Tang Ya and Bei Bei, he should be about to encounter the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.
He picked up two cooked fish, stood, and said:
"You don't have to go to the trouble. Use the ones I've prepared."
He left at once, eager to find Huo Yuhao.
Tang Ya brightened and skewered the fish to roast them, but Bei Bei grew wary and said with concern:
"Xiao Ya, that guy's a little strange. He wouldn't sell them at first, and now he's given them to us for free."
Tang Ya fell into thought as well.
After leaving, Chu Qing searched the surrounding area.
His efforts were not in vain. Following the sounds of fighting, he saw a youth locked in a desperate battle with a Wind Baboon.
Chu Qing took a heavy bow from the Spirit Rhinoceros Ring, nocked an arrow, drew the string, and compressed wind onto the arrow.
He aimed at Huo Yuhao, but his hand moved out of his control, turning the arrowhead toward the Wind Baboon.
He knew it was the Will of the Plane. The Wind Baboon it was, then!
With a whoosh, the arrow shot out wrapped in wind, pinning the Wind Baboon and sending it flying as it lunged at Huo Yuhao.
Shaken with fright, Huo Yuhao turned to look back in surprise.
Chu Qing stepped out, glanced at him, and said:
"You can't even beat a ten-year-old Wind Baboon. What are you doing in the Star Dou Forest?"
Huo Yuhao felt a little ashamed and indignant at the words, but he still thanked him.
"Thank you for saving me. I know I'm weak, but I have to become a Soul Master, even if I can only have the simplest white Ten-Year Soul Ring."
A determination rarely seen in those his age showed in his eyes.
Chu Qing nodded and said:
"I'm in a good mood. Tell me what kind of Soul Ring you want, and I'll help you hunt for one."
Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up with obvious delight.
"Really?"
"Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"
"My Martial Soul is a rare spiritual type. It's too hard to find a suitable Soul Ring."
"So, can I really ask you to help me hunt a Hundred-Year Soul Beast? It doesn't have to be a spiritual type."
Chu Qing smiled and nodded.
"So you're a spiritual type? What a coincidence. I saw a three-hundred-year-old spiritual-type Soul Beast in the Sunset Forest before."
"I'm heading back anyway, and it's on the way. Come with me."
Naturally, he wasn't that kindhearted, but Huo Yuhao was utterly moved, his eyes growing moist.
"Ever since I was little, no one has ever helped me. I don't have anything to repay you with right now, either..."
Chu Qing waved a hand to stop him.
"Stop, stop, stop!"
"It's just a small thing. Come with me."
He then turned and led the way.
Although he still had no way to get the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, getting Huo Yuhao away was good too.
As he led Huo Yuhao along, the Will of the Plane made his middle finger tremble slightly.
"If Tang San found out you were a transmigrator, what do you think he'd do to you?"
Chu Qing suddenly shuddered all over. This was no joking matter.
He immediately turned to Huo Yuhao and said with a smile:
"Haha, um, I remembered it wrong."
"That spiritual-type Soul Beast I saw before wasn't in the Sunset Forest. It was right here in the Star Dou Great Forest. I'll take you to look for it."
Since Chu Qing had saved his life, Huo Yuhao thought nothing more of it and said:
"Thank you. I'll do as you say."
"If we can't find it, another Soul Ring will do."
"Just having a Soul Ring would already be wonderful. Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Chu Qing smiled wryly, but on the side away from Huo Yuhao, he wrote with his index finger, bargaining with the Will of the Plane.
"Fine, I won't take the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, but give me Electrolux."
"When the time comes, just fire spider silk from your external finger bone to capture him."
The Will of the Plane readily agreed. Chu Qing thought it wasn't too bad after all. The Undead Demiplane was a good thing.