After preparing what they needed for the journey, the three set off at once for the Star Dou Great Forest.
Wang Yushan and Zhao Lingyun served as Yu Tianheng's guards, helping him hunt Soul Beasts when necessary.
But to tell the truth, given Yu Tianheng's current cultivation and strength, he could easily hunt a thousand-year Soul Beast alone, provided he was careful. Obtaining his Second Soul Ring would be just as easy; he had no need for guards at all.
But there was no helping it. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan valued him too highly to let him leave its protection freely before he was strong enough to protect himself.
Otherwise, if he went out and was killed, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would suffer a tremendous loss.
After meeting the two guards accompanying him, Yu Tianheng returned to his residence and carefully checked his equipment: a sharp dagger for killing enemies, concealed armor worn close to his body for protection, and other necessities.
He knew full well that this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain his Second Soul Ring would be perilous. Even though his combat strength was no weaker than a three-ring Soul Master's, he had to be careful.
Yu Yushan and Zhao Lingyun had already been waiting for a long time in the clan's square. Yu Yushan was powerfully built, with muscles as hard as rock. His Thick Armor Dragon Martial Soul granted him formidable defense, making him the team's sturdy bulwark. His defense was comparable to that of a somewhat weaker Soul King. Zhao Lingyun, meanwhile, had a gentle bearing and a smile on her face, like the big sister next door. Her Spirit Zither Martial Soul was a support-type Martial Soul with a range of functions, including healing and damage prevention.
"Young Master Tian Heng, are you ready?" Yu Yushan asked in a deep, powerful voice.
"Yes!" Yu Tianheng answered without hesitation, determination in his eyes.
After exchanging a few words, the three set out for the Star Dou Great Forest.
Several days later, the three finally reached the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Young Master Tian Heng, the Star Dou Great Forest is filled with Soul Beasts, and danger lurks everywhere. We must remain alert at all times and never let our guard down," Yu Yushan said gravely.
Zhao Lingyun added, "If we run into danger, don't panic. We'll protect you. You only need to focus on finding a suitable Soul Beast."
Yu Tianheng nodded and committed their words to memory. As they drew closer to the Star Dou Great Forest, the mysterious air hanging around them grew stronger. The scenery around them gradually became denser and more secluded, enormous trees blotting out the sky and sun. The occasional roar of a Soul Beast made Yu Tianheng's heart beat faster despite himself.
At last, they reached the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, where the Soul Beasts were mostly around a thousand years old, making them suitable for obtaining a second or third Soul Ring. Yu Yushan stopped and cautioned Yu Tianheng once more, "From here on, we'll be entering the truly dangerous area. Be careful."
Yu Tianheng nodded and took a deep breath. Looking at the unfathomable forest before him, he felt a powerful sense of mission rise in his heart. He clenched his fists and stepped into the perilous Star Dou Great Forest alongside Yu Yushan and Zhao Lingyun.
To bring out the full strength of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, it was best to choose a sub-dragon Soul Beast for a Soul Ring. But Soul Beasts with dragon bloodlines were exceedingly rare, and the three searched the Star Dou Great Forest for a long time without finding a suitable one.
It was not until the seventh day that they found a Soul Beast with a dragon bloodline. Like the Soul Beast from which Yu Tianheng had obtained his First Soul Ring, it was a Sky-Rending Thunder Dragon, but its cultivation was already approaching a thousand years.
Yu Tianheng thought it over. Seeing that there truly were no suitable Soul Beasts, he had no choice but to set his sights on this Sky-Rending Thunder Dragon.
It'll have to do. In any case, the path I primarily cultivate now is the Martial Dao. Cultivating my Martial Soul is only a side pursuit, so it doesn't need to be too strong.
Yu Tianheng pointed at the Sky-Rending Thunder Dragon. "That's the one."
Wang Yushan nodded. "Very well, Young Master Tian Heng. I'll capture it and bring it before you at once."
With a Soul Power Level of forty-eight, Wang Yushan could easily deal with a Sky-Rending Thunder Dragon whose cultivation was less than a thousand years old.
Just as Wang Yushan was about to act, Yu Tianheng stopped him. "There's no need for you to do anything. Just keep watch from the side. I'll do it myself."
With that, Yu Tianheng stepped forward and charged to kill the Sky-Rending Thunder Dragon.
At the same time, the support-type Soul Master Zhao Lingyun used her second Soul Skill, Spirit Zither Protection, to assist Yu Tianheng.
As she used the Soul Skill, a soft, pale-blue halo appeared around her. It enveloped her like a delicate curtain of light, upon which mysterious runes flickered. The runes intertwined and flowed, giving off an ancient, mysterious air.
Immediately afterward, strands of blue thread extended from the halo and sped toward Yu Tianheng, wrapping around him. The threads turned into a strange energy and swiftly entered his body.
In an instant, Yu Tianheng felt a warm, powerful force flowing through him, strengthening his body and Soul Power in every respect.
Yu Tianheng felt that the Soul Skill's support had considerably increased his combat power. Presumably, when he used his first Soul Skill later, its power would also increase.
As he raced toward the Sky-Rending Thunder Dragon, it sensed his hostility toward it.
Seeing that Yu Tianheng's strength was ordinary, the Sky-Rending Thunder Dragon chose to fight rather than flee.
The Sky-Rending Thunder Dragon rose and let out a furious howl. Violent purple lightning immediately coiled around its body, and its roar shook the earth. It opened its mouth and unleashed a raging bolt of purple lightning, as if it meant to swallow the entire world.
Determination filled Yu Tianheng's eyes, without a trace of fear. His First Soul Ring lit up instantly, its dazzling brilliance like the blazing sun. "First Soul Skill, Thunder Dragon Claw!"
He let out an angry roar that drowned out the Sky-Rending Thunder Dragon's bellow. Dense lightning power instantly enveloped both his hands, while dragon-shaped lightning wound around his arms and formed claws, imbued with terrifying lightning power.
Yu Tianheng tapped the ground lightly and shot toward the Sky-Rending Thunder Dragon like a bolt of lightning, moving so fast he was almost impossible to follow with the naked eye. The pillar of purple lightning the Sky-Rending Thunder Dragon had unleashed earlier blasted straight at him. Yu Tianheng neither dodged nor evaded. He thrust both hands forward, meeting the pillar with his Thunder Dragon Claws.
"Boom!" The two powerful forces of lightning collided with a tremendous crash, producing a violent explosion. Light blazed, and a powerful shock wave spread in every direction. The surrounding mountain peaks were instantly flattened, and the ground was torn open by bottomless fissures.
Amid the light of the explosion, Yu Tianheng's figure appeared like a ghost. He had already reached the Sky-Rending Thunder Dragon. Its eyes widened in terror, and it tried to dodge, only to find its body locked in place by an invisible force. A flicker of resolve passed through Yu Tianheng's eyes as he viciously raked his Thunder Dragon Claws toward its neck.