Training in the Star Dou Great Forest (I)
"I'm level thirty! I really am level thirty!" Oscar jumped up in excitement, nearly dropping the sausage in his hand. "Teacher Yu, Dean! I can absorb my Third Soul Ring now!"
Yu Xiaogang strode over and placed his fingertips on Oscar's wrist to check. A moment later, he nodded, a hint of a smile appearing on his face. "Good, exactly level thirty. Your foundation is very solid."
Flender also came rushing over when he heard the news. On learning that Oscar had broken through, he burst out laughing. "Good lad! You really are one of our Shrek monsters!"
"This works out nicely. We can move up our planned trip to Star Dou," Yu Xiaogang said thoughtfully. "Oscar is a Food System Soul Master, so his Third Soul Ring is crucial. I suggest a thousand-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. Its flight attribute is highly compatible with the Food System. After absorbing its ring, he can obtain a flight-type Soul Skill, and the sausages he makes will let people fly for a short time. That would be immensely valuable to the team."
"A thousand years?" Flender paused. "A thousand-year Third Soul Ring for a Food System Soul Master? Wouldn't that be pushing it? Usually, five or six hundred years is already good for a Food System Soul Master's Third Soul Ring."
"Other people are other people. He's Oscar." Yu Xiaogang spoke with certainty. "With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's amplification, Tang San's control, and Old Zhao protecting him, a thousand-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent won't be a problem. The greater his talent, the higher the starting point for his Soul Rings needs to be. Otherwise, it would be a waste of his talent."
Flender thought it over, then nodded. "All right, we'll do as you say. Zhao Wuji!"
"Yeah!" Zhao Wuji strode over. His heavily muscled body stood there like a small mountain. "Dean, what is it?"
"Tomorrow, lead Xiao Gang and the seven youngsters to the Star Dou Great Forest," Flender instructed. "Find Oscar his Third Soul Ring, and let the others broaden their horizons while you're at it. Be careful. Don't go too deep; just find a thousand-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent on the outskirts."
"Don't worry, Dean!" Zhao Wuji patted his chest. "With me there, I guarantee these youngsters won't lose a single hair. It's just a Thousand-Year Soul Beast. I'll catch it as easily as reaching out a hand!"
As the news spread, the students all grew excited.
The Star Dou Great Forest was both a sacred place and a danger zone for Soul Masters. To these youngsters, it held enormous appeal.
Ning Rongrong even forgot how tired she was from training. She tugged Zhu Zhuqing along, chattering about finding rare spirit herbs in the forest.
Ma Hongjun rubbed his fists, saying he wanted to catch a Soul Beast and roast it.
Early the next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the group gathered at the academy gates. Zhao Wuji walked at the very front with a huge pack on his back, his corded muscles gleaming bronze in the morning light.
Yu Xiaogang followed beside him, holding a rough map of Soul Beast distribution that he had drawn overnight.
The seven students formed a line. Dai Mubai led the way at the front, Tang San and Tuo Mushuo brought up the rear, and Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun walked in the middle. Each carried a pack, and their expressions held both excitement and gravity.
"Everyone here?" Zhao Wuji glanced back. "Then let's set off! I'll say the unpleasant things upfront: once we're in the forest, you all follow my orders. No leaving the group on your own, and no provoking Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts. If anyone disobeys and something happens, don't expect me to take care of it."
"Understood, Teacher Zhao!" everyone answered in unison.
The group set off toward the Star Dou Great Forest, walking into the rising sun.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Star Dou Great Forest, Lin Chen and Xiao Wu were also heading toward the forest's outskirts with the Heaven Dou Royal Academy group.
At the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, ancient trees towered into the sky, their interwoven branches and leaves forming a canopy that cut the daylight into scattered fragments. The damp air was filled with the fresh scent of decaying leaves and vegetation. From time to time, low Soul Beast roars came from the depths, making the thin mist among the trees tremble.
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy group moved slowly along a forest path. Their matching silver-trimmed uniforms were neat and uniform, and their steps were steady.
At the very front walked Qin Ming, the practical combat instructor for Class One. He was around forty, with a resolute face and a brisk stride. Faint dark-red Soul Power fluctuations emanated from his waist. He was a level sixty-three Battle Soul Emperor, and his Martial Soul was the Blazing Fire Wolf.
His presence ebbed and flowed, naturally carrying the oppressive might of a Ferocious Beast. The Hundred-Year Soul Beasts along the way retreated one after another, not daring to approach.
"Everyone, stay alert." Qin Ming stopped and turned to look at the students behind him, his voice ringing out. "The Star Dou Great Forest isn't the academy's mimicry field. Soul Beasts won't show mercy. Follow orders in everything you do. No leaving the group on your own. Anyone who disobeys will bear the consequences."
The students answered in unison, their expressions growing more serious.
For this training expedition, the academy had sent three instructors and twelve students in all. Besides Lin Chen, Xiao Wu, Yu Tianheng, and the others from Class One, there were three senior students from other classes. All three were stuck at the level-thirty bottleneck and had come specifically to obtain their Third Soul Rings.
Qin Ming swept his gaze over the group and continued, "Soul Beasts are scattered throughout this area. Sticking together would be far too inefficient. Instructor Lin and I discussed it, and we'll split into two teams to search separately. The outer region is relatively safe, and each team will have instructors overseeing it, so there won't be any major problems."
He immediately announced the team assignments:
"Team One will be led by me. Its members are Ye Lingling, Lin Chen, Xiao Wu, Shi Mo, and Shi Mo. We'll head east, aiming for the boundary between the inner and outer regions, and focus on searching for Support System Soul Beasts."
"Team Two will be led jointly by Instructors Lin Wuyuan and Wang Ze. Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Yu Feng, Osler, and the three senior students will go with them. Head west and search the western outskirts for suitable power-attack and Agility Attack System Soul Rings for the three seniors. You'll also get some practical combat training along the way."
As soon as he finished speaking, a faint stir went through the group.
Yu Tianheng frowned slightly. His gaze swept over Lin Chen, and his lips moved.
He had wanted to be on the same team as Lin Chen so they could spar during the training and see just how large the gap between them still was, but things had not gone as he wished. Still, he knew the academy had arranged the teams, so in the end he said nothing more, merely nodding slightly. "I'll follow the instructors' arrangement."
Dugu Yan pursed her lips, somewhat unwilling. She also wanted to go with Lin Chen and see just how much he was capable of, but her grandfather had specifically told her to listen to the instructors before she left. She could only pout and join the second team.
Xiao Wu quietly edged closer to Lin Chen and whispered, "Brother Lin Chen, won't it be dangerous at the boundary between the inner and outer regions? I heard there are Soul Beasts several thousand years old over there."
"With Instructor Qin here, nothing will happen." Lin Chen kept his voice very low, a knowing smile at the corner of his mouth. "Besides, there are good things over there. We need to find Senior Sister Ye a decent Third Soul Ring. We can't let the Nine Heart Begonia's talent go to waste."
He had already made his plans. Holy Spirit Flowers grew in Butterfly Valley to the east, right on the boundary between the inner and outer regions, guarded by a swarm of Phantom Colorful Butterflies. If they could find one over a thousand years old, it would be a priceless treasure that a Support System Soul Master could encounter only by chance.