The one-hour break eventually stretched into two hours.
After enjoying a hearty meal, everyone meditated under Vice Vice Dean Cai's protection to restore themselves to their peak condition. Once ready, they ventured deeper into the Star Dou Forest.
Before setting off, Vice Dean Cai spoke with grave seriousness: "I must emphasize once again that the Star Dou Forest is an extremely dangerous place. Do not take it lightly. You must remain vigilant at all times. I will only intervene as a last resort."
Everyone nodded, setting aside any casual attitudes.
This was the way of Shrek Academy.
Unless you held a special status or, like the top three in the freshman assessment, had permission to apply for a soul ring, the academy would not send teachers to protect disciples while they obtained their soul rings.
In fact, if not for Huo Yuhao's involvement, Cai Meier would not have accompanied them on this mission.
Hunting for a hundred-thousand-year soul ring was one thing, but this was not worth such a significant effort, nor did it warrant the secret protection of a Super Douluo.
Xuan Zi had been dispatched not only as a precaution but also to ensure the cunning Yin Ying Beast could be located and Huo Yuhao's soul ring secured.
Among the team, even Jiang Nannan and Dugu Yun, who had the lowest requirements, needed soul rings of around four thousand years. The outer zone of the forest alone could not satisfy their needs.
Thus, upon entering the Star Dou Forest, the team, led by Zhang Lexuan, moved swiftly and decisively toward the depths of the forest, maintaining their original formation.
The Star Dou Forest was eerily quiet late at night.
The darkness was not absolute; moonlight filtered through the trees, mingling with the faint glow of luminescent insects and plants, providing decent visibility. Yet, beneath the silence lurked danger.
The forest at night was even more perilous, as many terrifying spirit beasts emerged under the cover of darkness.
With Zhang Lexuan at the helm, the team moved forward at full speed, bypassing any need for cautious exploration. Her body radiated a crystalline white light, clearing a path through the underbrush as she advanced.
The powerful aura of a Soul Douluo emanated from her, deterring low-level spirit beasts from approaching.
In the outer zone, there was no need for careful exploration—raw power was enough to carve their way forward. This was the confidence that strength bestowed.
The team did not indiscriminately kill the spirit beasts they encountered.
They moved so swiftly that they seemed to fly through the forest. Soon, judging by the strength of the surrounding spirit beasts, they had passed through the outer zone and entered the mixed zone.
"We've now entered the mixed zone," Zhang Lexuan announced, slowing her pace. "Everyone, maintain formation and stay alert."
The mixed zone was where they would face thousand-year and even ten-thousand-year spirit beasts. This was their primary objective for the trip, as some powerful ten-thousand-year spirit beasts could pose a significant threat to them.
"I'll now assign tasks," Zhang Lexuan continued, her tone stern. "I will lead the team and ensure our safety while scouting ahead. Ruoruo, you'll be in charge. Yuhao, with your teleportation skill, you'll serve as secondary control and maneuver. If there are any issues, you'll provide support."
"Wu Ming, you'll guard the rear. Chu Qingtian, take the left wing. Jiang Nannan and Dugu Yun, you're on the right wing. Understood?"
Han Ruoruo, who had known Zhang Lexuan for years and worked closely with her, responded without hesitation: "No problem."
Huo Yuhao nodded. "Senior Sister, I have no issues."
Wu Ming thumped her chest. "Don't worry, Senior Sister. I'll protect the rear."
The other three also nodded in agreement.
Zhang Lexuan wasn't overly concerned. With Vice Dean Cai overseeing things, the safety of Huo Yuhao and the others was virtually guaranteed.
"Good," Zhang Lexuan said. "If there are no issues, we'll begin exploring the mixed zone. Chu Qingtian, Jiang Nannan, Dugu Yun, tell me the specific spirit beasts you need."
Chu Qingtian needed a fifteen-thousand-year spirit beast to enhance the lightning attributes of his Berserk Lightning Leopard.
Jiang Nannan required a four-thousand-year spirit beast with an invincible golden body and soul skills.
Dugu Yun sought a four-thousand-year poisonous spirit beast.
These types of spirit beasts could be found in the mixed zone, and Zhang Lexuan planned to tackle the easier targets first.
If they couldn't find a suitable spirit beast for Chu Qingtian, they would wait until they reached the core area to secure one alongside Huo Yuhao and the others.
Huo Yuhao had already activated his mental detection.
With his vast mental power, he could monitor everything within a kilometer radius, detecting any spirit beasts that might attempt to ambush them. Of course, this range was far from his limit. He could even use spirit sharing to assist the others, but it wasn't necessary at the moment.
In Huo Yuhao's view, this distance was sufficient. He wasn't the commander this time, so he didn't need to dominate the scene. After all, Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan was in charge.
Zhang Lexuan's idea of "exploration" wasn't a slow, meticulous search. As Shrek Academy's senior sister, her mental power was formidable, placing her among the best Soul Douluo-level experts.
Though her mental power hadn't reached the realm of tangible and intangible, it was still incredibly potent. Relying on her strong mental power, she spread her awareness outward, searching for suitable spirit beasts. While not as precise as Huo Yuhao's mental detection, it was more than enough for their needs.
The team moved forward, maintaining a rhythm of two hours of exploration followed by ten minutes of rest. Their coordination grew increasingly seamless. In less than a day, they had located suitable spirit beasts for both Dugu Yun and Jiang Nannan.
Now, the team was camped, protecting Jiang Nannan as she absorbed her soul ring. While eating dry rations, Wu Ming sighed. "It seems this soul-hunting team has good luck. Finding suitable spirit beasts so quickly is impressive."
Dugu Yun nodded seriously. "Yes, this Poisonous Sword Bamboo isn't just the right age, but its attributes are highly compatible with me. I'm very satisfied with the soul skill it provides."
Chu Qingtian complained, "You all found suitable spirit beasts so easily. I'm envious."
Wu Ming casually comforted him, "It's fine. Once Nannan finishes absorbing her soul ring, we'll head to the core area. I doubt we'll find anything suitable for you in the mixed zone."
This was indeed the case.
The team had encountered numerous spirit beasts along the way, most of which avoided them from a distance. The two four-thousand-year spirit beasts they had targeted were no exception.
At Senior Sister Zhang's reminder, Han Ruoruo had taken action to control them, preventing their escape. As for hostile spirit beasts, they were intimidated by Zhang Lexuan's soul power and kept their distance.
As long as the team didn't recklessly intrude into a spirit beast's territory, conflict could be avoided.
Huo Yuhao smiled but said nothing.
In truth, he had played a subtle role in finding suitable spirit beasts so quickly. With his teleportation skill, he was virtually untouchable. Occasionally, he used mental interference to lure suitable spirit beasts from afar. However, for the ten-thousand-year spirit beasts Chu Qingtian needed, Huo Yuhao didn't deliberately target them.
As spirit beasts grew older, their intelligence increased, making them harder to deceive.
After some discussion, the team unanimously decided to enter the core area and rest there for the night.
As the sun rose, marking the third day of their journey into the Star Dou Great Forest, the team officially entered the core area.
Not long after, Zhang Lexuan halted and glanced in a specific direction, warning, "Chu Qingtian, be careful!"
A flash of light appeared not far from Chu Qingtian on the left wing.
A black figure quietly emerged on a branch about a hundred meters away. It was a leopard nearly two meters long, covered in silver-gray fur, with piercing blue eyes that radiated ferocity.
"Thunder Leopard!" Chu Qingtian exclaimed.
"About fourteen thousand years," Huo Yuhao said, immediately assessing its age. "Just right for you, Senior Brother Chu. However, this spirit beast has likely encountered soul masters before."
Unlike the spirit beasts they had encountered in the mixed zone, the Thunder Leopard didn't retreat upon spotting the group. Instead, it swiftly closed the distance, exuding a strong killing intent.
Thunder Leopards were highly aggressive, relying on their incredible speed to attack any opponent. They also had a particular fondness for humans, viewing them as delicious prey.
Soul masters hunted spirit beasts to break through their cultivation limits, while spirit beasts devoured the soul power-rich bodies of soul masters to enhance their own strength.
The higher the level of the spirit beast, the more interested they were in high-level soul masters. Some spirit beasts could even directly absorb a soul master's soul power to strengthen themselves.
In the Star Dou Forest, the roles of predator and prey could reverse at any moment, depending on the strength of the parties involved.
Just as Huo Yuhao finished speaking, the Thunder Leopard's body flashed with silver light, and it vanished from its spot, pouncing directly at Chu Qingtian from above. Its sharp claws crackled with lightning as they aimed for Chu Qingtian's head.
Thanks to Senior Sister Zhang's warning, Chu Qingtian was prepared. With his speed and martial spirit, he vanished from his spot just as the Thunder Leopard struck.
The leopard, mid-air, couldn't change its trajectory but let out a roar. Silver light surged from its body, and it redirected its attack mid-air, relentlessly pursuing Chu Qingtian.
In an instant, a pale golden ring of light enveloped the area within a hundred meters, and the Thunder Leopard's figure was frozen in mid-air.
Han Ruoruo's third soul skill, the Golden Ring, had taken effect. It was a powerful control ability.
Huo Yuhao teleported over and struck immediately. His right hand radiated a chilling cold as he clenched his fist and swung.
"Wait, Junior Brother! Be gentle! Don't kill it. Leave the beast's head for me!" Chu Qingtian cried out in mock distress.
…
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