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After thoroughly "examining" Dugu Yan's body, Dugu Bo forced a faint smile and said, "Don't worry, Yan Yan. You're not poisoned—you're perfectly healthy!"
"Phew, that's a relief." Dugu Yan let out a sigh. Since her grandfather said she was fine, she was sure everything was alright.
"Yan Yan, stay home and focus on your cultivation for now. I have to step out for a bit."
"Huh?" Dugu Yan's face fell. "Grandpa, you just got back, and now you're leaving again?"
"Sorry, Yan Yan, but this is something I really have to take care of. Don't worry though—when I get back, I'll make it up to you and spend lots of time together."
"Alright then, Grandpa. You promised!"
"Mhm, it's a deal." Dugu Bo smiled, then strode out the door and took to the sky, heading straight toward the Star Luo Empire without stopping.
In the courtyard of the Star Luo City's royal residence, Anna was cultivating her soul power.
Suddenly, a crackling sound like exploding beans erupted from her body, and a surge of powerful soul energy burst forth like a raging tide. At the same time, she felt something within her break through a barrier.
Anna opened her eyes, her beautiful, black pearl-like pupils sparkling with joy. "Brother Weisi, I broke through! I did it! My soul power has surpassed level ten!"
"Oh? Already at level ten? That's amazing, Nana!" Dai Weisi' eyes lit up at the news. It had already been a month since he adopted Anna.
In just this short month, Anna had not only completed the physical training Dai Weisi had arranged for her beautifully, but she had also kept up with her meditation and cultivation.
She had even reached the level where she could consume the energy of ten-thousand-year whale glue. Now, her physical condition was so exceptional that even such powerful medicinal energy could no longer improve her body.
"No wonder she's a prodigy born with level nine innate soul power. It took me over half a year just to reach level ten back then."
After a slight pause, Dai Weisi smiled and said, "Nana, since your soul power has reached level ten, let's go get your first soul ring now."
"Okay, Brother Weisi! I can't wait to become a Soul Master!" Anna beamed.
Over the past month, she had witnessed the dazzling soul skills of Dai Weisi, Zhu Zhuyun, and the others. A quiet excitement brewed in her heart—what kind of soul skills would she gain once she became a Soul Master?
"Alright then, no time to waste. Let's head out now. Uncle Li, prepare the carriage! We're going to the Star Dou Forest!"
"Huh? The Star Dou Forest?" Li Hu was taken aback. "Your Highness, it's just for the first soul ring. Isn't that a bit much? Wouldn't the nearby Soul Hunting Forest be enough?"
"No. I've been to the nearby Soul Hunting Forest plenty of times already, and there are far too few plant-type soul beasts there. Aside from Blue Silver Grass, there's barely anything suitable. It's better to go straight to the Star Dou Forest."
Although plant-type Martial Souls can technically absorb soul rings from animal-type beasts, such absorption often causes compatibility issues. For Soul Masters with plant-type Martial Souls, it's best to absorb soul rings from plant-type soul beasts.
Just look at that pathetic kid. A perfectly fine Blue Silver Emperor got ruined by Yu Xiaogang. A Martial Soul with life attributes, and he went and focused on poison. The first, third, and fourth soul rings were completely wasted—only the second skill, Parasitic, was barely useful.
Dai Weisi would never repeat Yu Xiaogang's mistake. Anna's Martial Soul was the Hundred Herb, and she could absorb any plant-type soul ring without conflict—in fact, she could even absorb soul rings above her level.
"Alright, Uncle Li, hurry and get the carriage ready."
"Yes, Your Highness. But since we're going all the way to the Star Dou Forest, should we bring Headmaster Lin along just in case?"
"No need. We'll just be staying near the outer edge of the forest. It shouldn't be too dangerous. Besides, even if something happens, I've brought plenty of grenades—we'll be fine."
"Yes, sir."
Soon after, Li Hu returned with a carriage, and the three of them set off grandly toward the Star Dou Forest.
Li Hu was already very familiar with the route to the forest. After just one week, they reached the outer perimeter.
"Oh my gosh! Brother Weisi, is this the Star Dou Forest? It's so beautiful and majestic!"
Gazing at the lush, towering ancient trees and the layered green canopies before her, Anna couldn't contain her excitement. It was her first time seeing such a breathtaking landscape, and she cheered out loud.
If Dai Weisi hadn't held her back, the silly girl might have dashed straight into the forest.
Seeing this, Dai Weisi couldn't help but let out a helpless smile. The first time he came to the Star Dou Forest, he too had been stunned by the endless sea of trees.
But after witnessing the scattered corpses throughout the forest with his own eyes, his view of the Star Dou Forest had changed completely.
In this forest, Soul Masters hunted soul beasts—and weaker Soul Masters. Soul beasts devoured Soul Masters—and also weaker soul beasts.
Here, no one truly knew whether they were the hunter or the prey.
"Nana, remember this: the forest is extremely dangerous. Don't shout or make a lot of noise. You might attract powerful soul beasts."
"Mhm, I understand," Anna quickly replied, covering her mouth.
"Alright, let's go."
Li Hu led the way up front, while Dai Weisi kept a close eye on their surroundings, especially on the lookout for plant-type soul beasts.
"Squeak! Squeak!"
Suddenly, a ten-year-old Soft Bone Rabbit hopped into view, happily nibbling on a blade of fresh grass—completely unaware that death was imminent.
Swish!
A sharp dagger sliced through the air, flashing like white lightning. It struck the rabbit square in the back with a thud. The Soft Bone Rabbit, hit by the blade Dai Weisi had thrown, died instantly on the spot.
A faint white soul ring emerged from the corpse and slowly hovered above it.
"Perfect! Looks like we've found our lunch." Dai Weisi chuckled and walked over to the rabbit's body. He turned to Anna and explained, "Watch closely, Nana! When absorbing a soul ring, you need to release your soul power to guide the ring and use meditation to fuse it with your Martial Soul—just like this."
As he spoke, he released his soul power to draw the soul ring toward him.
"Since my soul power is only at level forty-eight and not at a breakthrough point, I can't absorb this ring. It'll dissipate in about an hour. Let's take a break and search for a soul beast suitable for you this afternoon."
Dai Weisi sat down and roasted the Soft Bone Rabbit. Although it wasn't ideal to start a fire in the forest, they were still near the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Forest—and with Li Hu, a Soul Saint, guarding them, there was no need to worry about unexpected enemies.
After their meal, the trio set off again, continuing their search for a soul beast suitable for Anna. Fortune favors the persistent—after roaming the forest for three hours, Dai Weisi finally found one.
He looked up at a massive tree, nearly a hundred meters tall. Wrapped tightly around its trunk was a blood-red vine, unusually prominent and sinister.
The vine was covered in sharp, backward-facing barbs that pierced deep into the tree's bark. It was greedily sucking the tree's nutrients dry, causing the massive tree to wither before their eyes.
When he spotted the crimson vine, the well-informed Li Hu cried out in surprise, "Your Highness! That's a Bloodthirsty Vine—a soul beast that survives by parasitically attaching to other living organisms and draining their nutrients!
The longer its vine, the stronger it is. Judging by the length—nearly seven meters—this one must be close to seven hundred years old!"
(End of Chapter)