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"Alright! I happen to have some free time recently, so I can take you to the Star Dou Forest."
Flender didn't ask any more questions and agreed readily. After all, it was his duty as principal to assist students in hunting soul beasts for advancement.
"How about we leave right now?"
Chu Chengzhou probed.
"Are you in such a rush to meet your maker? Don't I have a mountain of things to arrange at the academy?"
Flender rolled his eyes.
"So, Principal Flender, what exactly are the things at the academy that need your arrangement?"
Chu Chengzhou immediately retorted.
Flender: "..."
It seemed there really wasn't much he needed to arrange?
After breakfast, Chu Chengzhou packed some supplies into his storage necklace, said goodbye to Xiao Wu, and set off with Flender toward the Star Dou Forest.
Flender didn't bring along any other students from the academy. Their target this time was a five to six thousand-year-old soul beast, which was rare in the outer regions of the Star Dou Forest and could only be found in the inner areas.
The inner region, however, was home to ten-thousand-year soul beasts and wasn't suitable for training students whose highest level was only three-ring Soul Elders.
As a flying-type Soul Sage and traveling alone with Chu Chengzhou, Flender didn't take "bus route 11" (walking) to the Star Dou Forest. Instead, he carried Chu Chengzhou and flew directly there.
The Star Dou Forest wasn't far from Shrek Academy, and by noon, Flender had already brought Chu Chengzhou to the outer edge of the forest near the inner region.
Upon reaching this point, Flender dared not continue flying in the sky and descended into the forest below.
In the Star Dou Forest, flying-type soul masters were not the rulers of the skies—flying-type soul beasts were. Flender didn't dare to be too ostentatious, lest he attract the attention of flying-type soul beasts who might teach him a lesson.
Although his strength wasn't weak, it wasn't particularly strong either. There were plenty of soul beasts in the Star Dou Forest that he couldn't handle.
If they had the misfortune of encountering high-year flying-type soul beasts or a flock of flying beasts, Flender might be able to escape, but Chu Chengzhou would likely perish in the Star Dou Forest.
"Listen carefully, kid. The Star Dou Forest isn't an ordinary soul-hunting forest—it's extremely dangerous. You could face attacks from thousand-year or even ten-thousand-year soul beasts at any moment. Don't stray too far from me."
After landing, Flender spoke to Chu Chengzhou with a serious expression.
"Mm, I understand!"
Chu Chengzhou nodded. He was well aware of the dangers of the Star Dou Forest.
Even Title Douluo weren't immune to perishing here. As a mere 30th-level quasi-Soul Elder, he naturally had to exercise extreme caution.
"Alright, let's rest for a bit, eat some rations, and then set out to look for the soul beast you need."
Flender waved his hand dismissively.
Nodding slightly, Chu Chengzhou retrieved a bag of dried meat from his storage necklace and began chewing on it, also offering some to Flender.
"Tsk~, it's a pity we didn't bring Oscar along."
While drinking water and eating dried meat, Flender said wistfully.
Having a food-type soul master teammate on a long journey was undoubtedly very convenient.
Leaving aside other considerations, food supplies wouldn't be an issue, and soul-enhancing food wasn't just for filling one's stomach.
Take Oscar's giant sausages, for example—they not only filled the belly but also restored stamina and healed injuries.
"Oscar's giant sausages? Principal Flender, I think you should teach him how to make them without chanting incantations. Otherwise, his sausages are rather hard to swallow."
Thinking of Oscar's bizarre soul skill incantation and the lewd expressions and tone he used while creating them, Chu Chengzhou couldn't help but comment sarcastically.
"This thing can be made without an incantation?"
Flender was somewhat surprised. He had always assumed that food-type soul masters required incantations to create soul-enhancing food!
After all, both Oscar and Shao Xin, a food-type Soul Sage, operated this way.
"Theoretically, it's entirely possible! A soul master's use of soul skills relies solely on their martial soul, soul skills, and soul power.
Other soul masters use their skills without incantations, so theoretically, food-type soul masters should be able to do the same.
When we get back, have Oscar practice controlling his soul power when he has time. Who knows—he might one day be able to create sausages without needing an incantation."
In Chu Chengzhou's view, many auxiliary-type and food-type soul masters needed incantations to use their soul skills because their control over soul power was inadequate.
This problem was simple to solve—just learn his mastery technique.
However, the skills he obtained through AFKing were secrets he wouldn't share with anyone except family and future family members.
Oscar wasn't his relative, so a slight nudge in the right direction would suffice—he didn't need to teach the real techniques.
"Is that so?"
After listening to Chu Chengzhou's explanation, Flender raised an eyebrow.
It seemed this kid had a point?
Hmm, I'll have Oscar try it when we return. If it doesn't work, no harm done—it's not like he's busy anyway.
Just then, the sound of fighting came from afar.
"Be careful!"
Flender quickly warned, tensing up and preparing for action.
This was the Star Dou Forest after all—a place full of danger—and with a burden like Chu Chengzhou nearby, Flender couldn't afford to be careless.
Without needing further prompting, Chu Chengzhou immediately put away his dried meat and took out his Thousand-Forged Silver Bow.
"… Can you really fight with that thing?"
Seeing the silver bow in Chu Chengzhou's hands, Flender was somewhat astonished.
"Yes!"
Chu Chengzhou nodded. His own combat prowess was no weaker than his summons!
Though archers might sometimes be accused of being sneaky by opponents with poor aim, it couldn't be denied that bows were among the deadliest weapons in warfare.
This fact was evident from the status of archers in the armies of ancient feudal dynasties in his previous life.
Spear soldiers, swordsmen, and shield bearers held lower status compared to archers.
As for cavalry? Excluding tank-like heavy cavalry, mounted archers who could kite enemies were still considered the elite among light cavalry.
Moreover, how many generals didn't know archery?
Unless it was a village-level melee, archers were present in every battle between armies.
"That side probably has a soul master hunting soul beasts. Don't act rashly."
Flender pointed in the direction of the fighting sounds.
"Mm."
Chu Chengzhou nodded.
Not long after, accompanied by the roar of a tiger, the distant fighting sounds ceased. It seemed like a high-level soul master was dominating a low-level soul beast.
But just as Chu Chengzhou thought this was a minor incident that could be ignored, Flender suddenly frowned: "A soul beast is approaching!"
Soon, a black figure darted out from the bushes not far away.
It was a slender, jet-black feline soul beast covered in dark purple stripes, with golden pupils gleaming ominously.
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