Time flies, two years later.
Cheng Xiao's Soul Power level had also broken through to the twentieth rank. Although he didn't need to hunt Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings like other Soul Masters, he still chose to wander in the Soul Beast forest for safety's sake, as a safeguard for himself.
During these two years, Cheng Xiao went back to Cheng Family Village every time he had a holiday. Xiao Wu went with him. Because of the butterfly effect, Tang San and Xiao Wu's relationship wasn't as good as in the original timeline, but it couldn't be said to be bad either, just normal classmate relations.
Although Tang San wanted to get closer to Xiao Wu, it was just Master's instruction. It was really difficult for him, a previous-life hidden weapon master who hadn't even seen a woman, to try and win over a little girl's heart.
As for the relationship between Tang San and Cheng Xiao, although there was some distance, it hadn't reached the point of a complete falling out. They would greet each other normally when they met. As for what happened in the Soul Hunting Forest, both of them tacitly avoided mentioning it. After all, once that matter was brought up, it was very likely to cause a complete split between them.
This time, when setting out to hunt souls, Cheng Xiao didn't ask any of the academy's teachers to come along. He just used the gold Soul Coins he had saved up for two years to rent a carriage, and left Notting City with Xiao Wu.
Cheng Xiao didn't mind Xiao Wu coming with him to hunt souls. Anyway, he didn't need to hunt Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings. Xiao Wu could see it if she wanted. Based on her thoughts, she probably would consider him a fellow Soul Beast in human form.
"Cheng Xiao, what kind of Soul Beast are you planning to hunt this time?" Sitting in the carriage on the way to the Star Dou Great Forest, Xiao Wu looked at Cheng Xiao, who was sitting opposite her, and asked curiously.
Cheng Xiao shifted his gaze from the scenery outside the window and looked at Xiao Wu, saying lightly, "We'll see when we get there. I'm not sure myself right now."
Xiao Wu nodded gently at Cheng Xiao's response, then fell silent. She rested her chin on her hand and lifted the carriage curtain to look outside.
Cheng Xiao's answer clearly surprised Xiao Wu. She couldn't understand why Cheng Xiao, who had gained seven levels of Soul Power in two years, still hadn't chosen the Soul Beast he needed. Generally, before a Soul Master hunted for a Soul Ring, they would confirm the type and attributes of the Soul Beast in their mind, in order to find a Soul Ring that suited them and thus be able to find the required Soul Beast as soon as possible.
Cheng Xiao seems different from other Soul Masters. Maybe I can take this opportunity to tell him my identity. Xiao Wu thought, but she quickly dismissed the idea.
Notting City was too far from the Star Dou Great Forest. Even with a rented carriage, it would take a long time to arrive.
Therefore, Cheng Xiao chose to spend his time cultivating. He could still level up even without hunting for a Soul Ring; it was just that he hadn't condensed his second Soul Ring yet, so his Soul Power level hadn't broken through.
A week later, a carriage from Notting City stopped at a small town outside the Star Dou Great Forest.
Night fell, and seeing that they wouldn't reach their destination today, Cheng Xiao instructed the coachman to rest, planning to enter the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow.
After entering the town, Cheng Xiao found that it was much livelier than Notting City, and its scale was three times that of the Notting Academy. Except for the lack of city walls and guards, it was almost identical to an ordinary small city.
Shops lined the streets, all kinds of shops were available.
Cheng Xiao casually looked around and found that these shops mainly sold things related to Soul Masters and hunting Soul Beasts, such as shops selling armor, shops selling detoxification and recovery potions, and even shops selling Soul Master clothing. It could be said that they had everything you could imagine.
At this moment, Xiao Wu pulled Cheng Xiao's arm and pointed at an inn in front. "Cheng Xiao, let's stay here tonight. I feel so tired after riding in the carriage for a week."
Hearing this, Cheng Xiao nodded and then followed Xiao Wu into the inn.
After entering the inn, Cheng Xiao planned to book a double room, but Xiao Wu stopped him. According to her, they didn't have much money right now, so they should save where they could.
Cheng Xiao didn't pay much attention to this. After all, they had slept in the same bed for two years, and nothing had happened. So, he just booked one room.
"Cheng Xiao, let's eat something." Xiao Wu took the room card from the front desk and then clung to Cheng Xiao's arm, acting coquettish.
This week of traveling in a carriage had really stifled her. Not only was it uncomfortable to rest, but even meals consisted of dry rations. Now that she could finally rest properly, she naturally wanted to treat herself.
Hearing this, Cheng Xiao was a little helpless, but he still found a secluded spot and sat down with Xiao Wu, ordering the dishes as well.
A moment later, after finishing their meal, the two went upstairs. Finding their room, Cheng Xiao pushed open the door and entered.
"Phew, finally a bed to sleep on." Xiao Wu immediately lay down on the bed. After sitting in a carriage for several days, being able to lie down and sleep now was simply too comfortable.
Cheng Xiao glanced at Xiao Wu lying on the bed and said, "If you're tired, go to sleep early. I'll take a shower later, and tomorrow we'll go to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Soul Beasts."
Hearing about hunting Soul Beasts, Xiao Wu couldn't help but frown, seemingly casually saying, "Cheng Xiao, do you think there's a way for Soul Masters to obtain Soul Rings without hunting Soul Beasts, thus improving their Soul Power level?"
Cheng Xiao thought for a moment and said, "There should be a way, right? If one could obtain Soul Rings and improve their level without hunting Soul Beasts, the relationship between Soul Beasts and Soul Masters would probably ease up quite a bit."
Xiao Wu's eyes brightened and she said, "So, you're saying there's a way to solve this problem? If it could be solved, Soul Beasts and Soul Masters would no longer be in a kill-or-be-killed relationship. In that case, Soul Beasts and Soul Masters might even become good friends."
Cheng Xiao shook his head, knowing Xiao Wu's thoughts. "I don't know if we can be good friends, but have you considered that even if the problem of Soul Masters and Soul Rings is solved, what about Soul Bones? Soul Bones on Soul Beasts are valuable items. Without Soul Rings, Soul Masters will turn their attention to Soul Beast Soul Bones. It won't just be about hunting Soul Beasts for Soul Rings anymore."
"Currently, Spirit Hall explicitly prohibits the large-scale slaughter of Soul Beasts. Although they also hunt Soul Beasts for Soul Rings, it must be admitted that with Spirit Hall around, Soul Masters who want to obtain Soul Bones from Soul Beasts will at least restrain themselves somewhat."
"If Spirit Hall didn't prohibit the indiscriminate slaughter of Soul Beasts, I'm afraid that within ten thousand years, Soul Beasts would be hunted to extinction. If the issue of Soul Rings is resolved, then it will be Soul Bones. Without Soul Bones, Soul Masters will find ways to get other things from Soul Beasts. This is the cultivation rule of this world, not something you or I can easily change."
Xiao Wu fell silent, hearing this. She clenched her pink fists, her voice trembling slightly, "Then Cheng Xiao... do you think Soul Beasts should be hunted by Soul Masters?"
"What I think doesn't matter. As long as the cultivation system of this world doesn't change, the relationship between Soul Beasts and Soul Masters will never change. Soul Masters need Soul Beast Soul Rings to improve their strength and become stronger. Soul Beasts kill Soul Masters because if they don't, they'll be killed."
"However, comparing the cultivation speed of Soul Beasts and Soul Masters, I'm afraid there won't be any Soul Beasts left in the Star Dou Great Forest in ten thousand years. The cultivation speeds aren't proportional. Soul Masters with good talent might only need a few decades to cultivate to Title Douluo, but Soul Beasts need ten thousand years or even a hundred thousand years to contend with humans. Calculating like this, Soul Beasts will probably become an endangered species in the future, right?"
...
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