"Whoosh—"
In the outer region of the Star Dou Forest, a flock of unnamed bird soul beasts, startled by something, suddenly flapped their wings and burst out from the verdant treetops, creating a rustling sound.
Amid the dense canopy, a figure leaned against a tree trunk, sitting on a branch, holding a few cyan fruits. Biting into one, a crisp sound echoed as a refreshing sweetness spread in his mouth.
Lin Xiao felt the sweet taste linger, casually raising his hand to catch a decade-old soul beast scampering across the tree in a panic. Seemingly accustomed to this, he didn't even glance at it. With a flick of his wrist, the soul beast fell to the ground and hurriedly fled elsewhere.
Lin Xiao's gaze remained fixed on the direction outside the forest, as if piercing through the dense foliage to the edges of the Star Dou Forest.
Not long after leaving Star Luo City, he had arrived here. Now, over two months later, though he hadn't encountered the person he was waiting for, his cultivation had broken through to Level 70.
In Lin Xiao's memory, Wang Qiu'er, transformed from the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, had once claimed she spent an entire year training in the Star Dou Forest to conceal her familiarity with the place.
Wang Qiu'er was lying—she was a soul beast herself and naturally knew the forest well. But Lin Xiao had genuinely spent a significant amount of time in the Star Dou Forest. Even during the festive season when others were celebrating, he was already here.
He wouldn't claim to know the entire forest intimately, but he had grown accustomed to the soul beasts that appeared from time to time. He could feel his alertness and perception had greatly improved. Occasionally, he found wild fruits in the forest to vary his diet, some of which even offered slight benefits to soul masters.
Perhaps, in the end, he wouldn't achieve the result he sought, but the experience gained in the Star Dou Forest was valuable in itself, making the trip worthwhile.
After meditating on the branch for a while, fully restoring his soul power, Lin Xiao stood and leaped down from the tree.
This was another gain from his time here. Even in the soul beast-filled Star Dou Forest, the chances of being attacked by soul beasts were lower in the trees than on the ground.
Carefully sensing the surroundings and finding nothing different from usual, Lin Xiao turned and headed toward the mixed zone deeper in the forest.
Waiting for someone was one thing, but with his cultivation now at the Level 70 bottleneck, he also needed to scout for suitable soul beasts in advance.
Not long after Lin Xiao's rest, far beyond the Star Dou Forest, a small figure, also having just rested, passed by a wooden sign with a single line of text.
"Fifty miles ahead lies the Star Dou Forest. Soul beasts are present. Proceed with caution."
The figure touched the dagger at their waist and strode toward the Star Dou Forest with resolute steps.
"Senior, where are we heading now?"
Meanwhile, in the northern part of the Star Dou Forest, another group had just entered the forest.
The leader glanced upward before pointing south.
"We're currently in the northern part of the Star Dou Forest, with the mixed zone to our south. The soul beasts in the northern part are generally stronger than those in the south. Since we're together this time, we took the shorter northern route. In the future, if you enter the Star Dou Forest alone, don't be afraid of the distance—take the safer southern route."
"Yes, Senior."
Hearing the group's acknowledgment, the leader nodded slightly and led the way deeper into the forest.
Not long after they left, a staggering figure followed from a distance, occasionally taking a swig from a flask at their waist, letting out a belch that left a lingering smell of alcohol.
"This time, we're here to hunt soul rings. Everyone should have a need for one, so let's share our requirements. I'm currently at Level 80 and need my eighth soul ring," the leader spoke again as they walked.
A murmur of awe rose from the group behind her. Though they were used to seeing talented soul masters, their senior's cultivation still surprised them.
"I need my sixth soul ring. I'm far behind you, Senior," someone spoke up after a brief pause.
"Alright, we'll keep an eye out once we enter the mixed zone."
The group exchanged information while staying vigilant, their pace steady as they soon entered the mixed zone.
However, shortly after entering, a strange fluctuation swept through the entire Star Dou Forest. In an instant, roars echoed from its deepest core.
The drunken figure trailing behind them sobered instantly, vanishing from the spot as if sensing something.
On the other side, Lin Xiao, still searching for a suitable soul beast, suddenly paled and whipped around to look behind him.
Such an overwhelming aura, appearing in the outer region of the Star Dou Forest…
What he had been waiting for had arrived.
With a tap of his foot, his body spun sharply. The aura he released scared off several weaker soul beasts, but Lin Xiao no longer cared about concealing his presence. The soul tool thruster on his back erupted with dazzling light, propelling him toward the outer region.
With his Level 70 soul power fully driving the soul tool thruster, his speed was astonishing, reaching the outer region in mere breaths.
Sensing the source of the aura he had detected, Lin Xiao adjusted his direction. Suddenly, the necklace-like soul tool on his chest shattered.
Lin Xiao raised his head slightly, his expression shifting from shock to joy.
This soul tool, crafted by his own hands, was designed to resist mental attacks. Though not of high rank, it could withstand the full mental assault of a Soul King.
Yet now, in just a single breath, it had completely shattered. The source of such an effect was unmistakable.
Raising his head, he saw the sky had changed, gradually darkening.
Lin Xiao stomped the ground, his body surging forward once more. But in the next moment, his expression shifted again.
It felt as if he had stepped into another world. His body suddenly grew heavy, and the mental energy in his sea of consciousness could no longer focus, as if he might faint at any moment.
This was the power of a million-year soul beast.
Lin Xiao knew exactly where this influence came from.
When he first came to the Star Dou Forest, he had fantasized about whether he might have some unique quality that could draw the attention of that soul beast.
Unfortunately, he had no such luck. That soul beast seemed fixated on soul masters with mental attributes and had never appeared for him.
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