The morning mist had yet to dissipate, and the golden sunlight pierced through the clouds, spilling onto the training ground. Dai Mubai casually wiped away the sweat from his jawline, his exposed arms rippling with muscles that glead with a bronze hue.
After just thirty days of intensive training, the once playboy had shed his frivolous ways, becoming as sharp as an unsheathed blade. Even Ma Hongjun had reined in his irresponsible nature, his chubby face now marked by seriousness and determination.
During this ti, Tang San and Xiao Wu had both broken through to level 30. After adapting to the rigorous training, Dai Mubai had pushed his potential to its limits and also reached level 30.
Today was the day they would set out for soul hunting.
Flender tried to dissuade Yu Xiaogang beside him: "Xiaogang, are you sure you want to co with us to the Great Star Dou Forest? Your martial soul hasn't evolved yet, and you're not ready for battle."
Yu Xiaogang's tone was resolute: "No need to persuade , Boss Flender."
"The third soul ring is the final stage for laying a soul master's foundation. Your knowledge of spirit beasts isn't as detailed as mine. I'll be there to guide you and ensure no mistakes are made."
In truth, the more important reason was that he knew Tang San might evolve his martial soul during this trip.
He wanted to witness it firsthand, preparing for Luo Sanpao's evolution. Moreover, with Tang Hao secretly guarding them, he believed there would be no danger.
"Alright, have it your way."
Flender reluctantly agreed, then turned to give Oscar and Ma Hongjun so parting advice: "I'll drop you off at the arena on the way. Work hard to earn money and don't slack off. Old Li will keep an eye on you, so don't think about slacking."
At this, the two sighed and groaned but couldn't change Flender's resolve.
Zhu Zhuqing's resources were fully covered by Gu La, so she didn't need to participate in arena battles. She stayed behind at the academy to continue training.
With everything prepared, the eight of them set off.
In a nearby major city, they left Ma Hongjun and Oscar at the Great Spirit Arena. Six of them traveled by carriage and arrived at a small town near the edge of the Great Star Dou Forest seven days later.
The sound of the carriage wheels rolling over gravel startled the birds in the forest. Four tall horses pulled the wide carriage to a stop before the town.
Walking into the town, Yu Xiaogang glanced around. Many soul masters and rchants were haggling in low voices, but with so many people gathered, the atmosphere was still quite noisy.
Yu Xiaogang frowned, sensing sothing amiss: "Boss Flender, isn't there an unusually large number of soul hunters here?"
He hadn't visited the Great Star Dou Forest in a long ti and wasn't entirely certain.
Reminded by Yu Xiaogang, Flender also noticed the abnormality. He frequently ca to the Great Star Dou Forest to collect dragon blood and was familiar with the usual number of soul masters in the town—it shouldn't be this crowded.
"Indeed, there weren't this many people before. But perhaps it's just a coincidence. Oak's papers provided such profound insights into cultivation that even I found them enlightening. With the increase in soul masters, it's normal for many to break through in large numbers."
Yu Xiaogang still felt uneasy but lacked sufficient clues to understand the underlying cause. For now, he pushed his doubts aside: "Perhaps."
Gu La inwardly sighed. He was certain that this soul hunting trip wouldn't go smoothly.
This was the downside of being a favored child of fate—staying cooped up in the academy ensured peace, but stepping out almost guaranteed trouble.
Fortunately, he still had his "foresight cheat."
His eyes narrowed slightly, piercing through ti to glimpse the future scenes of entering the Great Star Dou Forest.
Page after page of temporal animations flipped before his eyes. Gu La had specifically learned lip-reading to decipher the reasons behind the surge of soul masters.
As it turned out, the cause was related to him—or rather, to his other identity, Oak.
The ergence of the ga Evolution device had increased the value of soul bones tenfold or more. In the past, under the supervision of the Spirit Hall, few dared to recklessly slaughter spirit beasts in hopes of obtaining soul bones.
But when the stakes grew high enough, there would always be those willing to take the risk.
Besides, the Great Star Dou Forest was vast. If one was careful, the chances of being discovered by the Spirit Hall were slim.
If they managed to obtain a soul bone, the entire hunting team could strike it rich. So might even catch the attention of powerful factions and gain access to ga Evolution devices. Naturally, soul masters seeking strength would take the risk.
Gu La mused to himself: "Who did I sell the blueprints for the ga Evolution device to again? The Spirit Hall, the Upper Three Sects, the two great empires, five or six generous duchies, a few reclusive sects, noble alliances… Hmm, too many to count."
Shaking his head, Gu La carefully reviewed the future scenes.
It was impossible for these soul masters to spontaneously gather for soul hunting and bone collection. There must be soone stirring the pot behind the scenes.
Gu La glanced around, observing the mouths of the various figures moving in his vision.
"The Star Luo Empire really hasn't forgotten its ambitions."
"The Lower Four Sects are here too, heh, just pawns on the surface, unwittingly becoming soone else's chess pieces."
"The Spirit Hall has caught wind of this and is preparing to swoop in after the chaos."
"The Hao Tian Sect has sent soone as well, keeping a low profile. They almost slipped under my radar. Are they planning to fish in troubled waters and quietly make a fortune…?"
Gu La chuckled softly, his gaze sweeping toward the direction of the town. In the prophetic image seven days ahead, piles of spirit beast corpses under a blood-red sunset churned in his mind.
"Such indiscriminate slaughter of spirit beasts… won't this cause problems?"
Gu La knew that deep within the core of the Great Star Dou Forest lay a Misty Forest, ho to the six great ferocious beasts and their master, the Silver Dragon King.
If the killings went too far, it might trigger a beast tide, and everyone would suffer the consequences.
Gu La's eyes flickered: "And it just happens to coincide with my visit… Fortunately, no faction has gone so far as to send a Title Douluo. Since everyone wants to fish in troubled waters, why not stir things up even more?"
As the carriage entered the center of the town, waves of noise washed over them.
"Teacher, three hundred ters northwest, soone is watching us."
Tang San suddenly lowered his voice, slipping three bone-piercing needles out of his sleeve.
Dai Mubai snickered, cracking his knuckles: "Perfect timing to test the results of our recent training."
But Yu Xiaogang pressed his shoulder down: "Conserve your soul power before entering the forest. I have a feeling this soul hunt won't go smoothly."
Flender looked up, slightly startled. Behind his crystal lenses, his sharp eyes narrowed. "Shi Nian."
"Flender, long ti no see. Still doing well, I hope?"
When Shi Nian saw that Flender had noticed him, he naturally wouldn't back down in front of his old enemy. Crossing a hundred ters in a few strides, he approached with a mocking greeting, his shadowy gaze sweeping across the group.
Sensing the four youths' level 30 soul power fluctuations, Shi Nian's smile grew more sinister, concealing the jealousy in his eyes.
"What luck, four geniuses."
Flender knew Shi Nian well—a despicable man. His seventy-eight-level soul power surged, exuding the aura of a Soul Sage.
Standing in front of Shi Nian, Flender glanced at the several white-robed youths behind him and sneered: "You, bringing students on a soul hunt? That's quite unexpected."
The wrinkles on Shi Nian's forehead twitched, his white hair fluttering as he coldly snorted: "Don't pretend to be naive. We all have the sa goal—hypocrites!"
With a sharp flick of his sleeve, Shi Nian led his students away.
Before leaving, his icy gaze swept over Gu La. His Nightmare martial soul leaned toward illusions and ntal power, and sensing Gu La's extraordinary psychic energy, curiosity sparked in his mind.
(T/N: Both psychic energy and spiritual power co from the mind and their attacks fall under the 'Special Attack' category in this novel)
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