Yue Guan left with deep resentment in his heart, glancing back every few steps.
At first, he thought Yu Xiaowei was just bluffing and intended to forcefully take him away. If that didn't work, he'd imprison him and teach him a lesson—surely, he'd give in eventually.
But once Qin Ming came out and confirmed Yu Xiaowei's identity, Yue Guan had no choice but to leave reluctantly. He didn't even stay at the hotel anymore, fearing that if he lingered, he might not be able to stop himself from kidnapping the boy.
It wasn't easy to find a seedling as promising as this. With Yu Xiaowei's bone age and spirit power, and the unique advantage of having absorbed the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum, if nurtured properly, he would at least become a Super Douluo in the future.
But it was impossible—behind Yu Xiaowei stood a Titled Douluo with the strongest beast spirit, a Titled Douluo with the strongest offensive power, and a Titled Douluo with the strongest defense. He couldn't afford to cross any of them.
Before leaving, the girl among the three youths turned and looked deeply at Yu Xiaowei, as if trying to imprint his image in her heart. Meanwhile, the two young men made throat-slitting gestures at him.
"The Golden Generation of Spirit Hall… it seems someone has already reached Soul King level."
Responding with a raised middle finger, Yu Xiaowei squinted as he watched their figures retreat into the distance.
He couldn't help but feel worried. In another seven or eight years, Spirit Hall would launch their spirit-hunting operation. Could the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect withstand the assault?
No, they had to push forward Tang San's path to godhood. Their goal had to shift—they needed to become gods in seven years and thwart Spirit Hall's grand plan.
---
The next morning, at dawn, Qin Ming led the Royal Battle Team toward the Star Dou Forest.
After learning that a level 95 Titled Douluo wanted to take Yu Xiaowei as a disciple but was refused, everyone—except for Yu Tianheng—reacted with regret.
But when they found out Yu Xiaowei's uncle was Yu Yuanzhen, the holder of the strongest beast spirit, they felt relieved.
Ye Lingling's Nine-Hearted Begonia martial spirit was unique. No matter how many spirit rings she absorbed, it only granted her one soul skill: an area-of-effect healing ability.
Thus, this ring hunt was actually quite simple. They just needed to find a thousand-year-old soul beast, beat it until it was near death, and let Ye Lingling land the final blow.
Originally, this only required Qin Ming and Ye Lingling to go alone.
But Qin Ming wanted the whole team to get familiar with the soul beast forest environment. If they could find three- or four-thousand-year-old beasts, it would be good practice. So he brought everyone along.
What surprised him the most was that Yu Xiaowei actually volunteered to come. This request pleased him—the lazy one was finally willing to gain some experience.
Star Dou Forest was different from Sunset Forest—not only was it larger, but the soul beasts were older and more aggressive.
Moreover, few spirit masters dared come here to hunt rings. Once inside, there were no proper paths.
Qin Ming let out a low roar, releasing his martial spirit—the Fire Wolf—which possessed him.
With his hands transformed into blazing claws, he took the lead, clearing the way through thorns and brambles.
Watching the spirited Royal Battle Team trying their best, Yu Xiaowei, walking at the rear, smiled faintly.
Qin Ming was excellent in every way—except he pampered his students too much.
It was fine to protect Ye Lingling, the support, but why baby the two Shi brothers?
Because of that, this group of mighty dragons had turned into spoiled insects.
No wonder they lost to the Shrek Seven Devils, even though they had far superior spirit power and spirit rings.
After walking for about an hour, they encountered only ten- or hundred-year-old soul beasts.
Sensing Qin Ming's aura, the young beasts fled before even being driven off, and no one was interested in chasing them.
When no one was paying attention, Yu Xiaowei seized the opportunity to slip away.
He had joined Qin Ming of his own accord, not to bond with others.
But after walking a while, he stopped and looked up at the sky uncertainly.
However, the trees in the Star Dou Forest were so dense that barely any sunlight could filter through.
"If you walk at a normal pace for two hours, then go straight for about 3,000 meters… but in which direction? Damn it, how could I be this careless? Really careless this time."
Yu Xiaowei stood still, clutching his head, trying to recall the original book's description.
What he was looking for was the soul beast that allowed Tang San to obtain an external spirit bone:
The 2,000-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider.
But man-faced demon spiders were rare—among the hardest soul beasts to find.
If you didn't know the direction, it was nearly impossible.
After some thought, Yu Xiaowei decisively turned back and retraced his steps.
Soon, he returned to the spot where he had left the team, then followed the path Qin Ming had cleared.
Before long, he heard cries for help.
Listening closely, he recognized the voice—it was Ye Lingling.
"Oh no, Qin Ming isn't there?"
Startled, he rushed toward the source.
When Yu Xiaowei arrived, what met his eyes were thick purple spiderwebs everywhere, and the two Shi brothers desperately struggling.
Their faces were already pale purple. Ye Lingling was behind them, crying as she healed them.
The attacker was exactly the creature Yu Xiaowei had been searching for in vain—
The Man-Faced Demon Spider!
Judging by the Shi brothers' expressions, they had been poisoned.
Fortunately, both were defense-type spirit masters with strong natural resistance to toxins, and they had antidotes from Dugu Bo.
With Ye Lingling—now empowered by her third spirit ring—healing them, they had managed to hold on.
But judging by their skin tone and condition, they wouldn't last much longer.
Yu Xiaowei roared, releasing his martial spirit, and leapt toward the Man-Faced Demon Spider.
The tyrannical aura of the Monster King swept over the area. The spider sensed this and, fear flashing through all eight eyes, froze.
It didn't even bother with the Shi brothers. It spat a giant web—ten times its own size—directly at Yu Xiaowei.
"Blazing White Light—!"
Fire was undoubtedly the best way to combat insect-type soul beasts.
Sure enough, under the high temperature of the incandescent light, the spider web disintegrated into ash in less than a second.
This Man-Faced Demon Spider had high intelligence. Realizing that its enemy was a powerful fire-type soul master, it immediately turned to flee.
At Yu Xiaowei's feet, his Earth King's third spirit ring lit up.
Third spirit skill: Atomic Dissociation—activated.
Effect: Breath temperature doubled, attack range of breath skill expanded tenfold!
A blue light glowed through the forest. Moments later, a beam twice the size of Yu Xiaowei's head streaked after the spider.
The 2,000-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider was completely annihilated upon contact with the beam.
As a purple spirit ring emerged, Yu Xiaowei caught his breath and walked over to Ye Lingling and the others.
After using an antidote to confirm the poison was neutralized in the Shi brothers' bodies, he headed toward the spirit ring's location.
There, only a pile of white ash remained, drifting away with the breeze.
There was no jade-like external spirit bone in sight.
Yu Xiaowei simply smiled.