Outwardly, Meng Hongchen didn't show any reaction when she learned about the matter, but in her heart she silently approved of Xiao Hongchen's actions.
Typical Shrek Academy—always resorting to these petty little tricks!
But there would always be times when Xiao Hongchen couldn't intervene, especially once Elder Xuan learned of the situation. The academy deliberately increased Xiao Hongchen's cultivation tasks and classes.
On this day, when Jiang Shengyu came to the outer court to see Meng Hongchen and Jiang Qingtong, Wang Dong'er seized the chance to make her request:
"Brother Shengyu! I'm about to obtain my fourth soul ring—let's go hunt for it together in the Star Dou Forest!"
Hearing this, Jiang Shengyu shook his head. "I can't go."
Wang Dong'er blinked, puzzled. "Why not?"
Jiang Shengyu explained, "Shrek Academy has an agreement with the fierce beasts: anyone possessing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring cannot set foot in the Star Dou Forest. I already have one, so I'm forbidden from entering. Otherwise, it would strain the relationship between Shrek and the fierce beasts."
At his words, Wang Dong'er lowered her head in disappointment.
Finally, such a rare chance—and it's ruined because of this? What a pity…
Just then, Bei Bei approached and said to her, "I also need to obtain my fifth soul ring. We can go together, Junior Dong'er."
Wang Dong'er glanced at him, clearly resistant. She knew about his relationship with Tang Ya, and also that he was pursuing Jiang Qingtong. In her eyes, Bei Bei was simply… unacceptable.
Seeing her expression, Bei Bei's brow furrowed. Jiang Shengyu interjected, "If you're going to hunt a soul ring, why not just go straightaway? With your strength, taking down a ten-thousand-year soul beast shouldn't be too hard."
Bei Bei was at a loss for words. If it were an ordinary ten-thousand-year beast, he could indeed manage. But his martial soul was evolving toward the Radiant Holy Dragon—meaning his soul rings had to come from dragon-blooded soul beasts.
And every dragon-blooded beast was formidable beyond comparison. A ten-thousand-year dragon-type beast was far from something a rank-fifty soul master like him could defeat.
Catching the look on Bei Bei's face, Jiang Shengyu said coolly, "Don't tell me… you can't handle it?"
That one jab pierced Bei Bei's pride. Clenching his fists, he barked, "How could I not! It's just a ten-thousand-year soul beast—I can handle it!"
"Then good luck." Jiang Shengyu smiled faintly.
Bei Bei turned away in anger and stormed off. Wang Dong'er muttered at his retreating figure, "Is something wrong with him? Just because he's Elder Mu's great-grandson, he acts so strange."
"There are all kinds of people in the world," Jiang Shengyu replied calmly, spreading his hands. "You can't deny that some people simply have eccentric tempers."
He didn't bother caring whether Bei Bei's situation was of their own making or not.
Still, as Elder Mu's great-grandson—and aside from Jiang Shengyu's group, the person Shrek valued most—Bei Bei's fifth soul ring hunt was immediately brought before Elder Xuan.
The Soul Contract Pearl still shone above the Sea God Pavilion. Since anyone with a hundred-thousand-year ring was forbidden from entering the Star Dou Forest, Elder Xuan directly ordered Yan Shaozhe to accompany Bei Bei for his hunt.
Wang Dong'er, who also needed a new ring, went along under Yan Shaozhe's lead. Jiang Shengyu couldn't join, but Jiang Qingtong was also summoned. Shrek would never waste any chance to push her and Bei Bei closer together.
Yan Shaozhe led the way, lecturing as he walked: "Remember, although ten-thousand-year soul beasts are rare in the outer region, you must never stray into the inner region!"
Bei Bei nodded. "Understood, Dean Yan."
Wang Dong'er asked, "And if we can't find suitable beasts?"
Yan Shaozhe answered directly, "Then we keep searching a few more days. If that fails, we can always go elsewhere. The Douluo Continent is vast—Star Dou isn't the only place with large beast populations."
But the moment their party entered the Star Dou Forest, Bi Ji in the core region sensed it. With Di Tian having gone to the Evil Demon Forest to meet the Evil Eye, matters of the forest were left in her care.
Down below, the Bear Lord rumbled, "I'll go deal with them all!"
"Qingtong is among them," Bi Ji said.
The Bear Lord snorted, "Then I'll spare her life and kill the others!"
Bi Ji sighed helplessly and shook her head. "Don't forget our pact with that human Ultimate Douluo. The only restriction is that those with hundred-thousand-year rings may not enter. These ones haven't broken the rules."
"Hah! Since when do us soul beasts bow to human rules?" the Bear Lord scoffed. With Di Tian absent, he thought himself free to act.
Seeing his eagerness, the Myriad Demon King shifted further away, unwilling to get dragged into the fool's antics. He at least understood that now was no time to provoke conflict with humans.
If word spread that Di Tian was absent from the Star Dou Forest, who knew what might happen?
Bi Ji's brows furrowed as she scolded, "If you keep this up, when Di Tian returns I'll tell him everything! Then you'll suffer the same punishment as last time—and I won't plead for you!"
"You…" The Bear Lord shrank back at her words, the fire in him snuffed out instantly. He muttered, "You always use Di Tian to threaten me."
"And what about the Lord?" Bi Ji pressed. "Do you mean to ignore her will as well?"
At the mention of the Silver Dragon King, the Bear Lord slumped completely. "Fine! I won't move. I'll stay put, all right? Damn it, this is maddening! Watching these humans kill soul beasts—how can you just sit back?"
"I've already ordered every soul beast over ten-thousand years to retreat from the outer region. At most, they'll find thousand-year beasts," Bi Ji replied. Of course she wouldn't sit idly by while her kind were hunted.
Indeed, things unfolded as she said. Yan Shaozhe's group searched the outer region for a long time. In the end, they only managed to find a suitable thousand-year soul beast for Wang Dong'er's Bright Goddess Butterfly. As for the dragon-type ten-thousand-year soul beast Bei Bei needed, not even a trace appeared.
By now, they had nearly reached the inner region. Normally, there would be some ten-thousand-year beasts active here. But now—nothing.
Yan Shaozhe frowned deeply, glancing toward the core of the forest. "Could it be the work of those damned beasts?" he muttered.
Standing behind him, Jiang Qingtong heard his derogatory words about Di Tian and the others. Her brows lifted, and in her gaze flashed a trace of scorn.
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