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Tang Ya eyed Bei Bei suspiciously. She couldn't shake the feeling that her boyfriend had a strange fear of Su Wen, treating him with the same caution one might show a ten-thousand-year soul beast.
But he was just a cute and handsome boy, wasn't he?
"He's already a fifteen-year-old Soul Elder. Can he at least act like it…?" Tang Ya grumbled inwardly.
"Of course, that sounds great!" Tang Ya replied cheerfully.
"…"
Bei Bei swallowed hard, speechless as he looked at Tang Ya. Do you even know what kind of monstrous figure you've just invited?
Still, he didn't say anything aloud. Su Wen was indeed powerful—but he was "one of us." The worst-case scenario was that their private time would be gone. But since the Star Dou Great Forest was extremely dangerous, having someone that strong along would give Tang Ya a lot more options.
"Wait a minute…"
Bei Bei suddenly froze, his pupils widening as shock filled his expression.
"You've reached a bottleneck again?!!"
The bottleneck of a Soul Elder—meaning the next step would be Soul Ancestor!
"I guess you could say that," Su Wen hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly.
Though he was still a month or two away from Level 40, it wouldn't hurt to go to the Star Dou Great Forest early and try his luck. After all, plenty of people trained there while searching for soul rings.
"Perfect! Let's have Senior Brother Bei Bei help us hunt soul beasts. I need a thousand-year soul ring. If we come across a suitable hundred-year soul ring, we can help Little Wen get one too," Tang Ya said with a carefree laugh.
"…" Bei Bei's expression turned awkward.
Tang Ya probably thought Su Wen was just tagging along to "mooch" a soul ring.
After all, Bei Bei was quite famous in the outer court.
"Bei Bei is known as one of the Twin Stars of the Outer Court—a fifteen-year-old assault-type Battle Soul Elder. And as for me, Tang Ya, I'm already at Level 30—just one step away from becoming a Soul Elder!" Tang Ya declared proudly.
Bei Bei curled his toes in embarrassment, clearly uncomfortable.
Just as he was about to pull Tang Ya aside to explain, two more figures approached from a short distance away.
"Oh, what a coincidence~"
A young girl approached gracefully. Her long, golden hair flowed gently over her shoulders, and she wore a refined, slightly modified version of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's female uniform. Though the changes were subtle, the outfit gave her the elegance of a noble lady. A platinum belt accentuated her slender waist, and a pale blue butterfly rested atop her hair.
She wore a pair of polished black leather shoes with pearl buttons tied at the ankle like butterfly knots.
Su Wen's expression froze as he saw her.
Ning Tian?!!
This is Ning Tian?!
The Ning Tian he remembered had always looked like a tomboy. Although her soft features made it clear she was a girl, the change in her appearance over the past year had been dramatic.
With her hands clasped behind her back, Ning Tian skipped over like a light-footed deer and came to a graceful stop in front of Su Wen.
"Long time no see."
"Yeah… it really has been a while," Su Wen said with emotion.
"And this silly dragon too."
"You're the silly dragon! Your whole family—!" Wu Feng bared her teeth and glared at Su Wen, but Ning Tian quietly pinched her thigh, making her shut up and look elsewhere in frustration.
The latter now had long, flowing red hair, her figure even taller and more slender than before. She wore black short boots and exuded a bold and valiant aura.
"Aren't you going to register?" Ning Tian asked with a bright smile.
"...No rush," Su Wen shook his head.
The outer court's registration period lasted over half a month, and this was only the first day. According to the original storyline, when Huo Yuhao was brought by Bei Bei and Tang Ya to enroll, things were still in full swing.
"Then we're in no rush either," Ning Tian said, obediently standing by Su Wen's side.
"We're heading to the Star Dou Great Forest. Want to come along?" Su Wen asked after some thought.
"..." Wu Feng snorted twice but didn't respond.
A look of joy blossomed on Ning Tian's pretty face. "Really? That's perfect—I'm just about ready for my third soul ring!"
Hearing this, Tang Ya, who had been spectating from the side, suddenly stiffened.
Huh?!
She didn't know Ning Tian's background, but she was sure the girl was a first-year student.
An eleven-year-old Soul Elder?!
Then what did that make her—a fifteen-year-old…
"Uncle Cheng, there's no need for you to follow. We'll only be in the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest—not the core area," Ning Tian said softly to the middle-aged man behind her.
"This…" The man scratched his head.
He was a Soul Saint and had come with the young miss to Shrek Academy, intending to help her obtain her third soul ring.
But with only two Soul Elders in this group, he worried about the young miss's safety.
Still, Elder Zhu and the Clan Master had instructed him to follow her orders.
"Yes, miss!" he eventually gritted his teeth and agreed.
Star Dou Great Forest – Outer Perimeter
The towering ancient trees blotted out the sky, blocking most of the sunlight and leaving the forest floor damp. In the sweltering summer heat, the whole forest felt like a steam room. A breeze occasionally passed through the canopy, but it brought no relief.
"It's so hot…" Wu Feng complained, fanning herself.
Ning Tian followed closely beside Su Wen. Her pretty face was flushed, and large beads of sweat rolled down her chin. Her once-flawless outfit was now disheveled. Her socks, soaked with sweat inside her leather shoes, made her uncomfortable. As a support-type soul master, her physical endurance was the weakest among them.
"…"
Su Wen reached out his hand.
"Hm~" Ning Tian blinked in surprise, then blushed and gently placed her fair hand in his.
Feeling the softness of her hand, Su Wen focused for a moment.
Then, channeling his body's extreme cold energy with precision, he injected it into her.
"Mm…"
Ning Tian let out a soft hum.
It felt like she'd been tossed into an ice cellar in the middle of a heatwave—the heat vanished instantly.
"What are you doing?" Wu Feng asked suspiciously.
"Here." Su Wen extended his other hand with a smile.
"Hmph!" Wu Feng huffed pridefully, but her actions betrayed her as she placed her hand in Su Wen's.
"Huh?!" Wu Feng instantly felt refreshed. "Oh, right—I forgot you have an Ice-type Martial Soul."
"You two, feeling hot?" Su Wen smiled and asked Tang Ya and Bei Bei ahead of them.
"A little," Bei Bei replied, his mouth twitching slightly as he eyed Su Wen holding hands with both girls.
Su Wen nodded.
A faint blue ripple spread from beneath his feet, radiating outward like a wave of extreme cold. Each step he took left a light layer of frost behind, driving away the oppressive heat. This level of control over his ice attribute consumed very little soul power. He considered it payment for the two of them acting as guides.
"You're an ice-attribute soul master?" Tang Ya asked in surprise.
"Something like that."
Meanwhile...
"I will avenge you, Mother!"
Huo Yuhao wiped the sweat from his forehead, his eyes growing more determined. His grip on the White Tiger Dagger tightened.
Even as a level-10 Soul Master, his physique had been strengthened to a degree. Otherwise, an eleven-year-old boy could never have survived an entire day in the Star Dou Great Forest. This sweltering heat and the constant, deadly peril would be a nightmare for any ordinary person.
"Pant… pant…"
Finally, he spotted a fast-flowing stream and allowed his tense body to relax slightly.
"I should catch a few fish."
After resting for a moment, he noticed fish swimming in the stream and felt his empty stomach growl.
(End of Chapter)