Chapter 71: Star Dou Forest
After settling in Mo Ya and Bai Feng, Qin Xuan also helped Nong Yu acquire her first and second spirit rings.
Because her cultivation was not high and she hadn't absorbed any Spirit Bones, her physique hadn't reached the level of a Spirit Grandmaster. Therefore, Nong Yu couldn't start with a 700-year first spirit ring and a 1,500-year second like Mo Ya and Bai Feng could.
However, when she awakened her Spirit, she surprisingly developed an innate domain similar to Tang Yuehua's Domain of Nobility. The slight difference was that Tang Yuehua's domain calmed people's minds, allowing them to achieve a state of undisturbed tranquility. Nong Yu's domain, on the other hand, added an extremely strong hallucinatory effect, capable of subtly trapping people in illusions without their knowledge.
Unless one's cultivation or mental force was exceptionally strong, even those at or slightly above Nong Yu's level would almost inevitably be affected. This development made Qin Xuan, who had originally only intended for her to be a maid, reconsider and decide to cultivate her talent.
He specially selected two suitable hundred-year spirit rings for her in the Sunset Forest. Both were of the sound and sonic wave type, providing her with two powerful Spirit Abilities while greatly enhancing the hallucinatory effect of her domain.
Although Nong Yu's cultivation was not high, she was still a martial artist from her world. Therefore, the quality of the spirit rings she could absorb was still higher than that of ordinary Spirit Masters. Her first spirit ring reached 500 years, and her second exceeded 900 years—so close to a millennium that one could see a hint of purple within the yellow.
After resolving Nong Yu's spirit ring issue, Qin Xuan and Jing Ni finally left the Sunset Forest. After nearly half a month, they arrived at the rendezvous point with Ling Yuan Douluo, a small town on the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.
As the largest gathering place for Spirit Beasts on the Douluo Continent, the Star Dou Great Forest was a sacred hunting ground for Spirit Masters from both great empires. Of course, very few knew about its core area, the Lake of Life.
Although Qin Xuan had hunted here before with a Spirit Hall Cardinal, that was before he regained his memories. He had been rushed and hadn't had time to appreciate the forest's charm. Returning now, the place felt completely unfamiliar. The only guide he had was a mental sketch of the forest described by a book-loving friend from his past life.
"Further ahead should be the territory of 10,000-year Soul Beasts," Ling Yuan Douluo said, looking up at the darkening sky. She called out to Qin Xuan and Jing Ni, who were scanning the area with their mental force. "Let's rest for now and search again tomorrow. You two set up the tents; I'll go patrol the perimeter."
As for Nong Yu, she had settled into her role as a maid and was already inside the Qiankun Bag, looking after A Yan.
Qin Xuan's purpose for this trip was simple: to try his luck and hunt some 10,000-year Soul Beasts, avoiding the Titan Giant Ape, the Sky Azure Bull Python, and a certain mother-daughter pair of rabbits. His targets included the three Qianjun Ant Emperor brothers, whose rings could mutate, and the Dark-Devilgod Tiger, which could drop an external Spirit Bone.
Additionally, he aimed to finally win over Ling Yuan Douluo, which would earn him a million emotion points and a Titled Douluo-level helper. If he accomplished any of these goals, the trip would be a success.
He avoided the forest's famous inhabitants for several reasons. Firstly, the spirit rings from the mother-daughter rabbits were simply too weak. As for the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python, they were too powerful and tough for his current team to handle. Even if they managed to lure one away, a one-hit kill was unlikely, and the other would quickly arrive, leading to a brutal, unrewarding battle. He wasn't about to risk Ling Yuan's life against those two simpletons like in the original story.
Secondly, the young rabbit was to be left for that little punk, Tang San. A Tang San who never lost his precious rabbit wouldn't be the complete Tang San, would he? As for the mother rabbit, Qin Xuan had other plans for her.
At this time, Ling Yuan's favorability had already risen from 90 to 95 after his half-forced kiss. To ensure he succeeded this time, Qin Xuan came well-prepared. The tent was large and sturdy, and he had arranged the night watch duty himself. He and Jing Ni would alternate shifts, with him specifically choosing the first half of the night to prevent Ling Yuan from refusing.
Jing Ni was already well aware of his intentions, and Qin Xuan had no plans to hide it from her. Only Nong Yu was still foolishly in the dark.
Qin Xuan and Jing Ni were used to camping together. He set up the tent while Jing Ni took care of A Yan. Now, with Nong Yu present, that task fell to her, allowing Jing Ni to help with the tent.
When Ling Yuan returned from her patrol, the camp was already set up. A circle of special medicinal powder had been sprinkled around to deter snakes, insects, and other Spirit Beasts. In front of the tent, an aluminum pot sat over a fire, with instant noodles cooking inside.
"What are you cooking? It smells so good," Ling Yuan said, intrigued by a scent she had never encountered before.
They were on the boundary between the thousand-year and 10,000-year Spirit Beast territories, so there were no particularly powerful creatures nearby. Qin Xuan also periodically released his Vermillion Bird Domain, which had a strong deterrent effect. They weren't worried about being attacked. Even if the Titan Giant Ape itself showed up, they could all retreat safely. As for any opportunistic Spirit Masters, Qin Xuan almost wished they'd try something; he could always use more storage spirit tools.
Before Qin Xuan could speak, Jing Ni thoughtfully served Ling Yuan a bowl of noodles. "Elder Ling Yuan, my husband calls this 'instant noodles.' You just add seasoning and boiling water. It's even better when cooked in a pot."
"I never would have guessed, little brother Qin Xuan. You have a talent for cooking too," Ling Yuan said, taking the bowl with a smile. "No wonder you were able to capture the hearts of these two beautiful sisters. A boy who is considerate is truly handsome!" she ate elegantly, her gaze subtly sweeping over Jing Ni and Nong Yu. Even she had to marvel that both were rare beauties.
Qin Xuan had already given her a flimsy backstory for Nong Yu—that she was an orphan he'd rescued from the clutches of a cruel nobleman. The story was full of holes, but Ling Yuan didn't press the issue.
"If you like it, I'll make it for you every day from now on," Qin Xuan said, uttering a cheesy pick-up line that, in his past life, would have been cringe-worthy enough to make someone want to dig a hole and live in it. But in this world of romantics, it was nothing short of a bombshell.