By the time Su Wen and the other two returned, Tang Ya and Bei Bei had already taught Huo Yuhao the Mysterious Heaven Skill and such. They even took Huo Yuhao in as Tang Ya's disciple, making him a member of the Tang Sect, and naturally granted him something precious—a recommendation letter to Shrek Academy. "Thank you, Teacher Tang Ya!"
A much brighter smile appeared on Huo Yuhao's face.
From initial inferiority, he was gradually gaining a trace of longing for the future.
What a pity…
Su Wen sighed inwardly.
"Have there been any suitable soul beasts for Ning Tian?"
Seeing Su Wen tactfully keep his distance, Bei Bei spoke a bit more politely, and with a hint of guilt. After all, the so-called secret arts of the Tang Sect were already falling behind in a continent that changed with each passing day. Which great clan didn't secretly hoard top-tier cultivation methods nowadays? They were likely all somewhat superior to Mysterious Heaven Skill.
Keeping distance was mainly for the sake of his and Tang Ya's relationship—the Tang Sect's arts are not to be spread outside.
A bit touching, really.
"No, not yet. If we're done here, let's keep heading deeper," Su Wen smiled. They were on the outer outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest; even ten-year soul beasts rarely appeared. Finding a thousand-year soul beast here was a pipe dream.
"Alright! Move out!" Tang Ya waved her hand.
The group headed deeper to the north.
…
"Huh…"
In Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea, the Skydream Iceworm suddenly woke, letting out a surprised sound.
"Brother Skydream, what's wrong?" Huo Yuhao asked secretly in his spiritual sea while traveling.
"A familiar aura… the Ice Empress?! No, just an Ice Jade Scorpion. Don't tell me there's another Emperor Scorpion in the world besides the Ice Empress? Could it be his martial soul?" Skydream gasped.
"Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor?" Huo Yuhao was bewildered.
"One of the top bloodlines among soul beasts on this continent, just a tier below pure-blood dragons. That kid's martial soul is actually the Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor—what a monster." Skydream's expression flickered with uncertainty. Su Wen gave him a very strange feeling; probing with spiritual power brought a needle-like sharpness.
"You mean Senior Su Wen…?" Huo Yuhao sneaked a glance at Su Wen. The latter's expression didn't change; he was holding hands with two pretty girls—an image that made Yuhao rather envious.
"That's right. This person is very dangerous. Remember to stay away from him in the future," Skydream warned, eyes narrowing.
"And when I look at him, I get this inexplicable… palpitation. Anyway, be careful around him," Skydream took a deep breath.
"Okay!" Huo Yuhao nodded solemnly, committing it to memory.
Although Su Wen had left a good impression on him, he preferred to trust Brother Skydream…
…
About two hours later, the forest grew thicker; the vast jungle and towering ancient trees made the Star Dou Great Forest appear increasingly majestic to them, even though this was still only the outer region…
Thud~
As Bei Bei's palm became a blade, a pale-blue arc flashed.
The white shadow that had been flickering around fell to the ground, spasming from the electricity, especially around its neck, which was charred black.
"These Wind Baboons are the worst, not only do they attack proactively, they love to ambush," Tang Ya said angrily, hands on hips.
Wu Feng shot Su Wen a mischievous look.
He shrugged.
My Gale… well, yeah, he's pretty cheeky too.
"We're now at the true outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest. Hundred-year soul beasts are everywhere; even thousand-year soul beasts aren't rare. There's even a chance of encountering ten-thousand-year soul beasts… so don't be careless," Bei Bei said gravely.
Even with Su Wen as a big thigh to cling to, he still had to be cautious and not cause trouble.
"Mm!"
Tang Ya was nonchalant, while Huo Yuhao quickly nodded.
A single ten-year soul beast had nearly cost him his life; he didn't dare imagine how terrifying hundred- and thousand-year soul beasts would be!
"Hehe, wondering what move your Senior Bei Bei used just now? That was a true hundred-year soul skill—Thunder Dragon Claw!" Tang Ya said proudly. Seeing that Huo Yuhao was captivated, she prepared to show off Tang Sect secret skills Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and hidden weapons.
"Watch closely—Ghost Shad—"
Before Tang Ya finished, Bei Bei roared, "Careful!" He flashed forward, pulled Tang Ya into his arms, and forced out another Thunder Dragon Claw to block a dense black shadow that lunged at them.
The black shadow recoiled from the violent lightning, but with a soft puff, it left a faint fragrance before retreating.
"Poison!" Bei Bei shouted.
"A Mandala Snake, around a thousand years," Ning Tian said softly as they clearly saw the black serpent on the ground nearby, flicking its tongue.
Su Wen took the two girls' hands again.
Ultimate Ice dispelled the poison mist. Besides, with the Ice Emperor's bit of poison attribute, he was immune to most ordinary poisons, and the Mandala Snake's toxin naturally fell within that scope.
Huo Yuhao had the Skydream Iceworm; his breath leaked a trace of ice attribute, dissipating the poison gas.
"Bei Bei, I want this one!" Tang Ya leaped to Bei Bei's back, her face excited.
"Okay!"
Bei Bei flexed his numbed arm, his gaze turning sharp as thunder power spread through his body.
"Third soul skill! Thunder Wrath!"
A purple soul ring rippled out from beneath his feet.
He then engaged the just-over-a-thousand-year Mandala Snake. Pale-purple lightning flickered around him like serpents that obeyed his will. He summoned his martial soul's true form, and the two fought evenly.
"So cool!" Huo Yuhao sighed.
This was his first time witnessing a battle between powerhouses like this.
This was already a top-tier among human Soul Elders.
Su Wen slightly shook his head.
It seemed that at the same level, soul beasts were stronger than humans—perhaps due to long ages of accumulation, or thick hides and powerful physiques…
"Second soul skill, Thunder Might!"
With a shout, a net of electricity surged toward the Mandala Snake.
"Hiss~"
The snake flicked its tongue; a highly corrosive liquid sprayed onto the net, eating a large hole through it, and sizzling as it splattered onto grass and wood.
"So strong!" Huo Yuhao's face paled.
So this was a thousand-year soul beast?
"Thunder Dragon Claw!"
Bei Bei roared.
As if possessed by a Thunder Lord, his dark-blue hair stood up. He raised his Thunder Dragon Claw and struck.
"Hiss~"
The Mandala Snake cried out in pain; its slit pupils flashed with cunning. Realizing devouring this group would be difficult, it used the force to flip itself and darted toward Su Wen and the others to the side.
"Careful!" Bei Bei's pupils shrank as he warned.
But Su Wen remained still.
In his eyes was the rapidly approaching Mandala Snake. Its gaze was cold, cruel, with a hint of crafty triumph. Closer and closer—it couldn't wait to bite off this human's head and tear the body apart as it fled.
But the next instant—
Just as it was about to swallow the human, a sharp pain shot from its tail. A tremendous force hoisted it into the air, rendering it unable to move.
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Advanced chapter here: p-atreon.com/Sajaboyzzz
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