Outside the Star Dou Great Forest, a cool breeze rustled the lush branches and leaves of towering trees.
The earth trembled one after another, alarming the birds scattered throughout the forest.
A little girl with orange hair noticed the unusual movement and pointed toward the depths, asking, "Ghost Elder, what's happening in the Star Dou Great Forest now?"
The ghostly figure clad in black armor frowned, replying:
"For the past two days, I've carefully scouted the Mixed Circle, but it's empty—as if the soul beasts disappeared overnight."
"I feel this is no ordinary matter. Just as I prepared to report to Pope Fetion, the ten-thousand-year soul beasts suddenly appeared from the Core Circle."
"I've never seen anything so strange!"
The girl's pale yellow eyes widened as she asked attentively, "Even the Ghost Elder can't figure it out?"
"Hmph."
The black-clad man's expression turned grave: "When we return to the Spirit Hall, we'll report to the Pope. But the urgent matter is to help you hunt your first spirit ring."
"Usually, those spirit rings are hunted within a range of five hundred years. Many trials have failed. I fear many will die."
The ghost cast a deep gaze on the girl before him.
She was a child of extraordinary talent personally chosen by the Pope from thousands of soul masters, innately full of soul power.
As an elder of the Wuhun Hall, he was assigned to hunt her first spirit ring—showing how highly the Pope regarded her.
The two empires shared a border bisected by the great Star Dou Forest.
The Wuhun Hall cultivated soul masters at grassroots levels and had become the top power in Heaven Dou.
If not for the former Pope's fierce battle with the Haotianzong's barrier and his subsequent severe injuries and death, the Wuhun Hall would be even more powerful today.
Though the perimeter of Star Dou Great Forest had the highest security, it also had the highest human activity.
Soul masters held noble status on Douluo Continent, but only four hunting grounds existed for soul beasts: Star Dou Great Forest, Spirit Evil Forest, Soul Hunting Forest, and Sunset Forest.
Star Dou Great Forest contained the most diverse soul beasts, attracting many every day to hunt spirit rings.
The ghost walked boldly alongside the orange-haired girl, undeterred like most soul masters dared not advance rashly.
This ghost was an elder of the Spirit Hall, a titled Douluo, powerful enough that even a thousand-year-old spirit beast was nothing more than a slap to him.
Naturally, the hundred-year-old and ten-year-old beasts of the Outer Circle weren't worthy of notice.
Suddenly, the ground cracked, and soul masters panicked, fleeing.
"Run! Escape!"
Anyone trying to advance was immediately dissuaded.
Boom~
A massive sound reverberated through the earth, the ground vibrating beneath their feet.
Someone warned, "Don't hunt soul beasts in Star Dou Forest anytime soon. A soul master reportedly saw a huge black ape with at least fifty-thousand-year cultivation—probably soul king level. Even the Lord can't contend with it!"
Upon hearing this, the ghost showed a strange expression, leapt into the air, and stared at the forest depths—indeed, a giant was swiftly moving.
The orange-haired girl asked: "Elder Ghost, how can there be ten-thousand-year soul beasts in the Outer Circle of Star Dou Great Forest?"
Fear lingered in the ghost's eyes:
"Ten-thousand-year soul beast? That's the legendary forest king—the Titan Great Ape!"
"How could it appear on the Star Dou Great Forest's edge?!"
The orange-haired girl was bewildered—was this world going mad?
The ghost wondered if even her power as a Title Douluo would struggle to defeat the arrogant Titan Great Ape, and she didn't want to risk the orange-haired girl's safety.
"The Titan Great Ape seemed to be watching something, waving goodbye, then returning to the forest's depths. It didn't linger."
The ghost sighed but remained puzzled why the Titan Great Ape appeared so far away.
"If the Pope were here, our Spirit Hall could boost production of hundred-thousand-year-old soul beasts and soul bones!"
"But that will come—sooner or later..."
As the Titan Great Ape's hill-like form vanished, two more figures sprang from the forest, leaving some distance from the orange-haired girl.
She glanced startled but sighed—the young man moved gracefully and fast.
Then his face surfaced in her mind, and after studying it, she felt a stirring in her heart.
When she looked again, the boy and girl had disappeared into human territory.
The orange-haired girl thought, "Elder, did you just see a beautiful boy passing by?"
The ghost was too focused on the Titan Great Ape to notice such details.
With a faint smile, the ghost said:
"Nana, the forest king seems mad lately or facing some physiological barrier. He's gone far away now. Let's help you hunt your first spirit ring."
Hu Liena glanced toward the boy's last spot, thinking, "I hope to meet him again someday."
Subei held Xiao Wu's hand, walking on a narrow path.
He sighed softly.
Xiao Wu bounced and asked, "Brother, why does Er Ming listen to you so much? If Xiao Wu came out alone, Er Ming would definitely stop her."
Subei smiled: "Because Er Ming worries you'll be bullied in the human world. He cares about you."
Xiao Wu nodded: "Well, Da Ming and Er Ming are my best friends!"
"But Brother, where should we go now?"
Xiao Wu was totally inexperienced with the human world.
Subei paused, then thought:
Joining the Hall of Souls, known for embracing talented youth, would be a good start—and just asking around could lead them to the Soul Master institution.