Chapter 78: You missed someone

Early the next morning, everyone gathered in the square. This time, however, it wasn't for training, as even Xiao Tianyang stood in the lineup. Before long, a burly figure strolled over—it was Zhao Wuji.

"Kids, today we're heading to the Star Dou Forest," Zhao Wuji announced, his gaze sweeping across the group before settling on Xiao Tianyang. "I heard that when you were in Nuoding Academy, you often ventured into the Soul Hunting Forest for training, right?"

"That's correct," Xiao Tianyang replied calmly, nodding.

"Good. You'll be leading the team this time," Zhao Wuji continued. "Remember, unless something unexpected happens, I won't interfere in any of your battles."

Ding!

The host has triggered a side mission: [Leading the Team].

Mission Content: Team up with the Shrek Seven Monsters to enter the Star Dou Forest and ensure they all return safely. Complete the mission!

Mission Reward: Level 1 Lottery x1!

After composing himself, Xiao Tianyang nodded again. "Understood."

Originally, this mission would have fallen to Dai Mubai, but it seemed that Xiao Tianyang's involvement had slightly altered the course of events.

"Alright, let's move out," Zhao Wuji said, waving his hand and leading the group out of the academy. As they walked, he added, "I'd like to remind you all to discuss your battle strategies before entering the Star Dou Forest."

With that, he fell silent. This time, he was merely acting as a bodyguard, not as a mentor guiding them to obtain soul rings. Over-explaining could hinder their growth, so he chose to let them figure things out on their own.

The group, led by Tang San, immediately gathered around Xiao Tianyang, waiting for him to take charge.

After a moment of thought, Xiao Tianyang began, "I've never been to the Star Dou Forest, so I'm not entirely sure what to expect. But one thing is certain: soul beasts are highly aggressive toward humans. So, unless absolutely necessary, we should avoid engaging them. This will save us a lot of trouble."

"As for our formation once we enter... Boss Dai and Saber, you'll take the front. Tang San and Xiao Wu will cover the left and right flanks. Ning Rongrong and Oscar will stay in the center, with Ma Hongjun protecting them. Zhu Zhuqing will take the rear."

Zhao Wuji, listening from the front, couldn't help but nod in approval. This formation was a standard setup for soul beast hunting, and it was impressive that Xiao Tianyang, despite his youth, had such a clear understanding of it.

"It seems this kid really has spent a lot of time in the Soul Hunting Forest," Zhao Wuji muttered to himself. "But why is he so fearless?"

On the other side, Oscar raised a question. "What about you? Where will you be?"

"I'll be in charge of commanding," Xiao Tianyang replied with a smile. "Unless you can't handle the situation, I won't intervene. Any objections?"

Ma Hongjun and Oscar exchanged glances, hesitating for a moment before swallowing their words.

They knew that if Xiao Tianyang had to step in, it would mean they were in over their heads. And if even he couldn't handle it, there was little they could do.

"By the way, counting it up, quite a few of us are in urgent need of soul rings this time," Dai Mubai remarked. "There are five of us: Tianyang, Xiao Wu, Tang San, Oscar, and Saber."

"You've missed someone," Xiao Tianyang interjected, pointing at Zhu Zhuqing. "She's also reached the level 30."

"So soon?" Dai Mubai's eyes widened in surprise.

Xiao Tianyang chuckled. "It's not that strange. After all the training and battles we've been through, combined with the benefits of my cooking, breakthroughs are only natural. Well, except for Ma Hongjun. His martial spirit is a bit special, and I'm not sure why he hasn't reached level 30 yet."

To be honest, Xiao Tianyang found it a bit odd. In the original timeline, Oscar had broken through a day earlier.

But considering the changes he had brought—like infusing his soul power into the food, enhancing both its quantity and quality—it made sense that the timeline had shifted slightly.

As for Zhu Zhuqing, while Xiao Tianyang's cooking had helped, her own relentless efforts were the main reason for her rapid progress.

Meanwhile, Ma Hongjun couldn't help but feel a bit disheartened. "I don't know how long we'll be staying in the Star Dou Forest this time," he sighed.

"Fatty Ma, don't bring us down with your negativity!" Xiao Wu scolded, glaring at him.

Xiao Tianyang quickly intervened to stop their bickering. "Let's get moving. We should try to reach the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest before dark. Otherwise, we'll waste another day resting outside."

With that, he pulled out nine bicycles from his storage. Mounting one, he turned to Ning Rongrong. "Rongrong, give us a boost with your second soul ring. It'll help us move faster."

Zhao Wuji, watching this scene, couldn't help but frown. "What about me?"

"Ah, Vice Dean Zhao, I'm sorry. I didn't prepare one for you," Xiao Tianyang said with a grin. "But you can always ride with Oscar. It shouldn't be too much of a burden for him."

Oscar's face paled as he realized the malice in those words.

Ning Rongrong, snickering beside him, activated her second soul ring. Nine beams of light shot out from the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, enveloping everyone.

Within moments, the group was speeding down the road on their bicycles, having mastered the skill in just a few days under Xiao Tianyang's guidance.

As for Oscar, he tried to make a run for it but was quickly caught by Zhao Wuji.

With the bicycles and the 30% speed boost from Ning Rongrong's soul skill, the journey of over 100 kilometers was completed by early afternoon.

After some discussion, Xiao Tianyang decided to bypass the town and head straight into the Star Dou Forest. This would avoid unnecessary trouble and save them a day.

By the time they reached the entrance of the Star Dou Great Forest, the area was bustling with activity.

This was to be expected, as the afternoon was the optimal time for soul masters to be at their peak.

Additionally, the Star Dou Forest, located on the border between two nations, was one of the three major soul beasts gathering places on the continent, making it a popular destination.

However, this popularity came with its own set of challenges.

In terms of scale, the Star Dou Forest far surpassed the Soul Hunting Forest Xiao Tianyang had frequented. The types and ages of soul beasts here were vastly different.

While the Soul Hunting Forest was dominated by century-old soul beasts, with only a few thousand-year-level beasts, the Star Dou Forest was teeming with thousand-year soul beasts at every turn.

The sheer intensity of the aura emanating from the forest sent a chill down Xiao Tianyang's spine.

It wasn't fear—it was the heightened perception that came with his strength. The stronger one was, the more acutely they could sense the danger lurking within.

…

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