Chapter 64: Did You Open the Great Forest?

Zhou Sheng'an's respectful but distant attitude toward Yu Xiaogang irritated Liu Erlong. Her face cold, she refused to travel with the two of them and simply said she would follow behind.

Zhou Sheng'an didn't mind. He hired a carriage and headed straight for the Star Dou Great Forest.

Inside the carriage, he was still tirelessly writing, recording theories on soul power.

Jiang Zhu sat across from him, her delicate face occasionally showing a smile, and at times even flushing red—who knew what she was imagining.

On the fourth day, the carriage arrived at a border town just outside the Star Dou Great Forest.

After nearly four days spent living in the carriage, Zhou Sheng'an stepped out, stretched his arms, and took a deep breath. The fresh air rushed into his nose, clearing his mind significantly.

He released his Blue Silver Grass soul power.

Among the knowledge and techniques fed back from the Grand Sage Master path was a self-created soul skill that resembled a domain.

It was called Blue Silver Perception. Zhou Sheng'an could use his soul power to connect with the Blue Silver Grass on the ground and establish an "information network" within a radius of a hundred li, capable of relaying basic data.

For example, if there were a hundred-year soul beast nearby stepping on Blue Silver Grass, it could be detected—perhaps it was lying in ambush for prey.

Or, for example, about a li away behind a boulder, Liu Erlong was secretly observing them.

...

Zhou Sheng'an was aware of many things.

With this self-created soul skill, he moved through the Star Dou Great Forest like a fish in water.

As long as he wasn't targeted by someone overwhelmingly powerful, there was no danger at all.

"Teacher Zhou, what should we do now?" Jiang Zhu asked timidly.

Zhou Sheng'an took out two masks. He put on one shaped like a pig's face, then tossed the other, a thick-faced mask, to Jiang Zhu and said, "Put this on first—saves us from unnecessary trouble."

Jiang Zhu responded softly and obediently wore it.

She could totally understand Teacher Zhou's reasoning. If she were a noblewoman and saw someone as handsome as Teacher Zhou, she might also want to abduct him as her lover.

In the distance, Liu Erlong, still hidden, nodded slightly and muttered to herself:

"At least he's a bit cautious. Back then, the three of us suffered because we weren't careful with things like this and had to fend off plenty of unwanted attention... But you think this alone is enough? That's way too naive."

She let out a cold snort. She had already decided to let Zhou Sheng'an suffer a little first—save him from always butting heads with her.

...

The next day, after resting, Zhou Sheng'an brought Jiang Zhu to the town's edge.

"Dean Liu, would you like to show yourself and travel together?"

Zhou Sheng'an called out the invitation.

No response.

He called out twice more, but still heard nothing. So, he simply led Jiang Zhu into the Star Dou Great Forest.

He kept Blue Silver Perception active the entire time, aware of everything within a hundred li.

An hour later, they reached the outskirts of the forest, where hundred-year soul beasts had already begun to appear.

But Zhou Sheng'an avoided unnecessary fights, taking detours in advance. He also released Blue Silver pheromones around himself and Jiang Zhu, masking their scent to avoid provoking soul beasts.

The journey was calm and uneventful.

Liu Erlong, watching from the shadows, was wide-eyed with surprise. She thought, 'Why isn't anything happening to them? Their luck is way too good! When I came to get a soul ring, I almost lost everything!'

...

By noon, Zhou Sheng'an still hadn't found a suitable soul beast, so he and Jiang Zhu sat down for a meal.

Watching Zhou Sheng'an start living right there in the forest, Jiang Zhu was stunned. Wasn't this kind of behavior labeled foolish in the textbooks?

She was just about to speak up when she suddenly realized—if even she knew that, how could Teacher Zhou not?

Jiang Zhu took a deep breath and suppressed the strange feeling.

"Teacher Zhou, what kind of soul beast are you planning to get for me?"

Zhou Sheng'an activated his soul power, and the Blue Silver Grass on the ground came alive, dragging nearby dry branches over to him.

As he worked, he replied, "There are three options. The best one is the nearly extinct Radiant Horned Horse. The second is the Emerald Swan. And the third... well, this one comes with some risk of failure—the Golden Lion."

Jiang Zhu twitched slightly at the first two names.

She had never even heard of the Radiant Horned Horse! As for the Emerald Swan—even she knew that was basically the 'goddess' of soul beasts, fiercely protected by many others.

With just the two of them? Hunting an Emerald Swan sounded like a fantasy!

And the last one, the Golden Lion... that just didn't sound compatible with her attributes at all.

No matter how much she tried to convince herself, surely Teacher Zhou had his reasons for choosing it.

But still...

"Teacher Zhou, may I ask—why the Golden Lion? I just don't quite understand..." Jiang Zhu asked hesitantly.

At that moment, Zhou Sheng'an was tending the fire. With a whoosh, the flames flared up. He placed some dried meat and rations over it to cook, and explained:

"Jiang Zhu, have you ever considered that soul rings don't necessarily have to be independent?"

"Huh?" Jiang Zhu was briefly confused.

"In today's soul master world, some have already developed a technique called 'ring fusion.' That at least proves that soul rings can be merged to increase power—but that applies mainly to purely offensive soul skills."

"What I've been thinking is—what if we go even more refined? Use one of your soul rings as a regulator."

"One that could enhance your other soul rings' skill effects... or even alter their nature—say, to make an offensive skill become healing, or apply debuffs instead."

Zhou Sheng'an looked at Jiang Zhu seriously. This experiment would need her to participate directly.

If she could succeed, he would apply it to himself next.

So, he had to be open and honest with her.

Jiang Zhu blinked. She... didn't fully understand the theory, but she could imagine that if what he said was true, her potential would become far greater!

That was exactly what she'd always dreamed of!

"Teacher Zhou, I trust you unconditionally! No matter what path you design for me, I'll follow it without hesitation!"

Zhou Sheng'an gave a slight smile. "Alright, let's eat first."

As he spoke, he suddenly raised his eyebrows—speak of the devil. He had just sensed a soul power fluctuation nearby... very similar to an Emerald Swan!

...

In the shadows, Liu Erlong sneered as she watched Zhou Sheng'an. "And here I thought he was worth some respect. Making such a rookie mistake—when soul beasts attack, I'll see how he gets out of it! Hmph..."

She was already fantasizing about saving Zhou Sheng'an and him being endlessly grateful.

But...

Even after Zhou Sheng'an and Jiang Zhu had nearly finished their meal, no soul beasts showed up!

Liu Erlong was dumbfounded.

'What, did all the soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest get their periods today? Why aren't any of them showing up? These two are acting so brazenly—why don't any of you come out and attack them?!'

'Back when the Golden Iron Triangle came here, you weren't like this!'

Liu Erlong was feeling a little unhinged from frustration.

At that moment, Zhou Sheng'an took Jiang Zhu and set off again, leaving her no choice but to follow with a belly full of grievances.