Back in the private room, Dugu Yan came over and linked her arm through Wang Li's, asking with great curiosity, "Who were those people just now?"
Wang Li smiled slightly and said, "They were classmates from Intermediate Soul Master Academy, but we only spent a year together. After that, I advanced to Intermediate Soul Master Academy and then to Advanced Soul Master Academy, which is how I was able to meet Yan Yan Jie!"
Hearing this, Dugu Yan's eyes crinkled with a smile: "I like what you're saying. How about you come to my room tonight, and I'll give you a little reward!"
Wang Li raised an eyebrow. He was now a head taller than Dugu Yan, so he leaned down and whispered into her ear, "Of course I want Yan Yan Jie's reward, but we're entering the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow. Can we postpone this reward until after we return to Heaven Dou City?"
Wang Li's warm breath still lingered around Dugu Yan's ear, and her eyes glazed over: "As you wish, as you wish, whatever you wish!"
Meanwhile, everyone else, who had initially been interested in hearing Wang Li's past stories, saw Wang Li and Dugu Yan suddenly showering each other with affection. Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Oslo, and Yu Feng all quickly distanced themselves. Ye Lingling's earlobes were slightly red, and Yu Tianheng's face was pale.
Not long after, Qin Ming also returned, a smile on his face, as if he had enjoyed their conversation. However, he didn't explain anything to the others.
After dinner, as dusk settled, everyone returned to their rooms to rest. The night passed uneventfully, and soon the next day's sun rose in the east.
After the Heaven Dou Royal Academy group had breakfast at the hotel, they checked out and set off again by carriage. The small town was still over a hundred li away from the Star Dou Great Forest, so it was best for them to conserve their energy and get enough rest.
After all, this was a wild Spirit Beast forest, and the largest and most renowned one on the continent. Even in the outer perimeter of the forest, there was a chance of encountering hundred-year Spirit Beasts, or even thousand-year Spirit Beasts.
When they were less than ten li from the Star Dou Great Forest, Qin Ming ordered the coachman to stop, no longer relying on the carriage for travel.
After everyone had disembarked, Qin Ming spoke gravely: "Alright, not far ahead is the Star Dou Great Forest, the largest and most renowned wild Spirit Beast forest on the continent. Its terrain is complex, and it is home to countless Spirit Beasts."
"This is a treasure trove for Spirit Masters, but also a forbidden zone, full of hidden dangers and killing intent everywhere. As you all know, I won't say more."
"Starting now, everyone, assume a battle formation. If we encounter any emergency, we can immediately summon our Spirits and engage in combat."
Everyone responded loudly, "Yes!"
Subsequently, Shi Mo and Shi Mo, the brothers, took the lead. Behind them were the control system Spirit Master Dugu Yan and the healing system Spirit Master Ye Lingling, one on each side. Yu Feng and Oslo were to their left and right, respectively. Wang Li and Yu Tianheng walked at the very back, both to protect the rear and to provide immediate support if an emergency arose at the front.
Qin Ming was not within the formation, but he constantly observed the team. He wasn't entirely confident in finding the Greedy Root Demon that Wang Li needed, as it was a rare plant Spirit Beast that could move on its own.
Therefore, he believed that this expedition was primarily to temper the Heaven Dou Royal Team in preparation for the next All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Competition.
On the path ahead, they maintained a steady pace, and before long, they truly arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest.
Tall trees, continuous mountain ranges, a primitive and wild aura assaulted them. This was a place rarely visited by humans, allowing it to retain this sense of untamed wilderness.
Qin Ming's expression grew serious, and he spoke in a deep voice, reminding them: "Everyone, pay attention. We're entering the forest. Stay vigilant at all times!"
Everyone responded, "Yes!"
Upon entering the Star Dou Great Forest, they occasionally spotted various Spirit Beasts, mainly ten-year Spirit Beasts. However, ten-year Spirit Beasts were not their target, so they paid little attention to them. Ordinary ten-year Spirit Beasts also didn't dare to provoke them.
Wang Li's fourth spirit ring required at least a five-thousand-year Greedy Root Demon, so they had to venture deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest.
They encountered more and more low-level Spirit Beasts—ten-year Spirit Beasts and hundred-year Spirit Beasts—and occasionally even saw thousand-year Spirit Beasts.
Thousand-year Spirit Beasts were much bolder and often launched sudden attacks. This served as a training opportunity for the Heaven Dou Royal Team.
After more than half a day, they had penetrated a certain distance. Here, thousand-year Spirit Beasts were frequently seen.
Qin Ming was about to instruct everyone to rest for a bit before starting their exploration nearby when suddenly, the ground shook violently, as if some colossal creature was passing by.
Many thousand-year Spirit Beasts in the forest, whether resting, hunting, or being hunted, all went mad and began to flee.
Yu Feng, who could fly, saw the truth. A giant ape, like a mountain, walked by. It was heading towards the outer perimeter of the forest, and everywhere it passed, the ground shook, and all hundred-year and thousand-year Spirit Beasts fled in terror.
"A giant ape! It's a giant ape!"
Qin Ming's face changed. He quickly leaped onto a large tree, and with just one glance, he shouted: "Go, retreat quickly! This is the King of the Forest, the Titan Giant Ape! And this one could be a ten-thousand-year Spirit Beast, or even a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast! Damn it, how can such a Spirit Beast appear in the outer perimeter of the forest!"
The faces of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy members all changed drastically upon hearing this. Ten-thousand-year Spirit Beasts, hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beasts—those were Spirit Beasts that lived at least in the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest. How could one appear in the outer perimeter?
Only Wang Li knew the truth. It was undoubtedly the Titan Giant Ape named "Er Ming," who had sensed Xiao Wu's aura and thus rushed over impatiently.
After the Titan Giant Ape "Er Ming" took Xiao Wu away, Tang San frantically pursued him, eventually slaying a thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider. Not only did he absorb its spirit ring, but he also obtained an external Spirit Bone, the Eight Spider Lances.
Undoubtedly, this was a very powerful and growth-oriented treasure, but Wang Li wasn't particularly interested.
The evil-attributed Eight Spider Lances didn't match his life-attributed path. Wang Li's vision for the future was to clap his hands, and Blue Silver Vines would sweep across the world, then use his third Spirit Ability, activating Chaotic Dance to dominate the entire field.
He also planned to retreat with the others and leave first. It wouldn't be too late to return after the Titan Giant Ape had left.
However, at this moment, Yu Feng, in mid-air, rubbed his eyes vigorously, his face full of disbelief, and said to everyone: "You definitely won't believe it, but I saw a cluster of tree roots running by themselves!"
At these words, Wang Li's eyes widened. Qin Ming frowned in thought for a moment, then shouted: "Yu Feng, confirm the direction, confirm the distance! That cluster of running tree roots is very likely the Greedy Root Demon that Wang Li needs! It seems the King of the Forest's unusual activity has also had a huge impact on the other Spirit Beasts in the forest. Even if we can't determine its age, we must stop this cluster of tree roots first!"