On the morning three days later, a spacious and sturdy carriage drawn by two Divine Steed Common Horses departed the bustling Heaven Dou City, steadily traveling northeast along the official road toward Sunset Forest. Li Zhaoyan personally held the reins, his sharp gaze scanning the road ahead. Inside the carriage, Ye Wantang sat opposite Marco and Ye Lingling.
The journey was expected to take two to three days. Initially, Ye Lingling felt the novelty of traveling far from home, her small body pressed against the carriage window as she curiously watched the rapidly passing fields, villages, and distant mountains. However, the rhythmic rocking of the carriage and the monotony of the journey soon made her eyelids grow heavy. Under her mother's gentle, soothing pats, she gradually leaned into Ye Wantang's warm, soft embrace and fell into a deep sleep, her breathing even.
Marco, however, felt no drowsiness. He sat leaning against the soft cushions on the other side, a thick copy of the "Continental Compendium of Spirit Beasts · Eastern Forests Volume" spread open on his lap. His fingers carefully traced the densely packed textual annotations and exquisitely illustrated depictions of Soul Beasts, his ice-blue eyes filled with focus and contemplation. The only sounds in the carriage were the occasional soft rustle of turning pages and the steady noise of the wheels rolling over the road.
After half a day's travel, they took a brief rest by a scenic riverside woodland to water and feed the horses before continuing. From the front wall of the carriage came Li Zhaoyan's steady and clear voice, carrying a subtle tone of inquiry: "Marco."
"Father," Marco lifted his head from the book and responded.
"We will soon enter Sunset Forest to hunt for Spirit Rings. Do you have a clear target in mind?" Li Zhaoyan's voice came through the wooden panel. "I've seen you buried in books these past few days; you must have gained considerable insights. For Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia, with its long-standing family heritage, which Soul Beast is most compatible has long been established, requiring little concern from us. But your Azure Flame Phoenix Spirit is an unprecedented top-tier Martial Soul, with limitless potential, yet it also means the path ahead must be explored on your own. This first Spirit Ring is the foundational step for your future, crucial beyond measure. Have you... decided?"
Marco gently closed the thick book in his hands, pondered for a moment to organize his thoughts, and replied in a clear, steady voice: "Yes, Father. Over the past few days, I have consulted numerous texts and guides on the distribution of Soul Beasts in and around Sunset Forest. Considering the characteristics of my Azure Flame Phoenix Spirit—its combination of powerful offense, extreme speed, and life recovery—I have preliminarily selected several Soul Beasts that may be suitable sources for my first Spirit Ring."
"Oh? Elaborate," Li Zhaoyan's voice revealed clear interest.
"My primary candidate is the Azure Flame Finch," Marco explained methodically. "This Soul Beast possesses both fire and wind attributes, and its flames strangely contain a faint trace of life energy. According to some ancient notes, deep within its bloodline lies an extremely thin, almost negligible trace of ancient Azure Phoenix heritage. I believe its attributes align well with the intensity and agility of my Azure Flame, potentially further enhancing the explosive power and spread speed of my flames. Moreover, that unique life attribute might unexpectedly resonate and amplify the healing ability inherent in my Martial Soul."
He paused briefly before continuing, "Next is the Scarlet Feather Spirit Kite. This beast not only possesses powerful flame manipulation abilities and swift speed like a gust of wind, but also, due to the special feather crest on its head, is said to harbor considerable spiritual power. I've been thinking that if I can successfully absorb its Spirit Ring, the strength of my spiritual power might see a significant improvement. Strong spiritual power could provide crucial assistance in more accurately perceiving the environment, predicting opponents' moves, finely controlling Spirit Abilities in the future, and... even in attempting to absorb Spirit Rings of higher years beyond my current level." He mentioned an extremely bold idea that required immense courage and foundation.
"Then there's the Azure Sky Phoenix. This type of Soul Beast is relatively rare and is said to contain a much richer Azure Phoenix bloodline than the Azure Flame Finch, with greater potential and a higher growth ceiling. If I can obtain its Spirit Ring, it might more effectively awaken the noble characteristics and innate power hidden within my Martial Soul, laying a more solid foundation for future development."
Silence fell outside the carriage, as if digesting and weighing his words. Shortly after, Li Zhaoyan's voice came through, filled with undisguised praise and relief: "Good! Very good! Marco, it seems you've truly put in hard work these past few days, not just skimming the surface! Your thinking is meticulous and well-reasoned—you've not only considered the most direct attribute compatibility but also delved into the hidden enhancement of spiritual power, and even boldly envisioned the possibility of absorbing higher-level Spirit Rings! This foresight and mindset far exceed my expectations of you! Excellent!"
At that moment, perhaps awakened by the conversation or a jolt from the carriage, Ye Lingling rubbed her drowsy eyes and slowly stirred. Hearing her brother using terms she didn't understand, speaking of those impressive-sounding Soul Beast names and profound analyses, her large eyes instantly sparkled with admiration. She couldn't help but exclaim in her soft, sweet voice, "Brother knows so much! He's amazing!"
Outside, Li Zhaoyan couldn't help but laugh heartily, his tone carrying a hint of deliberate teasing and a barely noticeable touch of envy: "Oh, so you think your brother is the best now? Lingling, your father knows quite a few rare and peculiar Soul Beasts too! I've traveled far and wide in my time and seen many things!"
Inside the carriage, Ye Wantang watched her young daughter's adoring expression and her husband's rare childishness, smiling gently as she stroked her daughter's hair.
After the jest, Li Zhaoyan's tone turned serious and earnest again: "Marco, the types of Soul Beasts you've chosen show clear thinking and the right direction, and it's highly likely we can find suitable targets in the outer or middle regions of Sunset Forest." However, your father also knows of another Soul Beast whose innate talents are well-suited for you."
"Please enlighten me, Father," Marco straightened up, his expression focused.
"About seven years ago, when I had just broken through the eightieth level and was heading to the core area of Sunset Forest to hunt for my eighth Spirit Ring, I happened to encounter an extremely rare Soul Beast with few recorded sightings—the Sky Burning Cloud Finch." Li Zhaoyan's voice carried the distant tone of reminiscing about the past. "In terms of pure offensive power, this type of Soul Beast is not the top choice, but its ability to preserve its life and escape is truly unparalleled. It possesses an innate skill called 'Fire Cloud Escape.' According to fragments of ancient texts, when this skill is activated, it allows the creature to partially elementalize its body in an extremely short time, as if transforming into a mass of blazing cloud flames, thereby immunizing itself against most physical attacks and escaping at an astonishing speed, making it extremely difficult to capture or lock onto. At the time, I was deeply amazed—the wonders of nature could reach such heights!"
"Fire Cloud Escape?! Elementalization?!" Marco's heart surged with shock inside the carriage, almost unable to restrain himself from crying out! Wasn't this the near-bug-like elementalization ability belonging to Devil Fruit users, buried deep in his memories? A Soul Beast in the Douluo Continent actually naturally possessed such an overpowered skill?!
He forcibly suppressed his inner astonishment and exhilaration, his voice slightly hurried with urgency as he pressed further: "Father! That Sky Burning Cloud Finch you encountered back then—what was its approximate age? Did you not..." He left his words unfinished, but the meaning was clear—why hadn't he obtained such a divine skill?
Li Zhaoyan seemed to fully understand his eagerness and smiled as he explained, "The one I encountered back then, judging by its aura and form, had a cultivation of roughly around nine thousand years. Unfortunately, at that time, to advance to Soul Douluo, I needed a top-tier Spirit Ring of at least fifty thousand years to be worthy of my eighth Spirit Ring. Although the Sky Burning Cloud Finch's innate skill was remarkable, its age was far from meeting the standard, and its attributes were not very compatible with my Hundred Wood Divine Spear Martial Soul. So, at the time, I merely marveled at the wonders of creation and had no intention of hunting it. I simply noted its characteristics and general location before continuing deeper into the forest."
Nine thousand years! Marco's heart sank heavily, a wave of immense disappointment washing over him. That number was simply an astronomical figure far beyond his current reach! A Spirit Ring with a skill similar to "elementalization" seemed within grasp, yet the chasm of its age made it unattainable—a feeling that was truly disheartening.
"It's alright," Li Zhaoyan's voice came with reassurance and absolute confidence. "Soul Beasts with such rare innate skills usually have strong territorial instincts and do not migrate easily. The area where I encountered it back then has unique climate and geography, likely serving as its fixed nesting ground. It is highly probable that it remains in the same place. When your Soul Power level increases in the future, and your physical strength and Spirit Ring absorption capacity are sufficient, I will personally take you back to that old location to hunt this ring for you!"
Hearing his father's resolute promise, Marco's turbulent emotions gradually settled. Indeed, his foundation was still shallow now; even if he encountered it, he would be utterly incapable of absorbing it. Forcibly attempting would only lead to his body exploding. A life-preserving divine skill of that level undoubtedly required substantial Soul Power and a robust physique to master. He nodded firmly, even though he knew his father couldn't see it: "I understand, Father. Thank you!"
The journey continued with an increasingly harmonious atmosphere inside the carriage. After waking up, Ye Lingling no longer slept, instead chattering away and pestering her brother with various questions about Soul Beasts. Though most were naive and innocent, they added much liveliness to the trip. Li Zhaoyan occasionally chimed in, recounting interesting anecdotes, thrilling experiences, and important taboos from his youth when he hunted souls. Meanwhile, Ye Wantang meticulously prepared portable food and refreshing drinks for everyone, taking care of each person with utmost attentiveness.
Two or three days slipped by quietly with the turning of the wheels. As the carriage gradually slowed again, looking out the window, they could clearly see the distant outline of a vast, undulating, lush, and seemingly endless forest. The trees there were noticeably taller and denser than those in ordinary wilderness, exuding an ancient, mysterious aura tinged with a latent wildness. The fragrance of plants in the air grew richer, mingled with a faint, elusive scent unique to Soul Beasts.
"We've arrived," Li Zhaoyan reined in the carriage, his steady voice carrying a hint of caution and solemnity. "Ahead lies the edge of the Sunset Forest. Stay alert and get ready—we're about to enter it now."
Marco and Ye Lingling exchanged a glance, both seeing unmistakable tension and deep anticipation in each other's eyes.