Chapter 60: A Rare Experience
The commotion in the restaurant quickly came to an end.
As expected, the Shrek students easily defeated the Cang Hui Academy students. Embarrassed, the middle aged man leading Cang Hui personally stepped in, using his Soul King level strength to put immense pressure on Tang San and his group. Just as he was about to overpower them, Zhao Wuji, who had been hiding in the shadows, conveniently appeared at the last moment.
A Soul Saint versus a Soul King the outcome was obvious. Cang Hui Academy suffered a crushing defeat and left in disgrace.
Of course, none of this had anything to do with Ye Cheng and his group. Under the protection of Dream Mirage Illusion, they remained completely unnoticed throughout the entire event. They peacefully enjoyed their dinner, unaffected by the ridiculous scuffle, and afterward, went upstairs to rest.
The only takeaway from the incident? A clearer understanding of just how pathetic Shrek Academy really was.
The Next Morning
Ye Cheng and the girls woke up early.
Instead of heading directly to Star Dou Forest, they first bought supplies necessary for wilderness survival tents, insect and snake repellents, cookware for outdoor cooking, and other essentials. Additionally, they stocked up on preserved meats and water containers.
By the time they had everything ready, it was already midday.
After having lunch and taking a short break, they finally set off toward Star Dou Forest.
Compared to the other soul masters rushing toward the forest, Ye Cheng's group moved at a leisurely pace, making them stand out like sore thumbs.
Journey to Star Dou Forest
Star Dou Forest was located south of Heaven Dou Empire, spanning across both Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires. Due to its high soul beast population, the border between the two empires remained undefined.
On the map, the majority of Star Dou Forest fell within Star Luo Empire's territory though Heaven Dou Empire never acknowledged this claim.
As one of the three great soul beast habitats, the forest was a dream destination for soul masters. Entering it often meant they were about to break through to the next level.
No one knew exactly how long Star Dou Forest had existed, but the massive canopy that blocked out the sun made it clear that this place had stood for countless years.
As they approached the forest, Ye Cheng and the girls could feel a fresh breeze carrying the scent of plants and earth. The air was incredibly pure and refreshing, making them feel as if every pore in their body had opened up, absorbing the invigorating atmosphere.
The sight before them was breathtaking an endless sea of green, stretching as far as the eye could see.
This time, Ye Cheng did not use sword flight but chose to walk. The distance was short, and time was not an issue.
More importantly, he had never been to Star Dou Forest before. As an ordinary person in his past life, a place like this would have been incredibly dangerous. If he had stepped foot in the forest back then, he probably would've been eaten instantly.
Now that he had the strength, he wanted to fully experience what it was like to hunt soul beasts and if possible show off a little while guiding his new disciples.
Thus, the group advanced at a casual pace, taking their time to enjoy the scenery.
Entering the Forest
After some time, they reached the edge of Star Dou Forest.
The towering trees at the entrance stood at least twenty meters tall and these were just the outermost trees. The forest was so dense that there were no clear paths only a chaotic tangle of shadows and foliage, making it impossible to see deeper inside.
As they approached, the temperature dropped, and the air became even fresher. The moist, earthy scent mixed with the crisp fragrance of plants, heightening their senses.
Ye Cheng stopped and turned to the two girls.
"I'm sure you already know this, but before we go in, let me remind you once more Star Dou Forest is not like the regulated hunting grounds where soul beasts are raised in captivity. The soul beasts here are wild, far more dangerous than any you've encountered before.
"Additionally, the average age of soul beasts here is much higher. At any moment, we could be facing 10,000 year or even 100,000 year soul beasts.
"Even though I'm here to protect you, do not let your guard down. You must always remain vigilant. Understood?"
"Understood!"
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged glances and nodded firmly.
"Good. Then let's go."
Ye Cheng gave a satisfied nod before taking the first step into the forest. The two girls followed closely behind.
Deep in Star Dou Forest
As they moved deeper, Ye Cheng observed that the terrain was incredibly complex. There were no pathways just an endless spread of thick vegetation and thorny undergrowth, making travel difficult.
For most people, clearing a path would be a major hassle.
But for Ye Cheng?
It was effortless.
Without even lifting a finger, the plants in front of him automatically bent and parted, as if an invisible force was guiding them aside, forming a clear pathway.
By now, Ye Cheng had reached a level where he could manipulate the natural world around him.
Commanding plants to step aside for a safe passage was child's play.
As he walked, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing followed carefully behind him, constantly scanning their surroundings for potential threats.
The moment they passed, the path behind them closed, leaving no trace that they had ever been there.
The deeper they went, the darker it became. The trees were so thick that sunlight barely reached the ground. "Sunlight blocking" was no exaggeration it was almost impossible to see the sky.
Time Passed…
By now, they had been inside the forest for a considerable amount of time.
They had encountered several soul beasts, but most were only ten or hundred year level.
Against such weak creatures, Ye Cheng didn't even bother releasing his aura. He simply used Dream Mirage Illusion to make them ignore his group entirely, passing by undisturbed.
But eventually, the inevitable happened.
"Brother, I'm exhausted… Can we rest for a bit?"
Among the three, Ning Rongrong had the weakest stamina, and she couldn't take it anymore. Her legs felt like jelly, and she was on the verge of collapse.
"My mistake."
Ye Cheng glanced at her, then at Zhu Zhuqing, who also looked fatigued. He nodded. "Alright, let's take a break."
With that, he stomped the ground lightly.
An invisible force rippled outward, causing the surrounding vegetation to shift. Within seconds, a cleared space over 100 square meters in size appeared.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing immediately set up a small camp, bringing out the folding chairs, cookware, and other supplies they had prepared earlier.
After walking for so long, they were both starving.
So, they decided to prepare a meal while resting.
As the aroma of cooking filled the air, the group sat down to enjoy a moment of peace amidst the wild beauty of Star Dou Forest.
(End of chapter)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/cortez10