Chapter 23: The Star Dou Great Forest

Even the referee took a few seconds to go onstage and announce the Soul Battle result.

"Soul Battle over, Great Strength Soul Master wins!"

After confirming the Soul Battle result, Tie Li stepped down from the arena.

He first returned to the lounge, took his belongings from the small locker, then went to the front desk to settle the Soul Battle reward.

Ten Gold Soul Coins were easily earned, making his heart feel sweet.

Back at the cabin, Tie Li continued his usual meditation cultivation; when the appointed time arrived, he went to the shop as promised.

The clerk led Tie Li into the supervisor's office.

In the office, besides the supervisor, there was also a Soul Master whose soul power aura gave a sense of robustness.

"Enough chatter, he is the leader of the Hunting Soul Group, Senluo; he can accept your mission, but some adjustments are needed. Senluo, you speak!"

Saying that, the official gestured for Tie Li to sit opposite Senluo.

"I'll take the mission, but add one hundred Gold Soul Coins."

Hm?

Tie Li's eyebrows twitched; the extra Gold Soul Coins exceeded his budget—if it were an extra fifty, Tie Li could accept.

"I can guarantee the Thunder Python I hunt will be over six hundred years old." Seeing Tie Li hesitate, Senluo immediately added.

His furrowed brows relaxed, and Tie Li placed six hundred Gold Soul Coins on the table.

"Leader Senluo, when the time comes I'll take some Thunder Python Blood Flesh, you don't mind, right?"

According to the rules, a Soul Beast's corpse belongs to the Hunting Soul Group; they only help you obtain Soul Rings.

"Of course."

Seeing Tie Li so straightforward, Senluo gladly agreed.

He took the money bag, counted it to confirm, then in front of Tie Li took out sixty Gold Soul Coins and handed them to the official.

Tie Li thought this normal; it was a transaction, and both sides need credit to sustain a long‑term business, further confirming the Hunting Soul Group's reliability.

"Then, Soul Master Tie Li, when do you plan to set out with us?"

"Anytime."

"Good, my team is already waiting for the mission; let's depart now!"

The two exited the shop, and outside stood a short figure, actually a member of the Hunting Soul Group.

"Jisi, go back and notify everyone to gather outside the city gate," Senluo said to him.

"Understood, leader."

Tie Li took the opportunity to observe this Four Ring Soul Ancestor; his clothing seemed made of some kind of Soul Beast hide, extremely tough, his build massive, over two meters tall.

Tie Li looked very slight standing beside him!

Just now inside the shop, Senluo had explained their Hunting Soul Group's strength to him.

Besides this Four Ring Soul Ancestor, there were two Three Ring Soul Honorable, plus five Two Ring Great Soul Masters.

This strength places them in the upper‑mid tier among Hunting Soul Groups.

With team coordination, hunting a Thunder Python over six hundred years old is no problem.

Moreover, from the tone of their recent conversation, Tie Li keenly sensed one thing.

They must have learned the Thunder Python's location; otherwise how could they guarantee a six‑hundred‑year‑old level?

That confidence is why they dared to set the price.

Tie Li and Senluo left the city gate first; shortly after, all members of the Hunting Soul Group arrived.

Their clothing differed, but each bore a chest emblem symbolizing the Hunting Soul Group.

"Boss, we're here," the short guy shouted excitedly; his soul power level was among the lowest in the team, yet he was always eager on missions.

Tie Li could roughly gauge their soul power levels from the aura of their soul power.

The two Soul Honorable in the squad were likely the rough‑looking big‑bearded man and the finely dressed gentleman.

His suit was torn, patched everywhere, with a faint smile on his face.

"Very well, let's go!"

The Star Dou Great Forest lies south of Longxing City; as an experienced Hunting Soul Group, they prepared a large carriage to hold the hunted Soul Beast corpses.

The horses pulling the cargo weren't ordinary steeds; they were horn‑scale horses of Soul Beast lineage, and they weren't cheap.

Now the carriage was empty, a group of people chatted aboard; the big‑bearded man drove, and the two horn‑scale horses had very strong pulling power.

A normal carriage might need a day to reach the towns near the Star Dou Great Forest, but with the horn‑scale horses, they covered it in less than half a day.

After setting the horn‑scale horses in the town, Tie Li followed the Hunting Soul Group into the Star Dou Great Forest.

The moment they stepped into the Star Dou Great Forest, the primitive aura sent a chill down Tie Li's spine, and his internal soul power circulation quickened by three points.

"Haha, the first time I entered the Star Dou Great Forest was just like this," the big‑bearded man laughed.

Tie Li forced a weak smile; the lingering tension kept him alert, watching every change around.

Although they knew the Thunder Python's area, the Hunting Soul Group members remained cautious.

After all, this is the Star Dou Great Forest; the outskirts could harbor thousand‑year‑old Soul Beasts.

Senluo took out a special powder from his pocket, it smelled foul, but he didn't mind sprinkling it on everyone.

"Hehe, don't underestimate this place; this packet costs several Gold Soul Coins. Sprinkled on you, you won't have to worry about low‑level Soul Beasts harassing you."

Hearing Senluo's slightly lewd remark, Tie Li guessed it was dried, powdered excrement of high‑grade Soul Beasts, which indeed wards off many potential dangers.

Indeed, high‑grade Soul Beasts are valuable from head to toe; even their waste sells for a high price.

Perhaps nearing the Thunder Python's zone, everyone's steps slowed, carefully observing the surroundings.

The scent of high‑grade Soul Beast excrement can deter low‑grade ones, but entering another high‑grade Beast's area with that scent is a naked provocation.

And the Hunting Soul Group's current action is precisely provoking the owner of this area.

Snarl!

Hearing the distant wailing roar and the sound of a massive body smashing through trees, everyone's expression changed.

"Tie Li Soul Master, you retreat first," Senluo immediately said to Tie Li.

Tie Li also knew his situation; staying would not help them and would only distract them.

He stepped back a hundred meters at once, and when he turned, he saw the massive body of the Thunder Python.

Immediately after, brilliant Soul Rings rose from beneath them.

Senluo's martial soul is the Da Li Bear; his already towering body swelled again to nearly three meters, brown fur heavy, and at his feet was a one‑white, two‑yellow, one‑purple Soul Ring Configuration.

Next were two Three‑Soul Soul Elders; the big‑bearded one had the Woolly Elephant martial soul, a defensive‑type martial soul, with a one‑white, two‑yellow Soul Ring Configuration.

The man in formal attire's martial soul was a long staff studded with three gems, the gems' colors matching his Soul Ring Configuration: one white, one yellow, one purple.

The other Great Soul Masters all had a one‑white, one‑yellow Soul Ring Configuration.

Tie Li looked at the two Soul Rings glowing with violet light, and his heart steadied.

(End of chapter)