Chapter 50: Tang San Breakthrough!

As they kept marching, everyone's stamina consumption grew larger.

But Oscar's Recovery Sausage worked so well that the group's stamina was replenished promptly, keeping them almost constantly vigorous.

Moreover, his Soul Spell issue was resolved.

They ate the Recovery Sausage without any mental burden.

So… Oscar's soul power wasn't sufficient.

At first, Dai Mubai dragged his arm and ran a stretch with him, letting him try to recover; later Xiao Xian opened his eyes and had Xiao Jue bite him and move forward.

Seeing this, Ning Rongrong occasionally used the Qibao Liuli Tower to grant everyone a "Agility Aura"; when her soul power wasn't enough, she would look at Xiao Xian with an expectant gaze.

After that, what Xiao Jue held in his mouth became her.

She still looked a bit pale, and the aura on Xiao Jue was so fierce it was like a genuine Soul Beast, one that had existed for thousands of years.

But… it was easy.

She looked at the others running with a sly grin.

Tang San also contributed his Blue Silver Sugarcane, but his Xuan Tian Gong's soul power recovery was strong, so he didn't really need external aid.

"…"

The Star Dou Great Forest is about five hundred kilometers from Suotuo City.

Their party of nine included three auxiliary Soul Masters, and Zhao Wuji didn't even need assistance.

Night hadn't fallen yet, and even with some time left, they had already covered over four hundred kilometers.

Zhao Wuji glanced at the sky and decisively issued a rest order.

If they kept marching, they'd have to spend the night in the Star Dou Great Forest.

For a group of little Soul Masters exhausted after a day, this difficulty was too great; it was best to enter during daylight.

Even if they had to stay overnight inside, having daytime experience as a buffer would still make it somewhat safer.

Ahead lay a small town.

Zhao Wuji led them inside for resupply and rest.

Xiao Xian immediately retrieved Xiao Jue.

He wasn't familiar with the town; he only knew it because Fulangde had once flown over it with him.

He had a vague impression.

The town was bustling, unlike other places; its shops were mostly related to Soul Masters—weapons, leather armor, potions, special garments—and the patrons were largely Soul Masters, exuding a fierce aura.

Tang San looked around and chatted casually with Oscar now and then, clearly feeling that he had broadened his horizons.

He originally wanted to talk with Xiao Xian.

But Xiao Xian seemed lost in thought, so he didn't disturb him.

Zhao Wuji led them to search around and spotted an unremarkable inn.

"Here then, rest for one night, depart tomorrow; all expenses are on you."

The inn was the most ordinary type, two stories: a dining hall on the first floor and lodging on the second.

Zhao Wuji took a single room, asked Tang San for a piece of Blue Silver Sugarcane, gnawed it while going upstairs, and stopped paying attention to them.

Dai Mubai discussed with the group and decided to cobble together a five-person room for the five boys and a three-person room for the girls.

Xiao Xian shook his head: "I'll also take a single room; Xiao Jue needs to train at night, the five-person room won't fit."

Dai Mubai could only nod and changed the five-person room to a four-person one.

"Let's eat first; after the meal we can go up to rest. If I eat too many sausages I'll vomit!" Ma Hongjun kept glancing at others' tables, salivating wildly.

Dai Mubai, being wealthy and generous, treated everyone; after a hearty meal, they went upstairs to rest.

Xiao Xian went to the back kitchen, asking the cooks to process some Soul Beast meat; his Soul Guide Device still had some surplus, intended for Xiao Jue.

Although Tang San was on this trip, there weren't many unexpected events.

They arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest a day earlier than the original story, so they naturally didn't happen to encounter the Canghui Academy.

However, Slake's "school motto" was still at work.

Xiao Xian, in the next room, heard Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun and a few others go out, apparently beating someone, but it didn't cause much of a stir.

Xiao Jue ate the Soul Beast meat delivered by the kitchen, squeezed into a corner of the room, and began training.

Xiao Xian, as always, followed his years-long habit—training during the first half of the night, sleeping the second half, then retrieving Xiao Jue in the morning to merge soul power.

"…"

Early the next morning, the group continued marching.

Not long after, several of them were already near that seemingly endless forest.

"Stop," Zhao Wuji turned, looking at them seriously, and said, "You must remember, the Star Dou Great Forest is not the Empire's cultivated Soul Hunting Forest. Here, you could at any moment face attacks from thousand-year, even ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts!"

"Everyone, stay within twenty meters of me. Tang San, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, you must not even move a half step away!"

"All of you, without my order, are not allowed to attack any Soul Beast at will, understand!"

"Understood!"

Everyone, including Xiao Xian, wore a solemn expression.

With Xiao Wu present, it wouldn't just be thousand-year Soul Beast attacks; hundred-thousand-year ones could also appear.

Oscar and Tang San, prompted by Xiao Xian, had already made many sausages and sugarcane at the inn and handed them out.

Now there was no time to waste.

Zhao Wuji had Xiao Xian release Xiao Jue, letting it and Dai Mubai go at the front while he took charge of the rear guard.

Thus, all eight youngsters could stay within his line of sight, and many Soul Beasts tend to ambush from behind.

"…"

After entering the Star Dou Great Forest, there were no paths, only thorns everywhere and dense trees.

Fulangde, with Xiao Xian, was gliding through mid‑air and didn't need to clear a path.

Now, with so many people, it naturally wouldn't work.

Dai Mubai released his martial soul, snapping out sharp claws, and frantically tore apart all the thorns that appeared ahead.

Xiao Jue then had it much easier, sometimes staying behind Dai Mubai.

Sometimes, leaping high, they would hop back and forth among several big trees, scouting the situation ahead.

Occasionally they also encountered Soul Beasts.

Without waiting for Tang San to speak, Xiao Xian would have them avoid it.

Xiao Jue's nose was keen; even from far away it could detect the traces of Soul Beasts.

It lasted until noon.

Under Zhao Wuji's orders, the group began to rest.

They didn't venture deep into the Star Dou Great Forest; Oscar's soul ring was at least a thousand years old, and they hadn't found a suitable one yet.

Xiao Wu was initially a bit exhilarated, but later she gradually became listless.

Xiao Xian glanced at her a few times quietly, then handed her a Water Sac and some food.

The rest period ended.

Until night fell, everyone was somewhat exhausted, but they still hadn't encountered a satisfactory thousand‑year Soul Beast.

The ones they met were either not strong enough—far beyond Oscar's endurance limit—or poisonous.

Zhao Wuji, somewhat helpless, found a spot and set up camp for the night.

During the night there were no Soul Beast attacks either.

The nine of them were mostly meditating, their soul‑power fluctuations were strong and highly deterrent; not all Soul Beasts have the nerve to launch a reckless attack.

Especially Tang San, whose soul‑power fluctuation was the most noticeable.

He is of the plant type; in the Star Dou Great Forest it felt just like returning home, very familiar and comfortable.

Until morning.

Everyone was eating dry rations.

Tang San opened his eyes with an excited expression and found Zhao Wuji, who seemed a bit impatient.

"Teacher Zhao, I've also broken through! Level 30!"

Zhao Wuji was drinking water, immediately spat it out in one gulp, eyes wide as he stared at Tang San.

"????!"

Everyone who was eating breakfast was a bit shocked.

……