Chapter 67: Entering the Evernight Forest

[🎉 Shoutout to Justin_Avalos for joining patreon. Thank you very much.🤗]

During their conversation, Shi Yue learned much about Lin Ye. He found out that Lin Ye had just graduated from the Primary Soul Master Academy and had come to Evernight City all by himself. He also discovered that Lin Ye was a support-type soul master.

When Shi Yue heard that Lin Ye was a support-type, he couldn't help but advise him against entering the Evernight Forest. For a support-type soul master, who lacked combat abilities, even the outskirts of the forest could be full of deadly dangers.

However, Lin Ye, though appreciative of Shi Yue's concern, explained that this was a necessary training journey for him and that his elders had given him life-saving measures to ensure his safety.

Seeing that Lin Ye was resolute, Shi Yue wisely refrained from further dissuasion. Instead, he shifted the conversation to topics about Evernight City—discussing the power factions, local delicacies, and the precautions one should take before venturing into the forest.

Through this conversation, Lin Ye learned quite a few things about Evernight City. For instance, he had been curious why so many soul-hunting groups required support-type soul masters to have reached at least the Grand Soul Master level before joining.

Shi Yue explained that support-type soul masters generally lacked the ability to defend themselves. If they were only at the Soul Master level, they would need constant protection from their group members when facing soul beast attacks in the forest. A soul master with only one auxiliary soul skill offered too little value to justify the risks to the group.

However, once a support-type soul master reached the Grand Soul Master level, they gained additional soul skills, greatly enhancing their utility. Moreover, their heightened cultivation also gave them better means of self-defense. For most groups, a support-type Grand Soul Master could better take care of themselves and contribute more.

That's why nearly all reputable soul-hunting groups required their support-type members to be at least Grand Soul Masters.

The Barbarian Bear Soul Hunting Group was no exception to this rule.

...

As they talked, the two unknowingly covered a considerable distance, eventually arriving in front of a herbal medicine shop.

Shi Yue paused their conversation and sighed heavily. "Well, we're here. Little brother Lin Ye, I can't chat with you any longer. I need to go inside and buy some healing salves and antidotes—those are essential before venturing into the Evernight Forest."

"Ah, it's a shame we didn't meet earlier. Tomorrow, my Barbarian Bear group is heading into the forest for a commissioned hunt, or I would've introduced you to the rest of my team. A prodigy like you—breaking through to become a soul master at six years old—we don't come across that often!"

Shi Yue grinned as he joked, "When you reach Grand Soul Master, you've got to think about joining our Barbarian Bear group."

"I'll definitely keep that in mind," Lin Ye smiled in return.

"Haha! Good! Then it's settled. Once I'm done with this mission, I'll take you out for a drink! Alright, I'm off."

With a hearty laugh and a pat on Lin Ye's shoulder, Shi Yue turned and entered the herbal shop.

Lin Ye watched as the door closed behind Shi Yue before turning to continue his preparations. There were still essential items like water pouches, sulfur powder, and fire-starting tools to buy before he could enter the Evernight Forest the next day.

...

The next morning.

Lin Ye woke up at the Tulip Hotel and, after washing up, went over his supplies one last time to ensure everything was in order. Satisfied, he left the hotel and set out toward the Evernight Forest.

Although Evernight City was the closest city to the forest, it was still a considerable distance—about a dozen miles away. Even by carriage, it would take most of the day to get there.

However, Lin Ye had a different method. After leaving the city, he activated his Phoenix Dance Six Phantasms technique, moving faster than even a galloping horse. In just over an hour, he had reached the outskirts of the Evernight Forest.

The Evernight Forest was one of the few remaining primal forests on the continent, second only to the Star Dou Forest in size and notoriety.

Across the entire Douluo Continent, only a few forests could compare to the Evernight Forest, such as the Starfall Forest in the northwest of Barak Kingdom, the Darknight Forest in Silves Kingdom, and the Sunset Forest near Heaven Dou City.

Using his graceful Phoenix Dance technique, Lin Ye darted from one towering tree to another, weaving through the forest canopy with ease. As he neared the heart of the forest, he gazed at the sea of green stretching endlessly ahead of him.

The Evernight Forest was dense with ancient trees, each hundreds of years old, their thick trunks reaching toward the sky. The trees stood so close together that their branches and leaves overlapped, forming a dense canopy that barely allowed sunlight to filter through, leaving the forest floor in a perpetual twilight.

This dim environment was what had earned the forest its name.

Reaching the forest's edge, Lin Ye dropped down from the treetops. Surveying the thick undergrowth and the dense array of bushes and vines, he drew his iron sword and strapped it to his back before stepping into the shadows of the forest.

Inside, the forest floor was blanketed with a thick layer of fallen leaves, each step sending a soft rustling sound through the otherwise silent wilderness. The only sounds breaking the stillness were the occasional squeaks of distant animals and the soft chirps of birds fluttering above.

For a trained hunter like Lin Ye, this was a familiar environment. Back in Holy Soul Village, he often ventured deep into the nearby forest to hunt, and while it couldn't compare to the vastness of the Evernight Forest, the current outskirts felt somewhat similar to those earlier excursions.

As Lin Ye advanced deeper into the forest, the air became cooler and damper, the moisture in the atmosphere clinging to his clothes. If not for the protective layer of his Nine Yang True Qi, his clothing would have been drenched by the heavy humidity.

Eventually, after several hundred meters into the forest, Lin Ye began to spot signs of soul beasts. Golden-furred chestnut mice scampered up and down the trees, fiery-red foxes and golden-furred weasels darted between the bushes, and blue-horned deer grazed on the tender leaves growing among the shrubs.

However, none of these soul beasts were Lin Ye's targets. What he sought was a powerful, aggressive beast with at least a thousand years of cultivation.

═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═

patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator

🥰 Support the translation and help me grow.🤓

Read upto 20 Extra chapter in Patreon