[DD]: 18

It had been three days since they left Wuhun City.

Inside the carriage, Han Li and Guang Ling were nestled comfortably on the sofa. They sipped tea from the small table beside them, popped a few snacks into their mouths, and leisurely perused the storybooks in their hands.

"Xiao Li, what should we have for lunch? Hot pot or barbecue?" Guang Ling asked lazily, turning his head slightly.

"Anything is fine, Master. But isn't it a bit early? Let's wait a bit," Han Li replied nonchalantly, putting down his storybook.

"Alright, let's call Sebastian to join us then," Guang Ling nodded.

"Sure," Han Li agreed. To be honest, this was the first time he had met the Soul Emperor driving the carriage. It wasn't until half a day's journey had passed that Guang Ling mentioned his name, almost causing Han Li to lose his composure.

Sebastian—such a memorable name. Coincidentally, this Soul Emperor's martial soul was quite peculiar, an intangible insect of the mental control type. He possessed a control skill named "Spirit Thread," fully stacked with buffs.

Sebastian was pleased with how Han Li addressed him. Being called Sebastian Michaelis by a disciple of the Fifth Worship was an honor. Although Sebastian had no surname, he didn't mind being given one. After all, this came from a future Title Douluo powerhouse, so he decided to adopt the surname Michaelis. Henceforth, he would be known as Sebastian Michaelis, and anyone who objected would face his wrath.

Han Li also kindly reminded him to be cautious in future battles, never to charge in alone unprepared, regardless of how much weaker the enemy might seem.

Sebastian was deeply moved by this advice, wishing he could boast to his colleagues immediately, if not for his current duty of driving the carriage.

"Sebastian, time to eat."

After traveling a bit further, Sebastian heard Han Li's call from the carriage. He promptly pulled over to the roadside and carefully entered the carriage.

…

The journey was uneventful. They passed through numerous small towns, drawing considerable attention with their novel mode of transport. However, upon seeing the Martial Soul Hall emblem on the carriage and recognizing the powerful soul master driving it, no one dared to approach.

After nearly ten days of travel, they finally reached the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest around noon.

Leaving Sebastian to guard the carriage in a nearby town, the master and disciple duo disembarked, ignoring the curious glances and calls to join teams. They headed directly toward a waiting Spirit Hall deacon.

"Any updates on the Golden Scale Eagle?" Guang Ling flashed his token, stopping the deacon from saluting, and asked directly.

"Your Eminence, according to our information, there have been no significant changes. The Golden Scale Eagle is still at a cliff in the mixed zone. Here is the detailed map for your reference."

The deacon quickly answered the question while respectfully handing over a detailed map.

"Good, not bad. Alright, you can withdraw now. You don't need to worry about the rest," Guang Ling waved his hand to signal the deacon to leave, but Han Li stopped him.

"Thank you for your hard work, deacon. This is a small token of appreciation. Take it and treat everyone to some tea. I appreciate the information you've provided," Han Li said with a smile, handing over a pre-prepared bag containing a thousand gold soul coins.

The deacon hurriedly declined, "Young Master, this is our duty. The money... there's no need for it. It's against the rules."

Guang Ling rolled his eyes, clearly disapproving of his disciple's behavior, but he still spoke up, "Take it. It's his token of gratitude, and no one will hold you accountable."

"But..." The deacon was sweating profusely, genuinely afraid to accept it.

"Just take it. Consider it following orders," Han Li insisted, shoving the bag into the deacon's hands. Without waiting for his response, he followed the impatient Guang Ling towards the forest's edge.

Both of them walked at a brisk pace, and soon their figures were swallowed by the forest.

As they ventured deeper, the surrounding vegetation became increasingly lush. The noise of the small town faded away, replaced by the serene sounds of nature, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle they had just left behind.

"The air here is nice," Han Li remarked habitually. From the moment they stepped out of the town, he had been holding his Ice-Fire Bow in his hand, extending his senses to the fullest. Through the ability of his antennae, the surrounding environment, humidity, and traces left by humans and animals were all clearly fed back to his mind.

"Your vigilance is commendable. From here on, the hunt will be on you alone. I'll follow you, but I'll conceal my presence. Be careful and let's see the results of your training," Guang Ling said, nodding in satisfaction at Han Li's actions, then reminding him.

"No problem, Master. As long as you don't eat chicken legs, drink wine, or provoke a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, I guarantee I won't die," Han Li replied with a cheeky grin.

Guang Ling, annoyed, gave Han Li a knock on the head and kicked him forward. Although he didn't understand exactly what Han Li had said, he instinctively knew it wasn't anything good.

He deliberately fell back a bit but always kept Han Li within his sight and attack range.

With a clear map in hand, Han Li didn't wander aimlessly and instead followed the marked route to their destination.

There were quite a few soul beasts on the outskirts, but most were ten-year soul beasts, with even hundred-year ones being rare. Han Li easily drove them away from his path using his mental power.

Proceeding cautiously for a long time, Han Li finally encountered a thousand-year soul beast within his mental range. He heightened his alertness significantly and, upon entering the mixed zone marked on the map, switched his Ice-Fire Bow to the Ice-Fire Scimitar Blades for better defense against potential attacks.

As the sky gradually darkened, Han Li took the initiative to stop and called out, "Master!"

As soon as he spoke, Guang Ling appeared beside him. "What's the matter? Not planning to go any further?"

Han Li answered decisively, "No, although I don't rely solely on my eyes to see, there's no need to take unnecessary risks. I'm already nearing the alert threshold I set for myself. Continuing would be imprudent."

Guang Ling looked at Han Li, who showed no signs of fatigue and couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth. This disciple was indeed cautious. Guang Ling could guarantee that Han Li's mental energy expenditure was no more than 30%, and since they hadn't engaged in any battles, his soul power was still abundant. The distance they'd covered was less than a tenth of Han Li's usual training regimen, without the added burden of gravity or extra weight. Yet, he claimed to be approaching his alert threshold. It was hard to comment on such prudence.

"So, what do you plan to do?" Guang Ling asked.

"If you, Master, keep watch for the night, then I'll set up camp here. This spot is suitable enough. If you disagree, we'll retreat to the outskirts and rest there. I've already chosen a spot on our way here. We can set off again early tomorrow and reach our destination safely by around two in the afternoon," Han Li replied without hesitation. It was clear he had planned everything.

Guang Ling sighed as he looked at his disciple. "Let's rest here. I'll keep watch."

Han Li grinned, immediately wielding his fire blade to clear a reasonably sized campsite. He carefully controlled the flames to prevent them from spreading.

Guang Ling stood by, not interfering, just watching quietly.

In less than half an hour, Han Li had everything set up. He sprinkled some medicinal powder along the edges of the campsite, and a campfire burned steadily in the center. Above it, a pre-made rack held three pots, each cooking different dishes that emitted tantalizing aromas.

On the ground nearby, cut stones served as a base for two exquisite blankets spread out, complete with covers. It looked more like a camping trip than a soul beast hunt, leaving Guang Ling speechless as he gazed up at the sky.

"Alright, dinner's ready, Master," Han Li called out.

"You came prepared. You must have planned for me to keep watch all along," Guang Ling remarked casually as he took a sip of hot soup.

"Not at all. It's your care for me, Master. If you hadn't agreed, I would have retreated to the outskirts," Han Li replied with a bright smile, illuminated by the firelight. Seeking help from his master in times of difficulty was his unique secret technique.

"You cheeky brat, you sure know how to sweet-talk," Guang Ling shook his head, not saying much more.

The training was training, but his main role was to ensure Han Li's safety. If Han Li insisted on keeping watch himself, Guang Ling would let him, as it was his choice. Now that Han Li chose to rely on his master's strength, Guang Ling had no objections. After all, he was the master.

"I still have to absorb a soul ring tomorrow and set a new record. I won't let pride compromise my condition. Isn't that right, Master?" Han Li said, pouring a bowl of food from another pot and handing it to Guang Ling.

"I almost forgot. You're planning to absorb a soul ring that's over three thousand years old."

Under the firelight, Guang Ling's gaze seemed somewhat vague. Since taking on Han Li, his original understanding has been continuously challenged.

For instance, he had almost forgotten that this kid was about to absorb a soul ring over three thousand years old. When they entered the mixed zone, knowing Han Li's combat strength, Guang Ling subconsciously overlooked the fact that Han Li was still a Spirit Grand Soul Master without a second soul ring.

"You are a prodigy. I'm more than willing to keep watch tonight."

Guang Ling chuckled. A trace of an expression that didn't quite match his youthful face appeared. No wonder people often said that taking on a disciple was like raising a son. It seemed he had reached that age. Fortunately, it wasn't too late, and he hadn't chosen poorly.

Han Li said nothing, just smiled, and handed over more freshly cooked food. The two chatted sporadically as the night deepened.

By dawn, Han Li awoke on time, thanks to the good sleep habits he had cultivated.

He threw off his blanket, stood up, and greeted his still-energetic master before taking care of his hygiene.

After a casual breakfast, Han Li packed up their belongings, erased the traces of their campsite, and, under Guang Ling's watchful eye, heightened his vigilance and continued along the path indicated by the map.

Compared to yesterday, Han Li's progress today was not as smooth. Even though his strong mental energy warded off some soul beasts, others, less intelligent, still attacked him, significantly slowing his pace.

"Whoosh."

Han Li exhaled as a red-and-blue arrow shot into the eye socket of a nearby Gale Wolf. As the wolf's head exploded, a purple soul ring formed and hovered above its corpse.

"That thing was really fast. And with that wind blade, it was such a nuisance. Aren't thousand-year soul beasts supposed to lack intelligence? This thing seemed smarter than Feng Xiaotian," Han Li couldn't help but grumble inwardly.

This wasn't a soul beast he had encountered directly. It had sneaked up while he was battling an Armored Pig, drawn by the commotion.

Unexpectedly, this Gale Wolf, which was just over two thousand years old, didn't launch a direct attack. Instead, it circled their battle zone, constantly harassing Han Li and the Armored Pig with wind blades, seemingly attempting a double kill. This left Han Li, who lacked defensive skills, quite constrained and unable to quickly dispatch the two soul beasts.

Fortunately, the Armored Pig went into a berserk state after being attacked, giving Han Li the chance to shoot an arrow into its mouth. This freed him to deal with the cunning Gale Wolf alone.

This wolf truly lived up to its reputation as the type that prefers to harass from the periphery. The moment the Armored Pig died, it seemed to sense danger and turned to flee, decisively abandoning the food on the ground.

But Han Li, who had been harassed for half the day, was not about to let it escape so easily. He decisively deviated from his planned route, using ice arrows to pin it down, forcing it to turn and fight back before finally taking it down.

Of course, Han Li admitted that he dared to pursue it without a second thought because he knew Guang Ling was backing him up.

Through this battle, Han Li gained a clear understanding of his current strength. Relying on his exceptional mental strength, his external soul bone, and the extraordinary Ice-Fire Bow martial soul, along with his range advantage, he realized that he could likely wear down a soul beast close to three thousand years old with proper preparation. Of course, the soul beast had to be a conventional one with average bloodline strength.

In close combat, he could at best handle soul beasts around fifteen hundred years old, even though his physical strength surpassed that of most Beast Martial Soul Spirit Elders. In the Ice-Fire Blade state, the ice and fire elements hadn't fully fused, so the enhancement wasn't enough to crush his opponents. He still lacked explosive soul skills, and the strength of his external blade energy couldn't make up for the level gap. After all, most soul beasts had bodies stronger than human soul masters.

Luckily, he was about to obtain a new soul ring, which would significantly boost his strength again. Han Li hoped that acquiring the soul ring would also upgrade his external soul bone.

Routine level-ups offered a minimal enhancement to his external soul bone. He was eager to improve his elemental control, which would allow him to use many of his planned techniques without relying solely on passive boosts and the inherent strength of his martial soul.

Han Li briefly confirmed that the Gale Wolf had no other valuable drops, and with some regret, he used his antennae to return to his previous route, continuing deeper into the forest.

By noon, he had reached the location marked on the map and found the cliff where the Golden-Scaled Eagle lived.

Han Li carefully observed for a long time and then abandoned his initial plan to hunt alone, opting instead to call for help. The reason was that he discovered two Golden-Scaled Eagles and his knowledge indicated that one of them was over five thousand years old, beyond his current capability to handle.

"Master, I need your help."

Han Li retreated a distance and called out to a tree behind him.

"Not planning to give it a try?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Guang Ling stepped out from behind the tree, teasingly asking.

"No, I'm not here to fight; I'm here to obtain a soul ring. There's no need to risk it. Besides, I lack a one-hit-kill method. Engaging in a prolonged battle here could attract other soul beasts, so it's better if you handle it," Han Li shook his head and explained his reasoning.

"Alright, wait here."

Guang Ling finished speaking and instantly appeared at the cliff. Before the two Golden-Scaled Eagles could react, the pressure belonging to a Titled Douluo slammed into the two soul beasts, knocking them out cold.

Guang Ling ignored the larger male eagle and brought the smaller one back to Han Li, tossing it on the ground.

"Three thousand five hundred years old, probably just under three thousand six hundred years, exactly what you need."

"Yes, this is even better than the information suggested."

A hint of joy flashed in Han Li's eyes. With a soul beast that had a lifespan of two hundred years less than what his body could handle, it was much safer.

"Glad you're satisfied. Alright, let's get started," Guang Ling said, glancing at the still-unconscious Golden-Scaled Eagle.

"How about this, Master? Could you please exert yourself a bit more and take us to the periphery? After all, you just released your Titled Douluo aura, and absorbing a soul ring of this level might take me quite some time," Han Li hesitated before speaking apologetically.

Guang Ling was taken aback at first, thinking his disciple doubted his strength. But then he saw Han Li's conciliatory expression and remembered his usual cautious approach.

"Fine, let's ease his mind," Guang Ling thought silently. Besides, Han Li might have a point.

"Alright, as you wish."

Without waiting for Han Li to say more, Guang Ling directly picked up the Golden-Scaled Eagle with one hand and grabbed Han Li with the other, swiftly heading towards the periphery.