Tang San nodded and immediately began assigning tasks to everyone.
This time, their venture into the Sunset Forest was to acquire their fourth soul rings. With everyone having consumed the immortal herb, their physical strength had significantly improved. They could now obtain soul rings of around five thousand years for their fourth soul ring, surpassing the standard age limit.
"Due to the additional special training, we need to be cautious," Tang San remarked. "Oscar, ensure you have enough mushroom sausages for everyone ready at all times, just in case. Let's discuss our approach to soul beasts first. In any of ur encounter with soul beasts, our strategy is simple: Mubai, Xiao Wu, and I will handle the frontal attack, Zhu Qing will focus on containing and stopping it from escaping, Hongjun, you'll protect Rongrong and Oscar while providing long-range support. However, when dealing with soul beasts, remember not to kill them outright, as we won't be able to absorb their soul rings. When necessary, Oscar, your sausages can also be used to revive almost dying soul beasts."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Another crucial point concerns the special training with the six ring Soul Emperor," Tang San continued, casting a serious gaze over the group. "Since he's a friend invited by the Grandmaster, it won't be easy. He may attack us at any time—while we sleep, travel, eat or even when we rest. It's even more likely to happen during our soul beast hunts..."
"And regarding the six ring Soul Emperor, we're outmatched and lacking information. He might know a lot about us through the Grandmaster, but we know next to nothing about him. We need to proceed with extreme caution. Hongjun, don't underestimate the situation," Tang San cautioned.
Ma Hongjun chuckled a few times and retorted, "Say, Tang San, you took down a fifty-eighth level Tai Nuo alone. Do you really think we need to be so serious with the seven of us?"
Tang San shook his head solemnly. "It's not that simple. Even with my hidden weapons, I can't defeat a Soul Emperor above sixty levels. And what if this Soul Emperor knows us well? If he's prepared, we stand no chance."
Ma Hongjun's smile faded slightly upon hearing Tang San's reasoning. His words made sense. What if their opponent indeed knew them well through the information provided by the Grandmaster?
The group of seven remained clueless.
"Once we enter the Sunset Forest, we must exercise extreme caution in everything we do! Never act alone at any time!" Tang San emphasized, addressing the group. "At least two people should always stick together for any private activities. Xiao Wu and I will be one pair, Oscar, Hong Jun, Mubai, Zhu Qing, and Rongrong will form the other."
"Agreed!" everyone nodded in unison.
After finalizing their plans, the group set off towards the Sunset Forest.
"Xiaogang, do you think they'll manage to remove his mask?" Flender whispered while eyeing the seven.
"It's quite challenging, but let's wait for the right moment. It's been almost half a year, although their abilities are improving," the Grandmaster mused for a moment before continuing, "However, Xiao Feng's progress should be even faster and more comprehensive then them."
"Still I do believe that they have a chance at removing the mask..."
Liu Erlong gazed at one of them with a hint of significance.
The Sunset Forest lies in close proximity to Heaven Dou City and serves as a hunting ground for soul beasts for Heaven Dou City and several neighboring cities. Unlike the controlled hunting grounds, such as the Soul Hunting Forest near the Nuoding City, where powerful soul beasts does not reside, the Sunset Forest harbors numerous ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts, posing a formidable challenge for anyone venturing in.
Fortunately, compared to the densely vegetated Star Dou Great Forest, the Sunset Forest's vegetation is less dense due to its location.
"The Sunset Forest seems less formidable than the Star Dou Great Forest," remarked one of the seven as they traversed the area, encountering fewer thousand-year-old soul beasts than expected, making it slightly inferior to the Star Dou Great Forest.
Additionally, the area of the Sunset Forest isn't as vast as the Star Dou Great Forest, and the presence of nearby cities leads to frequent hunting and killing of numerous soul beasts. As a result, the quality of the soul beasts in the Sunset Forest is notably inferior.
Suddenly, the sound of a skirmish echoed in the distance.
"Seems like there's a fight up ahead," Dai Mubai announced, taking the lead and sensing the disturbance.
At that moment, Tang San also immediately took notice.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing gracefully landed on a large tree nearby, her voice cool and composed as she spoke, "They're students from other colleges in Heaven Dou City, dressed in their respective college attire. Two men and a woman, they seem to be engaged in soul beast hunting."
As the designated scout for the group, Zhu Zhuqing wasted no time upon hearing the commotion and promptly went to gather information.
"Shall we go and observe?" Zhu Zhuqing suggested.
Tang San paused for a moment, then replied, "Let's go take a look, but we should remain cautious."
The others nodded in agreement, and not long after, they approached the scene of the altercation.
They found two men and one woman engaged in combat with a giant Soul Eater Flower. Presently, the two men lay defeated on the ground, leaving only the woman desperately fleeing in another direction. All three were clad in college uniforms.
"It's a thousand-year-old Soul-Eating Flower," Tang San remarked upon observing the creature. "These soul beasts are challenging to deal with yet quite formidable. Unfortunately, it's only a thousand years old one. If it were three or four thousand years old, it would be more suitable for Zhuqing. Soul-Eating Flowers have a peculiar trait: they can increase an opponent's soul power consumption by inflicting wounds. It's quite troublesome to deal with."
Tang San's explanation came as if from a soul beast encyclopedia.
"Hey, that girl looks quite attractive," Ma Hongjun suddenly exclaimed, his eyes gleaming as he watched the fleeing woman.
Indeed, the woman's face was pale as snow, her long hair billowing behind her. Despite her nervous expression as she evaded the creature, her innate grace and allure were unmistakable.
Dai Mubai and Oscar also took notice, their interest piqued.
"Third brother, let's lend a hand," Ning Rongrong suggested. "This Soul-Eating Flower isn't particularly strong, and it's already injured. I'll boost the fatty's attributes, he can handle it alone."
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing also nodded in agreement.
Tang San observed the woman for a moment, finding no objections, then grinned at Ma Hongjun and said, "Here's your chance to play the hero and save the damsel in distress."
Ma Hongjun had been eagerly awaiting this moment.
After Ning Rongrong boosted his attributes, Ma Hongjun dashed forward.
"EvilFire Phoenix Possession!" he exclaimed, leaping into action with exhilaration. He couldn't believe his luck at having the opportunity to be a hero. Last time, in Suotuo City, he hadn't been as strong as the others, but now he finally had a chance to shine.
Like a deity descending to the mortal realm, Ma Hongjun activated his third soul ability, as he soared into the air. Descending, he unleashed a burst of Phoenix FireWire directly onto the Soul-Eating Flower, causing it to collapse before the woman.
"Thank you so much," the woman whispered gratefully.
Ma Hongjun felt a surge of elation at her words, turning around to introduce himself.
But just as he turned...
Instead of being greeted by the woman's delicate features, Ma Hongjun was met with a fist to his face!
Boom!
The force of the punch sent Ma Hongjun hurtling backward through the air like a spinning top, crashing into a distant tree.
"..." Everyone stood in stunned silence.
Meanwhile, the woman turned her gaze towards Tang San in the distance and spoke with a smile, "Is this all you've got? You lack any sense of vigilance. If I were an enemy, this fatty would already be dead. Next time, I won't be so lenient."
Her voice was deep, elegant, and with a hint of neutrality.
Before anyone could react, the woman vanished in the blink of an eye, as if swept away by a gust of wind, leaving everyone shocked.
"Did you see that?" Dai Mubai asked, his gaze fixed on Tang San.
"No, it was too fast... and silent," Tang San replied solemnly.
"What's going on?" Ning Rongrong was still puzzled, then realization dawned on her. "Could she... be the Soul Emperor Grandmaster was talking about?"
Tang San nodded gravely.
Everyone was taken aback, except for Tang San, who remained somewhat composed.
Because they hadn't encountered any attacks since the group arrived, they hadn't expected to encounter such a situation.
The six hurried to Ma Hongjun's side. Though only one punch had been thrown, Ma Hongjun's face was swollen like a pig's.
After a while, he slowly regained conscious.
.....
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