Inside the carriage, Xu Jiujiu looked at Caelus, who had retracted his Martial Soul and returned to his quiet appearance, her heart filled with anticipation.
She was incredibly curious: what kind of astonishing Time Spirit Ability would this boy, who embodied countless miracles, display after obtaining his first spirit ring?
And she herself would officially become a three-ring Spirit Elder during this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest.
The path ahead seemed to become even more captivating because of the presence of the white-haired boy beside her.
The Star Luo Empire's territory was vast. Traveling from Yuming City on the western border to the Star Dou Great Forest, located in the central part of the Douluo Continent, took nearly three days, even riding in the high-performance imperial soul-guided carriage day and night.
When the carriage finally came to a gentle stop, and Caelus followed Xu Jiujiu down, a warm breeze mixed with the fragrance of earth, the clear scent of plants, and a certain primal, wild aura rushed towards them, distinctly different from the dry, metallic-smelling wind of Yuming City.
What met their eyes was an endless, lush green ocean.
Towering ancient trees rose from the ground, their crowns like canopies covering the sky, vines coiled down like giant pythons, and various exotic flowers and grasses competed in splendor, brimming with vigorous vitality.
However, beneath this vitality, the faint, unknown roars of beasts and the sharp cries of birds constantly reminded visitors that countless dangers and opportunities lurked here.
This was one of the most famous and vast Soul Beast habitats on the Douluo Continent—the Star Dou Great Forest.
Xu Jiujiu stood beside Caelus, gazing at the boundless forest sea before them, a trace of seriousness in her purple eyes.
She turned her head, looking at the white-haired, golden-eyed boy beside her who was quietly observing the forest. Remembering that he was only six years old and likely unfamiliar with much of the common knowledge of the Spirit Master's world, she naturally took on the role of explainer, her voice clear and crisp:
"Caelus, this is the Star Dou Great Forest, one of the largest and most dangerous Soul Beast forests on our Douluo Continent."
She reached out and pointed toward the boundless green ahead.
"It is said that its area is even vaster than some principalities. Tens of thousands of different types of Soul Beasts live inside, ranging from the lowest ten-year Soul Beasts to legendary hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts capable of rivaling Titled Douluo. All of them might be encountered here."
She paused, then continued:
"Soul Masters usually divide the Star Dou Great Forest into several areas based on the Soul Beasts' Cultivation age and danger level. The outermost area is the Peripheral Zone. Most of the low-level Soul Beasts there are ten-year or hundred-year ones. It is relatively safe and is where many low-level Soul Master teams acquire their first and second spirit rings."
"Deeper inside is the Mixed Zone."
Xu Jiujiu's expression grew considerably more serious.
"That is where hundred-year and thousand-year Soul Beasts mix and reside. The danger level rises sharply, and Soul Beasts with several thousand years of Cultivation often appear. Generally, Spirit Elders and Spirit Ancestors who need their third or fourth spirit rings team up to explore there, and they must proceed with extreme caution."
"And even deeper is the Core Zone."
When she mentioned this term, Xu Jiujiu's tone clearly carried deep apprehension.
"That is the Forbidden Land for the weak. It is said to harbor powerful Soul Beasts above ten thousand years, and even... terrifying existences surpassing the hundred-thousand-year level. Unless one is a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse, stepping into the Core Zone is almost certain death."
"Besides the Star Dou Great Forest, the other two famous Soul Beast habitats on the Continent are the Evil Demon Forest over in the Sun Moon Empire, and the Extreme North Ice Plain in the far north."
Xu Jiujiu added.
"The three have their own characteristics, but in terms of the richness of Soul Beast species and sheer quantity, the Star Dou Great Forest ranks first."
She looked at Caelus and concluded:
"Therefore, our area of activity this time will mainly be in the Peripheral Zone and the outer sections of the Mixed Zone. With Grandma Man Yi here, as long as we don't actively provoke those particularly powerful existences, our safety is guaranteed. All you need to do is stay close to us and not act rashly. Understand?"