Caelus listened to Xu Jiujiu's detailed and patient explanation and nodded cooperatively.
Although he already knew this information from the original work, hearing it directly from Xu Jiujiu now better suited his persona as a six-year-old child and improved his impression of the princess.
She was genuinely serious about fulfilling her duty as a guide.
"Understood, Your Highness, I will follow closely,"
Caelus responded obediently.
Nebula Douluo Man Yi silently arrived beside the two of them. Her seemingly cloudy old eyes swept over the forest ahead, and an invisible, reassuring force subtly emanated from her.
"Let's go, Your Highness, little Caelus. I hope we can find suitable spirit rings for you both soon," Man Yi said calmly and unhurriedly.
Grandpa Hui was advanced in age, and his cultivation was only that of a Soul Elder. Entering the perilous Star Dou Great Forest would not only fail to help but might also become a burden.
He stayed with the other guards at the edge of the forest, watching over the carriage and silently praying that his young master would return safely and successfully obtain a spirit ring.
Nebula Douluo Man Yi, however, led Xu Jiujiu and Caelus, stepping into that primeval Domain that blocked out the sun.
As soon as they entered the forest, the light abruptly dimmed.
The canopies of the towering ancient trees overlapped, forming a giant green dome, allowing only scattered spots of light to stubbornly penetrate, casting flickering patches onto the thick layer of humus on the ground, accumulated over countless years.
The air became humid and stuffy, filled with a complex scent mixing earth, decaying leaves, and various strange plants, interspersed with a faint, almost imperceptible musky odor belonging to the Soul Beasts.
Beneath their feet were gnarled tree roots and soft moss, requiring extra caution when walking.
The silence around them contained a hidden clamor—the faint roar of unknown Soul Beasts in the distance, the chirping of insects and birds nearby, and the rustling sound of the wind blowing through the forest, together weaving the unique background score of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Thick vines hung down from the branches, some bearing brightly colored flowers that might contain potent toxins.
Grotesque fungi grew silently beside the tree roots, emitting a faint, eerie glow.
Nebula Douluo Man Yi walked in the lead. Although her steps seemed relaxed, an invisible mental force of perception had already spread out like flowing mercury, guarding against every disturbance around them.
Xu Jiujiu followed closely, her purple eyes filled with caution as she constantly observed her surroundings.
Caelus walked in the middle, his white hair particularly conspicuous in the dim forest.
To quickly adapt to the environment and prepare for potential sudden dangers, Caelus's mind stirred. He did not fully release his Martial Soul, but the clock markings deep within his eyes quietly surfaced, and a subtle, almost imperceptible fluctuation, seeming to synchronize with the flow of time, surrounded his body.
After they had proceeded cautiously for about half an hour, a rustling sound suddenly came from the thicket ahead and to their side.
"Be careful," Man Yi warned in a low voice, but she made no move herself.
The next moment, a swift cyan figure darted out—it was a Wind Wolf with a sturdy build, glossy fur, and a single horn on its forehead.
Judging by its aura, its cultivation was around five hundred years. It was extremely fast, baring its teeth and leaping toward Caelus, who seemed the weakest target.
Because Nebula Douluo Man Yi had concealed her aura, this hundred-year Soul Beast dared to attack.
As for why she concealed her aura, they were here to hunt for spirit rings, not to show off their might. If the aura of a Titled Douluo wasn't hidden, the Soul Beasts would be scared away before they even got close, making it impossible to obtain a spirit ring.
"Seeking death."
Xu Jiujiu snorted coldly, and the brilliant Star Crown Martial Soul instantly appeared above her head, with points of starlight beginning to gather.
However, Caelus's movement was faster than hers.
Facing the pouncing Wind Wolf, Caelus advanced instead of retreating, his small body exceptionally agile.
He didn't use any Spirit Ability—of course, he didn't have any Martial Soul Abilities yet—he simply raised his right hand and swiped it through the air toward the attacking figure.
A strange scene unfolded.
The air around him seemed to be drawn by an invisible force. Streaks of flowing wind, imperceptible to the naked eye but carrying the rhythm of passing time, formed out of thin air. They were not violent or fierce, but possessed a power of restraint, like countless fine threads of time, skillfully Entanglement the Wind Wolf's limbs and joints.
"Woooo—!"
The Wind Wolf's forward momentum abruptly stalled, as if it had fallen into an invisible quicksand. Its movements instantly became sluggish and awkward. It let out a terrified whimper, its originally smooth pouncing trajectory completely disrupted.
This was precisely one of Caelus's Martial Soul innate talents—Wind of Time.
It was not wind element manipulation in the traditional sense, but a unique ability that affected movement itself through the flow of time, thereby indirectly interfering with the air current, forming something that resembled wind.
Just as a fire-attribute Soul Master is naturally able to control flames, this was an instinct for him as the possessor of the Regent of Time Martial Soul.
Almost simultaneously, the hands in Caelus's clock-like eyes trembled slightly, and a faint sense of mental force depletion came over him.
In his vision, the trajectory of the Wind Wolf's next attack—which had grown more violent due to the setback—the muscle exertion points, and the angle of its sharp claws, all appeared clearly in his mind like a rehearsal.
Future Prediction, another powerful Martial Soul innate talent.
Relying on this'sight' that was a fraction of a second ahead, Caelus lightly shifted his feet, precisely evading the Wind Wolf's subsequent, rage-fueled, and more tricky angle of attack in a way that seemed dangerous but was perfectly executed.
"Starfall Technique."
At this moment, Xu Jiujiu's Spirit Ability was also ready. A brilliant beam of starlight descended from the sky, accurately striking the Wind Wolf, whose movements were severely disrupted by the Wind of Time, simultaneously knocking it back and briefly stunning it.
Only then did Nebula Douluo Man Yi, who had been observing the entire time, wave her arm, and a chain formed of starlight firmly bound the Wind Wolf.
The reason she didn't subdue the Wind Wolf immediately was to observe Caelus's reaction and, at the same time, to provide experience for Xu Jiujiu.
After all, Soul Masters are tempered in combat; a mere 'vase' cannot grow strong, and even if she did, facing an expert of the same Rank would expose her weakness instantly.
Xu Jiujiu's performance was within her expectations, as Man Yi had raised and constantly guided her, but Caelus had given her a surprise—or rather, a fright.
At this moment, both Xu Jiujiu and Nebula Douluo Man Yi looked toward Caelus, their faces bearing undisguised shock.
"Was that... a Self-Created Spirit Ability?!"
Xu Jiujiu's voice carried incredible astonishment.
The only type of Spirit Ability she could think of that could be used without a spirit ring was a Self-Created Spirit Ability.