Heaven Dou Empire,
A carriage is moving slowly to the North of Notting City, where the soul hunting forest is.
Inside the carriage two young men sat, one reading a book while the other looked around the passing scenery.
Shortly after they reached the soul hunting forest and stepped out of the carriage.
"Step aside and rest for a while, we won't take long." One of the young men said to the coachman before turning to his companion who was looking around like a country bumpkin.
"Wang Sheng, let's go." Hanrui said, shaking his head in amusement.
As they walked ahead in the bustling street filled with all kinds of stalls, Wang Sheng looked around curiously.
'So, those are the teams formed near the soul hunting forest with a soul hunting order.' Wang Sheng thought.
'Come to think of it, did Elder Li apply for the soul hunting order? Is the proof of my improvement and need for a soul ring unnecessary?
Or did Elder Li have other plans? Like joining other teams?' Wang Sheng wondered.
Just as Wang Sheng was about to ask, they reached the entrance of the soul hunting forest, guarded by soldiers.
Hanrui stepped forward and took out his personal token representing his identity as Prince TianLong and gave it to the soldier.
The soldier who looked at the token which is clearly different from a soul hunting order was about to say something when he noticed something off and took the token and examined it closely.
The soldier seeing the seal representing the authority of the newly appointed Prince TianLong grew agitated.
He looked at the young man in front of him and was about to kneel and say something when Hanrui signaled him to stop and transmitted his voice to his ears.
'Stop. I'm in disguise, I don't want to attract unwanted attention. I'm just here to get a soul ring for my companion, once I'm done, I'll leave.' He said.
The soldier hearing this stopped and looked at him and didn't speak for a minute, not knowing what to do.
'If you doubt my identity I can call my grandmother Xue Li over for a chat' He then added playfully making the soldier break out in cold sweat.
The soldier bent down slightly to the ear level of Hanrui and whispered. "Your highness, it's not that I doubt your identity.
I have to report this to the captain and I don't know your thoughts about it so I got confused on what to do."
After hearing what the soldier had to say, Hanrui nodded, giving him permission to go ahead.
'Tell him I go by Elder Li.' Hanrui said in voice transmission again.
The soldier sighed in relief, nodded to Hanrui before he scurried back to see his captain.
Wang Sheng looked at this interaction with a look of confusion on his face.
"My identity is a little special. So the guard is trying to confirm it with his captain." Hanrui said, feeling the confused look that was staring at his back.
Wang Sheng nodded dumbly.
'Which major family is Elder Li from? Even the soldiers seem to respect him?" Wang Sheng thought.
Just as Wang Sheng was thinking, a burly man in his late 40s with a full armour like the previous soldier rushed over to them, holding his helmet in his left hand.
'It's really him.' The burly man thought as he stopped in front of Hanrui.
"Umm,E..Elder Li, did you come alone? If you need any assistance, just say the word, I'll arrange it without any mistakes." the captain asked, as he handed the token back to Hanrui respectfully.
"Yes, grandmother is doing something for me, so I came alone to get a soul ring for my companion here." Hanrui said as he pointed to Wang Sheng, who nodded nervously.
'I really wanted to see the princess after all this time. Guess I wasn't lucky. But I did get to see her grandson, Prince TianLong, so I shouldn't feel down.
This must be a new subordinate the young prince wants to nurture.' The captain thought as he nodded to Hanrui and looked deeply at Wang Sheng.
"You can enter the soul hunting forest but I think I should let you know. I've heard a rumour about the Star Lou Empire Royal Family also entering the forest, so be careful, Elder Li." The captain said, warning him to stay alert.
Hanrui nodded and walked ahead to the gate, while transmitting his voice to the captain's ears.
'Don't worry, I have someone protecting me in secret.' to relieve him from anxiety.
The captain sighed in relief and watched the duo walk into the gate before looking away and instructed guards to be vigilant before going back to do his own thing.
Hanrui and Wang Sheng stepped inside the gate, and felt the atmosphere change all of a sudden.
"Stay alert, just because I'm here doesn't mean you can just put your own guard down." Hanrui reprimanded Wang Sheng.
Wang Sheng who was lost in the rich soul power infused environment, beautiful looking plants jolted awake after hearing Hanrui's words and stood straighter and vigilant.
Hanrui, seeing Wang Sheng straighten up, nodded and closed his eyes and opened his Dragon King Domain to communicate with the plants to guide them to where they could find the lightning related soul beast.
After a few seconds the plants gave him a general direction and started guiding him.
As they were walking they saw a Fierce Tiger 🐯 with a fiery mane on its back pouncing on a fox with two tails.
Hanrui, seeing the tiger, couldn't help but test Wang Sheng."Are you sure about lightning soul beast? That tiger seems suitable for you." He asked.
"Yes Elder Li, I'm sure." Wang Sheng replied.
Hanrui, satisfied with the response, chuckled. "Good, no greed for immediate gains.
But that tiger is really suitable for you, it's age is around 500 years and its bloodline isn't half bad. If the lightning soul beast doesn't suit you, we will go with this one."
Wang Sheng, hearing that tensed, realising he was being tested and sighed in relief.
'Thank heavens I wasn't impulsive just now.' He thought.
"Yes, Elder Li." He replied.