The carriage came to a stop in a relatively open clearing at the edge of Sunset Forest. Li Zhaoyan was the first to leap down, his gaze sharp as lightning as he quickly scanned the vast, deep, and tranquil forest ahead that seemed to harbor countless lives. Towering ancient trees blocked out the sky, creating a dappled interplay of light and shadow within the woods. The air carried a mix of damp soil, decaying leaves, and faint, elusive traces of the unique aura belonging to Soul Beasts—a raw, wild atmosphere that enveloped them.
Ye Wantang led Marco and Ye Lingling out of the carriage as well. Sensing the oppressive environment, so different from the city, both children instinctively restrained their auras, their expressions turning focused and solemn.
Li Zhaoyan turned to face them, his expression grave as he spoke in a low, serious tone: "From this moment on, we have officially set foot into Sunset Forest. Remember, this is no place for carelessness. The forest is home to countless Soul Beasts, each with unique abilities and unpredictable habits. Danger may lurk in any corner. You must remain vigilant at all times—keep your eyes and ears sharp."
As he spoke, a vast, mountain-like aura of stability and power naturally emanated from him. The pressure of an eighty-second rank Soul Douluo wasn't directed at anyone in particular, yet it formed an invisible barrier around them, causing the lower-intelligence, lower-year Soul Beasts lurking nearby to instinctively retreat or hide in fear, not daring to approach or spy. This was the natural intimidation a powerful being exerted over weaker creatures.
"In the outermost regions of the forest, most Soul Beasts are weak, with extremely low years, making it unlikely to find suitable first Spirit Rings for you," Li Zhaoyan explained, gesturing for everyone to follow. He took the lead to clear the path, while Ye Wantang guarded the children from the side and rear. "We'll head deeper into the forest first. Once we reach an area with Soul Beasts of suitable years and types, I'll retract my aura to make it easier for you to sense and locate your targets."
The group maintained a vigilant formation as they slowly advanced into the forest. Underfoot, a thick layer of leaves accumulated over untold years felt soft and silent. The surroundings were unusually quiet, with only the rustle of wind through the treetops and the occasional ethereal call of distant birds, which only emphasized the forest's profound and unpredictable depths.
After walking for about half an hour, they had gradually moved away from the forest's edge, and the trees around them grew taller and sturdier. Estimating they had reached a suitable location, Li Zhaoyan willed the intimidating pressure of a Soul Douluo that had enveloped the area to recede quietly back into his body, as if it had never been there.
The forest's previously suppressed vitality seemed to instantly come alive, with the faint chirping of insects and the rustling of small creatures becoming clearly audible.
After advancing a short distance further, Li Zhaoyan paused slightly, tilting his head to listen for a moment before revealing a faint, almost imperceptible smile. He turned to Marco and said, "Marco, behind the thicket to the left front, a few small creatures have been startled by our presence and are cautiously approaching. Judging by their auras, they're merely a few decades old—low in intelligence and perfect for you to practice with. Use this chance to familiarize yourself with employing your Martial Soul in actual combat. Go ahead and give it a try."
His tone was relaxed, clearly not considering these Soul Beasts a threat.
No sooner had the words been spoken than the bushes to the left front rustled, and three Azure-Eyed Wolves emerged, blocking the path. Their bodies were gray-black, slightly larger than ordinary wild wolves, with eerie green light glowing in their eyes. They bared their fangs, emitting low, threatening growls from their throats as they warily assessed these uninvited guests. Judging by the faint Soul Power fluctuations emanating from them, they indeed had only a decade or so of cultivation, placing them at the very bottom of this forest's hierarchy.
Although Ye Lingling had heard her father say they were merely minor Soul Beasts, seeing such ferocious wolf-type Soul Beasts up close for the first time made her small face pale slightly. She instinctively moved closer to her mother.
"Father!" she called out softly, a trace of worry in her voice.
Ye Wantang gently wrapped an arm around her daughter's shoulder, comforting her in a soft tone: "Don't be afraid, Lingling. They're just a few small wolves with a decade or so of cultivation. Your brother can handle them. With your father and me watching nearby, we won't let them harm Marco." As she spoke, she cast an encouraging and reassuring glance toward Marco.
Marco took a deep breath, suppressing the instinctive, slight nervousness of facing Soul Beasts for the first time. He gave his sister a reassuring smile: "Don't worry, Lingling. Watch your brother." Before his words faded, his eyes focused sharply as he shouted: "Azure Flame Phoenix, Soul Avatar!"
Faint, beautiful flames the color of azure glass instantly erupted across his body, burning quietly while mainly converging and flowing along his arms to form dazzling yet dangerous Flame Armguards. Azure Flame Markings simultaneously appeared at the corners of his eyes, adding an aura of mystery and authority to him. The powerful presence of his Innate Full Soul Power spread along with the heat and life fluctuations of the azure flames. The three Azure-Eyed Wolves instinctively sensed the tremendous threat, whimpering as they actually retreated half a step, the ferocity in their eyes replaced by fear.
Marco pushed off with his feet, actively charging toward the three Azure-Eyed Wolves. His right fist shot out, the azure flames roaring as they traced a scorching arc straight toward the head of the nearest wolf!
The Azure-Eyed Wolf snarled and attempted to block with its claws, but the moment its sharp claws made contact with the azure flame-wrapped fist—
"Sizzle—!"
A faint burning sound erupted, accompanied by the wolf's pained howl. Its claws instantly turned charred black, transmitting intense burning pain. The azure flames clung like persistent bones, difficult to shake off as they continued burning, inflicting sustained damage!
Having severely wounded one wolf in the first exchange, Marco's confidence surged. Utilizing agile footwork, he weaved between the three wolves, his fists and legs wreathed in azure flames. Each attack left charred burn marks on the wolves' bodies and elicited painful howls. The continuous burning effect of the azure flames greatly interfered with their movements, making them hesitant and cautious.
These low-level Soul Beasts had plenty of ferocity but lacked coordination and intelligence. Under Marco's swift and fierce attacks, they quickly became covered in wounds, howling incessantly. They attempted to pounce and bite, but Marco's movements were far more agile than theirs, allowing him to easily evade and counter with even more intense flame attacks.
However, one wolf seemed driven to desperation. After missing a pounce, it used the recoil from landing to suddenly dart out from the side, opening its bloodthirsty maw to directly bite at Marco's seemingly undefended calf!
The timing was exceptionally tricky! Marco's center of gravity was forward, making conventional evasion somewhat delayed! His pupils contracted as the battle instincts honed through countless trials in his previous life instantly merged with his current body enhanced by the Martial Soul!
Without the slightest hesitation, the muscles in his feet tensed abruptly, stomping the ground over a dozen times at a frequency barely visible to the naked eye! Soul Power surged through the Meridians in his legs, operating with the ferocity of the "Shave" technique from the Navy Six Styles of his past life!
Bang!
A faint sonic boom echoed as his figure blurred abruptly, leaving a faint afterimage in his original spot. In the next instant, he had appeared over a meter to the side, narrowly evading that lethal bite!
However, this explosive technique far exceeded the current limits of his physical endurance, placing immense strain on his legs. The moment he landed, an intense soreness and a distinct tearing sensation shot through his calves, causing him to stagger and nearly lose his balance. The Azure Flame circulated spontaneously, swiftly repairing the minor damage in his legs.
The three Azure-Eyed Wolves seemed utterly terrified by this sudden, incomprehensible high-speed movement. Their attacks came to a complete halt as they whimpered in fear, tucked their tails between their legs, and fled stumbling into the depths of the dense forest without looking back, vanishing from sight.
The battle ended swiftly.
"Brother!" Ye Lingling ran over, her small face still carrying a trace of lingering fear but overshadowed by admiration for her brother's effortless victory. "Are you okay? You're so amazing! You drove them away so easily!"
Marco deactivated his Soul Fusion, took a light breath, and felt the soreness in his legs rapidly fading under the nourishment of the Azure Flame. He smiled at his younger sister. "I'm fine, just a minor issue. It's already better." He thought to himself, The explosive power of this 'Shave' is indeed astonishing, but the strain on the body is still too great. It seems I must wait until my body is stronger or find a better way to exert force before using it frequently.
Li Zhaoyan and Ye Wantang approached. Li Zhaoyan's eyes held approval. "Well done. You showed no fear facing the Soul Beasts and have grasped the basics of utilizing your Martial Soul, balancing offense and defense. That instantaneous movement at the end was brilliant—full of explosive power—but it must have placed a significant burden on your body, right? Use it sparingly in the future to avoid damaging your foundation."
"Yes, Father, I understand," Marco replied respectfully, inwardly impressed by his father's keen insight.
"Alright, after this initial test, you should have a basic understanding of combat in the forest," Li Zhaoyan said, his gaze sweeping over the two children, especially Marco, whose eyes had grown sharper, and Ye Lingling, who, despite her fear, was striving to muster courage. "Let's move forward. Stay alert—the real target still lies ahead."
The edge of the Azure Flame Phoenix had been tested for the first time in the Sunset Forest, easily repelling this initial, insignificant challenge. The true hunt for the Soul Beast had only just begun.