Du Tu looked down at his son with a serious gaze. "Feng'er, what are your thoughts on Li Ming's invitation to join the Spirit Hall today?"
Du Feng shook his head. "Father, Mother, I don't want to join any faction for now. I just want to steadily improve my strength. We can talk about factions later."
Jiang Mu's eyes softened. "Feng'er, that is the right choice. Before you turn twenty, everything should focus on improving your own strength. This period is considered the golden age of cultivation for Soul Masters—the fastest and most crucial time to grow."
She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "These years will lay the foundation for your future achievements. After twenty, your body is fully set, and your cultivation speed slows dramatically. If you don't reach level thirty by then, crossing that threshold later will be extremely difficult. Youth is your advantage; it brings potential. You are still young, and I do not want you embroiled in factional struggles too early. Such distractions will only slow your growth. On this continent, strength is everything—only the strong have a voice. Without it, nothing lasts."
Du Tu continued, nodding in agreement. "Feng'er, your immediate goal is to quickly cultivate to level ten. Once you do, I'll take you soul hunting and let you absorb your first soul ring."
He leaned closer, his eyes serious. "Your martial soul is a mutated bear-type—the Purple Crystal Violent Bear. It should inherit advantages from both your mother's and my martial souls, making it terrifying in both offense and defense. With this type of martial soul, you're best suited for a power-attack style like me. We'll find the perfect soul ring for you."
Jiang Mu added a few more instructions, her concern apparent, before letting Du Feng return to rest.
Alone in his room, Du Feng's mind raced. He had already begun researching potential soul beasts for his first soul ring. Even before knowing his parents' martial souls, he had compiled a shortlist of beasts suitable for his style. Each soul beast offered different skills upon defeat, and he had carefully considered which abilities would suit him best.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. During that time, Du Feng had broken his old habit of sleeping in. Normally, he cherished those extra hours, but now he rose early each day, training diligently to prepare for the soul hunting process. He wanted to avoid accidents and challenge himself against older, stronger soul beasts. Every moment of preparation mattered—he valued his life too much to take unnecessary risks.
Finally, the day arrived. The early morning light spilled across Tianfeng City. Today, he would hunt his first soul beast.
Du Tu and Jiang Mu had initially considered the Spirit Hall–protected forest, but its selection of beasts was limited. The Star Dou Great Forest, though more dangerous, offered a far richer variety of potential soul rings. In the outer areas, the two parents—a Soul Emperor and a Soul King—could easily manage three- or four-hundred-year-old soul beasts with sheer presence alone, even without using their skills.
"Feng'er," Du Tu said as they approached the forest, "once we enter, stay close to us. Even in the outer area, the dangers are too great for you to handle alone. If something unexpected happens, we may not reach you in time."
Du Feng nodded solemnly. He knew the Star Dou Great Forest was no playground. Even the most gifted Soul Masters could suffer grave injuries here.
Tang San nearly died in the Soul Hunting Forest, he thought wryly. He only survived thanks to hidden weapons, the Mandragora Serpent's weakness, and his past life's knowledge. Without those advantages… I'd be a sitting duck.
He reminded himself: he wasn't some elite assassin in his past life, trained in combat. He'd only had a few years of basic martial arts, and never seen blood. Not even a chicken.
With a deep breath, he obediently fell in line behind Du Tu and Jiang Mu, ready to learn, watch, and survive.
The forest loomed ahead, dense and shadowy. Du Feng's heart beat faster as they entered. Around them, soul beasts peeked through the foliage—mostly ten-year-old creatures, with a few hundred-year-olds scattered here and there. None, however, were suitable for him… yet.