Although the Sunset Forest was far less diverse in soul beast species than the Star Dou Great Forest, Pei Qing was still astonished upon his first visit.
Even though it was much smaller than the Star Dou Great Forest, the Sunset Forest before him was far larger then Heaven Dou City.
Tall trees grew lushly, and the setting sun's rays filtered through the gaps in the trees, casting a glimmer of light into the otherwise gloomy forest.
Despite no recent rain, the air in the Sunset Forest was thick with humidity.
In the depths of the dark forest, figures of soul beasts lurked, their eyes fixed on Pei Qing and his group.
"If I could cultivate here for a while, my cultivation speed would probably double without an issue."
Stepping into the Sunset Forest, Pei Qing took a deep breath, feeling the microscopic increase in his soul power, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
"Do you feel it?"
Xue Qinghe stood beside Pei Qing, seeing the look of emotion on his face, and chuckled softly as he spoke.
He extended a finger, and rich soul power continuously flowed around its tip.
As a gathering place for soul beasts, the soul power in the Sunset Forest was naturally much denser than in other places.
"Such dense soul power!"
"And this soul power seems incredibly vibrant!"
Hearing Xue Qinghe's question, Pei Qing nodded thoughtfully, relaying everything he felt.
"Indeed, just as you said."
"The Sunset Forest and the Star Dou Great Forest serve as soul beast gathering places because their soul power is naturally denser. However, the reason for the abundance of soul beasts here isn't just the dense soul power, but also the rich vitality."
"This has been an unsolved mystery in our soul master world for many years. Many soul masters have ventured deep into these soul beast gathering grounds to investigate what that rich vitality truly is, but they have always returned empty-handed."
Xue Qinghe walked beside Pei Qing with his hands behind his back, explaining some of the hidden secrets of the soul master world.
As the young master of the Spirit Hall and the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, the secrets he had access to far surpassed those of ordinary people. He could even eloquently recount things that some Soul Douluo and Titled Douluo were unaware of.
Upon hearing Xue Qinghe's words, Pei Qing inexplicably trembled all over.
Because he probably knew why the soul beast gathering grounds had such a mysteriously rich vitality.
It was likely the Gold of Life.
Since the Star Dou Great Forest could condense the Gold of Life, there was no reason why the Sunset Forest, also a soul beast gathering place, couldn't.
As for why all the Gold of Life that appeared later on Douluo Continent was concentrated in the Star Dou Great Forest, it was purely because Tang San planted the Seven Absolutes of the Phosphorous Serpent there, causing the entire Sunset Forest to be enveloped in poisonous mist.
"Xiao Qing, let's go. It's time for us to find your first spirit ring."
Xue Qinghe looked at Pei Qing, who was lost in thought, and found it amusing.
He didn't believe that six-year-old Pei Qing could have the answer to a question that countless soul masters had failed to solve.
As Xue Qinghe spoke, the guards behind him positioned themselves to protect him and Pei Qing in the center, and they began to explore the Sunset Forest step by step.
The soul beast Pei Qing needed was a flying fire-attribute soul beast with high bloodline as its primary characteristic.
Given the Sunset Forest's proximity to Heaven Dou City, it was safe to say that all rare soul beasts in the outer reaches of the Sunset Forest were under the control of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
"Xiao Qing, our primary target is a soul beast called the Fire Spirit Blaze falcon. Legend has it that this soul beast possesses the bloodline of a phoenix, and even at just a hundred years old, it can contend with thousand-year soul beasts."
"There's a three-hundred-year-old Fire Spirit Blazefalcon not far from here. It would be perfect as your first spirit ring."
Pei Qing pondered for a moment, considering that Xue Qinghe wouldn't try to harm him, and simply nodded.
"I'll listen to Big Brother Xue."
He was a down-to-earth person when it came to cultivation, and he didn't even consider a thousand-year first ring.
Even though Pei Qing possessed the top-tier Golden Crow martial soul, he had never consumed anything like Whale Gum to enhance his physical constitution. So, even if his current physical constitution was good, it probably wouldn't surpass his peers by too much.
Therefore, finding a soul beast with a high bloodline that suited him was already excellent.
In his previous life, some know-it-alls in fan fiction would, at six or seven years old, point fingers and give advice about their first spirit ring, which was utterly laughable. They thought they knew everything just by reading a bit of the plot, even though there were tens of thousands of soul beast species on the Douluo Continent.
"Alright, then let's go!"
Xue Qinghe smiled in satisfaction, pleased with Pei Qing's trust.
This was the true mark of a genius: not to point fingers at what one doesn't understand, and blindly insisting on one's own way would only lead to trouble.
Given the characteristics of Pei Qing's martial soul, a three-hundred-year-old Fire Spirit Blazefalcon was arguably one of the most suitable soul beasts for him.
After all, there weren't many soul beasts with the phoenix bloodline on the Douluo Continent, even fewer than dragon-type soul beasts.
Pei Qing should have no problem absorbing a three-hundred-year-old Fire Spirit Blazefalcon.
After walking for 20km, listening to Xue Qinghe introduce one passing soul beast after another, the group finally arrived at a spot near a stream on the outskirts of the Sunset Forest.
"Alright, this is the place."
"Xiao Qing, today I'll show you the methods of a soul master."
Xue Qinghe took a step back with Pei Qing and looked directly at the guard captain.
"Young Master Pei, watch closely!"
Upon receiving Xue Qinghe's gaze, the guard captain was instantly filled with power.
His soul power surged and spread outwards. Two yellow, two purple, and three black spirit rings instantly appeared around him, and the might of a Level 75 Soul Sage instantly enveloped the area.
As the Soul Sage's power spread, it immediately stirred up a commotion among the soul beasts.
Ten-year and hundred-year soul beasts hidden in the forest scattered, some flying away, others running.
"Here it comes!"
Second Soul Skill: Myriad Vine Bind!
The guard captain's eyes lit up, and his second spirit ring behind him instantly flashed.
Although it was only a second spirit ring, with the soul power amplification of a Soul Sage, it was far from what an ordinary hundred-year soul beast could contend with.
Numerous vines continuously rose from the ground, coiling towards a red light in the air.
The red light was fast, but under the relentless pursuit and interception of hundreds of vines, it had no way to escape.
Ultimately, it was tightly entangled and strangled, leaving it on the verge of death.
It was only then that Pei Qing clearly saw what the red light was. It was a giant eagle-hawk over a meter tall, its blood-red feathers gleaming brilliantly under the sunlight, as if burning with fire. Its golden beak was incredibly sharp, and even with unconscious breathing, there was a faint glow of fire circulating around its body.
As expected of a top-tier soul beast with phoenix bloodline, it was truly extraordinary.