Douluo: I am a biologist, awakening the weapon spirit?

Chapter 185 Strange Behavior
After entering Sunset Forest, Tang San, who hadn't said much until now, suddenly spoke:
"Everyone, my soul power also increased to level 40 last night, so I need a soul ring this time too?"

"Oh? That's good." Chen Feng raised an eyebrow. "Have you decided what kind of spirit ring you want?"

"Naturally, we should focus on enhancing vitality. It would be good if we could have some other special abilities as well. But it depends on what kind of soul beasts we encounter," Tang San said, expressing his thoughts.

Back then, Chen Feng made a plan for cultivating his Blue Silver Grass martial soul. In this plan, Blue Silver Grass would gradually transform from a herbaceous plant into a woody plant.

In order to realize this plan, Chen Feng specially chose the Jade Bamboo as the soul beast for Tang San's second soul ring. This is because bamboo, as a herbaceous plant, has properties that are more like woody plants, and can play a good role in connecting the past and the future.

The subsequent Spirit Water Lotus completely transformed Tang San's Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul into a woody form, thus fulfilling Chen Feng's vision.

Now that the Blue Silver Grass has been strengthened by the Black Jade Divine Bamboo, its strength is no longer an issue, so Tang San wondered if he could obtain some special abilities.

Of course, this special ability cannot conflict with Tang San's fundamental path, such as poisons.

Chen Feng understood Tang San's meaning and said:

"In that case, we'll focus on plant-type soul beasts, though we can also consider some special animal-type soul beasts. However, plant-type soul beasts aren't very noticeable in the forest, so you'll need to be careful. We'll take care of the animal-type soul beasts."

"No problem." Tang San nodded.

He possesses the ability to communicate with plants, so if there are plant-type spirit beasts nearby, it shouldn't be difficult to find them.

The others had no objections to the arrangement. Before coming to Sunset Forest, Meng Yiran and Zhu Zhuqing, who needed spirit rings, had already explained their respective needs.

Meng Yiran undoubtedly needs a poison-attribute soul ring, while Zhu Zhuqing needs a soul beast that can create darkness. It would be best if she could encounter a Dark Soul Cat, but other soul beasts with similar abilities could also be considered.

The group searched as they walked through the forest. Bai Chenxiang, who could fly and was very fast, took on the task of reconnaissance during the day.

When night fell, it was naturally Zhu Zhuqing, who had night vision, who came.

In addition, Tang San's ability to communicate with plants makes their team quite safe in Sunset Forest, and they are unlikely to encounter sudden attacks.

Sunset Forest is not as vast as Star Dou Great Forest, and it is also much less dangerous, so everyone is not as tense and depressed as they were in Star Dou Great Forest.

As they maintained their formation and ventured deeper into the forest, they occasionally chatted to liven up the atmosphere.

Although Chen Feng, Tang San, and Xiao Wu had been here before, they had only followed Dugu Bo along the path leading to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

The other places were still very unfamiliar to the three of them, and Chen Feng and his companions had no intention of leading the team to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Tang San's parents now live there, so it's not suitable for too many people to know about it. Let Tang Hao and Ah Yin live there quietly in seclusion.

The group walked through the Sunset Forest for most of the day but did not find any suitable soul beasts, not even those that matched their age.

The low danger level of a gathering place for spirit beasts has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that it is not easy to encounter any danger, but the disadvantage is that, as it is now, it will be very difficult to find a spirit beast you like.

As dusk approached, Flander called out to the students who were searching for spirit beasts, "Take a break, we'll start looking again tomorrow."

Meng Yiran needs poison-attribute soul beasts that are mostly nocturnal, and soul beasts that are good at creating darkness obviously don't like to run around in broad daylight.

As for the soul beasts that Tang San needs, it doesn't matter whether it's day or night; he can find them anytime.

So Flander plans to rest early today and continue searching before dawn tomorrow, hoping to increase his chances of finding a suitable soul beast.

Everyone agreed with Flander's idea and began preparing to set up camp.

Since almost everyone had a storage soul tool, they were very well prepared for the camp, and three tents were quickly set up.

Following the same arrangement as back in the Death Desert, where the teachers shared one tent and the students shared two, everyone quickly settled into their tents to rest.

As for the night watch, this time it was Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Zhu Zhuqing in charge, and the others would take turns later.

Since it wasn't their first time venturing out to acquire a spirit ring, everyone cooperated seamlessly and quickly prepared food and security measures around the camp.

When Tang San returned after scattering the medicine powder to repel snakes, insects, and rodents around the area, he saw Ma Hongjun using his Phoenix Flame to start a fire.

"Can we start a fire here?" Tang San asked, puzzled.

Before, whether we went to the Starry Sky Forest or the Death Desert, we never lit a fire at night.

"Of course you can. The teacher said the Sunset Forest is relatively safe, and there aren't any terrifying creatures like the Titan Ape, so we can make a fire at night," Ma Hongjun replied.

“That’s right, and the temperature in the north is very low at night. Without cooked food and hot soup, it would be very difficult to get through the night. Making a fire is necessary,” Flander added.

"Oh." Tang San nodded in realization, having gained some experience.

As Flanders said, dinner was quite plentiful with a fire, and everyone had at least a bowl of hot soup. After everyone finished eating, they all felt very satisfied.

After eating and drinking their fill, everyone went into their tents one after another.

Inside the adults' tent, since Liu Erlong was the only woman, she was naturally placed on the edge.

Beside her was Flander, followed by the Master and Zhao Wuji. This was the order they had in the Death Desert, and it hadn't changed since.

Originally, Flander thought that since the master and Liu Erlong had recognized each other as brother and sister, it would be more appropriate for them to stand next to each other.

However, the master refused this arrangement, separating himself from Liu Erlong.

Just as he had said before, Liu Erlong should not be given even the slightest illusion, so this arrangement was undoubtedly the most appropriate.

Liu Erlong had no objections. She knew that she and the master had no hope left. Now she only hoped that her cousin would not get too deeply involved with the pope.

After all, it was the Pope who dumped the master back then, so the master should have decisively given up on him no matter what.

The arrangements were much simpler for the students: boys and girls each had their own tent, so neither side was crowded.

Dai Mubai was the first to take the night watch. He stood by the campfire in front of the camp, carefully observing the surrounding movements.

Although Sunset Forest is not a forbidden zone for life, if you are careless at night and let some dangerous soul beasts sneak in, there is still a possibility of trouble.

Just as Dai Mubai was paying attention to the movements around him, he was unaware that a ferocious-looking soul beast was silently approaching from a certain distance away.

Inside the girls' tent, Meng Yiran stared blankly at the top of the tent.

Gu Yueling, who was standing nearby, noticed this scene and asked:

"Can't sleep?"

"Hmm." "What are you thinking about?"

Meng Yiran paused for a moment, then said:

"I'm thinking about the ten-thousand-year spirit ring. Actually, I feel like I don't have much hope of getting a ten-thousand-year spirit ring."

Gu Yueling turned her head in confusion and asked:
"Why do we think this way? After this period of training, everyone's physical condition has improved, so it's not necessarily hopeless."

Meng Yiran shook her head slightly. "I am not a warrior, Ling'er. I have not specifically trained my physical fitness before, so the effect of less than a year of training is limited."

The original fighting style of the Serpent Staff was biased towards controlling Soul Masters, because the Serpent Staff is poisonous.

After Meng Yiran successfully obtained the Foundation Establishment Ring, she stopped directly clashing with her opponents and simply spat out poison mist. Naturally, she didn't think about training her physique.

After Meng Yiran consumed the Blood Amber of the Fierce Soul, the Serpent Staff gained the ability to transform into a serpent after she used the Serpent Transformation Technique, which completely dispelled Meng Yiran's desire for close combat.

Therefore, there is a reason why she said her physique was not good enough, and it is understandable that she had no hope of getting a ten-thousand-year soul ring.

"Also, poison-attribute soul beasts are unlike other soul beasts. Those snakes, insects, rats, and ants are not friendly creatures. Trying to communicate with them like before would probably be very difficult," Meng Yiran said.

"So what are you planning to do?" Gu Yueling asked.

"I might have to use the Hunting Ring Technique this time, if I encounter a suitable soul beast but it doesn't cooperate," Meng Yiran said after a moment's thought.

“That’s no problem,” Gu Yueling said. “If it’s really a last resort, the Hunting Ring Technique can also be used. I believe the others aren’t pedantic either.”

Xiao Wu, who was in the same tent, hesitated for a moment and said:

"However, we still need to try communication methods first. If the other party is really stubborn, then this is the only way."

She knew that, given the current situation, hunting rings was something that couldn't be completely eradicated, nor did she intend to completely eliminate it.

In Xiao Wu's heart, there are good and bad soul beasts. As long as those innocent and kind soul beasts are not killed, she will be content.

Soul beasts like the Flying Thunder Rat and Wind Slime, which do not actively attack humans and have a kind nature, should be protected.

As for those vicious and ruthless ones, let them be.

"Do you all think the same way?" Meng Yiran turned her head to look at the others.

"Xiao Feng and I share the same attitude: we will not harm soul beasts that are not hostile to us and are willing to cooperate," Ning Rongrong said.

Zhu Zhuqing and Bai Chenxiang nodded in agreement.

Xiao Wu smiled and said, "Actually, you don't need to worry too much. Although we have goodwill towards soul beasts, we will not blindly prohibit killing. When Xiao Feng first tried the Ring-Expanding Technique, he also made preparations for both killing and not killing."

"Really? How come I didn't know?" Ning Rongrong asked.

Xiao Wu paused for a moment, then suddenly realized that this was something Chen Feng had said during his conversation with Er Ming. Only she, Tang San, Chen Feng, and Er Ming knew about it; no one else was aware of it.

She thought for a while and said:

"Oh, I remember now, this is what we talked about when he and his mistress came to see me."

"Oh, I see." Ning Rongrong suddenly realized.

Just as Xiao Wu was about to say something more, Gu Yueling suddenly whispered:
"Silence."

Xiao Wu shut her mouth in confusion, while Gu Yueling sat up and looked in one direction with a serious expression.

Seeing this, the others also stood up, looking at Gu Yueling with confusion, not quite understanding what had happened.

The tent fell silent, and the forest outside was also quiet, with only the occasional crackling of the campfire.

Gu Yueling sat there quietly without saying a word, but the other girls were all intelligent. They could tell from Gu Yueling's expression that she must have noticed something was wrong with her surroundings.

So they remained silent, simply waiting for Gu Yueling to react.

After a while, Gu Yueling suddenly activated her Martial Soul, and golden light shone from her eyes, transforming them into a pair of majestic golden dragon eyes.

She slowly got up and gradually unzipped the tent, trying not to make a sound.

Once the zipper was fully unzipped, Gu Yueling leaned close to the tent opening and sniffed lightly, her expression visibly darkening.

She took a deep breath, then suddenly darted out, shouting:

"Soul Beasts are attacking! Teachers, come out quickly!"

The other two tents were immediately alerted. Flander and Liu Erlong rushed out of their tents first, followed closely by the Master and a somewhat confused Zhao Wuji.

"What happened?" Flander asked seriously.

Gu Yueling pointed in a direction and said in a deep voice:
"Teacher, go check over there quickly, there should be a soul beast there, we must not let it get away."

Although Flander was somewhat puzzled, he did as he was told, spread his wings, and flew away.

Liu Erlong looked around and asked Gu Yueling:
"Only over there? How did you find it?"

Dai Mubai, who was on night watch, also came over. He looked at Gu Yueling with a puzzled expression.

He hadn't heard anything or noticed anything amiss around him, but Gu Yueling suddenly rushed out to warn him, which left Dai Mubai momentarily bewildered.

Gu Yueling looked in the direction Flander had flown off to and replied:

"I heard a little noise and had a feeling, how should I put it? Just take it as intuition."

"Intuition?" Dai Mubai's expression was somewhat strange.

At this moment, the boys also came out of the tent. Chen Feng looked at Gu Yueling with a strange look in his eyes.

This situation does seem very strange to him. Logically speaking, even if Gu Yueling discovered something, she shouldn't be in such a hurry to come out and warn him.

Just like back in the Death Desert, Chen Feng was 80% certain that the Great Rock Serpent clan was brought there by Gu Yueling, but Gu Yueling didn't react at all that time.

But Gu Yueling's behavior now is quite unexpected, and Chen Feng feels that there might be something going on.

(End of this chapter)