Rise in Douluo Continent with the help of bean buns

The next morning, Zhou Lei returned with three people.

Lin Chen was practicing his boxing in the backyard when he heard the commotion. He stopped practicing and went outside.

In the front hall, three burly men were sitting and drinking tea. When they saw Lin Chen enter, all three stood up, their gazes falling on the handsome young man, and they were all somewhat surprised.

They had all heard that the person who hired them was the owner of Qinghetang. But they hadn't expected that the owner would be so young—he looked to be only seven years old, much younger than they had imagined.

"Boss, these three are the ones I told you about." Zhou Lei stepped forward and introduced them, "This is Brother Chen, a level 33 Soul Master with a Stone Shield Martial Soul. He's a defensive type and has the most experience in hunting souls. He's been hunting in Star Dou for over ten years."

The man called Old Chen was about forty years old, with dark skin, a burly build, and a faint scar on his face, giving him a very composed appearance. He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Lin Chen: "Chen Shi, greetings, young master."

"This is Brother Zhao, a level 31 Soul Master with a Wind Blade Martial Soul. He's an offensive type and very tough," Zhou Lei continued to introduce.

Old Zhao was in his thirties, tall and thin, with sharp eyes. When he smiled, he revealed a set of white teeth: "Zhao Feng, hello young boss."

"This is Brother Li, a level 32 Soul Master, with the Gale Wolf Martial Soul. He is an agile attacker and excels at reconnaissance and tracking."

Old Li was a man of few words, in his thirties, thin, with wary eyes. He simply nodded and said, "Li Ying."

Lin Chen looked the three of them over with a calm gaze, revealing neither joy nor anger.

The three Soul Masters, all in their early thirties, regularly take on Soul Hunting and Escort jobs and know each other inside and out.

This is the person Zhou Lei found for him.

"Sit down," Lin Chen said calmly, taking the seat of honor. "Zhou Lei told you everything, right?"

"I told you," Old Chen said, his voice steady. "Go to the outer edge of the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt a plant-type soul beast with a first soul ring, the Azure Silver Vine."

  

"Okay." Lin Chen nodded. "It will take about half a month. Safety first."

"Don't worry, young master," Old Chen said. "The three of us have been running around the Star Array for over a decade, and we know the outer areas very well. As long as we're not extremely unlucky and encounter a thousand-year-old soul beast, we guarantee your safe return."

Lin Chen didn't reply, but silently said in his mind, "Doubao, analyze their martial soul and soul power status."

[Received. Parsing... Parsing complete.]

[Chen Shi: Level 33 Soul Master, Stone Shield Martial Soul, defensive type. Moderate Soul Power Condensation, rich combat experience, in good condition. Credibility: High.]

[Zhao Feng: Level 31 Soul Master, Wind Blade Martial Soul, Attack Type. Moderate Soul Power Condensation, Strong Offense, Excellent Condition. Credibility: High.]

[Li Ying: Level 32 Soul Master, Gale Wolf Martial Soul, Agility-based Attack Type. Moderate Soul Power Condensation, Strong Reconnaissance Ability, Excellent Condition. Credibility: High.]

[This analysis consumed 5.2% of my mental energy; my current remaining mental energy is 89.7%]

The analysis results for Doubao came out quickly.

All three are fine; their soul power levels and martial souls are genuine, and they are all in good condition.

Lin Chen nodded slightly, relieved.

"Regarding the price," Old Chen continued, "the three of us, plus Brother Zhou Lei, make a total of four people. It'll cost 50 gold soul coins per trip. If you're satisfied after hunting the soul beast, you can give us a little extra reward."

Fifty gold.

This price isn't cheap.

An ordinary Soul Hunting team can hire three Great Soul Masters for around ten gold coins. But Soul Venerables are different. A level 30 Soul Venerable can basically roam freely in the outer reaches of Star Dou, with a much higher safety factor.

Lin Chen did not bargain.

For him, money is not an issue.

Hunting for Soul Rings is a lifelong endeavor, and the first Soul Ring is of paramount importance; there can be no room for error. Spending a little more money for peace of mind is worthwhile.

"Sure," Lin Chen said calmly. "Safety first, everything else is negotiable. If we hunt down a satisfactory spirit ring, each of us will receive an additional ten gold coins as a reward."

All three of them had a bright look in their eyes.

A trip costs fifty gold coins, and each person can get a little over ten gold coins, which is already a high price.

If you add the ten gold reward, you can earn twenty gold on this trip, which is equivalent to their income from two or three trips.

"Don't worry, young master!" Old Zhao patted his chest and said, "Leave it to us! We guarantee we'll find you the best Qingren Blue Silver Vine!"

Old Chen nodded: "Don't worry, we will do our best."

Old Li didn't say anything, but he nodded.

Lin Chen was very satisfied with their attitude.

It's only natural to do things for money. They'll only really care if you pay them enough.

"That's settled then." Lin Chen stood up. "You guys go back and prepare first thing tomorrow morning. I'll take care of the supplies; just bring your own weapons and soul tools."

"Okay." The three responded, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then took their leave.

After seeing the three off, Zhou Lei approached and asked, "Boss, what do you think of these three?"

"Not bad," Lin Chen said casually. "I have enough experience and enough strength."

"That's good." Zhou Lei breathed a sigh of relief. "I asked a friend to find these three people. I know them well, they have good reputations, and they've never had any trouble before."

Lin Chen nodded and didn't say anything more.

He turned and went to the backyard to begin preparing supplies.

Hunting souls is no small matter; nothing that needs to be prepared can be omitted.

"Doubao, make a list of Soul Hunting Supplies," Lin Chen thought to himself.

[Received. Calculating the optimal resource list based on the host's condition... Calculation complete.]

The list is as follows:

[1. Detoxification: 20 Basic Detoxification Pills, 5 Intermediate Detoxification Pills, and a quantity of detoxifying herbs]

[2. Treatment Items: 10x Wound Medicine, 10x Hemostatic Powder, 5x Healing Medicine]

[3. Recovery Items: 10 Qi-restoring Powder, 5 Mind-Concentrating Pills, 10 Stamina Potions]

4. Food items: 30 servings of compressed dry rations, 10 jin of dried meat, 20 liters of clean water, salt and seasonings as needed.

5. Tools: 3 basic soul guides (for lighting, heating, and storage), 1 soul-hunting knife, 50 meters of rope, 10 fire tumblers, 2 tents

[6. Information Items: Detailed map of the outer perimeter of Star Dou Great Forest x1, Hundred-Year Soul Beast Encyclopedia x1, Emergency Signal Flares x3]

7. Other: 3 sets of change of clothes, 2 rainproof sheets, 5 packets of insect repellent powder.

[Estimated total weight: Approximately 80 catties. It is recommended to use a storage soul tool for carrying.]

The list of bean buns is very detailed, categorized, and includes everything.

Lin Chen prepared items one by one, referring to the list.

Antidotes, healing medicines, and recovery medicines are all essential for Soul Hunters. The Star Dou Great Forest is teeming with poisonous creatures and ferocious Soul Beasts; if you get injured, you'll rely on these medicines to save your life.

Food and water are also essential. It's always good to be well-prepared for a two-week trip. Compressed rations don't take up much space and are filling, but they don't taste very good. The dried meat was specially made by Lin Chen; it tastes good, is high in calories, and can replenish energy in crucial moments.

Several soul tools were also prepared.

These are all basic soul tools, inexpensive but very practical. There's a moonstone for lighting, a warm jade for heating, and a one-cubic-meter storage ring—Lin Chen bought it for a little over a hundred gold coins. Although the space isn't large, it's enough to store supplies.

The map was purchased by Lin Chen from the Soul Hunter Guild at a high price. It is the latest detailed map of the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest, marking the habitats, water sources, and dangerous areas of various soul beasts. It is much more detailed than the rough maps sold on the market.

Three signal flares were also prepared, red ones, to be fired in case of danger, capable of reaching several miles away. If danger were to occur, at least a distress signal could be sent.

Lin Chen counted each item one by one and then put them into his storage ring.

The storage ring is worn on the hand and is not noticeable unless you look closely.

This is the first time Lin Chen has possessed a storage soul tool.

To be honest, it's quite convenient.

By the time the supplies were ready, it was already afternoon.

Lin Chen did not rest, but instead began to adjust his state.

We're leaving tomorrow, so I need to get myself into top shape today.

He sat down cross-legged and began to meditate.

Soul power slowly circulated, and mental energy gradually recovered.

At the same time, he was mentally reviewing the entire Soul Hunting plan.

Target: A 500-year-old or older *Silver Vine*.

Location: West side of the outer edge of Xingdou Great Forest, Qing Teng Valley.

Route: Start from Blackrock Town, head west, it will take about five days to reach the edge of Starry Sky, then walk for another two days to enter the outer area and reach Green Vine Valley.

Risks: The outer areas are mostly populated by hundred-year-old soul beasts, posing little threat to the three Soul Masters. However, they must be wary of evil soul masters and other soul-hunting teams, and there's also the possibility of encountering thousand-year-old soul beasts if they're unlucky.

Solution:

1. Travel during the day and rest at night, avoiding going too deep into the area.

2. If you encounter other Soul Hunter teams, avoid them to prevent conflict.

3. If you encounter an evil spirit master, run if you can; if you can't outrun them, you'll die.

4. If you encounter a thousand-year-old soul beast, retreat immediately and never linger in battle.

Lin Chen mentally rehearsed all possible scenarios and corresponding solutions.

Doubao also assisted him, helping him optimize the plan.

[Deduction complete. Current feasibility: 92.3%. Recommendation to add: In the event of unforeseen circumstances, prioritize the host's safety and abandon the soul-hunting target.]

"Understood," Lin Chen replied in his mind.

Safety first, that's his principle.

You can hunt for another spirit ring if you lose it, but if you lose your life, you lose everything.

After going through the simulation several times and confirming that there were no major flaws, Lin Chen finally stopped.

He stood up and walked to the window.

As the sun set, it painted the horizon a golden-red hue.

Lin Chen turned his gaze to the west.

That direction is the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest.

He took a deep breath, his eyes calm and resolute.

This was his first time traveling far from home, and also his first time truly facing a soul beast.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't nervous.

But more than anything, there is anticipation.

He eagerly awaits his first spirit ring, his becoming a true spirit master, and the official start of his journey as a spirit master.

The next morning, before dawn.

Lin Chen got up.

He quickly tidied up the supplies, checked them over, and made sure nothing was missing.

Zhou Lei also got up early and was waiting in the yard.

Before long, Old Chen and his two companions arrived, all carrying bundles and weapons, looking quite spirited.

"Young master, is everything ready?" Old Chen asked.

"Okay." Lin Chen nodded. "Let's go."

The group left the courtyard and headed west of the town.

A horse-drawn carriage was already waiting at the town gate.

This was arranged by Lin Chen in advance to take them to the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest. It's more than 500 li from Black Stone Town to the edge of Star Dou, which would take five days to walk, but only three days by horse-drawn carriage, saving a lot of effort.

The driver was an old man who didn't talk much, but he drove the carriage very steadily.

Everyone boarded the carriage.

The carriage wasn't big; it was a bit cramped for five people, but it was manageable.

Old Chen sat on the outermost side, leaning against the carriage shaft, so he could easily observe the situation outside.

Old Zhao and Old Li sat on either side, while Zhou Lei sat next to Lin Chen.

"drive--"

With a shout from the old coachman, the carriage slowly began to move.

The wheels rolled over the stone pavement, making a rumbling sound.

Lin Chen sat in the car, lifted a corner of the curtain, and looked at the scenery outside.

The outline of Blackrock Town receded into the distance and eventually disappeared from view.

This was the first time he had left Blackrock Town since he came to this world.

It's quite a感慨 (feeling of mixed emotions) to think about it.

More than a year ago, when he first transmigrated, he was a penniless Level 3 Soul Master who couldn't even get enough to eat.

Now, he is at the peak of the tenth level Soul Master, with a net worth of several thousand gold coins. He has hired three Soul Venerable guards and is going to hunt souls in the Star Dou Great Forest.

The changes over the past year or so have been substantial.

But Lin Chen knew very well that this was just the beginning.

His journey is still long.

The carriage traveled westward.

Beyond Blackstone Town lies an endless plain.

Large tracts of farmland line both sides of the road, with a few villages occasionally visible.

The further west you go, the sparser the population becomes.

The first day was very peaceful.

Except for a one-hour rest and a snack at noon, the carriage continued on its journey.

Lin Chen spends most of his time cultivating.

Although the carriage was bumpy, it didn't affect him much. He slowly activated the Azure Seed Technique, and his soul power gradually increased.

Although it has reached the peak of level ten, the total amount of soul power will no longer increase, but the refinement level can continue to improve.

The more refined the foundation, the more solid it becomes.

Old Chen and his two companions became increasingly curious about this young boss.

From the time he got on the bus until now, most of the day has passed, and this child has been cultivating without saying a word.

This composure is unlike that of a seven-year-old child.

"Young master, take a break," Old Zhao couldn't help but say. "Cultivating all the time must be tiring, let's chat."

Lin Chen opened his eyes, glanced at him, and nodded: "Okay."

"Young master, your talent is truly amazing," Old Zhao said with a smile. "A level ten Soul Warrior at the age of seven, who would believe it if you told others?"

"So-so," Lin Chen said casually.

"This is just average?" Old Zhao's eyes widened. "When I was seven, I was still playing in the mud. If you went to one of those major sects, you would definitely be given special training."

Lin Chen did not respond.

Major sects?

He has no interest.

As a transmigrator, he knew all too well the character of those major sects. Entering them was like binding himself to their war machine; there were many rules and restrictions, and his future would be beyond his control.

He still prefers to control his own destiny.

"Young Master, why are you thinking of hunting the Azure Silver Vine?" Old Zhao asked again. "Isn't the Blue Silver Grass a useless martial soul? Even if you hunt for a spirit ring, it won't make you much stronger."

That's a bit direct.

Zhou Lei glared at Lao Zhao from the side: "Brother Zhao, don't talk nonsense."

"It's alright," Lin Chen said calmly. "Blue Silver Grass is a useless martial soul, but it's not unusable. If used properly, it might not be worse than other martial souls."

Old Zhao scratched his head, somewhat disbelieving.

Blue Silver Grass is Blue Silver Grass. No matter how much you train it, it can still produce flowers.

But he didn't say anything more.

Don't pry into your employer's affairs.

We chatted along the way, and time flew by.

In the evening, the carriage stopped in a small town.

"Let's rest here for the night," Old Chen said. "If we go any further west, there aren't any towns left, and we'll have to camp out."

"Okay." Lin Chen nodded.

The group disembarked from the carriage and found an inn to stay in.

Old Chen went to arrange dinner and horse feed, while Old Zhao and Old Li went to town to see if there was anything that needed to be replenished.

Lin Chen returned to his room and continued his cultivation.

Zhou Lei stood guard at the door.

"Boss, do you think these three people are reliable?" Zhou Lei asked in a low voice.

"It's alright," Lin Chen said casually. "At least for now, it seems fine."

"That's good." Zhou Lei breathed a sigh of relief. "I was worried that the person I found wouldn't be good enough."

"Don't worry," Lin Chen said. "With me here, they won't be able to hide anything from me if they have any ulterior motives."

Zhou Lei nodded.

He knew that his employer was capable and could perceive many things that others could not.

"By the way, boss," Zhou Lei added, "I've made all the arrangements at Qinghetang. Manager Wang is overseeing it, and the accounts are reconciled monthly. If anything comes up, he'll send you a message by carrier pigeon."

"Hmm." Lin Chen nodded. "Manager Wang is an experienced man, he's reliable, I trust him."

Manager Wang is the head manager of Qinghetang. He has been working with Lin Chen for almost a year. He is capable and reliable.

When Lin Chen was away, Qinghetang was left to him to manage.

"Is there anything else?" Lin Chen asked.

"That's all." Zhou Lei shook his head. "You should rest well. I'll keep watch outside."

"Hmm." Lin Chen nodded, closed his eyes, and continued cultivating.

The group continued their journey early the next morning.

After passing this small town, you'll truly be entering the wilderness.

The roads are becoming increasingly difficult to traverse, and the population is dwindling.

Occasionally, you can see a few caravans or a few Soul Masters on their way.

Old Chen was very vigilant, sitting on the carriage shaft the whole time, observing the surrounding situation.

Old Li would occasionally lift the curtains and look outside.

They were all seasoned veterans; they knew that the further west they went, the more dangerous it became.

"There's something going on up ahead."

Suddenly, Old Li spoke up.

Everyone became alert.

"What's wrong?" Old Chen asked.

"There's a group of people on the side of the road ahead. They look suspicious," Old Li said in a deep voice.

Old Chen immediately lifted the curtain and looked ahead.

On the roadside ahead stood five or six burly men, each carrying a weapon, their eyes fixed on the passersby with hostility.

"They're highway robbers." Old Chen frowned. "But they're all high-level Soul Masters, not much of a threat."

"Should we go around it?" Zhou Lei asked.

"No need," Old Chen shook his head. "Taking a detour is too far. If we go straight, they won't dare do anything."

With the aura of three Soul Masters present, ordinary thieves wouldn't dare to provoke them.

The carriage continued forward.

The group of burly men simply looked at it and didn't dare to make a move.

Although they couldn't see what was happening inside the carriage, Old Chen was sitting on the carriage shaft, and the aura of a Soul Venerable was faintly visible, which was something they couldn't afford to offend.

The carriage passed smoothly.

"See?" Old Zhao said with a smile, "With the Soul Master around, ordinary thieves wouldn't dare to come near. This money was well spent."

Lin Chen nodded without saying anything.

Indeed, with three Soul Masters present, the safety factor is much higher.

Fifty gold coins, well spent.

The next two days passed peacefully.

Occasionally they would encounter a few waves of soul beasts, all of which were ten or a hundred years old, and Old Chen and his group would easily deal with them.

Lin Chen also took the opportunity to observe the fighting style of the soul beasts and the teamwork of Old Chen and the other two.

Old Chen's Stone Shield Martial Soul has a very strong defense; standing in front, it's as stable as Mount Tai.

Old Zhao's Wind Blade Martial Soul is sharp in attack and has a strong ranged output.

Old Li's Gale Wolf martial spirit is fast and has strong reconnaissance capabilities, making him responsible for roaming and ambushing.

The three of them worked together very well, clearly having been partners for a long time.

In addition, Zhou Lei possesses the Iron Arm Bear Martial Soul—great strength, capable of both fighting and withstanding attacks.

A team of four is certainly enough for the outer perimeter of Star Dou.

Lin Chen observed silently, memorizing their fighting style and teamwork.

These are all practical experiences, which may come in handy in the future.

On the evening of the third day.

"The Star Dou Great Forest is just ahead," Old Chen said, pointing ahead.

Lin Chen lifted the curtains and looked ahead.

In the distance, an endless green ocean came into view.

The trees are towering and lush, stretching as far as the eye can see.

A rich sense of life wafted towards me.

That is the Starry Sky Forest.

The largest habitat for soul beasts on the Douluo Continent, a holy land for soul masters, and also the burial ground for countless people.

Lin Chen looked at the green ocean, his eyes flickering slightly.

Finally, we arrived.

"Let's rest here for the night," Old Chen said. "We'll head into the forest first thing tomorrow morning. It won't be this comfortable once we're in the woods."

"Okay." Lin Chen nodded.

The group disembarked from the carriage and set up camp on a flat spot at the edge of the forest.

Old Chen and Old Zhao went to collect firewood, Old Li went to scout the surrounding area, and Zhou Lei helped set up the tent.

Lin Chen stood at the edge of the forest, looking at the scenery inside.

The trees are tall and dense, and sunlight filters through the leaves, creating dappled shadows.

The air was fresh, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees.

But Lin Chen knew that countless dangers were hidden in this seemingly peaceful forest.

Hundred-year-old soul beasts, thousand-year-old soul beasts, even ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts...

There are also evil spirit masters, other soul-hunting teams...

Danger lurks everywhere.

"Doubao, scan the surroundings," Lin Chen said in his mind.

【Received. Scanning... Scan complete.】

Current location: Western edge of Star Dou Great Forest.

[Within a 500-meter radius: 17 ten-year-old soul beasts, 3 hundred-year-old soul beasts, and no thousand-year-old or older soul beasts. No human soul masters.]

[Danger Level: Low.]

[This scan consumed 3.5% of your mental energy; your current remaining mental energy is 78.2%]

The scan results for Doubao came back quickly.

It's safe around here.

Lin Chen nodded slightly, relieved.

He turned around and walked towards the camp.

Get a good rest tonight and recharge your energy.

Tomorrow, we will officially enter the Star Dou Great Forest.

To acquire the first spirit ring.

A very faint smile appeared on Lin Chen's lips.

His journey as a Soul Master will officially begin tomorrow.