Chapter 312
Star Dou Great Forest!
Flander's words caught in his throat.
He turned his head sharply, his gaze like a poisoned knife, piercing Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and all the students involved!
That look was filled with rage, resentment, and a chilling coldness of being driven to the brink!
When Dai Mubai met Flander's almost murderous gaze, even with his arrogant personality, he couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart and subconsciously took half a step back.
He finally understood that the trouble they had caused tonight was far more than just offending a Soul King!
The dean's gaze at them now held none of the previous protectiveness he had shown.
That's clearly a group of culprits about to be pushed out to take the blame!
Ma Hongjun was so frightened that his whole body trembled and he almost collapsed to the ground.
Tang San frowned, alarm bells ringing in his mind.
Flander's lips trembled, but he ultimately said nothing.
He abruptly flicked his sleeve, forcing out a cold, chilling word through gritted teeth, a word brimming with boundless anger and resentment:
Go back to sleep!
Silent all night.
The next morning, the sky had not yet completely lost its deep blue of night, with only a hazy, pale white appearing on the eastern horizon, and the air was crisp and cool with dew.
Flander's signature, unquestionable, hoarse voice rang out in the hotel corridor, shattering the morning silence like a broken gong and waking everyone from their sleep.
"Get up, all of you! The sun's high in the sky and you're still sleeping? Assemble at the gate in 15 minutes! Latecomers will face the consequences!"
For Tang San, it was just another ordinary morning.
He had already finished his cross-legged meditation under the influence of his biological clock. His Purple Demon Eyes had absorbed the faint purple aura on the horizon, and now he was full of energy with clear eyes.
He quietly packed his bags, his movements swift and silent.
But for others, especially Oscar, who was obsessed with sleep, it was torture.
Oscar practically rolled off the bed, his messy brown curly hair framing his face, his eyelids heavy as if weighed down by lead, yawning incessantly, and walking with a limp, unsteady gait.
Ma Hongjun rubbed his sleepy eyes, muttering complaints, his chubby body still seemingly immersed in the aftertaste of last night's delicious food.
Although Dai Mubai forced himself to get up, a trace of fatigue and lingering gloom remained between his brows. Clearly, the frustration of yesterday and Flander's later comment of "little good-for-nothing" weighed heavily on his mind.
Xiao Wu was also feeling a little sleepy.
The atmosphere at breakfast was as somber as solidified lead.
Most people were in a hazy, half-awake state, mechanically chewing their food. Even Ma Hongjun had lost some of his usual passion for the meat on the table.
Flander sat in the main seat, slowly sipping his porridge. His eyes, deep behind his glasses, swept over everyone with a hint of scrutiny and coldness.
No one spoke, only the occasional soft clinking of cutlery.
Lin Xia, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong were naturally unaffected and continued chatting and laughing!
Last night's events left the entire team in a suffocating, oppressive atmosphere, so oppressive that even the first light of dawn seemed unable to penetrate it.
The sun finally broke free from the horizon, casting its golden rays upon the earth and dispelling the last chill of the night.
After everyone had packed up, they silently followed Flander out of the town and onto the dirt road leading to the Star Dou Great Forest.
As soon as they left the town, Flander said in a deep voice:
"Speed up! Maintain formation!" His voice broke the silence, carrying an unquestionable tone of command.
The team instantly sped up, their soul power flowing through their young bodies, and their footsteps became dense and rhythmic.
The oppressive atmosphere seemed to be somewhat diluted by the high-speed movement, replaced by a sense of tension with a clear goal.
The most excited were undoubtedly the Oscars.
The wind from his journey dispelled his last bit of sleepiness, and the thought of obtaining his long-awaited third spirit ring made his heart pound with excitement.
He couldn't help but imagine what his third soul skill would be like—a stronger recovery effect?
Or does it serve another purpose?
He knew that with Dean Flander's discerning eye and high expectations for their potential, he would never just give him any spirit ring.
It must be at least a thousand-year-old soul beast!
He stole a glance at Flander's tall, thin back, his heart filled with anticipation, and even his steps became lighter.
The Star Dou Great Forest, this vast and boundless sacred land of soul beasts, lies like an ancient behemoth in the south of the Heaven Dou Empire, its massive body domineeringly straddling the border between the two great empires, Heaven Dou and Star Luo.
On the map, the dark green area is mostly marked within the territory of the Star Luo Empire, but this primitive land dominated by soul beasts has never been a territory that can be truly defined by human empires.
The blurred borders lose their meaning here; only the unfathomable majesty of the forest itself remains its eternal ruler.
As the premier habitat of the three major wild soul beasts in the Douluo Continent, the Star Dou Great Forest is both a sacred place full of opportunities and a perilous abyss in the hearts of countless soul masters.
Each time a Soul Master sets foot on this land, it is often accompanied by a crucial moment in their life—the advancement of their Soul Ring.
It carries the dreams and desires of countless Soul Masters to break through bottlenecks and gain power.
As we drew closer, a primal, desolate scent, imbued with the unique aroma of earth and plants, wafted over us, growing ever stronger.
The air became incredibly humid; it felt like you could wring water out of it with every breath.
Finally, when they stood at the true edge of the forest, the sight before them made everyone, including the preoccupied Dai Mubai and the weary Oscar, hold their breath involuntarily, their minds deeply shaken!
What a vast green ocean it was!
Countless towering trees rise from the ground, their trunks so thick that even ten people might not be able to encircle them. Their gnarled roots, like the claws of a dragon, are deeply embedded in the earth, forming natural barriers on the surface.
The tree canopy is layered and stretches out in all directions, with huge leaves so dense that there are almost no gaps, weaving together a thick, suffocating green dome overhead!
The morning sunlight struggled to penetrate the green barrier, but only cast sparse, dappled, and flickering spots of light near the forest entrance.
Looking further in, one's vision is swallowed by an endless, deep darkness, like a giant maw ready to devour its prey.
From afar, Tang San could vaguely sense waves of refreshing air blowing from the front, the fragrance of plants was soothing and comforting.
Taking a deep breath of fresh air, it feels as if all 36,000 pores on my body have opened up, a feeling that is indescribably refreshing.
Using his Purple Demon Eyes, Tang San gazed into the distance and saw a green ocean. The boundless green in front of him was so breathtaking, and the comforting, refreshing air emanated from it.
Finally, they arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest. The trees were at least twenty meters tall, and this was only the outermost part. The dense forest had no paths, and the shadows of the trees made it impossible to see the true scenery inside.
Upon reaching the forest, the air became even more pleasant, as if the temperature had dropped several degrees. The refreshing scent, carrying the aroma of damp earth, continuously stimulated everyone's sense of smell.
"Stop, all of you," Zhao Wuji said. (End of Chapter)