The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains of his room, Song Qing's mind was already active. Before even opening his eyes, he reached out with his mental consciousness, seeking a familiar presence within his Dark Soul Emperor's Crown.
'A'Rou… are you there?' he projected his thoughts, his mental voice soft yet clear.
Almost instantly, he felt a familiar mental presence stir within the depths of the crown. A moment later, the illusionary spiritual body of A'Rou materialized before his closed eyelids, visible only to his inner eye. However, her expression was far from welcoming. Her ethereal features were set in a slight frown, and a definite pout adorned her lips.
'So,' she mentally huffed, her voice tinged with a playful anger, 'you finally decide to talk to me? I thought you had forgotten all about me, and your promise to take me to see my Xiao Wu.'
Song Qing mentally sighed. He knew he had been neglecting her, his focus consumed by the events within the Spirit Hall. 'It was my fault, A'Rou. I apologize,' he projected sincerely. 'But I wanted to complete some important matters here before we ventured into the Great Star Dou Forest to find your daughter. Moreover,' he added, his mental voice turning slightly more serious, 'I needed to ensure I possessed a certain degree of strength before going there. If Xiao Wu is in the central region, as we suspect, she will most likely be protected by powerful spirit beasts.'
Upon hearing his explanation, A'Rou's pout softened slightly. She couldn't help but recall the powerful aura of the two spirit beasts who had sworn brotherhood to her precious Xiao Wu.
'That's right… Er Ming and Da Ming,' she thought, a hint of worry still lingering in her mental voice.
She slowly nodded in understanding. 'Xiao Wu… yes, she is most likely in the central region of the Great Star Dou Forest. Near the Lake of Life.'
She then provided more specific information, her mental voice now clearer and more focused. 'There, Xiao Wu must be protected by two hundred thousand year old beasts. Er Ming, a powerful Titan Giant Ape, incredibly strong. And the eldest one is Da Ming, a Sky Azure Bull Python, also a Hundred Thousand Year Old beast, even more powerful than Er Ming.'
Song Qing mentally nodded, absorbing this crucial information. 'Two hundred thousand year old beasts… they will be formidable opponents. A'Rou,' he projected, his mental voice now carrying a hint of concern, 'would you be able to help preserve my life from them?'
A'Rou's illusionary form straightened, her pout replaced by a proud and confident smile. 'Of course! It will be easy… as long as you manage to condense a proper Spiritual Body for me at that time!' she mentally declared. 'Not only will I be able to talk to my daughter, but I will also be able to order those two big oafs to follow any of your commands!'
A mischievous glint appeared in her mental eyes. 'They wouldn't dare disobey me!'
Then, her mental expression turned more thoughtful. 'Actually,' she projected, her voice taking on a more serious tone, 'I do know of a spirit beast that might be a perfect fit for your Primordial Life Tree Spirit. It is a Hundred and Forty Thousand Year Old beast.'
She paused for a moment, as if recalling details. 'It resides in its own separate region within the Great Star Dou Forest, a place that not many other spirit beasts venture into. That beast… it completely devours any other spirit beast that enters its territory.'
'A Hundred and Forty Thousand Year Old… Corrupted Emerald Arbor,' she finally revealed, the name carrying a hint of darkness. 'A normal Hundred Thousand Year Old beast might not be a match for it, but… the combined might of Er Ming and Da Ming should be more than capable of dealing with that evil tree.'
When Song Qing heard her words, a sense of gratitude washed over him. A'Rou, despite her initial anger, was proving to be an invaluable ally. 'Thank you, A'Rou,' he projected sincerely. 'Stay within the crown for now. I will go and seek permission to travel to the Great Star Dou Forest.'
But before he did anything else, Song Qing knew he needed to take a crucial precautionary step. He focused his soul power, and the sixth soul ring of his Abyssal Demonic Dragon God Emperor, the one known as the Void Anchor, pulsed with dark energy. With a silent incantation, he directed its power, setting up a stable anchor point within his chambers here at the Spirit Hall.
'Just in case,' he thought, a sense of security settling over him. 'If things go south, I can instantly teleport back here.' The ability to instantly return to the Spirit Hall would be invaluable, especially when dealing with powerful spirit beasts in the Great Star Dou Forest. With that preparation complete, Song Qing finally opened his eyes, ready to face the day and set his plans into motion.
~~
Later that day, Song Qing sought out his teacher, Bibi Dong. He found her in her study, meticulously reviewing documents. He approached her with a respectful bow.
"Teacher," he began, his voice polite but firm, "I need to ask for your permission to travel to the Great Star Dou Forest."
Bibi Dong looked up from her documents, her gaze sharp and questioning. "The Great Star Dou Forest? What for, Qing'er? You know how dangerous that place can be."
Song Qing hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. He couldn't reveal the existence of A'Rou, not yet. "There is… a matter I need to attend to, Teacher. I cannot fully explain it at this time."
Bibi Dong's brow furrowed slightly. She studied her disciple's face, her pink eyes scrutinizing him. "The Great Star Dou Forest is teeming with powerful spirit beasts, Qing'er. It is not a place for you to wander alone. I will accompany you." Her voice left no room for argument.
'She's worried,' Song Qing thought, a warmth spreading through him despite the situation. He appreciated her concern, but he knew he had to go alone.
"Teacher, I appreciate your concern deeply," Song Qing replied, his voice gentle but resolute. "But I would prefer to go alone. I have taken certain… protective measures. I have set up an Anchor Point using my Void Anchor soul ring. If I sense any danger, I can immediately teleport back here to the Spirit Hall."
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed. "An Anchor Point? That is a useful ability, but it does not guarantee your safety, Qing'er. There are spirit beasts in that forest that could overwhelm even a Titled Douluo before they could react, let alone a Soul King." Her tone was firm, her disapproval evident.
"Teacher, please trust me," Song Qing pleaded, trying to sound reassuring. "I will be careful. I will not venture too deep, and I will be constantly vigilant. This is something I need to do on my own."
"Need to do?" Bibi Dong questioned, her voice softening slightly. "What is so important that you must risk yourself in such a dangerous place?"
Song Qing bit his lip, feigning reluctance. "I… I cannot say, Teacher. Not yet. But I assure you, it is important. For the future… for the Spirit Hall."
Bibi Dong leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful. She knew Qing'er was capable, exceptionally so for his age. But the Great Star Dou Forest was a different beast altogether.
"I still do not like it, Qing'er," she said, her voice laced with concern. "Going alone is too risky."
"But Teacher," Song Qing countered, trying a different approach, "if you accompany me, it might attract unwanted attention. My mission requires a degree of secrecy." He hoped this would appeal to her strategic mind.
Bibi Dong considered this. He had a point. Her presence would certainly draw attention. But her worry for his safety still outweighed that concern.
"Even so…" she began, but Song Qing cut her off, his voice filled with a gentle desperation.
"Teacher, please," he begged, his tone softening, his eyes pleading. "Please allow me to go alone. I promise… I promise I will do whatever you ask of me in return. Anything."
He watched as his teacher's expression froze. Her pink eyes seemed to gaze into the distance, a look of deep contemplation on her face. The air in the study grew still, the only sound the faint rustling of the documents on her desk.
'Anything…?' Bibi Dong thought, her mind suddenly filled with a myriad of possibilities. Her gaze flickered back to Song Qing, a strange light in her eyes. After a long moment of silence, she finally spoke, her voice surprisingly calm.
"Very well, Qing'er. You may go alone."
Song Qing's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected her to agree so suddenly. "Teacher… are you sure?"
"Yes," Bibi Dong replied, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching her lips. "But do not forget your promise, Qing'er. You said you would do anything I ask."
Song Qing, completely puzzled by the sudden change in her demeanor, nevertheless felt a wave of relief wash over him. "Yes, Teacher! I won't forget! Thank you! You are the best teacher in the entire world!" He bowed deeply, his gratitude genuine, and then quickly turned and left the study before she could change her mind.
Meanwhile, after Song Qing had departed, a faint blush crept onto Bibi Dong's cheeks. She leaned back in her chair, a thoughtful and slightly mischievous expression on her face. 'Anything, he said…' she mused, her mind already starting to formulate possibilities.
She was still worried about him, of course. The Great Star Dou Forest was a dangerous place. But she had sensed a certain confidence in him, a reassurance that he would be safe. She wondered if it had something to do with the soul of that Soft Boned Rabbit that he had taken from her seventh soul ring. He had always been secretive about that.
'Well,' she thought, a hint of a smile returning to her lips, 'at least he has that Anchor Point. That should ensure his safe return if things become too dangerous.' She turned her attention back to her documents, but her mind kept drifting back to her dear disciple and the promise he had made. The possibilities were… intriguing.