Jing Shaoyu and his companions steadily progressed through the ancient and primitive forest. Strangely, they had yet to encounter a single soul beast. Reaching a small hill, they surveyed the forest below, but all they saw was darkness, devoid of any sign of life.
This unusual stillness perplexed them. After a brief pause on the hill, they resumed their journey, walking for nearly two hours.
During these two hours, they still didn't encounter a single soul beast.
"This is so strange!" Xu Xiaoyan finally couldn't hold back her frustration. "Are there really soul beasts in this forest? Why haven't we seen even one? Isn't this supposed to be a survival test? It feels more like a patience test!"
Her complaint resonated with both Jing Shaoyu and Gu Yue, though they remained calmer than Xu Xiaoyan.
"Should we keep moving?" Gu Yue asked Jing Shaoyu, her gaze steady and serene.
Jing Shaoyu lowered his eyes in thought. His intuition told him this ninth assessment was anything but simple. However, nothing noteworthy or alarming had happened so far, which felt unusually suspicious.
"Let's not rush," he said. "Since this test is about survival, the scoring might depend on how long we last. Perhaps the longer we survive, the higher the score. But merely surviving isn't a fitting test for soul masters. There must be something hidden in this forest—maybe soul beasts or even treasures. That's likely the real purpose of this assessment."
Both Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan nodded in agreement. Xu Xiaoyan suggested, "Should we split up to explore?"
"No!" Jing Shaoyu immediately rejected the idea. "Splitting up is the worst decision in such situations. We'd rather share fewer points than take unnecessary risks. The closer we get to the end, the more we must avoid reckless actions."
"Alright…" Xu Xiaoyan pouted slightly, lowering her head.
"However," Jing Shaoyu added with a smile, "we can explore the area together to familiarize ourselves with the environment and prepare for any unexpected changes."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Xu Xiaoyan's excitement reignited as her eyes sparkled.
"Alright!" Jing Shaoyu replied with determination. "Let's move!"
The trio descended the hill and headed in the opposite direction from where they had come. The forest was vast, and its scenery was monotonous—endless trees with no distinguishing features like rocks, peculiar plants, or lakes. If not for the hill they had just left, it would have been easy to lose their way.
Thanks to Jing Shaoyu's awareness and Gu Yue's keen perception, they avoided getting lost. Still, the repetitive scenery was visually draining and emotionally taxing.
To counteract the mental fatigue, the three chatted throughout their journey, using their conversations to stave off the psychological strain of traversing this unfamiliar and confining environment.
Time passed, and soon the sunlight began to wane. Jing Shaoyu noticed the faint glow of the setting sun in the west, signaling that nightfall was near.
Perhaps the real challenge would begin in the darkness.
"Gu Yue, Xiaoyan, stay alert!" Jing Shaoyu warned. "It's getting dark—predators might start appearing."
"Roar—"
Before his words had fully landed, a low and powerful roar echoed in the distance. The sound carried a commanding presence, shattering the eerie silence of the forest and replacing it with an unsettling vitality.
The roar froze the trio in their tracks. Jing Shaoyu's hair stood on end, and his expression turned grave. A flicker of fear arose in his heart, but it was swiftly snuffed out by an overwhelming sense of anger—an instinctive fury akin to that of a king being provoked.
"What kind of roar was that?" Xu Xiaoyan whispered with a mix of fear and curiosity, clutching Jing Shaoyu's arm. Her face reflected lingering shock.
"Sounds like a bear's," Gu Yue responded coldly, stepping closer to Jing Shaoyu. Her face showed no fear, only curiosity and doubt.
"Judging from the roar alone, it's likely a ten-thousand-year soul beast," Jing Shaoyu said, his expression calm yet serious. "It's not far from us. It could very well be the target of our assessment."
"What? Really?" Xu Xiaoyan's eyes widened in disbelief. "They wouldn't expect us to fight a ten-thousand-year soul beast, would they?"
Her reaction was natural—after all, a ten-thousand-year soul beast was no small threat. Sending a Soul Elder and two Soul Masters to face one seemed absurd.
"Don't worry." Jing Shaoyu patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Even if that's the case, we have the Black Obsidian Swordvine on our side."
Xu Xiaoyan's mind conjured the image of the powerful, sword-like plant. Her initial shock turned into a smile. "Oh, right! We do have the Black Obsidian Swordvine."
As they spoke, another roar resounded. This one was sharper yet equally commanding. To the trio, however, it lacked the oppressive weight of the first roar. Instead, it brought a strange sense of relief and clarity.
What is this? Jing Shaoyu's eyes lit up with an inexplicable sense of joy and connection, as though the source of the second roar was somehow linked to him.
"We should check it out," Gu Yue suggested, a hint of complexity flashing in her gaze.
"Agreed," Jing Shaoyu said. "This is an assessment, after all. We should at least see what's going on. I doubt Shrek Academy would put us in a situation without limits. Danger might be present, but it shouldn't be fatal. Let's move!"
The trio headed toward the source of the roars.
Gu Yue's wind birds flew ahead, scouting the path, while Jing Shaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan followed closely behind, their nerves taut and ready for battle.