Hearing his words, Wang Ying teased, "Still, Ling Xiao, don't you feel even a little bit of pity for this soul beast? Don't let its size fool you; judging by the terrifying combat power of that adult giant bear, this must be a soul beast species with an extremely powerful bloodline."
"Top-tier soul beasts like this often possess significant soul power cultivation from the moment they are born. Even though this one's cultivation is around 400 years, I'm certain it hasn't been alive for very long."
"It probably ran out of its den because it was being playful, leading to its discovery by the Unrivaled Dragon Serpent couple, and eventually its capture by the Lord."
"So theoretically, it is still just a child among soul beasts."
Hearing Wang Ying's words, Ling Xiao frowned.
It was true; everything he said was correct. However...
Taking a deep breath and shaking his head, Ling Xiao spoke firmly, "That may be so, but for a soul master, isn't hunting soul beasts and obtaining soul rings perfectly natural?"
"For us soul masters to improve our strength and cultivation, killing soul beasts for soul rings might seem pitiable to the beasts. However, not everyone among us is a powerhouse, and not every soul master has extraordinary talent."
"Soul masters with weak talent and strength risk their lives fighting in this Star Dou Forest just to obtain a single soul ring. They might die at the claws of a soul beast, only to be eaten after death. This is also the price we human soul masters must pay."
"They aren't as lucky as I, Ling Xiao, to have the most powerful soul master organization in the world and a nine-ring Titled Douluo searching for a soul beast for me."
"Perhaps they need their parents or families to spend vast sums of money to hire someone to lead them here on an adventure; perhaps they must venture here alone. The result is never a guaranteed safe return."
"The Star Dou Forest is a home for soul beasts, but is it not also a grave for human soul masters who fail? Once a human soul master slips up, they too nourish this forest and its soul beasts with their own flesh and blood."
"Furthermore, even if human cultivation no longer required the killing of soul beasts for soul rings, would the survival competition between humans and soul beasts truly vanish? I doubt it."
Hu Feng and the others stiffened, and even the captain, Lor Diarra, who was monitoring the surroundings, looked over at Ling Xiao with great surprise. They truly hadn't expected such words to come from a child.
This was not the kind of thing a six-year-old usually said.
Moreover, it was quite logical.
Wang Ying had only intended to tease him, planning to wait until Ling Xiao felt pity for the soul beast before teaching him the principles of survival of the fittest and the law of the jungle to ease his mind. He hadn't expected the boy to already possess such resolve.
Wang Ying couldn't help but shake his head.
"You little brat, the way you talk is really unlike a child. Fine, fine, you've convinced me."
"Vice-Captain Wang is joking," Ling Xiao said with a wave of his hand.
"I was merely speaking from a momentary feeling."
Suddenly, Lor Diarra's gaze turned cold as he looked toward one side of the forest. He shouted sternly, "Who goes there?!"
The others immediately turned solemn, shielding Ling Xiao and the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear.
Footsteps slowly approached from the thicket, and soon, a figure revealed itself. Upon seeing the man's face, everyone's nerves tightened. The reason was simple: this person was none other than one half of the Unrivaled Dragon Serpent, Dragon Duke Meng Shu.
They had already deduced the situation; most likely, this bear-type soul beast had originally been the target of the Unrivaled Dragon Serpent, only to end up in their hands.
Now, with Chrysanthemum Douluo absent, their Judgement squad—despite having three Soul Saints—was facing a powerhouse of the Soul Douluo rank.
Furthermore, the Serpent Woman had been present earlier; if the two used their Spirit Fusion Skill, the team wouldn't be able to stall for long. If the couple acted fast enough, not even Spirit Hall would be able to find their killers.
"Oh, it's you all. I didn't expect us to meet again so soon."
Meng Shu walked closer, planted his Dragon Staff in the ground, and stopped.
He looked at Ling Xiao and the others, his tone seemingly devoid of any intent to strike.
Wang Ying and the others exchanged glances. Lor Diarra raised his right hand in a gesture, signaling them not to act rashly, and stepped forward respectfully.
"Lor Diarra of the Judgement Hall greets Senior."
"People of the Judgement Hall. No wonder you three Soul Saints are so young; in a few more years, you'll likely surpass this old man." Meng Shu nodded slightly as he spoke.
"Senior overpraises us; we wouldn't dare compare ourselves to you."
Suddenly, Meng Shu shifted his gaze to Ling Xiao.
"Is this youth a new talent being cultivated by your Spirit Hall? To dispatch a Titled Douluo and an inspection-level Judgement team to hunt a soul ring for him... his talent must be extraordinary."
Being watched by this Soul Douluo, Ling Xiao suddenly felt a staggering pressure descend upon him, as if his body had become heavy. He thought to himself that this had never happened around Chrysanthemum Douluo; it seemed the latter had intentionally restrained his aura.
Ling Xiao took a deep breath, withstanding the pressure.
He stepped forward and did his best to speak respectfully as if nothing were wrong.
"Junior Ling Xiao greets Senior Dragon Duke."
"A youth who has just awakened his martial soul actually knows of this old man?"
Seeing that Ling Xiao could withstand the pressure and step forward to speak calmly without panic, Meng Shu's eyes flickered with interest.
"With Senior's great reputation, how could Junior not know?"
This statement was actually true, though his knowledge came more from his previous life's understanding of the Douluo Continent's timeline; he truly didn't know much about the man in this life.
"This soul beast was captured only after Chrysanthemum Douluo exerted his full strength. Aren't you afraid that I might seize this Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear and cause you to lose this opportunity?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere instantly became oppressive.
Had Wang Ying and the others not been wary of Meng Shu's cultivation, they likely would have directly surged their soul power and released their martial souls.
Ling Xiao's eyes flickered.
He thought to himself that it was indeed a Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear, but at this moment, he was also somewhat at a loss. He didn't know if the Meng Shu before him was currently injured, and he was genuinely worried.
If it truly were snatched away, it would be a disaster.
However, thinking back on the conduct of the Dragon Duke and Serpent Woman from his past life's knowledge, he felt the possibility of them attacking wasn't very high. Moreover, only the Dragon Duke was present; the Serpent Woman and the girl who was likely Meng Yiran were absent.
Hardening his heart, he looked up and said, "Senior is a famous powerhouse in the soul master world and a person of high prestige. I, Ling Xiao, believe you would never commit such an act of robbery."
"Furthermore, if you intended to strike, you would have done so long ago. Why wait until now?" After all, the more time is wasted, the more likely it is that Chrysanthemum Douluo will arrive. Am I right, Senior?"
"You slippery brat! You have the nerve to use words to back me into a corner... you certainly have guts."
Hearing Ling Xiao's words, Meng Shu puffed out his beard and glared, appearing somewhat angry.
However, upon hearing Meng Shu's reaction, Ling Xiao and the others relaxed slightly. With the Dragon Duke acting this way, he likely had no intention of attacking. Suddenly, another set of footsteps came from the thicket behind Meng Shu.
It seemed someone else was coming. But the voice arrived before the person—a crisp female voice rang out hurriedly.
"Grandpa, Grandpa! Who are you talking to?"
A girl dressed in a dark green dress came running out, holding a tool martial soul that looked like a snake spear.
A bright smile was plastered on her pretty face, and she looked quite excited. The soul power involuntarily radiating from her body revealed her cultivation: she was a Soul Master of the first ring who had only recently advanced.