Douluo Dalu 2: Reincarnated as the Auspicious Beast

Wang Rui immediately understood that the person Huo Yuqing referred to was Dai Huabin, but he feigned ignorance and asked, "Not on good terms?"

Huo Yuqing hesitated for a moment, then bit her lip and said, "Yes, he's the one who killed my mother."

The news that Dai Huabin was entering Shrek Academy had spread like wildfire in the Duke's mansion. The Duchess practically wanted the whole world to know that her beloved second son would study at Shrek Academy... Naturally, Huo Yuqing was also aware.

The question of whether the eldest or the second young master would inherit the White Tiger Duke's title was the servants' favorite topic of private discussion in the mansion.

"I want to go to Shrek Academy and defeat him fair and square there," Huo Yuqing said firmly.

"But that guy is already a Soul Elder," the girl said with a wry smile on her face. "Saying this might sound like a pipe dream. A newly promoted Soul Master saying they want to defeat a Soul Elder…"

Until today, she had always thought that avenging her mother would take her entire lifetime of effort. Naturally, she wouldn't entertain such thoughts. But now, with the power of the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion and the assurances of the Divine Beast, why shouldn't she give it her all?

If she couldn't even defeat Dai Huabin, who was currently a Soul Elder, how could she possibly defeat Dai Hao, who had already become a Titled Douluo? Let alone fulfill her agreement with the Sacred Beast.

"I'll definitely catch up!" Determination filled Huo Yuqing's eyes.

"That's the spirit!" Wang Rui said with a smile, patting her shoulder. "But Shrek's enrollment is about to start, and it'll last for about a month. Do you think you have a shot at meeting their requirements?"

Earlier, Tang Ya had emphasized the value of Shrek's admission quota while promoting the Tang Sect.

Huo Yuqing thought about the admission requirements Tang Ya had mentioned and sighed, "I'm almost at level 14 now. Reaching level 15 within a month would be difficult. Besides, I don't have a recommendation letter from a major city. But even if I can't enter Shrek Academy, it wouldn't hurt to visit the academy and see what it's like."

"What's your plan after that?" Wang Rui asked, nodding. The issues of soul power and the recommendation letter could be solved.

"I want to find out where Beast Sect's affiliated cities are located. If possible, I'd like to live in one of those cities. You know, I don't really have anywhere else to go."

As if sensing the departure of the detestable humans, Aunt Mouse poked her head out of Huo Yuqing's pocket again. The girl gently stroked its soft fur. "If I could find a job to make a living, that would be even better."

"Do you want to join Beast Sect?" Wang Rui asked.

The girl hesitated briefly before shaking her head. "I do, but I'll only consider it after I've avenged my mother."

Huo Yuqing lacked experience and didn't understand the nature of an organization that had stood firm for 8,000 years on the continent. She also didn't know what benefits joining such a sect could bring. She merely thought that the Duke's Mansion held great power and didn't want her personal vendetta to involve others.

Wang Rui didn't mind that Huo Yuqing wasn't ready to join Beast Sect. With him by her side, she wasn't going anywhere. Whether she joined Beast Sect was only a matter of time.

As long as she stayed away from the Tang Sect.

As for Shrek… Most people on the Douluo Continent grew up hearing tales of Shrek. Wang Rui smirked. How could Huo Yuqing shatter her glorified image of the "Number One Academy" without seeing it firsthand?

Besides, which other academy could provide her with the opportunity to participate as a main team member in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament at her age? Not every academy had an insider Douluo.

Though the competition might be dull, it was a rare chance to hone her skills.

Wang Rui also intended to use the next intercontinental tournament in six years to promote Beast Sect's contracts and soul spirits. He needed to familiarize himself with the tournament process.

"Here's the plan. Emerald City, a Beast Sect city, isn't far from Shrek Academy, both located in the northwest of Star Dou Forest," Wang Rui said thoughtfully. "I'll take you to Emerald City for a while. When Shrek's enrollment period is almost over, we can head to the academy. How does that sound?"

Huo Yuqing's eyes lit up. "That's great! Thank you!" Then, hesitantly, she asked, "But won't it be too much trouble for you?"

"Not at all. I need to go there too."

Though he said they were heading northwest to Emerald City, Wang Rui didn't lead Huo Yuqing out of Star Dou Forest. Instead, they delved deeper into it.

Huo Yuqing was curious but trusted Wang Rui wouldn't harm her.

After walking for about two hours, the trees around them grew larger and thicker, their branches forming dense canopies. The girl noticed claw marks, some new and some old, on the surrounding trees.

"Are there powerful soul beasts nearby?" Huo Yuqing asked nervously, lowering her voice.

"You could say that." Wang Rui nodded, climbing over a fallen tree trunk and pulling her along. "We're here."

They arrived at a wide forest clearing. At its center stood the remains of a dead, broken giant tree surrounded by carefully stacked stones.

On the topmost part of the tree trunk were rough carvings forming the totem of a crescent moon wolf head. Beneath it were dense claw marks—likely some soul beast's version of "I was here."

"This is the emblem of Moonshadow City," Wang Rui explained, noticing Huo Yuqing's curious gaze.

The girl walked up and hesitantly touched the carvings. Then she turned to Wang Rui, her large eyes brimming with confusion.

"Emerald City is quite far from here. I'm arranging for us to hitch a ride," Wang Rui said with a wink.

"A ride?" Huo Yuqing was puzzled. Were there carriages in the forest?

But Wang Rui merely sat down on the stones and gestured for her to join him.

"Most people can't find Beast Sect's affiliated cities because they're all within Star Dou Forest," he explained.

"A city in the soul beast forest?" Huo Yuqing was incredulous.

"All these cities were originally built on the forest's outskirts. Over time, the forest expanded, enveloping them. Today, the residents of these cities are mostly descendants of those who lived on the forest's edge," Wang Rui said. "These cities still require supplies, so caravans regularly venture out to trade and restock. This clearing is a rest point for one of those caravans."

"We're in the southern part of Star Dou Forest now, not too far from Moonshadow City," Wang Rui continued. "Besides Moonshadow and Emerald, Beast Sect's other three cities are Twin City, in partnership with Emerald, Wild Lion City in the forest's east, and New City in the southwest."

"Wild Lion City rose after Moonshadow City declined, and its first city lord was a hundred-thousand-year-old Flame Blood Lion," he added.

"Like Xiao Wu from the Shrek Seven Monsters?" Huo Yuqing asked, recalling the legendary stories her mother had told her as a child.

Wang Rui nodded, sharing gossip eagerly. "But lions are, well, lions. The first Wild Lion City Lord had many wives, both his kind and human. That's why Wild Lion City has the most half-soul beasts of any city."

Suddenly recalling that he, too, was technically a lion, Wang Rui quickly clarified, "Of course, not all lions are like that."

Wait, why am I explaining this to Huo Yuqing? It's not like she's my wife. Feeling awkward, Wang Rui scratched his head.

"Half-soul beasts?" Huo Yuqing asked hesitantly. "Are they the offspring of humans and soul beasts?"

"Yes. Even Tang San, the Sea God, was a half-soul beast. His mother was the Blue Silver Emperor with a hundred-thousand-year cultivation," Wang Rui shrugged. "In Beast Sect, the birth of half-soul beasts is quite common."

Huo Yuqing listened intently while the Tianmeng Iceworm chattered in her mind. "Little Qing, the woman before you is a Titled Douluo. That wolf she's riding is at least a two-hundred-thousand-year beast, equivalent to a Level 95 Super Douluo."

This was the first time Huo Yuqing had encountered so many powerful beings. Zhang Lexuan, the young Titled Douluo, was a disciple of Wang Rui's family elder... What kind of background did Wang Rui have?

Unbeknownst to her, Zhang Lexuan was even more nervous.

As the current Moonshadow City Lord and future Beast Sect leader, she instantly recognized the human form of the Emperor Beast.

She screamed inwardly, The Emperor Beast called me 'sister'! If this gets out, I'll be ostracized in the inner circle!

Wang Rui, noticing their mutual nervousness, broke the silence.

"Lexuan, could you arrange for someone to take us to Jadeite City?"

Zhang Lexuan nodded, calming herself. She softly called out, "Wolf Starshadow, come here!"

"On my way!" A short figure dashed out from the pack of lounging wolves. "What's up, Aunt?"

This was a boy of about twelve or thirteen, slightly taller than Wang Rui. He had short white hair, with only the hair at his temples left long and tied into two small braids. His face was handsome yet retained a youthful innocence, and his warm golden-brown eyes radiated a kind of gentleness.

"This is the child of my teacher's family, so he's like a younger brother to me. They're also heading to Emerald City, so stay with them for now. When the time comes, let your mother take them there."

Huo Yuqing's eyes widened in astonishment. The implication in Zhang Lexuan's words… Did she mean this boy's mother was also a giant wolf, making him a half-spirit beast?

"Alright, alright, I get it, Auntie. You go take care of your business. I'll look after them!" The boy replied with a cheerful grin.