Forest of Holy Spirits

Forest of Holy Spirits (精霊の森) is the 31st episode of the Shaman King 2001 anime series.

Summary
Yoh and the others continue their journey on foot since Billy didn't show up. Before the thought of camping was brought up, a car driven by an old couple named Ross and Melanie stops and offers them a ride and a place to stay for the time being to which the boys agree. But Lyserg however noticed something unusual about the old couple, which is true when Ross and Melanie are seen talking outside about how long since they have had Shamans in their house before.

The next day, Ross and Melanie confront the boys that "they are Shamans" too, and request them to defeat some dangerous "monsters" living in the coal mine. The Lily Five shows up out of the blue to eagerly join this request for the reward. But to the girls' dismay as they search the mines, they end up at a dead end. In fact, the boys (minus Ryu) already knew that the request, the monsters and even the old couple were fake, and it was all a prank by the spirits residing in the forest. As Lyserg asks why they went along the facade when they knew all along, Yoh responds him that it would be fun.

Just then many spirits appear and start a mudball fight with the boys to which they join, even the irritated Lyserg opens to. Outside the mines later, the spirits thanked and apologized Yoh and the others for accompanying their time. But their conversation gets interrupted as Hao (who was monitoring them) shows up and kills the spirits while annoyingly states that Yoh shouldn't waste his time playing. The boys get ready to fight Hao, but flies away on the back of his spirit. The remaining spirits bid farewell to Yoh and the others after warning about them Hao and wonder if Yoh might be able to defeat Hao in the end.

Meanwhile, Hao continues to monitor Yoh and speaks with Mikihisa whom he already noticed was spying on him. Hao then asks Mikihisa if he will hurry and give "it" to Yoh, to which it is relayed to Yohmei and Kino in Japan. At Mt. Osore, Manta bought all the listed souvenirs, while Anna is heading somewhere near a lake to summon her greatest tool.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Asakura Yoh
 * Oyamada Manta
 * Kyōyama Anna
 * Umemiya Ryunosuke
 * Horohoro
 * Tao Ren
 * Lyserg Diethel
 * Asakura Mikihisa
 * Asakura Yohmei
 * Asakura Kino
 * Asakura Hao
 * Billy Anderson
 * Lily Five
 * Sharona
 * Lilly
 * Sally
 * Ellie
 * Millie

Spirits in Order of Appearance

 * Amidamaru
 * Bason
 * Kororo
 * Tokageroh
 * Morphine
 * Spirit of Fire
 * Holy Spirits

Differences from the Manga

 * The 1080 were sealed within the grounds of Mt. Ososre in the 2001 anime, while Anna carried it at all times by Asakura Kino in the manga.