Return to the Star Dou Great Forest
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That evening, after dinner, Lin Yongming informed his parents that he needed to obtain his fifth soul ring and would be heading to Spirit City to participate in the Continental Elite Tournament.
"Go ahead. You're already engaged and have your own path to follow. There's no need to stay in this village with us," Lin Chong and Yinglan advised Lin Yongming without a hint of objection.
The next morning, Lin Yongming and his companion bid farewell to his parents and set off with Dugu Bo towards the town of Wurto.
In the town, they purchased some essential supplies. According to the Blue Silver Emperor's description, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was likely the only one of its kind in the vast Star Dou Great Forest. Finding it would be time-consuming, so they needed to be well-prepared.
After completing their purchases, they left the town.
"Little monster, why aren't we taking a carriage? Are you planning to run all the way to the Star Dou Great Forest?" Dugu Bo asked, puzzled, as he looked at Lin Yongming and his companion.
"That's right. A carriage is too slow. Old monster, you'd better keep up," Lin Yongming replied with a nod.
"What do you mean? Are you saying a Titled Douluo like me can't keep up with you two? Or do you really think I'm some frail old man?" Dugu Bo retorted, slightly offended.
"Haha! That's not what I meant, old monster. You've misunderstood. In that case, let's head to the Star Dou Great Forest," Lin Yongming said, exchanging a glance with the Blue Silver Emperor.
The Blue Silver Emperor, understanding his intention, stepped in front of Lin Yongming, allowing him to pick her up.
"Hey, hey! It's broad daylight. Isn't this a bit inappropriate? I'm still here, you know!" Dugu Bo exclaimed, pretending to be scandalized.
But before he could finish, Lin Yongming summoned his Purple Lightning Thunder Wings and shot into the sky, leaving Dugu Bo stunned.
"Old monster, keep up!" Lin Yongming called back to Dugu Bo before sharing a smile with the Blue Silver Emperor.
"This is just bullying me because I can't fly..." Dugu Bo muttered, releasing his soul power to chase after them.
Lin Yongming hadn't expected Dugu Bo to actually keep his promise. Having interacted with him frequently, Lin Yongming had come to understand Dugu Bo's personality. This trip to the Star Dou Great Forest required mutual trust, so Lin Yongming decided not to hide anything and revealed his Purple Lightning Thunder Wings.
"No wonder this kid could absorb a ten-thousand-year soul ring at his fourth rank. He actually has an external soul bone, a rare treasure. Showing it to me now means he truly trusts me," Dugu Bo thought to himself, feeling a sense of pride as he chased after them.
"But why is this little monster flying so fast? I'll have to put in more effort to keep up," Dugu Bo grumbled, increasing his speed.
By the time they neared Xiao Rou's home, it was already around 4 PM.
Lin Yongming and his companion landed on the ground, and shortly after, Dugu Bo arrived, slightly out of breath.
"Little monster, why did you stop?" Dugu Bo asked, confused, as they were still some distance from the outermost part of the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Old monster, I stopped because I was worried you'd get tired," Lin Yongming teased with a smile.
Dugu Bo's expression stiffened, and he straightened up proudly. "Nonsense! I'm the Poison Douluo, a Titled Douluo standing at the pinnacle of the continent. How could I possibly get tired from such a short distance? Don't underestimate me, little monster."
The Blue Silver Emperor covered her mouth and chuckled. "Alright, actually, our sister lives in a nearby village. We're going to meet her before heading into the Star Dou Great Forest together."
"That makes more sense. Let's go, then," Dugu Bo nodded.
The three of them then made their way to Xiao Rou's village.
"By the way, little monster, you called me here, and now we're going to meet your sister. What kind of soul beast are you planning to hunt? This whole setup makes it seem like you're preparing to hunt a ninth soul ring," Dugu Bo asked curiously as they walked.
"Old monster, this soul beast is quite special. It's a top-tier soul beast, and although its age isn't high, its combat power is extraordinary. It's called the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger," Lin Yongming explained.
"Dark Demon Evil God Tiger? I've never heard of it. But if it's a top-tier soul beast, it must be something extraordinary," Dugu Bo replied, trying to recall if he'd ever encountered such a creature.
"You've heard of the Titan Giant Ape, right? At the same age, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger is two levels stronger than the Titan Giant Ape. It's also incredibly rare—there might only be one in the entire continent," Lin Yongming added.
"Now that you've put it that way, I understand. No wonder you were so insistent on making this the second condition of our agreement. This is quite the challenge. If it's that rare, we might be spending quite some time in the Star Dou Great Forest," Dugu Bo said with a wry smile.
"It's fine. We might be there for a few months," Lin Yongming replied with a laugh.
As they spoke, they soon arrived at Xiao Rou's home. She was leisurely watering the flowers around her house.
Lin Yongming approached with Dugu Bo, as he had previously informed Xiao Rou about the Titled Douluo's arrival.
"Sister Xiao Rou, A'yin and I are here," Lin Yongming greeted.
"Xiao Ming, A'yin, you've arrived. Is this the Poison Douluo you mentioned?" Xiao Rou asked, bowing slightly to Dugu Bo.
"You're too polite. Just call me Dugu Bo, or even 'old monster' if you prefer," Dugu Bo replied with a smile.
"Alright, please have a seat and have some water," Xiao Rou invited them.
The three of them sat on the porch, and Xiao Rou brought out three cups of water.
"So, Xiao Ming, are you planning to head into the Star Dou Great Forest now?" Xiao Rou asked as she sat down next to the Blue Silver Emperor.
"Yes, Sister Xiao Rou. We're planning to enter the forest today after you've prepared," Lin Yongming nodded.
"It's already quite late. Are you planning to go in at night? What kind of soul beast are you after?" Xiao Rou asked curiously.
"Sister, Xiao Ming wants to hunt the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger for his fifth soul ring," the Blue Silver Emperor explained with a hint of helplessness.
"The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger! No wonder you sought out the Poison Douluo. But that soul beast is incredibly elusive. It leaves no trace behind. However, since it's a ten-thousand-year soul beast, it should be within the ten-thousand-year soul beast territory."
"Killing the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger would be a good thing for the other soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest," Xiao Rou added.
"Why is that? If the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger is so rare, wouldn't its existence be a good thing for the soul beasts?" Dugu Bo asked, confused.
"Sigh... It's rare, but the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger doesn't cultivate its power through normal means. It grows by devouring other soul beasts. To us soul beasts, it's like a malevolent spirit master who grows stronger by consuming others. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger is an inherently evil soul beast," Xiao Rou explained slowly.
"I see. That does make sense," Dugu Bo nodded in understanding.
"Sister Xiao Rou, you mentioned that you encountered it once when you were obtaining your sixth soul ring. So, we'll need your guidance to find it in the Star Dou Great Forest," Lin Yongming said.
"It's been several years since then, and the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger is nomadic. It's likely no longer in the same area. We'll have to search the entire forest."
"Here's what I suggest: the last time I saw it, it was in the eastern part of the forest. So, let's start from the east and work our way west. How does that sound?" Xiao Rou proposed.
"That's our only option," Lin Yongming agreed reluctantly.
"Alright. Since we're planning to reach the ten-thousand-year soul beast territory tonight, I'll pack up my things. Give me a moment," Xiao Rou said, standing up and heading inside.
About ten minutes later, the four of them left the village and headed towards the Star Dou Great Forest.
At the edge of the forest, there was a small inn.
"It's past 5 PM. Should we have dinner here before continuing?" Xiao Rou suggested.
"Sure," the other three agreed.
Although they had brought supplies, a hot meal was far preferable to dry rations.
The four of them entered the inn, where about a dozen people were seated around tables.
When the patrons glanced their way, Dugu Bo let out a cold snort, causing them to quickly avert their eyes.
Despite his friendly demeanor with Lin Yongming and the others, Dugu Bo still carried the aura of a Titled Douluo. The patrons' leering looks at the two women had not gone unnoticed, and Dugu Bo's imposing presence served as a warning.
After a hearty meal of eight dishes, they left the inn a little past 6 PM. The sun was already hidden behind the towering trees, with only a faint glow visible through the canopy.
"Starting from the east, right? I'll lead the way," Dugu Bo said, taking the lead as they entered the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Xiao Ming, A'yin, you two follow behind Dugu Bo. I'll take the rear," Xiao Rou instructed.
"Alright," Lin Yongming agreed, positioning himself alongside the Blue Silver Emperor.
Since their target was the eastern part of the ten-thousand-year soul beast territory, the four of them moved quickly through the outer regions, not stopping until it was completely dark. Fortunately, their abilities allowed them to see reasonably well in the dark.
For Lin Yongming, however, day and night made no difference.
After another hour or so, they encountered a twenty-thousand-year soul beast and decided to regroup.
"We've reached the ten-thousand-year soul beast territory. It's past 9 PM. Let's find a relatively safe spot to set up camp for the night," Dugu Bo suggested.
"As the strongest among us, I'll take the first watch," he added.
"Old monster, we'll be relying on you a lot this time," Lin Yongming said gratefully.
"Don't mention it. We're friends, aren't we? Besides, staying up a few nights is nothing for me," Dugu Bo replied with a smile.
"Alright, I won't say more. Thank you," Lin Yongming nodded.
Lin Yongming and the Blue Silver Emperor set up two tents—one for Xiao Rou and one for themselves. Dugu Bo, meanwhile, perched on a branch of a hundred-year-old tree, entering a light meditative state.
The forest was quiet at night, with only the occasional chirping of insects and distant roars breaking the silence.
The next morning, after packing up their tents, the four of them gathered for breakfast.
"The ten-thousand-year soul beast territory is vast. After eating, I suggest we spread out, keeping about a hundred meters between each of us, and search from east to west. What do you think?" Xiao Rou proposed.
"That works. But remember, our target is the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. If we encounter other ten-thousand-year soul beasts, we should avoid conflict if possible. If not, we'll drive them away. Ten-thousand-year soul beasts are not easy to come by," the Blue Silver Emperor added.
"I understand. According to the Spirit Hall's records, the number of soul beasts is decreasing every year, especially ten-thousand-year soul beasts. After all, a spirit master needs to hunt at least four ten-thousand-year soul beasts in their lifetime," Dugu Bo agreed.
"Alright, let's proceed as planned. With the four of us spread out, we'll cover a large area," Lin Yongming nodded.
"Little monster, I'm not too worried about the two ladies, but you—with your limited vision in this complex terrain—should stay in the middle, between the three of us," Dugu Bo suggested.
"That's a good idea. You and A'yin can stay in the middle, while Dugu Bo and I take the outer positions," Xiao Rou agreed.
"Alright," Lin Yongming accepted without argument.
"Then let's get moving," the Blue Silver Emperor said with a smile.
"Let's go."
The four of them spread out as planned, maintaining a distance of about a hundred meters between each other.
They moved from east to west through the ten-thousand-year soul beast territory at a steady pace, maintaining a walking speed.
This method of searching continued for ten days. During that time, they encountered many ten-thousand-year soul beasts, including some with lightning attributes. However, Lin Yongming remained focused on his target and didn't consider any other soul beasts.
One day, as they searched, the Blue Silver Emperor approached Xiao Rou.
"Sister, we're getting close to Star Lake. Have they hidden themselves? We can't let Dugu Bo see them," the Blue Silver Emperor whispered.
"A'yin, don't worry. I've already taken care of that. When you told me you were bringing a Titled Douluo, I came here earlier and instructed Da Ming, Er Ming, and Xiao Wu to hide and focus on their cultivation. I also gave Xiao Wu some immortal herbs," Xiao Rou explained.
"That's good. But where is this Dark Demon Evil God Tiger hiding? We've been searching for ten days already," the Blue Silver Emperor sighed.
"There's no helping it. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger is cunning and intelligent. After devouring a ten-thousand-year soul beast, it hides to digest its power," Xiao Rou replied, equally frustrated.
"I hope we can finally eliminate this evil soul beast this time. But I'm not sure if Dugu Bo can control it. After all, even Da Ming and Er Ming have chased it several times, only for it to escape," Xiao Rou added.
"True. With its space, lightning, and dark attributes, it's incredibly fast and elusive. It's well-balanced, with no obvious weaknesses," the Blue Silver Emperor agreed.
"Alright, you should return to your position now. We don't want Dugu Bo to get suspicious."
Following Xiao Rou's instructions, the Blue Silver Emperor returned to her position.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 215 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 80 power stones I will publish the next chapter.