Chapter 5: Star Dou Great Forest

Shanyang Village, a small settlement on the borders of the Tianhun Empire, was close to the vast and mysterious Star Dou Great Forest. Thanks to Ye Xuanji's mastery of sword flight, the journey took them less than half a day.

As they approached, Jun Ting's breath caught in his throat.

"So… this is the Star Dou Great Forest?"

The sheer scale of it overwhelmed him. The trees towered like ancient sentinels, their thick canopies blocking most of the sunlight. Only fragmented beams of golden light pierced through, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and rotting leaves, mingling with the faint musk of unseen creatures lurking in the undergrowth.

It felt like stepping into another world—untamed, primal, and teeming with life.

Ye Xuanji landed lightly, dismissing his martial spirit as he gestured toward the forest. "The Star Dou Great Forest sits at the crossroads of the three former Douluo Empires. It is the largest soul beast sanctuary on the continent, divided into several regions—the outskirts, the outer circle, the mixed zone, the core, and finally, the forbidden depths where even Titled Douluo dare not tread. Our destination lies between the outer circle and the mixed zone."

Jun Ting absorbed this information as they ventured deeper. Every step seemed to take them further from civilization, the wilderness closing in around them.

"Ten thousand years ago, Sword Douluo obtained his first soul ring from a hundred-year-old Terrorclaw Bear," Ye Xuanji continued. "That spirit beast granted him the ability to unleash sword energy. We will follow the same path."

The trail beneath their feet soon vanished, swallowed by dense vegetation. They had officially left the forest's outskirts.

Jun Ting glanced at his master. "Master, I remember reading that the Terrorclaw Bear is a subspecies of the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear. Wouldn't the latter be a better choice?"

Ye Xuanji raised an eyebrow, amused. "You've done your homework."

Then he shook his head. "The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear would indeed be an excellent choice—if we could find one. But they're so rare that even if we searched for months, we might never encounter one. The Terrorclaw Bear is an aggressive subspecies and serves as a worthy alternative."

Just then—

Swish!

A sharp whistling sound cut through the air.

Jun Ting reacted instantly. With a flick of his wrist, his Seven Killing Sword slashed in the direction of the incoming attack, intercepting a blur of white light.

"Hmph." Ye Xuanji chuckled but quickly narrowed his eyes. "A mere hundred-year-old soul beast dares attack us?"

He flicked his fingers, sending an invisible force rippling through the air. The white blur halted mid-flight and fell to the ground with a dull thud.

Jun Ting peered through the foliage and spotted the culprit—a Wind Baboon. About a meter tall, the creature bared its fangs, its sharp claws twitching in defiance.

Something felt… off.

Most low-level soul beasts would have fled at the mere presence of a powerful Titled Douluo. Yet this one had dared to attack?

"Are Wind Baboons usually this bold?" Jun Ting muttered.

The baboon let out a guttural snarl and lunged again.

Ye Xuanji didn't even blink. He formed a sword gesture with two fingers, and with a faint hum, a formless blade of energy sliced through the air.

The Wind Baboon froze mid-leap. Its eyes went dark, and a moment later—

Thud.

The beast collapsed, a faint yellow soul ring emerging above its lifeless body.

Ye Xuanji dusted off his hands and turned to Jun Ting. "Did you feel it?"

Jun Ting's heart pounded as he nodded eagerly. "Master… was that Sword intend? The kind I've only read about in legends?"

"Legend? Hardly," Ye Xuanji scoffed.

To prove his point, he flicked his fingers again. A sharp burst of sword energy carved a path through the dense undergrowth, clearing the way ahead.

"In the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, the cultivation of sword intent is passed down through generations. Unlike other sects, where only a handful of people grasp its essence, for us, it is a fundamental skill. Mastering it will not only elevate your swordsmanship but also allow you to develop self-created soul techniques. That is what awaits you."

Jun Ting listened intently as they pressed deeper into the forest. The further they went, the more soul beasts lurked in the shadows, watching. None dared to attack, but their presence was undeniable.

The hours passed in a blur of tense silence. Dusk approached, painting the sky with hues of crimson and gold.

Yet still, no sign of the Terrorclaw Bear.

Ye Xuanji, ever patient, did not seem concerned. They set up camp in a small clearing, using a tent from Jun Ting's storage ring. A bonfire crackled to life, the flames casting flickering shadows on the trees.

Jun Ting did not rest. Under his master's watchful eye, he practiced an advanced meditation technique passed down through the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect's swordmasters. The rhythmic breathing and precise control of soul power filled him with a sense of clarity and strength.

As the first light of dawn seeped through the forest canopy, they resumed their search.

Ye Xuanji had retracted his aura, allowing them to move unnoticed. For the first time, Jun Ting saw the Star Dou Great Forest in its raw, untamed beauty. Towering soul beasts roamed freely, some engaged in fierce territorial battles. The law of the jungle played out before his eyes—survival of the fittest.

He took in every detail, every lesson.

And then—

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

A low, droning sound filled the air.

Jun Ting sniffed, catching a faint, sweet fragrance.

Ye Xuanji's eyes gleamed with recognition. "Perfect."

Before Jun Ting could react, his master grabbed him and whoosh!—they vanished, reappearing a hundred meters away beneath a massive tree.

Jun Ting followed his gaze and saw a colossal beehive hanging from the branches. Hundreds of bees buzzed in and out, their bodies glistening with golden pollen.

"Master…" Jun Ting murmured, his stomach growling involuntarily. "Are we… using honey to lure the bear?"

Ye Xuanji smirked. "Exactly."

Jun Ting took another deep breath. The scent was intoxicating—rich, floral, and undoubtedly rare.

This wasn't ordinary honey.

Whatever they were about to do… it was going to attract something big.

(End of Chapter)

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This is the fifth one

Already changed the title to Douluo: Seven Kill Sword

I didn't notice that the previous title actually chapter 1