As she spoke, Dugu Yan stepped forward, clearly ready to throw hands.
That wouldn't do.
Lin Feng quickly stepped in to stop her.
Mainly because he was worried the two second-year students might get beaten to a pulp.
"Stop it, Yan Yan."
"Who are you? Daring to meddle in my business—do you even know who my grandfather is?!"
Sensing the danger, the two male students panicked, threw down their Gold Soul Coins, and ran off like their lives depended on it.
"Hey! Get back here!"
Dugu Yan stomped her foot and shot Lin Feng a sharp glare.
"Why do you seem kinda familiar to me…!!!
Little Feng brother!"
Dugu Yan's eyes lit up. The fierce aura she just had completely disappeared, and she instantly reverted to a dainty, ladylike demeanor.
She casually shoved the coins into the arms of the girl next to her.
"Xiao Li, head back first—I've got something to do."
"Huh—what?" The girl looked stunned.
"What do you mean 'what'? Go on already!"
"Oh, okay—0_0"
Dugu Yan smoothed out her sleeves and let them fall back down, then giggled softly.
"Little Feng brother, it's been so long!"
As she spoke, she walked toward Lin Feng, arms outstretched as if to hug him.
Lin Feng sidestepped swiftly, dodging her embrace, and shook his head.
"You're the queen bee of the second years now?"
A flicker of disappointment crossed Dugu Yan's eyes when her hug failed.
"Of course. Not just second years—across the whole academy, I'm one of the best! Very few can compare to me!"
"Little Feng brother, what do you think? Did I fulfill the promise I made to Sister Xue'er?And where is she anyway? I haven't seen her around."
The corner of Lin Feng's mouth twitched. It did seem like she kept the promise, but her vibe just now totally screamed 'mob boss'.
Dugu Yan jumped to Lin Feng's side and tilted her head to look up at him.
"Little Feng brother?"
Lin Feng ruffled her hair.
"She's at home. I'm just here to teach."
"Oh~"
Dugu Yan nodded slightly.
"Little Feng brother, don't you think I'm amazing? My second soul ring is already a thousand-year one, and I'm only 8 years old—I've already reached the level of a Soul Grandmaster!"
Well, with whale glue and immortal herbs, how could she not progress this fast?
"Impressive, impressive."
"Hehe, of course I'm not as amazing as you and Sister Xue'er. Little Feng brother, have you already reached the Soul Sect level?"
Lin Feng nodded.
Dugu Yan's eyes lit up—her guess was spot-on. According to her theory that the girls in their class were stronger than the boys, then Sister Xue'er must be even more powerful now.
"Can you take me to see Sister Xue'er? I haven't seen you two in ages."
"Don't you have classes?"
Dugu Yan waved her hand indifferently.
"With my level, what's the point of going to class? My grandpa teaches me theory, and I sleep through combat training. The teachers have given up on managing me—I go wherever I want."
Lin Feng clicked his tongue inwardly. You're like a max-level boss who just spawned in a noob village.
"Fine, come along."
As Dugu Yan walked beside Lin Feng, the icy look from earlier was completely gone. She now looked like the friendly girl-next-door.
From a distance, Hu Liena's eyes sparkled.
"That other girl with the thousand-year soul ring knows Brother Lin Feng too? Looks like I need to get on her good side…"
Star Dou Great ForestAt the outer edge of the so-called Lake of Life
The atmosphere was heavy and silent.
Er Ming scratched the fur on his chest, visibly agitated.
"Roar! No one's gonna speak, huh?!Fine, I'll say it—let's go peel those humans alive, tear them limb from limb, and grind their bones to dust!"
"Er Ming! Quiet! Listen to Sister Xiao Wu!"
"Snort—hmph—snort—hmph—"
Er Ming sat down with a thunderous thud, frustrated but obedient.
Xiao Wu's eyes were bloodshot, veins of red spreading through her pupils.
Her voice was hoarse:
"I will get revenge. After two and a half more years of cultivation, I plan to take human form."
"What?! Sister Xiao Wu, how can you think of taking human form?!"
Er Ming grew agitated.
Da Ming, however, remained calm.
"Sister Xiao Wu, can you explain your reasoning?"
"First, as soul beasts, we cannot enter the core regions of human territory. Those enemies are Titled Douluo—they definitely won't linger near soul beast forests.
Second, once we take human form, our deep foundations allow us to grow quickly—at least until we reach Soul Sage level.
If I can reach the Super Douluo level, we can coordinate from inside and out, and wipe out those humans!
They're Titled Douluo—they can live for hundreds of years. I have time."
"But..."
Da Ming swatted Er Ming away with his massive tail.
"Sister Xiao Wu, the human world isn't as wonderful or as easy to survive in as you imagine.
From the bottom of my heart, I disagree with your choice. But I'm not your elder, so I can't stop you.
Still, I hope after you take human form, you'll go somewhere remote—lie low and wait until your beast aura fully dissipates before taking action.
Also—"
Da Ming's gaze was intense.
"Just because not going to the human world slows your cultivation doesn't mean you can't train. There's no need to risk your life just to speed things up. I really don't want to see anything happen to you."
Xiao Wu paused, pawing the grass with her rabbit feet.
"No—I need to get stronger fast. With all my effort, it'll only take a dozen years or so. It'll go by quickly."
"Big bro! How can you be so confused? How can you let Sister Xiao Wu take human form?!
Aunt Rou only transformed because she couldn't survive the thunder tribulation! Sister Xiao Wu's tribulation isn't due for another thousand years!"
"Enough, Er Ming! My mind's made up. Taking human form gives me the highest chance of revenge. If we appear in human lands as soul beasts, we'll only be hunted down by Titled Douluo!
Also, you two must never take human form! With your strength, starting from scratch would be a waste. But me? I'm not strong in combat. That's why I need this."
"This…"
Da Ming bowed his bull head.
"Sister Xiao Wu, if this is your decision, then I support you. This is the center of the Star Dou Forest.
Logically, it should be near the center of the continent. I've heard from dying soul masters that surrounding the forest are major kingdoms.
If you must go to human lands, I suggest heading west.
There, you'll find a remote region at the edge of a duchy. There are almost no Soul Sect-level cultivators there—mostly just peaceful farmers.
There's no chance of high-level powerhouses visiting. Based on what I know, that's the safest place for you."
Xiao Wu nodded and leapt into the Lake of Life.
"Got it. I'll spend the next two and a half years cultivating here, working toward transformation.
This lake gives us incredible boosts."
"Mhm."
Er Ming huffed in frustration, glaring at Da Ming but too scared to act.
"Roar roar! You little bunny really think this is the Lake of Life? The real one isn't some calm pond like this! A little life energy and you're already impressed?!"
A teasing, playful voice rang out.
"Who's there?!" ×3
Xiao Wu, Da Ming, and Er Ming all turned toward the source, spotting a golden-furred soul beast casually strolling from the forest.
It moved with grace and confidence.
"A 5,000-year soul beast that can talk?"
Er Ming tilted his head, confused.
"Er Ming, Sister Xiao Wu—she looks like—"
"Heh, never seen anything in your lives, huh? Can't even recognize an auspicious beast!
Guess the guards Di Tian picked are all idiots, huh?!"
A clear voice echoed from above, stunning the trio.
What was this being, whose presence even ten-thousand-year soul beasts couldn't sense?
Da Ming's eyes widened.
"Auspicious beast—is it really her?
Legend says wherever she goes, soul beasts grow faster. Even the ten-thousand-year tribulations grow weaker in her presence.
She's blessed by fate—the sovereign of the soul beast forest."
"Oh? So one of you does know a bit. Guess you're not all dumb."
Xiao Wu rose from the lake and shouted:
"What are you, anyway? Show yourself! Our Lake of Life is rich in vitality, perfect for cultivation! Who are you to mock it?!"
That voice scoffed:
"Lake of Life? This pathetic puddle? It's not even good enough for drinking water!"
"You…!"
"Silence! Hmph!"
A violet figure appeared in the sky.
She was clad in deep purple-black scales, with a graceful, curvaceous figure.
Her legs were long and straight, her shoulders pale, and her chest deep and alluring.
Her long purple-black hair floated behind her as if in a breeze.
Her face was enchantingly beautiful, with deep purple eyes and bright purple lips.
On her forehead was a pitch-black scale shimmering with purple light, flowing upward over her head.
She was none other than the nearly 300,000-year-old Hell Demon Dragon King, Zi Ji.
The terrifying pressure of her draconic aura instantly crushed the trio's momentum.
As one of the twin Dragon Kings among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, and clan leader of the Abyssal Dragon race, she carried pure True Dragon blood.
Though ranked ninth among the beasts, her pure dragon blood made her even stronger in battle.
Against these three, she had absolute confidence.
"Big Sis Zi, where's Green Sis?"
Zi Ji smiled and patted the three-eyed Golden Beast.
"They're watching from the shadows."
Da Ming's pupils shrank. There were more of them?!
What were these beings? They had soul beast auras, but were vastly stronger and somehow had human forms!
T/N: I'm a bit confused about why the two don't know about this, just pretend it's AU.
Zi Ji sneered at Xiao Wu.
"I told you—this is a fake Lake of Life. Don't you understand?"
Da Ming spoke with effort.
"Senior, may I ask what business you and the legendary Auspicious Beast have with us?"
Zi Ji nodded and withdrew her aura.
"Well, at least you, the ancient-blooded Titan Giant Ape, have some brains. Yes, we do have something to say.
Especially to that foolish bunny."
"You…!"
Xiao Wu gritted her teeth—if she wasn't outmatched, she'd have fought her already!
T/N: For twenty chapters ahead on all my fics become a P@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle