Though a gentle breeze swept across the sky, the atmosphere felt unusually still. Li Xun and Qian Renxue found themselves at a loss for words.
After a long pause, Li Xun cleared his throat softly. "With the Second Elder returning to Heaven Dou, things may stabilize for a while, but we cannot rule out the Pope's dissatisfaction. During this time, you should focus on your cultivation. Only by becoming stronger can we prevent such incidents from happening again."
Hearing his advice, Qian Renxue gently brushed away the strands of hair tousled by the wind with her fingertips.
"The Second Elder's visit served as a wake-up call for me. I have indeed been neglecting my training these past few years. It seems foolish now, forgetting that the foundation of a Soul Master lies in their cultivation level."
"I will return to Spirit City for a while. For now, I leave Heaven Dou in your and the Teacher's hands." As she spoke, she instinctively glanced at Li Xun.
Though she had delayed her training for years, she had resumed cultivating earnestly since Emperor Xue Ye fell seriously ill. However, lost time was not easily reclaimed.
She still remembered how weak Li Xun had been when they first met. Watching him surpass her day by day, Qian Renxue could only imagine the complex emotions stirring within her.
Whether driven by competitiveness or something else, she knew she could not continue like this. Otherwise, the gap between them would only widen, even with her God-level Spirit.
The amplification effects of a 100,000 Year Soul Beast were too significant for any Soul Master. She planned to absorb several inherited Soul Bones during her return to close the distance.
The Angel God Test? Li Xun's eyes flickered with thought.
They had known each other for over eight years. Although Qian Renxue had always been part of his calculations, he had also witnessed her growth. He was not heartless; unless someone was confirmed as an enemy, he rarely acted ruthlessly.
Besides, aside from seizing power in the Heaven Dou Empire, he had never done anything to harm Qian Renxue.
Ten days after the battle between Sword Douluo and Golden Alligator Douluo, at the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, Li Xun and his group advanced on foot toward the mixed region deeper within.
Their goal was to obtain Li Xun's Eighth Spirit Ring.
Though their numbers were smaller compared to their last expedition, their strength had not diminished in the slightest.
Apart from Ning Fengzhi, who had not joined them, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, and Poison Douluo were all present. This was largely thanks to Sword Douluo's recent breakthroughs, which bolstered everyone's confidence.
The task of guarding their home had been entrusted to Serpent Spear Douluo, while Ci Xue had followed Qian Renxue back to Spirit City.
These two Title Douluo were in a rather pitiable situation. Despite their formidable strength, they were now unwelcome everywhere. Qian Renxue had repeatedly hinted—both explicitly and implicitly—that they could return to Spirit City, but neither had agreed.
"Xiao Xun, your comprehension of the Way of the Sword is remarkable, but it relies too much on instinctual combat techniques. While this may prove powerful at lower levels, as your cultivation advances and your opponents grow stronger, this approach will reveal its flaws," Sword Douluo remarked leisurely as he walked at the rear of the group, imparting his knowledge to Li Xun. "Thrusting, slashing, lifting, hooking, and shattering are the fundamentals of the Way of the Sword. What you need now is diligent practice."
As he spoke, he demonstrated the movements with a willow branch in his hand.
Li Xun nodded, using Wood Release to shape a wooden sword and handing it to him.
Traditional sword arts differed from those in the shinobi world—they built upon foundational techniques to reach deeper levels of understanding, whereas shinobi techniques were honed for survival, refining the most efficient methods of killing.
If it were a low-martial world, these killing techniques would be excellent skills, but in a fantasy world where moving mountains and filling seas is commonplace, such methods are rather rudimentary.
Fortunately, many principles are universal. The combat experience Hashirama Senju gained from the warring states era greatly benefited Li Xun. Coupled with his sharp mind, he often grasped concepts after just one explanation from Sword Douluo.
"Is it too quiet?" Bone Douluo, walking at the front, suddenly raised a hand. Li Xun and the others immediately halted. "Xiao Xun, scout ahead."
Li Xun nodded, closed his eyes, and focused his mental energy into a straight line, extending it rapidly. In an instant, it reached about two thousand meters and continued to expand.
They had heard about the anomalies in Star Dou Great Forest before arriving, and now was the perfect time to investigate.
Over the years, with his heightened mental power and the addition of Sky Dream Iceworm, his detection range had grown significantly. When he concentrated his mental energy into a beam, even Sword Douluo, at his current strength, was slightly inferior.
Five thousand meters, six thousand meters...
Suddenly, two massive figures flashed by. Li Xun's heart stirred, and he quickly retracted his mental energy, attaching it to a large tree in the path of the figures.
A Soul Beast towering over the trees appeared within Li Xun's detection range. Its golden fur and sharp claws radiated a terrifying aura.
The other was a crimson mastiff with three heads.
Li Xun quickly withdrew his mental energy. "Two 100,000 Year Soul Beasts, and it seems they're heading straight for us."
"Two 100,000 Year Soul Beasts!" Everyone frowned.
"Soul Beasts are extremely territorial. We haven't even entered the mixed zone yet. How were we detected?" Bone Douluo soared into the sky to observe the situation ahead.
Li Xun had already briefed them on the intelligence about Star Dou Great Forest, and they were aware of the recent hostility Soul Beasts here had shown toward humans.
Their primary goal was to help Li Xun obtain a Spirit Ring, but they also aimed to investigate what was happening.
"If it truly matches our predictions, we'll need to adjust our approach to Star Dou Great Forest," Sword Douluo said, his aura restrained, ready for any sudden developments.
Li Xun nodded. After kidnapping Skydream, this situation was expected. He was just surprised the Soul Beasts had detected their entry into Star Dou Great Forest so quickly.
As for the Soul Beasts' blockade and counterattack, he wasn't overly concerned. Whether human or Soul Beast, anything blocking his path to cultivation would die. Besides, the advancement of a Soul Master inherently required hunting Soul Beasts.
His second Martial Soul had changed significantly due to Sky Dream Iceworm. Even if he had to do it all over again, he would make the same choice.
As for others' opinions, Li Xun didn't care. He had never claimed to be a good person, nor had he hypocritically presented himself as a righteous gentleman.
Whoosh—
Bone Douluo swiftly descended from the sky. "They are indeed coming for us. I also sensed another aura in the sky ahead, moving rapidly toward us."
"Let's go. If it's as we anticipated, we'll ignore them for now and head to the Far North Land to get Xiao Xun his Spirit Ring," Sword Douluo decided without hesitation.
Though they did not fear three 100,000 Year Soul Beasts, there were other existences within Star Dou. Now that Li Xun had just stepped into the Soul Douluo realm, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.
Since they were exposed, the group no longer held back, instantly soaring into the sky and racing toward the outskirts of Star Dou Great Forest.
Li Xun glanced back, his eyes revealing deep contemplation.
A moment later—
The earth trembled and roared as two colossal figures appeared where the group had just stood.
The Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff sniffed the lingering scent and let out a furious howl toward the sky.
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