The Life Forest was located in the southwest of the Douluo Continent, within the borders of the Star Luo Empire.
From Heaven Dou City, Ye Yu transformed into a bolt of lightning, streaking across the sky at breakneck speed.
He was flying faster than a jet fighter!
In less than an hour, he had already arrived at the Life Forest.
The Life Forest was actually much smaller in area than the Star Dou Great Forest—its scale was closer to the Sunset Forest.
But compared to other spirit beast forests, the trees here were especially tall and lush, teeming with an astonishing variety and number of plant-type spirit beasts.
For that reason, it was called the Life Forest.
It was also the best hunting ground for Spirit Masters whose Martial Souls were plant-type.
"I've arrived."
Following the map given to him by Ye Zhilan, Ye Yu sped forward until, from a distance, he spotted a valley. At its center stood an unimaginably tall Ancient Tree of Life.
The Ancient Tree of Life—this itself was a god-level plant spirit beast.
It hadn't yet condensed a god position and couldn't break through level 100.
I'll leave you for now. Once I break through level 100, you'll become my tenth Spirit Ring.
Ye Yu thought silently.
Following Ye Zhilan's instructions, he turned into a streak of lightning and shot straight toward the tree's towering crown.
To his surprise, the Ancient Tree of Life did not attack.
Just as Ye Yu was about to pass into its crown, a dazzling emerald radiance erupted, distorting the very space around him.
In the blink of an eye, Ye Yu vanished.
When his vision cleared, he found himself inside a small world.
It too was a dense forest, filled with towering ancient trees and flourishing with countless plant-type spirit beasts, many of which were extremely rare outside.
But what truly caught his attention were several massive Trees of Life.
There are Trees of Life here too?
He was shocked.
Then, recalling that the Goddess of Life's true body was a Tree of Life, he understood.
Yet these Trees of Life were even taller and older than the one in the Life Forest itself—their cultivation surely exceeded a hundred thousand years.
Looks like my tenth Spirit Ring is secured after all.
Hovering in midair, Ye Yu activated his second Martial Soul, Spirit Eyes, using the Purple Demon Eyes to scan the surroundings.
Soon, amidst the forest, he discovered a grand structure. It sprawled across an enormous area, built entirely of jade-green and golden materials, radiating an aura of vitality and majesty—clearly a divine temple.
That must be the Goddess of Life's temple.
With that thought, Ye Yu descended toward the temple.
But just as he was about to enter—
At the gates, the Ancient Tree of Life suddenly burst with green light, its colossal trunk transforming into an elderly man with flowing white hair and beard, clad in green robes.
"Human," the old man's deep voice rumbled, "this is the temple of the great Goddess of Life."
"If you wish to enter, you must undergo her trials. Some of these trials carry the risk of death. Do you accept?"
"I accept!"
Ye Yu laughed and agreed without hesitation.
"Very well."
The old man nodded. "Follow me."
He led Ye Yu into the main hall of the temple.
The interior was magnificent. Giant jade-golden pillars supported the vast chamber, while the walls were engraved with ancient motifs of trees and leaves.
At the far end stood a lifelike statue of a woman carved from flawless emerald jade. She wore flowing robes, her face graced with a gentle smile, exuding warmth and compassion.
It was the statue of the Goddess of Life.
Before the statue stood a high platform.
"Human, ascend the platform," the old man intoned. "I will pray on your behalf, and entreat the great Goddess of Life to cast her gaze upon you and bestow her blessing."
After bowing deeply with reverence before the statue, the old man gestured to Ye Yu.
Without hesitation, Ye Yu stepped onto the platform, facing the goddess's effigy.
The old man pressed his palms together, closing his eyes in devout prayer. Brilliant green light radiated from his hands.
At the end of his prayer, he suddenly opened his eyes and thrust his hands forward, sending the green light into the statue.
At once, the statue flared with dazzling divine radiance, a green pillar of light soaring into the heavens, piercing through the pocket realm itself.
The next instant, another pillar of green light descended from above, enveloping Ye Yu.
—Meanwhile, in the Divine Realm, within the Temple of Life—
The Goddess of Life immediately sensed it.
"So… someone has once again entered the god-trial grounds I left behind on the Douluo Continent?"
"And they've accepted my God Trials?"
She was surprised.
Her consciousness descended into the trial grounds, instantly perceiving Ye Yu's overflowing life force, his rank at the Limit Douluo level, and the dozens of spirit cores within his body.
But the golden core he had condensed… its domain was even more profound than that of the spirit cores, with the ability to conceal his aura entirely.
Thus, she did not sense the golden core.
But even without it, what she discovered was astonishing.
Ye Yu possessed three Martial Souls—and among them, the Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree, a Martial Soul embodying the purest extreme of the life attribute.
He had already reached Limit Douluo, carried more than twenty spirit cores within his body—
And yet he was still in his early twenties.
The Goddess of Life's heart surged with delight.
A Limit Douluo in his twenties… with three Martial Souls… and so many stabilized spirit power cores!
"Genius" isn't enough to describe him. He is the perfect inheritor of the Goddess of Life's god position—personally chosen by the Creation God himself for me!
Having taken a liking to Ye Yu, the light surrounding him suddenly changed.
The green pillar turned white—
Then, in rapid succession, yellow, purple, black, and red—
Finally, it became gold.
"This… this is the Nine Trials of the Goddess of Life!"
The old man's voice trembled with excitement as he witnessed the golden light.
Nine golden streams of light condensed within the pillar, each one shooting into Ye Yu's brow, forming nine intricate golden leaf-shaped marks.
They shimmered beautifully before slowly fading from sight.
Ye Yu wasn't surprised that the light pillar he was in had turned gold.
Given the compatibility of his Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree Martial Soul with the Goddess of Life, combined with his talent and strength, it was only natural she would choose him.
Unfortunately, he thought to himself. I'll have to refuse this god position.