But the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger did not act immediately. Instead, it slowly lowered its body, its gaze dark and sinister.
"However, several existences far surpassing the Azure Bull Python have appeared and are stationed within the Star Dou Great Forest. Trying to take this little thing right under their noses will be anything but easy."
"And this Golden Ranking suddenly revealing its existence may very well be a trap."
It licked its claws, a glint of calculation flashing in its eyes.
"Let's wait and see how the other forces react first. If someone makes the first move, I can simply reap the benefits."
In the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest, around the Lake of Life, the soul beasts had already erupted into earth-shaking cheers.
"It's the Auspicious Beast Lord! The Auspicious Beast Lord made the list!"
Di Tian and the other top ferocious beasts looked at the Golden Ranking, relief and satisfaction appearing on their faces.
Di Tian lowered his head and looked at the Three-Eyed Golden Lion by his feet, his dragon pupils filled with gentleness. "Auspicious Beast Lord, congratulations."
Bi Ji nodded softly. "I never expected the Auspicious Beast Lord to make the list at only five thousand years. Such talent truly lives up to the name Imperial Auspicious Beast."
...
Heavenly Path Academy.
Li Tianyi stood beneath the pavilion in the medicinal garden, with Shui Bing'er, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing behind him. Surprise was written across all their faces.
Xiao Wu clutched the hem of her dress and said softly, "The Star Dou Great Forest… it actually has a soul beast like this. I've never heard of it before, even when I was in the core region."
Shui Bing'er nodded in agreement. "Three extreme attributes stacked together. Even at only five thousand years, its combat power would far surpass those of the same tier. And this luck enhancement is simply a priceless treasure for the soul beast race."
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze was sharp. "All the major forces will definitely set their sights on it. The Star Dou Great Forest probably won't be peaceful this time."
Li Tianyi smiled faintly and raised a hand to calm them.
"There's no need to worry. The Star Dou Great Forest has a mysterious powerhouse guarding it, whose combat strength is likely second only to mine. It's not something others can easily provoke. We only need to observe calmly and focus on our own cultivation."
Deep within the medicinal garden, six figures formed from transformed immortal herbs stood quietly, faint auras of vegetation and soul power lingering around them.
The elderly figure formed from the immortal herb with the highest age, five hundred thousand years, looked at the Golden Ranking, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.
"So it is the Imperial Auspicious Beast. The fortune of the Star Dou Great Forest has all gathered upon this little one."
"Being able to make the list at five thousand years is not due to combat power, but because of this fortune and bloodline."
Beside him, the immortal herb Exquisite Silk Tulip, who had just survived the ferocious beast heavenly tribulation, spoke softly, a trace of emotion in her voice.
"The Golden Ranking's judgment is indeed thorough. Such an existence means far more to the soul beast race than an ordinary hundred-thousand-year ferocious beast."
Another immortal herb, the Sky Chrysanthemum, transformed into a man, frowned slightly.
"Three extreme attributes, Golden Dragon blood, and the reward of the Eye of Destiny… This little one's potential is truly heaven-defying. If it grows up, the foundation of the Star Dou Great Forest will become even stronger."
"There is no need for us to concern ourselves with that."
The five-hundred-thousand-year immortal herb elder spoke slowly, his voice steady. "The Golden Ranking's rewards are what matter to us. As long as we obtain the rewards and break through our current realms, the strength of Heavenly Path Academy will rise another level."
"As for the disputes between other forces and soul beasts, they have nothing to do with us."
The others nodded in agreement, their gazes returning to the Golden Ranking, anticipation for the subsequent rankings and rewards growing in their eyes.
At that moment, the Golden Ranking flared brilliantly. A golden pillar of light descended from the heavens and landed upon the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
Within the pillar, dense energy continuously poured into its body, and its cultivation began to soar rapidly.
The original five-thousand-year soul power fluctuation instantly broke through to six thousand years, seven thousand years…
In just a short moment, it stabilized at the fifteen-thousand-year level.
At the same time, a strange power fused into its third vertical eye. The red vertical pupil became even deeper, with faint golden patterns flowing within it.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion shook its small head, feeling the surging power in its body and the changes in its third eye, and let out a clear, crisp beast cry.
It could clearly sense that its spiritual power had become incomparably strong. It could even vaguely glimpse traces of the future of the surrounding soul beasts. That was the power of the Eye of Destiny.
It raised its head and looked at Di Tian, its small face filled with excitement. "Big Black Dragon! I've become stronger! I can even see… see that you'll become even more powerful in the future!"
Di Tian watched its changes, shock flashing through his dragon pupils before turning into deep relief.
"Auspicious Beast Lord, this is your opportunity. With this power, you will be able to better protect the Star Dou Great Forest in the future."
After all, the Imperial Auspicious Beast could only increase its cultivation year by year. Gaining an extra ten thousand years of cultivation out of nowhere was equivalent to shortening its training time by a full ten thousand years. This was truly a great opportunity.
In the distant black forest, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger sensed the energy fluctuations coming from the Star Dou Great Forest. The greed in its eyes grew stronger, yet its caution deepened as well.
"It actually gained ten thousand years of cultivation, and the Eye of Destiny as well! This Three-Eyed Golden Lion, I must obtain it!"
...
At that very moment, the Soul Beast Ranking updated without any warning.
[Soul Beast Ranking Nineteenth: Exquisite Silk Tulip]
[Age: 210,000 years]
[Affiliated Force: Heavenly Path Academy]
[Evaluation: Originally the immortal herb Exquisite Silk Tulip, possessing astonishing potential. After being nurtured by Heavenly Path Academy, its age reached 210,000 years, transforming into human form and becoming a ferocious beast-level existence, possessing the terrifying ability to weave illusions.]
[Reward: Age increased by twenty thousand years. Rewarded with the terrifying abilities of invading dreams, controlling dreams, and even killing within dreams.]
When the golden light of the Soul Beast Ranking tore through the clouds, Chrysanthemum Douluo was gently rubbing the Sky Chrysanthemum in his palm. The clear, distinctive floral fragrance unique to his martial soul lingered around him.
As a Titled Douluo whose martial soul was an immortal herb, he was intimately familiar with records of all immortal herbs on the continent.
Yet when the five characters "Exquisite Silk Tulip" crashed into his vision, his soul power abruptly stalled. The Sky Chrysanthemum in his palm trembled uncontrollably, its petals quivering faintly at the edges.
"Impossible!"
He roared in disbelief, his voice filled with a loss of composure he had never shown before.
The Exquisite Silk Tulip was a top-tier immortal herb on par with his Sky Chrysanthemum, said in legends to purify soul power and amplify spiritual strength.
Yet no ancient record had ever mentioned an immortal herb autonomously transforming into a soul beast, let alone cultivating to the ferocious beast level of two hundred and ten thousand years.
"Both are immortal herbs, yet it actually walked such a heaven-defying path…"
Chrysanthemum Douluo's pupils shrank into a thin vertical line. Shock and disbelief churned within his golden eyes, his fingers digging deeply into his palm from the force.
Two hundred and ten thousand years… and controlled by Heavenly Path Academy?
His breathing grew rapid, soul power surging violently around him as a golden chrysanthemum phantom behind him became increasingly restless.
He recalled the countless years he had spent exhausting every effort to search for immortal herbs to enhance the purity of his martial soul, all to no avail.
Yet this Exquisite Silk Tulip had cultivated to such a realm on its own and even obtained such terrifying abilities. In an instant, the immortal herb martial soul he once took pride in was completely overshadowed.
"What methods did Heavenly Path Academy use to cultivate an immortal herb into such a terrifying existence?"
He suddenly turned around, his figure transforming into a streak of golden light as he stumbled forward, rushing toward the Papal Hall.
"Ju Hua Guan, what's wrong with you?"
Ghost Douluo, who had been following behind Chrysanthemum Douluo the whole time, called out.
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