Negotiations at the Lake of Life
The Titan Giant Ape nodded, gently picked up Xiao Wu, carefully placed her on its broad shoulder, and looked in Lin Chen's direction.
The moment the Titan Giant Ape saw Lin Chen, the gentleness in its eyes vanished, its pupils contracted sharply, its massive body straightened abruptly, and it pounded its chest with its fists, letting out a deafening roar.
The roar, carrying a tangible sonic wave, caused the surrounding bushes to bend flat on the ground, radiating a terrifying pressure.
"I have no hostility towards you, otherwise I wouldn't have brought Xiao Wu to find you." Lin Chen smiled and opened his palms, while his Soul Power quietly circulated within his body, ready to deal with the Titan Giant Ape's attack at any time.
The Titan Giant Ape eyed Lin Chen warily, letting out a low growl, "Human... leave the Star Dou Great Forest, or... die!"
Lin Chen remained motionless, showing no sign of the panic one would expect when facing Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
Xiao Wu quickly patted the Titan Giant Ape's shoulder and anxiously shouted, "Er Ming, don't do it! Lin Chen is my friend!"
The Titan Giant Ape looked down at Xiao Wu, its large eyes filled with tenderness, and said softly, "This human is dangerous."
Xiao Wu shook her head and said, "Lin Chen isn't a bad person. He's taken care of me ever since I first entered the human world. He's my friend, and he's your friend too."
"Friend..." The Titan Giant Ape nodded, then growled at Lin Chen, "Human, for Sister Xiao Wu's sake, I won't attack you again."
"What brings you to the Star Dou Great Forest? If it's to Soul Hunting beasts, then leave immediately, or don't blame me for taking action!"
Lin Chen shook his head and said, "Don't worry, I didn't come here to Soul Hunting beasts, but to cooperate with you."
"I have no reason to cooperate with humans!" the Titan Giant Ape retorted bluntly, saying in a deep voice, "None of you humans are good. You did such cruel things to us Soul Beasts in the past, do you really think you can just turn the page with a few words?"
Xiao Wu patted the Titan Giant Ape on the shoulder and said gently, "Er Ming, calm down first. Let's go find Da Ming first, and then we can talk about these things."
The Titan Giant Ape nodded and said fiercely to Lin Chen, "Human... follow in my footsteps. If you lose me, you'd better go back now."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Titan Giant Ape suddenly leaped into the air, appearing more than a hundred meters away in a single bound before disappearing into the forest.
"How heartless! I was being so friendly." Lin Chen shrugged, a flash of light appeared in his left hand, Ultimate Armor instantly materialized on him. His body transformed into a streak of silver light, chasing after the Titan Giant Ape.
"Boom!"
With a thunderous leap from the Titan Giant Ape, the earth trembled violently, kicking up clouds of dust that landed beside a verdant lake.
Behind him, a silver streak followed closely. When the Titan Giant Ape stopped, the light suddenly dissipated, revealing Lin Chen's figure.
"This must be the Lake of Life," Lin Chen said, looking up.
Before them stretched a lake as green as jade, its surface smooth as a mirror, its pale green water shimmering with a vibrant, life-giving light. A light mist enveloped the area, and towering trees formed a circle around it, allowing only the sunlight to fall upon the water's surface.
The area around the lake is teeming with life, like a natural paradise. Judging from its appearance alone, there is no indication that this is the most dangerous area of Star Dou Great Forest.
Just then, another presence emanated from the depths of the lake.
This aura was more composed and restrained Titan Giant Ape, yet equally terrifyingly powerful, as if the entire forest was undulating with its breath.
As the emerald green lake water slowly parted, a giant, azure python emerged from the Lake of Life.
The giant python was over twenty meters long, its body as thick as a water vat. Its bluish-gold scales gleamed with a metallic sheen in the setting sun. It had two short horns on its head, the tips of which shone slightly. It exuded a powerful and terrifying aura. It was none other than the Sky Azure Bull Python.
When Xiao Wu saw Da Ming appear, she excitedly jumped off Er Ming's shoulder and ran to the Sky Azure Bull Python's side, reaching out to touch its smooth scales. "Da Ming, it's been so long!"
The Sky Azure Bull Python lowered its head, nuzzled its head against Xiao Wu's head, flicked its tongue, and then turned its gaze to Lin Chen.
Xiao Wu, who was standing nearby, quickly told Sky Azure Bull Python about Lin Chen's situation. After hearing the story, Da Ming's hostility towards Lin Chen lessened somewhat.
"Human... what brings you to us?" The Sky Azure Bull Python raised its head and spoke in a deep voice.
"Ahem..." Lin Chen coughed twice and calmly said, "I've come to see you this time because it concerns a matter of life and death for the entire Douluo Continent."
The Titan Giant Ape pounded its chest and let out a low growl, "What do human affairs have to do with us Soul Beasts?"
Lin Chen didn't beat around the bush and said in a deep voice, "I believe you could also feel it in the Star Dou Great Forest: the Dimensional Barrier of the Douluo Continent has been damaged."
"On the other side of the Dimensional Barrier lies a special dimension called the Abyss. This dimension is extremely dangerous and will invade Douluo Continent in a year."
"Those things don't distinguish between humans and Soul Beasts. They want to destroy the Douluo Continent. Once the defense line is breached, neither of you will escape."
The Sky Azure Bull Python's vertical pupils contracted slightly, and it spoke in a deep voice, "Human, is that Abyss Plane you mentioned really as powerful as you say?"
"You humans may be hateful, but you are not weak. What other being in this world can destroy the Douluo Continent?"
Lin Chen said helplessly, "The strength of the Abyss Plane far exceeds your imagination. The Abyss Plane has 108 levels, and each level is guarded by an Abyss Emperor at the Titled Douluo level."
"The emperors of the last thirty-six levels are all Level 99 Limit Douluo powerhouses, along with eighteen demigods and one Half-Step God King. Humanity's current strength is simply insufficient to defeat them."
The Titan Giant Ape pounded its chest and roared again, "Then what's the point of you saying all this? We can't win!"
"Of course you can't win on your own," Lin Chen said in a low voice, "But if the Soul Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest can join forces with humans, then there's a chance."
"Joining forces? What a joke!" the Titan Giant Ape sneered. "When you humans see us Soul Beasts, you'd be eager to kill us and seize our Soul Rings and Soul Bones. How could you possibly join forces with us!"
Xiao Wu ran to Er Ming's side and quickly comforted him, "Er Ming, calm down. I think Lin Chen is right."
"Having spent so much time in the human world, I know there are indeed many conflicts between humans and Soul Beasts, but if something like that really wants to invade Douluo Continent, we can't stand idly by."
Lin Chen nodded and said, "Xiao Wu is right. I came here with friendship. As for the relationship between Soul Beasts and humans, we can discuss and resolve that together."