Thousand Spirit Marshland (Part 1)

Three days later, Hu Haoran and Jiang Jiayao finally arrived before a vast swamp. This swamp was the famous Thousand Spirit Marshland within the Canglan Mountain Range. It was said that more than a thousand kinds of soul beasts lived here, but the actual number was far greater than that.

"Haoran, you're really amazing. You actually managed to avoid all the soul beasts. It took a little longer, but it saved us a lot of trouble." Jiang Jiayao happily patted Hu Haoran on the shoulder.

"My mother told me about this route when she came here, and repeatedly warned me never to forget it." Hu Haoran smiled.

Hu Haoran gazed out over the Thousand Spirit Marshland. Patches of swamp stretched endlessly one after another, with danger lurking in every step. It resembled an ocean, boundless as far as the eye could see. Countless soul beasts lived in the Thousand Spirit Marshland. Among the strongest were the Yao Xi Giant Crocodile, Mandala Golden Python, and Hong Tao Hippopotamus. These three soul beasts were respectively the favorites of earth-, metal-, and water-element soul masters. The Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceros did not even rank among the strongest in the Thousand Spirit Marshland.

Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceroses generally inhabited the outer regions of the Thousand Spirit Marshland. As long as Hu Haoran and Jiang Jiayao carefully searched the outskirts, they could usually encounter solitary ones. Moreover, Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceroses were among the few soul beasts in the Canglan Mountain Range that did not live in groups. After reaching adulthood, they generally hunted and lived alone. This habit made things much easier for many soul masters who needed their soul rings. Although Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceroses were often hunted down when alone, their reproductive speed was also remarkably fast.

"Haoran, I suddenly realized that getting your soul ring might be a little difficult," Jiang Jiayao suddenly said.

"Why?"

"Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceroses generally only leave the herd to hunt and live alone after reaching adulthood. But what you need isn't an adult soul ring—it's a hundred-year Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceros soul ring. A hundred-year Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceros is still young. If we attack a young one, we'll definitely trigger a rampage from the adults. Although I'm a Soul Ancestor and could handle a rampage of several dozen Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceroses by myself, with you there, I'm afraid..."

"Mm, Brother Jiang has a point. But what if I can absorb a thousand-year soul ring?"

"Impossible! That completely defies the common sense of the Douluo Continent. As everyone knows, the maximum age for a first soul ring is 423 years, and for a second soul ring, it's 987 years. Only the third soul ring can absorb one over a thousand years old. You're only preparing to absorb your first soul ring now, so how could you leap over two age limits?"

"You don't need to worry about that. I don't know why either. My body is somewhat special. In any case, 423 years or 987 years definitely won't be the limit for my first soul ring. How about we make a bet? Though I don't have anything to wager against you."

"Hahaha, little brother, you really know how to joke. If you can truly absorb a thousand-year soul ring, I'll inform the academy's higher-ups and personally guarantee your admission into Shrek Academy."

The moment Hu Haoran heard that, his eyes lit up. Entering Shrek Academy was the wish of everyone on the Douluo Continent, and he was no exception.

"Brother Jiang, just wait and see!"

Meanwhile, Leng Xuewu had also followed Hu Haoran to the Thousand Spirit Marshland.

"This brat is quite capable. He actually managed to avoid those soul beasts completely, and even picked up a bodyguard along the way. But this Soul Ancestor isn't ordinary either. The Blazing Heaven Battle Hammer... he should be from the Jiang Clan of the Clear Sky Sect. It'll be quite helpful for Haoran's future growth if he can build a good relationship with him. This Soul Ancestor should also be one of the sect's core members." Leng Xuewu looked in the direction of Hu Haoran and Jiang Jiayao.

After wandering around the outskirts of the Thousand Spirit Marshland again and again, Hu Haoran and Jiang Jiayao had already spent three days there.

"Brother Jiang, why haven't we seen a single Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceros yet? Aren't these soul beasts supposed to be easy to encounter in the Thousand Spirit Marshland?" Hu Haoran had not seen even a trace of one in three days, so he naturally grew more and more anxious. They could not keep searching here forever.

"Let's search for two more days. If we still don't see a Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceros after that, we'll leave. Hunting soul beasts for soul rings depends on luck to begin with. Perhaps we'll run into one the very next moment." Jiang Jiayao kindly reassured him. On the Douluo Continent, it was common to fail to encounter the soul beast whose soul ring one wanted.

"All right." Hu Haoran had no choice in the matter.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, several tremendous booms came from the distance.

Roar! Roar! Roar!

There were also furious roars from soul beasts!

Hu Haoran and Jiang Jiayao exchanged glances. Both of them understood that these thunderous sounds had come from soul beasts fighting each other.

"Let's go take a look!" Jiang Jiayao said excitedly.

"Sure! Let's go see what's happening. With you here, I won't run into any trouble!" Hu Haoran certainly would not miss this opportunity. Besides, those enormous roars sounded somewhat like the cries of a Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceros.

When they arrived, they saw a rhinoceros and a lizard locked in fierce battle.

"Little brother! Your luck is really good! You actually ran into a battle between a Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceros and a Miasma Ghost Demon Lizard." Jiang Jiayao said happily. "Maybe you can even reap some benefits from this!"

Hu Haoran nodded without turning his head, his gaze fixed intently on the battle between the two soul beasts. He wanted to take advantage of the situation later without troubling Jiang Jiayao.

The Miasma Ghost Demon Lizard was a soul beast unique to the Thousand Spirit Marshland, possessing both water and earth attributes. It was the mortal enemy of the Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceros. The one before them was clearly a thousand-year soul beast. Its jaws could easily swallow a person whole, and in terms of size, it was no smaller than the Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceros before it. Its body was likewise covered in incomparably hard scales.

The Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceros charged the Miasma Ghost Demon Lizard with its sharp horn, which crackled with lightning—an ability unique to the Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceros. The Miasma Ghost Demon Lizard did not dare receive the attack head-on, so it swung its massive tail at the rhinoceros's face, intending to knock its attack off course.

However, the Thunderous Lightning Rhinoceros was not so easily dealt with. It slightly tilted its head and continued charging forward. Left with no other choice, the Miasma Ghost Demon Lizard swept out with its massive, thorn-covered tail.

With another collision, the two enormous creatures were blasted backward. Neither could gain the upper hand over the other.