Returned Empty-Handed, Encountered Giant Tigers

For geniuses like Su He and Qian Renxue, finding a suitable Ten Thousand Year Spirit Ring was not so easy.

They had ample resources and the full support of powerful forces behind them, so they naturally would not settle for inferior options that were less than perfect.

If they were going to look, they would look for the best and most suitable one. It was not as if they lacked the strength to do so.

After slowly advancing through the habitat of Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts for several hours, Su He and his group had not failed to encounter suitable soul beasts.

Earlier, they had come across a Moonlight White Deer that was around forty-five thousand years old. It was a powerful light-attribute soul beast, but Qian Renxue had rejected it on the grounds that its cultivation was too low.

Su He was even more troubled. There had been several soul beasts suitable for the age he needed, yet not a single one met his requirements.

This time, Su He had mainly come in hopes of trying his luck and seeing whether he could find a Ten-Thousand-Year golden-type soul beast.

Golden-type Spirits and soul beasts inherited a portion of the Golden Dragon King Bloodline. This gave them peerless physical constitutions and immense strength, far surpassing other opponents of the same level.

However, these golden-type soul beasts with the Golden Dragon King Bloodline not only held lofty status among soul beasts and were often rulers of their respective territories, but more importantly, their numbers were exceedingly scarce.

There might not even be one golden-type soul beast among ten thousand soul beasts. To soul masters, such soul beasts were something one could only hope to encounter by chance. Even someone as powerful as Golden Crocodile Douluo had only one soul ring among his nine that came from a golden-type soul beast—and it was merely his thousand-year fourth soul ring. This showed just how rare they were.

Su He was not in a hurry, however. He was not burdened with heavy political duties, and the most urgent matter was helping Qian Renxue obtain a suitable sixth spirit ring.

The group set up camp deep within the Star Dou Great Forest. Fortunately, with Dugu Bo present, there was no need to arrange rotating night watches to guard against attacks.

With a casual gesture, Dugu Bo created a Poison Mist Barrier capable of keeping out soul beasts below thirty thousand years of cultivation. He also gave everyone Detoxification Pills to prevent accidental poisoning.

In truth, Qian Renxue was the only one among the four who might need the Detoxification Pills. After undergoing the Ice Fire Golden Body, Su He had long since become immune to all poisons. Stingray Douluo, Ci Xue, was himself a massive poison sac capable of absorbing large amounts of toxins, which was why he restrained Dugu Bo in the Original Work.

As for Golden Crocodile Douluo, he simply overpowered it through sheer strength. Such poison could not harm him in the slightest.

Golden Crocodile Douluo's Indestructible Golden Body had already been cultivated to the realm of great mastery. It could truly be said that his offense and defense were one.

At night, some entered their dreams while others rested with their eyes closed. Only Golden Crocodile Douluo remained standing motionlessly outside the camp.

Su He noticed this and stepped out of the tent to ask.

"Teacher, why not rest for a while? With Elder Dugu's strength, there is no need to worry about danger at night."

Golden Crocodile Douluo waved a hand, gesturing for Su He to come closer.

"He'er, do you know the origin of our golden-type Spirits?" Golden Crocodile Douluo asked.

"The ancient records in the library mention that golden-type Spirits and soul beasts possess the Golden Dragon King Bloodline. In terms of physical constitution, they are unparalleled in the world," Su He answered. Yet he was somewhat puzzled, unable to understand Golden Crocodile Douluo's intentions.

"Correct. Now that I have broken through to Level Ninety-Nine, my strength has increased, but I have also gained a very special ability." Golden Crocodile Douluo spoke slowly. "Within a hundred li, I can vaguely sense lifeforms that possess power from the same origin as my Spirit's bloodline. Surely you understand what I mean, He'er."

How could clever Su He fail to understand Golden Crocodile Douluo's meaning? He was overjoyed. The spirit ring from a golden-type soul beast was within reach!

"Within a hundred li of this place, I sensed three lifeforms with golden bloodlines. Aside from you at my side, there are two others." Golden Crocodile Douluo pointed into the distance. "Nights in the Star Dou Great Forest have always held danger alongside opportunity. Why don't the two of us take advantage of the darkness and try our luck?"

Su He was delighted upon hearing this and immediately agreed.

With two Titled Douluo in the camp, there was no need to worry about safety unless the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python moved together.

The "danger" of the Star Dou Great Forest was only dangerous to those lacking sufficient strength. With a peerless expert guarding them, such danger could be ignored.

"Follow me!" Golden Crocodile Douluo shouted deeply as his figure shot rapidly into the distance. "That thing is constantly moving. We need to end this quickly!"

Su He nodded and spread his Radiant Crystal Wings, soaring after him. His beautiful wings fluttered, dazzling like a streak of light in the dark night.

About half an hour later, the two approached their target.

However, Golden Crocodile Douluo's words after sensing it left Su He deeply disappointed. The golden-type soul beast here was only an eight-hundred-year Golden Python.

If Su He had been seeking his first spirit ring, this Golden Python would absolutely have been the ideal choice. But now, he could only give it up.

The two immediately headed toward the other signal, quickening their pace along the way.

That soul beast was about to leave Golden Crocodile Douluo's sensing range, so they hurried onward. Yet when they reached their destination, they received another disappointing answer.

It was a two-thousand-five-hundred-year Golden Armored Rhinoceros. The soul beast was certainly powerful, but its cultivation age alone completely failed to meet Su He's standards.

"I didn't expect us to return empty-handed." Though Su He felt somewhat frustrated, he still did not give up on finding a suitable golden-type spirit ring. "I'll have to trouble you again tomorrow night, Teacher."

"No matter. As my disciple, your choice of spirit ring naturally must be refined to the utmost." Golden Crocodile Douluo did not mind at all. On the contrary, he greatly appreciated Su He's temperament.

Cultivation required steady, down-to-earth progress. Those eager for quick success often could not become true powerhouses, and Golden Crocodile Douluo understood this principle well.

The next morning, the two returned to camp. Though they had gained nothing during the night, Su He had seen great hope.

Compared to relying solely on luck to find golden-type soul beasts, Golden Crocodile Douluo's radar-like sensing ability was an enormous help to Su He.

Their return naturally aroused Qian Renxue's curiosity. When she learned of their experience, her face was filled with delight as well. This meant Su He's spirit ring was finally within reach.

As long as they had enough patience, they would eventually find a suitable spirit ring.

On their second day in the Star Dou Great Forest, everyone continued searching diligently for suitable soul beasts. At that moment, they keenly heard a faint tiger's roar and the sounds of battle from afar, stirring their curiosity.

Tiger-type soul beasts were among the very strongest beings in the soul beast world. Judging by the intensity of that roar, it had clearly come from a Ten-Thousand-Year tiger-type soul beast, and everyone was delighted.

Yet when they concealed their auras and arrived at the scene, they were rendered speechless by the sight before them.

Two tiger-type soul beasts were fighting. One had a pair of wings on its back, a snow-white body patterned with beautiful markings, and a length of roughly eight meters. Its cultivation was likely around sixty thousand years. The other was completely black, with blood-red eyes filled with a sinister aura. It was about four meters long, more than two sizes smaller than the White Tiger. Unlike other tiger-type soul beasts, the Black Tiger's tail resembled a segmented rope, with a massive barb at its tip that gleamed with a chilling light. Every part of it radiated danger.

Beside the battlefield where the two giant tigers fought lay the corpse of another, slightly smaller white tiger-type soul beast. Its face had been mangled beyond recognition, and deep claw marks covered its body. It had clearly been killed by the Black Tiger. The reason for their battle was already obvious.

According to the standards used to judge tiger-type soul beasts by cultivation age, this Black Tiger was roughly seventeen thousand years old.

Despite being at a tremendous disadvantage in both size and cultivation, and despite being covered in wounds, the ferocity in the black giant tiger's eyes surpassed even that of its opponent. Su He and the others watched with grave expressions.

All five of them were highly knowledgeable. The moment they saw the hook at the Black Tiger's tail, its identity became unmistakable.

"Dark Demon Evil God Tiger!" Su He was the first to cry out in astonishment.