Into the Star Dou Great Forest

Bei Bei was a Soul Elder, while Tang Ya's Soul Power had also reached level thirty. From this, Lu Jing could tell that the timeline he had crossed into was four or five years earlier than that of the Child of Destiny, Huo Yuhao.

Although the World-Annihilating Black Lotus was one of the Four Great Lotus Platforms, it was only a martial soul and had yet to obtain a soul ring. Against Bei Bei and Tang Ya working together, all he could do was run.

Of course, there was an even more important reason: he did not know what his Innate Soul Power was.

If it was level twenty, then he would have a good chance of escaping, or even killing them in return.

But if it was only level ten, or even lower, then he had even more reason to flee.

So, regardless of whether his Innate Soul Power was level ten or level twenty, he had to choose the Star Dou Great Forest as the battlefield. Only then, after Bei Bei and Tang Ya fell, could he make Mu En, whose Soul Power had reached level ninety-nine, and Shrek Academy vent their hatred upon the Star Dou Great Forest.

On the forest path, dust flew beneath frantic footsteps. Lu Jing's small figure darted ahead, a black lotus platform flickering in and out of sight above his head. The black mist around its edges occasionally surged, knocking aside the Blue Silver Grass vines pursuing him.

He could feel the two burning gazes behind him, as well as the Soul Power fluctuations that nearly tore through the air—Bei Bei's Lightning Power carried an aura of destruction, while Tang Ya's Blue Silver Grass clung to him like maggots on bone, constantly trying to entangle his ankles.

"Don't run!"

Tang Ya's voice was filled with fury, clear yet ice-cold. "At such a young age, you possess an Evil Entity like this. Leaving you alive will surely bring disaster!"

As she spoke, she formed a hand seal. Several thick Blue Silver Grass stalks suddenly shot out from the ground, snapping at Lu Jing's calves like venomous snakes.

Lu Jing abruptly twisted aside and narrowly avoided them. The World-Annihilating Black Lotus spun half a turn before him, and the black mist instantly swelled, corroding the pursuing Blue Silver Grass until green smoke rose from it.

"An Evil Entity?"

He glanced back. There was not a trace of fear on his childish face; instead, a cold smile curled across his lips. "You two are hunting down a child. Does that not make you evil?"

"Enough nonsense!"

Bei Bei's voice was deeper. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul opened its jaws behind him, and blue lightning poured down like a waterfall. "Such a world-destroying evil thing cannot be allowed to remain! If we do not eliminate you today, the Douluo Continent will surely suffer disaster someday!"

The blue thunder dragon roared as it dove down. Lu Jing's pupils contracted slightly, and the World-Annihilating Black Lotus instantly blocked in front of him.

With a thunderous boom, lightning slammed into the lotus platform. The black mist churned violently, and both Lu Jing and Bei Bei were sent staggering backward.

"Damn it, what kind of martial soul is this? How can it possess such powerful strength right after awakening?" Bei Bei steadied himself, his expression grave.

The passersby nearby, who had no idea what was going on, were filled with fear and confusion at the sight.

They did not understand good or evil. All they saw were two well-dressed young people trying to kill a child. The power of the intertwined lightning and vines made even the ground tremble. Afraid of being caught in it, they could only chase after them while shouting, "Stop fighting! Talk it out properly!"

"Get lost!"

Tang Ya shouted sharply and flicked her hand. A strand of Blue Silver Grass lashed toward the foremost passerby like a whip. "Take one more step forward, and don't blame me for being merciless!"

As a member of the Tang Sect and Shrek Academy, she understood all too well the danger and power of Spirit Masters of Evil. If she let him go and allowed him to grow, the world would definitely descend into chaos in the future.

The passersby hurriedly retreated in fright. The sympathy in their eyes turned into fear—this woman looked sweet and delicate, yet her heart was so vicious.

Bei Bei paid no attention to them. He stared fixedly at the World-Annihilating Black Lotus behind Lu Jing, his eyes filled with resolve. "Xiao Ya, put more effort into it! He can't hold on much longer! This black lotus is overflowing with evil aura and is no good thing. We must eradicate the roots today!"

"I know!"

Tang Ya gritted her teeth and pushed her Soul Power to its limit. The Blue Silver Grass grew wildly, nearly blocking the entire path ahead. "That child's gaze is far too sinister. Leaving him alive will only create trouble!"

Seeing Lu Jing's calmness, so out of place for his age, she inexplicably felt a chill rise in her heart. Her attacks became even more ruthless.

Lu Jing suddenly changed direction and rushed toward a denser patch of forest to the right. The trees there grew taller and taller, their branches and leaves blotting out the sky. The air was filled with the damp scent of vegetation, and faint beast roars could be heard in the distance—the Star Dou Great Forest was close!

"He wants to enter the Star Dou Great Forest!"

Bei Bei's gaze sharpened, and his tone turned cold. "Chase him! We're going there to hunt soul rings anyway. We can finish him off inside while we're at it!"

Tang Ya gave a light laugh, utterly unconcerned. "It's even better if he enters the forest. Saves us from staining the ground outside."

One fled while two pursued, and before long, they charged into the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest. The trees here were so thick that several people would be needed to encircle them, while vines coiled around their trunks like giant pythons. Sunlight could only filter through gaps in the leaves in scattered specks. The air held not only the scent of plants, but also a faint fishy smell—the scent of soul beasts.

The Star Dou Great Forest was unquestionably the number one soul beast forest on the Douluo Continent.

The number of soul beasts here far exceeded that of Sunset Forest and the Extreme North. From ten-year soul beasts to hundred-thousand-year ferocious beasts, its hierarchy was clear and distinct, like a complete kingdom.

Ruling over this kingdom was Di Tian, who had lived for more than eight hundred thousand years—the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, publicly acknowledged as the strongest being on the Douluo Continent. Even a level ninety-nine Peerless Douluo had to think twice before entering the forest's core region. Unless the slumbering Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena, awakened, no one could truly run wild here.

A deafening roar came from the depths of the forest, shaking leaves loose from the trees. Lu Jing did not slow down, but he felt more at ease. As long as he went deeper, with the density of soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, Bei Bei and Tang Ya would never dare release their Soul Power without restraint. That would be his opportunity.

"Be careful. There are many soul beasts here." Bei Bei slowed down and cautiously scanned their surroundings. His Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul remained spread behind him, ready to respond to any sudden danger.

Tang Ya, however, was completely unconcerned. Under her control, the Blue Silver Grass spread out like radar, probing the surrounding activity. "What's there to fear? As long as we don't go deep into the core region, ordinary soul beasts can't do anything to us. Find that little brat first. We'll deal with the soul rings after we kill him!"

Her voice carried an unquestionable determination, as if Lu Jing's life mattered even more than their soul rings.

Lu Jing hid behind an ancient tree, listening to their conversation. A cold glint flashed through his eyes. He could sense that Bei Bei's killing intent carried the fanaticism of someone acting on behalf of heaven, while Tang Ya's ruthlessness was far purer. So long as she deemed someone a "threat," they had to be erased, even if they were only a child.

He gently stroked the World-Annihilating Black Lotus, feeling its immense yet terrifying power.

"Want to kill me?"

He murmured to himself, a shadowy smile that did not suit his age appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Then let's see whether you kill me, or I kill you instead!"

The black mist surged once more, gently shrouding his body. Lu Jing turned and darted deeper into the forest, his footsteps as light as a wildcat's. Behind him, Bei Bei and Tang Ya's footsteps drew closer and closer, mixed with Tang Ya's impatient urging: "Find him, quickly! Don't let him get away!"

The sunlight vanished completely, and the forest became as dark as dusk. The beast roars in the distance drew closer. A new hunt had only just begun.