Liu Erlong "Colluding" with Soul Beasts

In the end, this was something she had to rely on herself for. No one could help her.

Lin Hai carefully wiped the sweat from Ah Yin's body. The warmth beneath his fingertips sent a warm current surging through Ah Yin's heart.

Moved by instinct, she tried to respond to that tenderness. Her fingers trembled slightly as she tried to hook around Lin Hai's hand, but in the end, she lacked the strength to raise them.

Looking at those glistening "drops of sweat," Lin Hai's heart burned hot.

This sweat counts as Ah Yin's juices too, right? Even if the Hundred Thousand Year Blue Silver Emperor has sacrificed herself, her essence is still that of an emperor... I wonder if I can use it to refine a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring Pill?

After collecting the sweat, Lin Hai rambled on as he soothed Ah Yin. At the end, he solemnly advised her, "Don't slack off. Work hard. Keep improving."

Ah Yin's body trembled uncontrollably. It was impossible to tell whether it was a spasm caused by pain or a silent response to Lin Hai's words.

Afterward, Lin Hai's Spiritual Power returned. He still had to continue traveling.

Once night fell, he had to enter a city. He couldn't just fight in the wild; that wasn't elegant at all.

Since his martial soul came with spirit rings of its own, Lin Hai had never needed to hunt soul beasts over the years. He had stayed cooped up in Spirit City all this time and truly had no experience spending the night in the wilderness.

Besides, now that he was so fast...

A man had to be able to slow down when it was time to slow down, and speed up when it was time to speed up.

Wildly testing the edge of 403 was the ultimate romance for many men.

Navigation initiated--

His location: a man-made cave near Sacred Soul Village.

First leg of travel: Metro Line "Three."

Passing through: Nuoding City.

Stopover purpose: pick up the carriage, pick up the driver, and, if the timing worked out, see that child whose mother had already abandoned him.

Lodging arrangements: Nuoding Grand Hotel.

Second leg of travel: modified luxury house carriage.

Destination: Heaven Dou City—Dugu Manor.

Ah Yin had been right about one thing—something only counted as yours once it was in your mouth.

The sooner he settled matters with Dugu Bo, the sooner he could rest easy.

Unfortunately, until Lin Hai left Nuoding City, he never ran into Tang San. A trace of helplessness passed through his heart.

Asura, it seems the time has not yet come. You still do not wish to face me directly...

He could only amuse himself like this to ease his disappointment.

The trip to Nuoding City passed without incident.

After checking into Nuoding Grand Hotel, no one came knocking to sell him "services."

As for Xiao Wu, Lin Hai did not go see her.

With his temperament, entering Nuoding Academy would be like a firefly in the dark—so bright and outstanding.

He had already given her what needed to be given. Whether she was a rabbit or a horse... well, time would tell in a few years.

The "house carriage" traveled smoothly at high speed, making the journey comfortable and pleasant.

Heaven Dou City.

Lin Hai did not delay. He headed straight for the Spirit Hall of Heaven Dou City and left a letter each for Bibi Dong and Hu Liena.

After asking where Dugu Bo's residence was, he hurried over.

When he knocked on the gates of Dugu Manor, the one who opened them appeared to be a servant.

Lin Hai quietly increased the circulation of All Spirits Affinity and instantly sensed that Dugu Bo's distinctive aura was absent from the manor.

Understanding dawned on him, but he put on a familiar smile. "Please inform Senior Dugu that his old acquaintance, Lin Hai, has come to visit."

The servant was respectful yet distant. "Master is not in the manor."

Lin Hai revealed just the right amount of surprise. "Not here? I met Senior only a few days ago and never heard that he planned to travel..."

—As for how long "a few days" actually meant, that was naturally left vague.

Seeing how certain he sounded and how composed he appeared, the servant found him unfamiliar, but his master's whereabouts were always mysterious, and the manor did not receive many visitors.

Other than Prince Xue Xing and the Ye Family's young lady, few people usually came to the manor. An unfamiliar visitor was not unusual, so he answered honestly, "Master left three days ago. I do not know where he went."

Where else could he have gone? He hasn't come home for three days. There's a ninety-nine percent chance he's soaking in his 'mandarin duck hot pot'... Lin Hai grumbled inwardly.

He had only asked to confirm his next step: whether to wait in the city for his prey or take the initiative and fish him out of that "pot."

He only left three days ago. Who knows when he'll return if I wait. Forget it, I'll go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and see if I can fish him out there.

Lin Hai took his leave and headed out of the city, making straight for Sunset Forest.

As for that Spirit Douluo driver, he was currently dutifully playing the role of a true "driver."

The rudimentary Earth Style ability granted by the Floating and Sinking Pearls was enough for Lin Hai to slip several meters underground.

Even if he encountered a Titled Douluo who instantly suppressed him with their aura, or if one locked onto him with their presence, he was highly confident that he could escape.

Bibi Dong knew the properties of the Floating and Sinking Pearls and the methods of Titled Douluo. She knew he could handle it.

Sending a Spirit Douluo along was more for peace of mind.

If Lin Hai truly lacked the ability to protect himself, Bibi Dong would never have allowed him to leave Spirit City.

Sunset Forest was lush and verdant.

Lin Hai did not immediately use Earth Style.

First, this was his first time entering soul beast territory. He wanted to see those legendary creatures with his own eyes. After all, as a young master, he had seen very few living soul beasts before.

Second, a soul beast forest was fraught with danger. A small number of soul beasts also lived underground, so even with Earth Style, he did not dare travel at full speed.

Thus, he simply strolled through the forest, bathing in the sunlight. He was still a young man, after all; he could not let himself pick up too much "earthiness."

The passive effect of All Spirits Affinity was obvious. Combined with the fact that many soul beasts would not actively attack humans to begin with, Lin Hai's journey was surprisingly leisurely.

Instead, whenever he saw a novel soul beast, he would go closer for a look, frightening some timid soul beasts into scattering in all directions.

Yet this harmonious atmosphere was ultimately torn apart by a furious shout—

"Fourth Soul Skill: Bloodthirsty Flame!"

A woman's furious roar shook the forest, carrying a wild, violent aura.

Bloodthirsty Flame? Liu Erlong!

Lin Hai perked up and immediately used Earth Style to rush over. As he neared the scene, he habitually tried to use Wood Style to merge into a large tree and conceal himself.

However, the evasion technique failed!

That was no ordinary tree, but a plant soul beast that possessed intelligence!

Evasion techniques could not enter intelligent living beings.

Just as Lin Hai realized something was wrong, a thick, gnarled tree root burst from the ground and stabbed toward him like a poisonous spear!

Holy shit!

In his shock, he instinctively darted diagonally upward. Downward?—Who knew how deeply those roots spread underground!

He put too much force into the dodge, and with a "puff," half his body burst out of the soil, leaving only his legs buried underground.

Worse still, the Earth Tyrant Bear that Liu Erlong had been savagely attacking happened to roll right up beside Lin Hai's feet.

Then, that distinctive Tyrant Dragon roar rang out once more.

"Third Soul Skill: Rage Thunderclap!"

A deep-blue fireball wreathed in dazzling lightning, carrying an aura of destruction, shot straight toward Lin Hai and the heavily injured Earth Tyrant Bear!

Fuck... You three are in this together, aren't you? Did you set this whole combo up just to get me?

In that split second, it was already too late to use any evasion technique.

Elemental Shadow Dodge could only make use of natural elements. It could not enter intelligent living beings, nor could it borrow the power of another person's soul skill.

If he forcibly shrank back into the ground now, his head would definitely be left exposed, while that tree root lurking underground posed an even deadlier threat—

His ass could not go underground. It had to stay outside.

A critical moment!