A Wind Baboon That Nearly Slayed a God

Standing amid the dense branches and leaves of a towering tree, Xu Zihuang silently watched Huo Yuhao's slender figure gradually vanish from sight.

He took a finely detailed parchment map from his Storage Soul Tool. After studying it carefully, he too set off toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

After seeing Huo Yuhao, the urge in his heart to travel to the Star Dou Great Forest had not faded. Instead, it had grown even stronger.

So he decided to enter the Star Dou Great Forest before Huo Yuhao did.

With Huo Yuhao's physical condition and mere level-ten Soul Power, it would take him at least six days to travel from the White Tiger Duke's Mansion to the Star Dou Great Forest. Xu Zihuang, meanwhile, could circulate his Soul Power to travel and arrive in less than a day.

If nothing unexpected happened after entering the Star Dou Great Forest, he would still have ample time to return and wait at Huo Yuhao's side, ready to steal the opportunity.

Though he could not be sure whether Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and Electrolux would still appear as they had before, this was the safest approach.

He could only try his best.

The scenery on both sides rushed past in a blur. As Xu Zihuang sped along, several strands of purple hair on his forehead and temples fluttered in the wind. A rare hint of anxiety appeared in his deep, usually tranquil eyes.

After regaining the freedom he should have been imprisoned from for life, he was like a butterfly that had disrupted the original plot.

Only now did he realize how foolish his original thoughts had been.

Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao, who had set out on his journey harboring resentment toward the White Tiger Duke, knew nothing of this.

The temperature in the central region of the continent was clearly much lower than that of the Yuenan Islands. Especially out in this wilderness, beneath the cover of dense forest, the air carried an even colder chill.

The evening glow filtered through the thick branches and leaves, dyeing this forest near the Star Dou Great Forest golden-red.

Several plump squirrels perched on the branches, gripping fresh nuts between their large front teeth.

But in the next instant, this peaceful and harmonious scene was abruptly shattered.

Steady footsteps suddenly echoed through the area, crunching over dead leaves and dry branches. A tall figure emerged beneath the shade of the trees, calming his breathing.

"Finally here."

The newcomer was none other than Xu Zihuang, who had been heading for the Star Dou Great Forest.

Over the day he had spent traveling from Star Luo City to the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, he had covered no less than a thousand li. Yet with his formidable physique, his breathing was only slightly hurried.

The Soul Power consumed during his journey was roughly equal to the Soul Power he naturally recovered. The Soul Power within his body remained at its fullest.

This was the advantage of Innate Full Soul Power. Whether in cultivation speed or Soul Power Recovery, it far surpassed that of ordinary soul masters.

If hard work alone were enough, what would geniuses be for?

The words might have sounded arrogant, but they were not without reason.

If success could be achieved through hard work alone, then Title Douluo would not be so rare on Douluo Continent.

Looking around, Xu Zihuang spotted an old wooden sign covered in moss.

"Fifty kilometers ahead lies the Star Dou Great Forest. Soul Beasts may be encountered. Proceed with caution."

Retracting his gaze from the wooden sign, Xu Zihuang adjusted his direction and continued onward into the Star Dou Great Forest.

This time, however, he was far more cautious, and his speed slowed somewhat.

In recent years, the Soul Beasts within the Star Dou Great Forest had become increasingly powerful. Even in this area, there was a chance of encountering one.

The air gradually grew cooler, and beneath that coolness was an inexplicable sense of oppression.

Out of caution, Xu Zihuang instinctively circulated his Soul Power and activated his Martial Soul.

His originally clear dark-purple eyes transformed into brilliant gold in an instant. Yet strangely, no Soul Rings appeared around him despite his Martial Soul being active.

Activating a Martial Soul without displaying Soul Rings was actually a special method of using one's Martial Soul. Only soul masters with exceptionally strong control over their own Martial Souls could accomplish it.

Of course, there were always exceptions. Many powerful sects with long histories also possessed methods to activate their Martial Souls while concealing their Soul Rings.

For example, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, which called itself the continent's number-one auxiliary Tool Martial Soul sect.

Xu Zihuang maintained a steady pace.

Night was approaching, and the light grew increasingly dim. But this had no effect whatsoever on him, who possessed the Golden Eye Martial Soul. This was also one of the reasons Xu Zihuang dared to enter the Star Dou Great Forest at night.

Still, he would not recklessly venture too deeply into the Star Dou Great Forest. After all, only by staying alive could he have limitless possibilities.

He was merely trying his best, not throwing his life away.

As he continued forward, the road had already disappeared. Dense forest surrounded him, and while the air had become fresher, a faintly heavy presence seemed to drift from the depths of the woods.

Before long, Xu Zihuang suddenly caught several black figures flashing past the crowns of several enormous trees from the corner of his eye.

Relying on the powerful Dynamic Vision of his Golden Eye Martial Soul, he clearly made out the appearances of those black figures.

They were baboons about a meter tall, covered in yellowish-brown fur, with brown eyes. Their arms were exceptionally long, their claws bore sharp nails, and their canine teeth protruded from their lips. Their powerful hind legs kicked off the trunks, and one of them lunged at Xu Zihuang from an obscure angle.

"A Wind Baboon with ten-year cultivation?" Xu Zihuang raised an eyebrow. In the original plot, Huo Yuhao had encountered this kind of Soul Beast and nearly died.

But unfortunately, a Wind Baboon that was difficult for Huo Yuhao to resist could be wiped out by Xu Zihuang with a casual gesture.

Xu Zihuang simply stood there quietly, as though he had noticed nothing. Yet at the instant the Wind Baboon spread its claws behind him and reached for his neck, his body shifted to the left without warning, perfectly evading the attack.

Having missed, the Wind Baboon immediately flew into Rage, baring its fangs.

At that very moment, Xu Zihuang's counterattack arrived.

His long right leg swept up before stomping down fiercely. Even the surrounding air let out a sharp howl.

Bang— Before the Wind Baboon could react, its fine head had already been crushed into a pool of mangled flesh.

The surrounding earth caved in, forming a pit half a meter deep. Faint white light gathered over the Wind Baboon's headless corpse, forming a glowing white Soul Ring.

Yet Xu Zihuang did not stop there. White light flashed from the Soul Tool on his left wrist, and he drew the short blade Whale Tooth, its blade roughly two chi long, in a reverse grip.

With Soul Power flowing into it, the jet-black spine of the blade instantly turned translucent dark purple. Violent purple lightning coiled around it, faintly distorting the surrounding air.

Within a few breaths, several streaks of purple lightning flashed past. Xu Zihuang continued deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest with a calm expression.

Bang, bang, bang— As though answering those streaks of purple lightning, several charred corpses fell one after another from the surrounding tree trunks.