Sunset Forest! Imperial Dou Team!

Sunset Forest!

Compared to Guchui Forest in the Border Mountains, the trees here were much more lush.

But that still could not change the reality of the law of the jungle.

Rustle—!

The bushes rustled as a Rock Horn Sheep charged out at high speed, fleeing for its life as though something terrifying were hunting it from behind.

It seemed that way.

And it really was.

"Lightning Style—Lightning Claw!!!"

A masked figure rapidly gave chase. Though no Soul Ring appeared on his body, lightning formed claws around his hands, much like a Soul Skill.

Electric currents also flickered beneath his feet as he swiftly caught up to the Rock Horn Sheep.

The lightning claws came down.

One hit, one kill!

After the Rock Horn Sheep was slain, a white Soul Ring slowly condensed above its corpse.

"Today's food is taken care of."

But the person who had acted clearly had not done so for the Soul Beast's Soul Ring. He had merely killed it to fill his stomach.

Taichu removed his mask and tossed it into his Ring Soul Tool. He took out a knife, butchered the Rock Horn Sheep on the spot, and stored the pieces in his Soul Tool one by one. Once he was done, he took out the mask again and put it back on before quickly leaving the blood-soaked area, which could easily attract other Soul Beasts.

He came to a stream and briefly washed the blood off himself.

A month and a half!

He had come to Sunset Forest in search of the Soul Beast that would become his Second Soul Ring, and he had stayed here for a full month and a half. Before entering, he had prepared one month's worth of rations, but he had finished them half a month ago.

He had originally wanted to leave Sunset Forest to buy more provisions, but he worried that he would miss the Soul Beast he was looking for. So, he simply gathered food locally in Sunset Forest to fill his stomach.

But even so.

He still had not found that Soul Beast.

Black Flame Demon Bird!

It was an extremely rare Soul Beast found in the Soul Beast records Yu Xiaogang had copied from Spirit Hall.

There was no denying it.

The records kept by Spirit Hall were simply far better than those in the Branch Hall. The Branch Hall's records only listed attributes before glossing over everything else, while Spirit Hall's records detailed a Soul Beast's appearance, attributes, abilities, habitats... and so on.

Many rare Soul Beasts were not recorded at all in the Branch Hall's materials, yet this book contained records of quite a few of them.

If he had gotten his hands on this thing before absorbing his First Soul Ring, he definitely would have chosen the Soul Ring of a better Soul Beast instead of something as common as the Phantom Domain Spirit Fox.

As for the Black Flame Demon Bird, it was a Soul Beast with spiritual and fire attributes. It was said to possess a trace of phoenix bloodline. It resembled a crow, covered in black feathers, and could wield a unique Black Flame through Mental Power. The Black Flame used Mental Power as fuel and was difficult to extinguish once it touched something. Unless the afflicted person completely severed the burning area, it would continue burning until nothing but ashes remained.

Its known habitats included Sunset Forest, Star Forest, Ten Thousand Bone Forest... and other such places.

And why had he chosen to search in Sunset Forest?

Naturally, because it was the closest.

The other locations were either close to the Arctic Region or over in the Star Luo Empire.

By comparison.

Sunset Forest was much closer.

Before coming here, he had even troubled Ma Xiunuo to inquire at a nearby Martial Soul Hall Branch. He learned that a Soul Master had indeed spotted traces of a Black Flame Demon Bird in Sunset Forest a year ago. Though its age could not be determined precisely, based on the discoverer's description, it was roughly three thousand years old.

Once he learned that, he came without hesitation.

A Black Flame Demon Bird over three thousand years old was simply perfect for his Second Soul Ring.

Unfortunately.

He had searched here for a month and a half, yet he still had not found any trace of the Black Flame Demon Bird.

After that.

He made a fire.

He roasted the food he had hunted, sprinkled on the little seasoning he had left, then grabbed a roasted leg of lamb and started gnawing on it. He looked utterly unconcerned with his appearance.

But Taichu did not care. A month and a half of living like this had nearly turned him into a wild man. Did appearances still matter?

What he cared about more was when he would finally find that damned Black Flame Demon Bird.

Suddenly.

Rustle—!

A sound came from nearby.

"It ran that way!"

"Quick, quick, quick! Catch up! Don't let it get away!"

"Relax. With me here, it can't escape!"

"..."

Voices drifted over from nearby, making Taichu frown. Before he could think further, the rustling of leaves became more pronounced. Then he saw a black shadow shoot out of the bushes at incredible speed, opening its bloody maw at him.

The Mangekyō Sharingan bloomed in his pupils. Electricity crackled beneath his feet as he grabbed the lamb leg in his hand and hurled it forward. It had no real force behind it, but it plugged the snake's wide-open mouth.

Perhaps the snake was just as confused right then.

Maybe it had something it wanted to say.

Snake: Brother, aren't you being a little too hospitable here?!

But Taichu had already recognized the snake.

Blood Shadow Red Snake!

A type of snake Soul Beast that was extremely fast and highly venomous.

However, he had already quickly widened the distance between them, then hurriedly took the Spiral Mask from his Soul Tool and put it on.

From the voices around him, he could tell that the Blood Shadow Red Snake had been driven over by someone.

Sure enough.

The next moment.

Several people charged over at high speed.

However.

When they saw the lamb leg stuffed in the Blood Shadow Red Snake's mouth, they stared at the scene with blank expressions.

Brother, what was going on?

We were chasing you down. How had you started eating in the blink of an eye?!

The noisy group suddenly fell silent. Looking at the scene before them, they had no idea what to say.

At once.

The atmosphere became strangely quiet.

"Did you drive this Soul Beast over here?"

Taichu broke the silence.

At his words.

Dugu Yan and the others were extremely embarrassed. Even the dumbest person should have realized what was happening by now.

A person!

A lamb leg!

A campfire!

Clearly, they had been chasing the Soul Beast and accidentally driven it into someone else's campsite.

The group exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.

"Friend, we failed to notice you while pursuing the Soul Beast. We have offended you; please forgive us!"

Yu Tianheng Stepped Forward and cupped his hands as he spoke.

"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"

Taichu glanced at him. He had noticed a pattern on the corner of his clothes—the Family Emblem unique to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

"That is correct. Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Tianheng!"

Hearing his words, Yu Tianheng introduced himself.

At that.

Taichu silently thought, As expected.

His gaze swept across everyone present. Every one of them was in a Martial Soul Possession state, but combined with Yu Tianheng's presence, he instantly understood this group's identity.

Imperial Dou Team!