Auspicious Beast: It's coming! That man is coming!

Meanwhile, in the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest, by the shores of the Lake of Life.

The Emperor Auspicious Beast—Three-Eyed Golden Ni, who had been lying on the grass, bored out of her mind and counting ants to pass the time—suddenly jerked her head up!

The Eye of Destiny, standing vertically in the center of her forehead, pulsed violently.

A familiar aura, one that made her very soul tremble, had breached the range of her perception.

He's here!

That man, he has finally come!

The once-languid beast was instantly invigorated. Her golden eyes lit up like two massive lightbulbs, as if she had just spotted the most delicious food in the world... or rather, the most important person.

On her large, furry head, a distinctly human-like expression appeared... a goofy, lovestruck grin?

She was even drooling slightly from the corner of her mouth.

"Awoo~!" (He's come to find me!)

Without a moment's hesitation, the beast let out an excited low growl. Her four hooves kicked up a storm, and she transformed into a streak of golden lightning, rushing headlong toward the Mixed Zone!

The way she moved, she was more eager than if she were racing for a meal!

This scene left Chi Wang, who was responsible for guarding the beast, completely dumbfounded.

Three massive question marks appeared over Chi Wang's three dog heads, and his six eyes were filled with utter confusion.

"???"

What kind of mood swing was this little ancestor having now?

Chi Wang sighed helplessly.

Not long ago, this little ancestor had acted like a bandit, turning the core area upside down, digging up high-level spirit bones and rare treasures, and even robbing the private stashes of many ten-thousand-year spirit beasts.

The way she was "saving up a dowry" had once made Chi Wang think she had lost her mind and wanted to transform into a human to experience life.

And now, she was dashing off again without so much as a word.

Watching the beast's back as she bounded away with such joy that she looked ready to fly, Chi Wang fell into deep contemplation.

In all his years, this was the first time he had seen this usually arrogant beast wear such an expression... like a young girl in love rushing to meet her sweetheart.

"The world has truly changed..."

Chi Wang shook his middle head, resigned himself to his fate, and scrambled up to follow her with a bitter expression.

There was no helping it; who else was going to play nanny?

The scene shifts to the Star Dou Great Forest.

In the dense jungle, three figures darted through like meteors, startling a flock of birds.

Su Chen, Du Busi, and Zhang Lexuan.

This trio was a luxurious lineup. A level 99 Limit Douluo holding the line, a senior sister from the Shrek inner court, and Su Chen, the freak of nature.

They ignored the low-level spirit beasts in the outer zone, their figures flickering as they stepped into the perilous Mixed Zone.

For Su Chen, ordinary ten-thousand-year spirit beasts no longer caught his eye.

His target was set on those with top-tier bloodlines and terrifying age.

"Disciple, have you decided?"

As they moved, the deep, resonant voice of Du Busi rang out.

"What age spirit beast do you intend to hunt for your fourth spirit ring? And which unlucky clan have you set your sights on?"

Su Chen didn't slow his pace. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he slowly spat out a name:

"Sixty thousand years, Shadow Demon Tree."

This target wasn't a whim, but a "best solution" reached after careful deliberation.

In his first simulation, the spirit ring Su Chen added for his fifth slot was indeed from a Shadow Demon Tree.

Absorbing a Shadow Demon Tree could produce a spirit skill that could be called a "divine skill"—Shadow Clone!

Not only could it instantly create three physical clones with 80% of the original's combat power, but even more heaven-defying was its "damage transfer" property!

As long as the attack wasn't an instant kill, the damage taken could be transferred to the clones.

This was equivalent to having three extra lives!

For Su Chen, who pursued the ultimate in survival and output, it was tailor-made.

Although with King Crimson, ordinary spirit masters couldn't really hurt Su Chen, no one would ever complain about having stronger spirit power.

"Shadow Demon Tree?"

Du Busi raised an eyebrow, stroking his beard in thought.

"An assassin among plant-type spirit beasts; that's rare. This kind of spirit beast is insidious and cunning, skilled at camouflage. It does indeed suit your style, kid."

Beside them, Zhang Lexuan's beautiful eyes flickered as she added:

"The Shadow Demon Tree is a top-tier plant-type soul beast, extremely rare in the depths of the mixed zone.

Furthermore, according to Shrek's records, the Shadow Demon Tree clan is incredibly united, often guarded by a 100,000-year-level Shadow Demon Tree King."

Speaking of this, she glanced at Du Busi beside her, her tone becoming much more relaxed.

"However, with Sect Master Du personally guarding us, let alone a 100,000-year tree king, even if a fierce beast came, it would have to think twice."

"Hahaha! That goes without saying!"

Du Busi was thoroughly pleased by this flattery and let out a loud laugh.

"Let's go! Since my disciple has taken a fancy to it, even if the King of Heaven himself came, this tree must obediently turn into a soul ring for me!"

"It's right over there."

Su Chen nodded slightly, and a crimson figure suddenly appeared behind him.

Second Martial Soul—King Crimson. Future, activate!

In Su Chen's vision, images of the future flashed by like film strips.

Soon, he clearly saw the eerie ancient tree hidden in the shadows, as well as the... fatal destiny it was about to face.

Coordinates locked, the hunt begins!

Soon, the three arrived at the territory of the Shadow Demon Tree clan.

The moment they stepped into this forest, the bright sunlight seemed to be completely swallowed up.

The air was filled with the scent of decay and cold, and the surroundings were terrifyingly silent, save for the crisp sound of footsteps on withered branches.

Countless twisted tree shadows swayed in the darkness, like evil ghosts waiting to devour people.

"Teacher, just slaughter any one of them; the ones nearby look like they're of decent quality."

Su Chen pointed at the clawing, monstrous trees around them, his tone as casual as if he were picking out cabbage at a vegetable market.

"Got it! Watch closely!"

Du Busi grinned, releasing no flashy soul skills, not even activating his martial soul.

He simply reached out a large hand and grabbed at the air!

BOOM—!

Accompanied by the groans of the earth, a Shadow Demon Tree as thick as three men could embrace was forcibly uprooted by him!

"Screech—!!!"

The Shadow Demon Tree let out a shrill, piercing scream, its roots struggling frantically, but under the palm power of a Limit Douluo, it was like a helpless little chick.

"Who dares to act wildly in our clan's territory!"

Seeing their companion attacked, the surrounding Shadow Demon Trees instantly rioted! Countless pitch-black vines shot out like venomous snakes, attempting to strangle the intruders.

However, the next second.

Hum—!

Du Busi let out a cold snort, and the terrifying pressure belonging to a level 99 Limit Douluo erupted instantly, sweeping across the field like Mount Tai pressing down!

The forest, which had been a chaotic dance of demons, fell into instant silence.

The vines that had just reached out retracted with a "whoosh," as if they had been electrocuted.

Every single Shadow Demon Tree chose to play dead at that moment, not even daring to shake a single leaf.

Shadow Demon Tree Clan: Excuse us, so it's... a Limit Douluo... please, carry on, carry on.

And in the deepest part of the forest, that Shadow Demon Tree King, whose cultivation exceeded 100,000 years, had now directly entered "AFK mode."

It retracted all its aura, disguised itself as an ordinary dead tree, and wished it could bury its roots deep into the center of the earth.

Are you kidding? That's a Limit Douluo!

Better a friend dies than me.

If it dared to show its face, let alone save its underlings, it was afraid even its own soul bone would be ripped out as a trophy.

Watching this absurd scene, Zhang Lexuan was completely bewildered.

"So... hunting soul beasts can be this easy and relaxed?"

Whenever she hunted ten-thousand-year soul beasts in the past, wasn't it always done with extreme caution, using traps and bait, and requiring a bitter struggle?

Yet here, it had turned directly into "buffet" mode?

"That's only natural."

Su Chen explained with a smile: "The Shadow Demon Trees in this area are all old foxes starting at thirty or forty thousand years; they've long since gained sentience."

"They know better than anyone that attacking a Limit Douluo isn't protecting their own—it's suicide."

"This is the law of the jungle: bullying the weak and fearing the strong; it never changes."

Afterward, Du Busi dragged the half-dead ten-thousand-year Shadow Demon Tree like a dead dog and swaggered out of the forest.

Finding a relatively safe clearing, Su Chen raised his hand and brought his blade down, delivering the final blow.

As the life force of the Shadow Demon Tree was extinguished, a deep, bewitching black ten-thousand-year soul ring slowly emerged from the trunk, waiting quietly for Su Chen to absorb it.