The moment the two entered the mixed zone, they made a new discovery. The Thousand-Year Soul Beasts they encountered showed no desire to attack them either. Whenever the two approached, the beasts dodged away.
"This really is strange. The Soul Beasts aren't attacking us at all. In the past, Soul Hunting meant we'd have to endure multiple attacks from Soul Beasts. This time, it's been downright peaceful."
Golden Crocodile teased Su Zhen.
Su Zhen stopped to think carefully about the reason. Soul Beasts had an extremely strong sense of territory, and they usually wouldn't flee in fear of humans. Even Hundred-Year Soul Beasts dared bare their teeth at Titled Douluo, unless a super Soul Beast with a bloodline several levels above theirs had appeared.
Super Soul Beast? Could it be because of him?
Su Zhen took a Black Dragon Scale from his Soul Tool. The Black-Robed Man had given it to him earlier.
"Xiao Zhen, what's that?"
Seeing Su Zhen take out a Dragon Scale, Golden Crocodile asked in confusion.
Su Zhen explained the Dragon Scale's origins to Golden Crocodile, who immediately understood. He remembered his big brother telling him about the Black-Robed Man Su Zhen had encountered.
"It should be the aura emitted by this Dragon Scale that's keeping the Soul Beasts away."
Su Zhen offered his guess. At the same time, he remembered the Black-Robed Man telling him that he could look for him when he came to the Star Dou Forest to hunt for Soul Rings. Without delay, he activated Martial Soul Possession, letting his aura spread out.
Before long, all the Soul Beasts within a hundred miles roared and charged toward Su Zhen and Golden Crocodile.
"A stampede! How could this happen? Could Xiao Zhen have been tricked?"
Golden Crocodile was astonished by the scene around them. He instantly activated Martial Soul Possession, and the phantom of a gigantic golden crocodile enveloped them both, ready to withstand the stampede's onslaught.
"Roar!"
Just as the stampede was about to surround them, a resounding dragon's roar came from above. The out-of-control Soul Beasts heard it and immediately stopped charging, turning instead to flee toward the depths of the forest.
"Put your Martial Soul away, or the little ones will lose control again."
The two turned toward the voice. A black figure stood beneath a tree behind them.
"Senior, you really did come."
Su Zhen gestured for Golden Crocodile to put away his Martial Soul, then went over to the Black-Robed Man.
"I failed to consider things properly. I forgot how special your Martial Soul is. Next time you come, just inject Soul Power into the Dragon Scale."
"Senior, is there something special about my Martial Soul?"
Su Zhen had keenly picked up on the key information.
"There is, but it's not something you can know yet. Work hard to get stronger. Once you reach Soul Saint, you'll learn everything you want to know. Let's not discuss that for now. How many years do you want your Soul Ring to be?"
"About eight or nine hundred years."
Su Zhen obediently stopped asking questions, but he was puzzled to see the Black-Robed Man standing still without doing anything.
"Se—"
"Don't rush. The Soul Beast is already on its way."
The Black-Robed Man noticed Su Zhen's confusion and answered before he could finish speaking.
Su Zhen and Golden Crocodile sat down beneath a tree to wait, as casually as if they were in an ordinary garden. They didn't seem concerned about the dangers of the Star Dou Forest. What a joke—if the Black-Robed Man could dispel the stampede so effortlessly, how could he let them get hurt here?
About five minutes later, a flash of lightning appeared beside the Black-Robed Man. It was a giant tiger, crouched low to the ground. It was eight meters long, its purple fur standing on end, arcs of electricity coursing over its body, and lightning patterns glowing on all four limbs.
"An eight-hundred-year Thunderlight Electric Tiger!"
Golden Crocodile cried out excitedly when the Soul Beast they had been searching for appeared before them. But what excited him even more was the Black-Robed Man's strength. The ferocious Thunderlight Electric Tiger was now like a kitten in front of him, easily commanded at will.
"Little one, come over and kill it. This little tiger has the strongest lightning element among the Hundred-Year Soul Beasts in the mixed zone. It's perfect for you."
Su Zhen immediately activated Martial Soul Possession and tried to kill the Thunderlight Electric Tiger with a swipe of his claw. But after taking one step, he stopped.
"What's wrong, Xiao Zhen? Is something the matter?"
Seeing Su Zhen hesitate, Golden Crocodile immediately asked. The Black-Robed Man also looked at him in confusion.
"Second Granduncle, Senior, my Martial Soul is telling me this Thunderlight Electric Tiger is too young. It doesn't think much of it."
Su Zhen answered with an embarrassed look. His Martial Soul really had told him that, but he felt the two supreme experts before him might not believe such an explanation.
"Xiao Zhen, what are you talking about? Eight hundred years is too low? This is your First Soul Ring! Don't tell me you want to absorb a thousand-year one?"
Golden Crocodile thought Su Zhen had made up that excuse because he wanted to absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, and immediately tried to talk him out of it.
"A thousand-year one, is it? Just wait a little."
The Black-Robed Man said nothing more. He simply gave Su Zhen's Martial Soul a long look, then sent the Thunderlight Electric Tiger away and began searching for a more suitable Soul Beast.
"Second Granduncle, it'll be fine. I trust my instincts. My Martial Soul won't lie to me."
Su Zhen tried to soothe Golden Crocodile, who was on the verge of getting angry.
This time, they waited half an hour before a Soul Beast arrived.
A mighty male lion appeared before them. It stood ten meters tall, had a pair of wings on its back, and bore purple fur encircled by a white mane. A single horn rose from its forehead, wreathed in lightning and carrying a faint aura of destruction.
"A Thunderstorm Winged Lion King! And it's just entered the thousand-year rank!"
Golden Crocodile was genuinely stunned this time. These Soul Beasts were extremely rare. Although they lived in groups, each group had no more than ten of their kind. Any extras would be driven away, and the one driven away was usually the youngest in the group. This kept their numbers low. But if the displaced Winged Lion managed to survive, it would possess combat power far beyond others of the same rank. After breaking through to a thousand years, it could form its own group and become its king. Yet very few ever survived.
"Second Granduncle, is this kind of Soul Beast very strong?"
Su Zhen asked. He hadn't seen any information about this Soul Beast in his earlier theory classes.
"Xiao Zhen, this Thunderstorm Winged Lion King is the most suitable Soul Beast for you. Its bloodline, strength, and attributes are all impeccable. Your Fourth Granduncle's fifth Soul Ring came from a twelve-thousand-year-old Winged Lion, and that one wasn't even particularly strong within its group. But look at this one: its white mane is proof of its royal bloodline. It's definitely among the very best of the thousand-year Soul Beasts. Even the Titan Giant Ape could go toe-to-toe with it. This is the perfect Soul Beast for you."
"But Xiao Zhen, are you sure you want to absorb it? Using a thousand-year Soul Beast as a First Soul Ring has never been done before."
"Second Granduncle, I've made up my mind. I want this one. I can definitely absorb it successfully."
"All right, then give it a try. If anything goes wrong, I'll intervene and stop you. We'll find a way to make up for any talent you lose."
Su Zhen completed Martial Soul Possession and walked up to the Thunderstorm Winged Lion King. He extended his beast claw, plunged it into the lion's eye, and twisted. A blue ring of light immediately appeared above the Thunderstorm Winged Lion King's corpse.
Su Zhen sat cross-legged and followed the method his teacher had taught him, guiding the Soul Ring down from above until it settled over him. He began absorbing his First Soul Ring.
Golden Crocodile also activated Martial Soul Possession and stood protectively in front of Su Zhen, guarding him at every moment. Every so often, he glanced at the Black-Robed Man, wary of him.
The Black-Robed Man said nothing. He stood in place, staring intently at the phantom of Su Zhen's Martial Soul behind him.
My lord, how could you refuse to let me keep such an important Martial Soul by your side?
Before you continue