Three days later.
Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo, along with Lin Chuan and the others, were walking through a dense patch of forest somewhere in the Star Dou Forest.
The treetops interlaced above them. Warm sunlight climbed over the branches, filtering through gaps in the leaves to scatter flecks of light across the ground.
The sky was clear, but the closer they came to this part of the forest, the more they felt a chilling, unsettling presence.
The moment Lin Chuan stepped into the area, the hairs all over his body stood on end. It was as if some terrifying presence had its eyes on him, and his body instinctively tensed.
"Old Ghost, there's something strange about this place."
Chrysanthemum Pass spoke, already on guard as he scanned their surroundings.
At some point, a hazy gray mist had enveloped the area, obscuring their view ahead.
"A Soul Beast has its eye on us. It's no weakling, either. Should I release my aura and drive it off?"
Gui Mei turned to ask Lin Chuan. There was also a hint that he hoped to talk Lin Chuan into changing his mind.
After all, three days had passed without so much as a glimpse of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. They might as well go find a more suitable Soul Beast.
Lin Chuan stared intently at the gray mist. When his mental power probed it, it was shredded to pieces.
The evil aura he sensed filled his voice with an excitement he could hardly put into words.
"Master, Elder Chrysanthemum, perhaps we don't need to keep searching. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger has delivered itself right to our door."
At that, Chrysanthemum Pass and Gui Mei both turned to look at the mist, their curiosity piqued.
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was an evil Soul Beast that had not appeared in years. He had only read about its power in books.
And now, this one was strong enough to make him feel threatened...
Its cultivation was likely at least forty thousand years. Perhaps it could even stand against an ordinary Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
The two men immediately grew serious, preparing to find a good opportunity to attack.
"That thing has been circling behind you. Be careful."
Giratina's voice sounded in Lin Chuan's mind.
Lin Chuan froze for a moment, then used his Soul Power to pass the message to Chrysanthemum Pass and Gui Mei.
After hearing it, the two exchanged a glance and discreetly looked behind them. Without another word, they released their Martial Souls.
They were long-time partners. With Lin Chuan's safety in mind, Gui Mei's black-shrouded figure vanished from the spot.
A peculiar Martial Soul floated above Chrysanthemum Pass's right hand. It gleamed gold and crimson, majestic and exquisitely detailed.
Its surface was covered in densely packed golden armor blades, like the intricate, tightly packed workings inside a watch. Layer upon layer, they formed a brilliant golden flower in full bloom.
Nine Spirit Rings floated around him, shining yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, and black.
The imposing aura unique to a Titled Douluo spread without restraint in every direction. It carefully avoided Lin Chuan, while bearing down like increased gravity. Everything within a hundred meters was suppressed by it.
Blue Silver Grass bowed beneath the pressure, its blades bent low. The trees stood silent and lifeless.
Within the gray mist, Gui Mei's figure raced after another silhouette.
The two clashed fiercely, then broke into a game of pursuit.
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was incredibly fast. Using the tree trunks for support, it darted through the forest.
As an old partner, Chrysanthemum Pass needed no explanation. He quickly left a golden armor blade beside Lin Chuan, then rushed toward Gui Mei.
He activated his Martial Soul. The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum in his right hand kept growing larger, and the Sixth Soul Ring beneath his feet lit up.
"Sixth Soul Skill, Golden Stamen Overflows with Rosy Clouds!"
Chrysanthemum Pass swept into the air. The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum suddenly unleashed a dense volley of projectiles.
The hard golden armor blades were like steel needles. They pierced through tree trunks without resistance, severed branches, and shot toward Gui Mei.
Using his Martial Soul's unique properties, Gui Mei turned into a mass of black mist. The blades passed straight through it, embedding themselves deep in the ground and tree trunks.
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger had climbed onto a tree trunk. With the gray mist gone, its true form was exposed.
It was a gigantic tiger, completely black, with a faint black "king" marking on its forehead and purple patterns covering its broad, long body.
Several thick fangs protruded from its jaws. Its scarlet eyes radiated a terrifying killing intent, and its muscles bulged across its body.
A tail made of countless joints hung behind it like a thick whip. At the tip was a huge, inverted hook that glinted with a chilling light.
This Dark Demon Evil God Tiger had yet to reach its limits—its power was not yet at the extreme level—but its aura was already no weaker than that of an ordinary Titled Douluo.
No wonder it had fled so brazenly, then stopped to face them and taunt them.
After testing it earlier, Gui Mei had gained a rough understanding of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.
If he were alone, he wasn't sure he could defeat it, even at the cost of his life.
With Chrysanthemum Pass fighting alongside him, killing it was only a matter of time.
In the next instant, three figures burst into motion, clashing in the forest.
The shockwaves of their attacks sent smoke billowing and air currents churning. Trees snapped in half, and thunderous booms rang out one after another.
Lin Chuan kept a safe distance, following behind as he watched the battle, which could shatter stone and split clouds.
Faced with the Soul Skill attacks of Gui Mei and Chrysanthemum Pass, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger bared its teeth and roared.
"Roar—!!"
Its roar rolled a thousand meters into the distance. Vast energy gathered behind it, forming a terrifying attack.
Just as Gui Mei's Soul Skill and Chrysanthemum Pass's attack were about to hit, the fierce blast shot out, instantly sweeping away both Soul Skills.
The attack did not stop. It hurtled straight toward Chrysanthemum Pass.
In the sky, the blast of air scattered the clouds before crashing down like a streak of light.
Chrysanthemum Pass's expression turned grave. He brought his hands, posed like orchid fingers, together, crossed his arms, and lit up the Soul Ring beneath his feet.
"Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar!"
In an instant, a massive Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum appeared behind Chrysanthemum Pass. It spun, wrapping around him.
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's attack was finally blocked by his Martial Soul Avatar.
While it was distracted, Gui Mei had already reached its side.
With a flourish, nine floating Spirit Rings appeared beside him. His fifth Spirit Ring flashed in response to the aura of a Titled Douluo.
"Fifth Soul Skill, Ghost Shadow Earth Swamp Hand!"
Gui Mei grabbed at empty air. Countless pitch-black arms reached out from an airborne swamp, stretching toward the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.
Sensing the attacks, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger tried to dodge, only to realize its hind legs were already sunk deep into the Ghost Swamp.
The other ghostly hands seized its body, binding it tight. No matter how fiercely it struggled, it could not break free.
The earlier use of their skills had only been a test; they had not yet committed to them. Once the ghostly hands had bound the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, Gui Mei poured in more Soul Power.
In an instant, a chilling, evil aura spread through the area.
The ghostly hands clinging to the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger twisted and swelled. As tormented souls shrieked and tore at it, the tiger began to struggle violently in agony.
The struggle drained and injured it badly. Yet more and more of the Soul Skill's bindings were being torn apart.
One after another, the ghostly hands were ripped to shreds by the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's wind-attribute claws, which carried an evil aura.
"Yue Guan!"
At Gui Mei's shout, Chrysanthemum Pass, bolstered by his Martial Soul Avatar, summoned his Martial Soul once more.
To finish off his badly wounded opponent quickly, he did not waste any time. His ninth Spirit Ring lit up beneath his feet.
"Ninth Soul Skill, Chrysanthemum Shatters, Petals Scatter, All Beneath Them Grieve!"
A surging tide of Soul Power erupted, shooting a pillar of light skyward.
Centered on Chrysanthemum Pass, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum unfolded layer by layer, and petals began to rain down from the heavens.
Each petal spun like a crescent blade, joining together into a massive golden tornado.
A terrifying gale rose, and for an instant, the heavens and earth changed color.
As the storm whipped up, it disturbed the air around it.
The golden armor blades of the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum arranged themselves in orderly formation within the storm, twisting as they surged toward the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.
The instant they made contact, the clang of metal rang out without pause. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger violently tore itself free of the ghostly hands.
Its claws and fangs unleashed a relentless barrage, clashing against the storm of blades.