Sunset Forest

When Qin Chuan and the Scarlet King left the palace, the sun had already reached the western mountains. Dusky light spread across the sky, with only the last rays lingering.

Imperial knights were everywhere on the streets, filling the entire city as they moved about, calming the agitated crowds.

To resolve the matter more effectively, they even claimed publicly that the spectacle in the sky had all been created by the Spirit Hall to celebrate the greatness of the Angel God.

Qin Chuan scoffed at the claim, but the people believed it. With the empire's vast machinery behind it, they had little choice but to believe.

After all, the imperial knights stationed all over the streets weren't there for show. Those who refused to believe had already been taken in to enjoy themselves.

Still, it was a blessing in disguise. At least there had been no large-scale riots; all across the country, there had only been minor disturbances.

Qin Chuan and the Scarlet King did not linger. After watching the situation for a little while, they returned to the hotel they had visited earlier.

"What should I do with this Soul Bone?" The room was luxurious and elegant, a testament to the extravagance of the upper class.

Seated cross-legged on the bed, Qin Chuan took a Soul Bone from the Universe Bag and studied it closely. It was the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone he had snatched from Tang Hao earlier.

Tang Hao had nearly been beaten to death by the Scarlet King trying to reclaim it, his life hanging by a thread.

Had Liu An not revealed his abilities at the last moment and helped Tang San and his father escape, the famed Clear Sky Douluo might have perished on the spot.

Shaking his head, Qin Chuan placed the Soul Bone in front of him and examined its mysteries with his spiritual power, hoping to discern something.

On Douluo Continent, the proper way to use a Soul Bone was to fuse it with one's body. But Qin Chuan would never do that.

Gambling his future for a mere bone was far too risky—and simply not worth it.

Faint wisps of blue light appeared in Qin Chuan's perception, like candle flames flickering in the wind. They were weak, yet wondrous.

"This doesn't seem to match the aura of this world. There are too many mysteries in it, as if someone had forcibly brought it into being." Qin Chuan frowned, unable to make sense of it.

Soul Bones were certain to form when a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast died. Besides that, they could also appear randomly in some special Soul Beasts.

Strangely, however, Soul Bones were of no use to Soul Beasts, yet they greatly enhanced human Soul Masters.

"This world holds secrets too. Soul Beasts seem to have long lifespans and are far stronger than human Soul Masters at the same level, yet they face so many restrictions that survival is incredibly difficult."

"No wonder that Silver Dragon made this deal with me, even giving up a reverse scale."

Unconsciously, Qin Chuan looked at the Silver Bracelet on his wrist, recalling the giant dragon beneath Life Lake, deep in Star Dou.

Enough of that. I should keep studying it. I went to all this trouble to get it. I can't just give up now.

He put aside his distracting thoughts, steadied his mind, and continued releasing his spiritual power to examine the bone before him.

The night passed quickly.

The rosy dawn brightened, and the Red Crow broke through the darkness, rising slowly in the east to herald a new beginning.

After studying the Soul Bone all night, Qin Chuan had made little progress, but he had gained a few insights.

The Soul Bone brimmed with vitality and bore the power of regeneration. By studying it, Qin Chuan had managed to grasp a little of that power.

His physique grew even stronger, and his injuries healed much faster. For someone who was often injured, it was a useful ability.

But that was all he had gained.

With that in mind, he tossed the Soul Bone into Green Green Grassland and left Slow Sheep in charge of studying it.

Perhaps that old sheep, with his boundless imagination, could discover something useful in the bone.

"I should head to Sunset Forest to find the last poison. I'll tell Senior Scarlet King first."

Sunset Forest was no match for Star Dou Great Forest. The Soul Beasts that lived there were generally weaker; even a ten-thousand-year-old one counted as a local tyrant.

Qin Chuan could cross the entire forest by himself.

After giving the Scarlet King a few instructions, the two split up. Each had a task to handle, and they went their separate ways.

Qin Chuan did not take a carriage or anything of the sort. He chose to walk, moving swiftly. About an hour later, he spotted a vast forest.

Without pausing, Qin Chuan strode into the forest and hurried toward the location Xue Qinghe had given him.

From the scenery along the way, Sunset Forest truly was inferior to Star Dou Great Forest. It was still lush and green, stretching as far as the eye could see.

But Soul Masters seeking Soul Rings had trampled out a path through it, clearing away all sorts of obstacles.

Qin Chuan had little trouble making his way deeper into the forest before reaching a dense thicket. This was his destination.

"The Red Blood Centipede should be here. How do I lure it out?" Qin Chuan narrowed his eyes and surveyed his surroundings.

The Red Blood Centipede was the final target he had settled on. Its poison was so potent that it surpassed even the Man Faced Demon Spider's, making it one of the most fearsome Soul Beasts around.

But because its poison was so fierce, the creature itself suffered from it. It was extremely difficult for them to reproduce, so they were rare.

Buzz!

Just as Qin Chuan was thinking of a way to draw out the Red Blood Centipede, a flash of red suddenly darted past.

"I was just wondering how to lure you out, and you came out on your own." Qin Chuan dodged slightly. Once he saw what had appeared, the corners of his mouth lifted in a faint smile.

Its black-and-red carapace gleamed with a metallic sheen. Its long, powerful body crawled through a field of scattered rocks.

The two antennae on its head swayed slightly. Once it had located Qin Chuan, it shot toward him, clearly taking him for prey.

"Hmph. If you'd stayed hidden, I'd have had to go to some trouble. But now, this is easy."

Qin Chuan sneered, showing little concern. He looked completely at ease.

The Red Blood Centipede's poison was fearsome, ranking among the most potent of all poisons. But this one was only four thousand years old. It was far too weak.

Surging vitality erupted from him. Qin Chuan did not even bother to dodge; he threw a punch. Tens of thousands of jin of divine strength slammed into the Red Blood Centipede, shattering its hard scales in an instant.

In little more than a minute, the Red Blood Centipede was dead. It had been no match for Qin Chuan, who had beaten it to death with a few punches.

"Excellent! In just over ten days, I've gathered all five poisonous ingredients needed to refine the pill."

Qin Chuan could not hide his excitement. The pill had been passed down from ancient times and protected by layer upon layer of restrictions. It must be extremely valuable.

Just as Qin Chuan was preparing to leave, a sound came from the woods not far away. It was extremely faint, but Qin Chuan's hearing was sharp enough to catch it.

"This is already deep in Sunset Forest, and it's the Red Blood Centipede's territory. Who would dare enter this area?"

Driven by curiosity, Qin Chuan headed toward the woods, moving stealthily and without a sound.

"Liu An!"

Qin Chuan's eyes narrowed. He had not expected this guy to show up here.