Golden Thunder Python

The moment the aura of a fifth Title Douluo appeared within sensing range, the atmosphere to the southeast of the valley tightened abruptly.

Snake Lance Douluo and Ci Xue moved almost simultaneously to shield Qian Renxue behind them, their nine soul rings igniting in unison as the pressure of Title Douluos surged outward like a tidal wave.

On Jiang Lin's side, Tang Yuan merely frowned, his gaze shifting from the southeast toward the northwest.

"This aura... it's Dugu Bo."

Tang Yuan's voice was calm. "He is locked in combat with something; the fluctuations are intense. He has already summoned his Martial Soul Avatar."

Dugu Bo?

Jiang Lin paused, turning his head toward the source of the aura.

A sea of toxic mist rose above the dense forest to the northwest, emerald clouds obscuring half the sky.

Coiled within the poison clouds was the phantom of a massive, entirely green beast. Two ferocious dragon horns sprouted from its head, and four protrusions—not yet fully formed—bulged beneath its belly. It was no longer the Jade Phosphorus Serpent Emperor, but an evolved Jade Phosphorus Poison Dragon.

Beneath that cloud of poison, a massive, golden python was struggling frantically.

Over fifteen meters in length, its scales crackled with arc-like lightning, and a fist-sized tumor in the center of its forehead continuously spat out bolts of golden electricity.

A Golden Thunder Python, with a cultivation base nearing thirty thousand years.

At this moment, the Jade Phosphorus Poison Dragon's toxic mist was suppressing the Golden Thunder Python, yet the python's counterattacks remained savage. The trajectory of their battle was rapidly shifting toward Jiang Lin's position.

Jiang Lin glanced down at the dying Purple Lightning Mad Lion in his hand, then looked back at the Golden Thunder Python thrashing in the poison mist.

Twenty-five thousand years, lightning attribute, not bad.

But compared to a nearly thirty-thousand-year-old lightning-attribute soul beast with golden bloodlines...

"Is there even a choice?"

He tossed the Purple Lightning Mad Lion aside and retrieved the Ninja Mask from his Soul Tool, pressing it onto his face.

His figure quickly dissolved into the shadows beneath his feet, stalking toward the Golden Thunder Python.

"Elder Chen."

Jiang Lin's voice emerged from the shadows. "Go and greet those people over there.

Uncle Tang, stay back and hold the line. Keep the Clear Sky Hammer hidden for now; don't reveal our trump card."

Elder Chen nodded, straightened his robes, and flashed into existence before Qian Renxue and her two companions.

Snake Lance Douluo and Ci Xue reacted with lightning speed.

The moment Elder Chen appeared, both had already summoned their Martial Souls.

Snake Lance Douluo held a pitch-black, snake-shaped spear, while Ci Xue's entire body was covered in a layer of spiked, hardened armor.

Their nine soul rings flared simultaneously, releasing the unreserved pressure of Title Douluos.

Elder Chen smiled faintly, hands clasped behind his back. His own nine soul rings ignited, and the phantom of a Three-Eyed Fire Leopard opened its vertical eye behind him.

The aura of his level ninety-three soul power spread steadily, colliding with the pressure of the two men opposite him—the expressions of Snake Lance and Ci Xue shifted instantly.

Level ninety-three. And the man standing in the back who hadn't moved, arms crossed, possessed an aura even deeper than this one, one they couldn't even fathom.

"No need for such tension, the three of you."

Elder Chen's voice was unhurried. "My young master and I are just passing through. We originally intended to hunt a Purple Lightning Mad Lion.

Having sensed the commotion to the northwest, and knowing that an old acquaintance of my young master is over there, we decided to take a look. We are strangers to you three; there is no need to sour the mood."

"An old acquaintance?"

Snake Lance Douluo narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping toward the distant poison mist. "That is the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo. You know him?"

"An old friend."

Elder Chen chuckled, brushing past the details with a light touch.

Snake Lance and Ci Xue exchanged a glance.

Dugu Bo was a Title Douluo; although only level ninety-one, they had heard that his poisons were so potent that even the level ninety-five Chrysanthemum Douluo had to tread carefully around him.

The old man before them was level ninety-three, the cold, arrogant man behind him was unfathomable, and they were connected to Dugu Bo—the other side effectively possessed the combat power of three Title Douluos.

And they only had two.

At this moment, Qian Renxue stepped forward slowly.

Maintaining her disguise as Xue Qinghe, she stood in white robes, her expression refined and scholarly. Her gaze lingered on Elder Chen for a moment before shifting toward the distant figure.

Snake Lance and Ci Xue transmitted their assessment of the enemy's strength to her via soul voice.

Qian Renxue's pupils contracted slightly, but the gentle smile on her face remained unchanged.

Two Title Douluos—one level ninety-three, one unfathomable—and they were even linked to the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo.

This level of power would make them a hegemon anywhere on the Douluo Continent.

And the fact that so many Title Douluos had gathered here seemed to revolve around that youth she had yet to see.

"I am Xue Qinghe, Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire."

Qian Renxue spoke, her voice gentle and courteous. "May I ask how to address you, Senior?"

"My surname is Chen, a mere rogue cultivator. I dare not soil Your Highness's ears with my lowly name."

Elder Chen cupped his hands, "Is Your Highness also here to hunt for a soul ring?"

"Indeed. However, since you and your young master are here, we naturally have no reason to compete."

Qian Renxue's gaze drifted past Elder Chen, landing on the patch of poisonous mist in the distance where a fierce battle was unfolding.

She saw it—a black shadow leapt silently from the shadows behind the Golden Thunder Python, a blood-colored halberd in its hand piercing precisely into the Golden Thunder Python's seven-inch mark. Immediately after, dozens of black shadows leapt out from all directions, pinning the Golden Thunder Python firmly to the ground.

A flash of unconcealable surprise flickered in the depths of Qian Renxue's eyes.

That youth's timing was impeccable, catching the exact gap just after the Golden Thunder Python had been crippled by Dugu Bo and its final death throes had ended.

This kind of battlefield instinct was absolutely not something that could be cultivated in a greenhouse.

"Elder Chen."

Qian Renxue withdrew her gaze, her tone carrying a hint of seriousness, "I am truly impressed that your young master possesses such combat talent at his age. I wonder if you and your young master would consider coming to the Heaven Dou Empire to develop? I guarantee in the name of the Crown Prince that you two will never be treated unfairly."

Elder Chen chuckled inwardly, but his face remained impassive as he simply cupped his hands:

"Many thanks for Your Highness's kind intentions. However, my young master is accustomed to freedom and has no plans to pledge allegiance to any side for the time being."

Qian Renxue took a deep look at Elder Chen and did not press the matter further, nodding slightly:

"In that case, I shall not disturb you further. If there is an opportunity in the future, I hope to have a face-to-face conversation with your young master."

Having said this, she signaled to Snake Lance and Ci Xue, and the three of them turned and walked toward the outer perimeter of the Sunset Forest.

After Elder Chen and Tang Yuan watched the three of them depart, they also headed in the direction of Jiang Lin.