Kong Deming's expression turned grave, and he hurriedly explained, "Several Far North Ferocious Beasts with cultivation bases of over a hundred thousand years now hold sway over the Far North. The remaining powerhouses of the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion clan are stationed there, and the bone-deep cold is terrifyingly powerful."
He paused, then continued, "The Evil Demon Forest is even more dangerous. It's shrouded in demonic energy year-round, breeding vast numbers of mutated Ferocious Beasts. They're violent and bloodthirsty, and practically impossible to fight."
"It's also the home of the Evil Emperor, ranked second among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts!"
"The nearby Ice Sea isn't peaceful either. It's said that the Sea Princess Clan there has a cultivation base of six hundred thousand years."
"Only the Sunset Forest has yet to yield any rumors of Ferocious Beasts. It's the lowest-risk option, and the best place for the two of you to seek Soul Rings!"
Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi listened to Kong Deming's account of Douluo Continent's hidden secrets.
Their expressions grew as grave as Kong Deming's.
In the end, Qian Daoliu decided they would follow Kong Deming's suggestion and try their luck in the Sunset Forest first. If that didn't work, they would try the Evil Demon Forest, the Far North, or the Ice Sea.
After all, he and Bo Saixi had to complete their divine trials.
Afterward, Qian Daoliu and Kong Deming chatted for a long while.
Then Kong Deming left.
Qian Daoliu began assigning everyone their next tasks.
First, Ye Guyi, Qiangu Zhenyue, Qiangu Zhenxie, Jin Lin, and Guang Yao would temporarily return to Soul Hall and await the return of the Soul Hall Soul Engineer Legion. They would then lead the legion in following Kong Deming to deal with Shrek Academy's Soul Engineer Legion.
Of course, the newly "recruited" Silver-Clad Girl, Silver Moon, would be joining them as well.
Since they didn't know the Silver-Clad Girl's name, Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi had temporarily given her the name Silver Moon.
For some reason, Bo Saixi was very fond of Silver Moon.
If not for the fact that Silver Moon came from Shrek Academy, Bo Saixi would truly have taken her on as a disciple.
But now clearly wasn't the time.
Bo Saixi could only set aside the idea of taking her as a disciple and let her stay at Soul Hall for the time being, hoping to learn more about Sea God Island from her later.
After assigning tasks to Soul Hall's younger generation,
Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi planned to wait until the following day to say their farewells to Kong Deming and the others.
Then the two of them would head to the Sunset Forest alone to obtain their respective Soul Rings.
The following day, after saying goodbye to everyone,
Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi resolutely released their Martial Souls and crossed the Sun Moon Empire, passing through the Heaven Dou Empire.
Along the way, they spotted the returning Soul Hall Soul Engineer Legion and Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion from afar.
Qian Daoliu gazed down at the troops below and noticed the faint aura of slaughter surrounding the Soul Engineers. Their bearing had grown sharper and steadier, and he was quite satisfied.
He didn't show himself and disturb them. He and Bo Saixi raced through the air, speeding straight toward the Sunset Forest.
At last, after a day and a night of rapid travel, Qian Daoliu returned to the Sunset Forest.
Qian Daoliu had returned to the Sunset Forest.
Like the Star Dou Great Forest, today's Sunset Forest was much smaller than it had been ten thousand years ago.
The two didn't stop for even a moment. Their figures shot into the forest like twin streaks of light, heading straight for the Sunset Forest's core region.
Ancient trees towered over the dense forest, and the undergrowth was deep. Strange beasts roamed the area, but none were particularly powerful.
Half a month slipped by in the blink of an eye. Qian Daoliu searched every dangerous place and every spot where spiritual energy gathered, but still couldn't find a Soul Beast that suited his needs. His brow gradually furrowed with gloom.
Just as Qian Daoliu was about to give up on the Sunset Forest and head to the Far North or the Ice Sea,
Meanwhile, while Qian Daoliu searched the Sunset Forest for a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, Kong Deming, Ye Guyi, and the others had been busy as well.
Before the Soul Hall Soul Engineer Legion and the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion had returned,
Kong Deming had already pinpointed the place where Shrek's Soul Engineer Legion had disappeared.
This time, Kong Deming had taken precautions.
Just as Qian Daoliu had predicted, he had stationed a heavy force at the spot where they'd vanished, keeping watch day and night.
Of course, Kong Deming had ordered the soldiers and Soul Engineers to conceal themselves, leaving no trace of their presence.
For several days, nothing unusual happened at the spot where they had disappeared.
Just as everyone began to think Kong Deming's efforts were all for nothing,
an anomaly appeared at the spot where Shrek's Soul Engineer Legion had disappeared, on the evening of the tenth day.
By then, the Soul Hall Soul Engineer Legion and the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion had taken up their positions.
Ye Guyi, Qiangu Zhenyue, Qiangu Zhenxie, Jin Lin, and Guang Yao were each commanding squads of the Soul Hall Soul Engineer Legion, all standing ready for battle.
Under the command of Fire Phoenix Douluo, the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion had also joined Kong Deming's forces.
As dusk deepened, the air suddenly twisted. A sinister spatial gate several yards tall slowly opened, black mist roiling within as a bone-chilling cold seeped out.
A hearty voice rang from inside. "Yuhao, those Soul Engineer Legions the Sun Moon Empire sent to hunt us down are such fools. They've searched for days and still haven't figured out where we are! Where should we go next?"
Huo Yuhao's expression remained calm as he reminded them in a low voice, "Sanshi, don't let your guard down. The Sun Moon Empire's Soul Engineer Legions are the strongest on the continent. If we weren't relying on the Undead Demiplane's ability to conceal us, we'd have been surrounded long ago."
As soon as he finished speaking, a clear female voice chimed in. "Yuhao's right. This place is full of danger. We mustn't let our guard down."
"Ah!" The man who had spoken so arrogantly at first let out an exaggerated scream.
His voice echoed through the surrounding space via the spatial gate.
The Royal Soul Engineer Corps of the Sun Moon Empire picked it up.
Soon, the Soul Tools of Ye Guyi, Qiangu Zhenyue, Qiangu Zhenxie, Jin Lin, Guang Yao, Fire Phoenix Douluo, and the supreme commander, Kong Deming, crackled to life with voices. "Report! Anomalous fluctuations detected in East District 3. We've also picked up voices!"
"Send the audio over!"
"Royal Soul Engineer Corps, Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion, Soul Hall Soul Engineer Legion, take your positions! Prepare for battle at any moment!"
"Bring out your heaviest firepower! Aim all Soul Cannons of rank seven and above at East District 3!"
"Await my command. One volley!"
The one speaking was supreme commander Kong Deming.
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
Ye Guyi, Qiangu Zhenyue, Qiangu Zhenxie, Jin Lin, Guang Yao, and Fire Phoenix Douluo all spoke with determined voices.
At the same time, they began issuing orders to their respective squads.
Kong Deming personally commanded the Royal Soul Engineer Corps.
In an instant, a variety of high-level Soul Cannons gleaming with icy light were set up, their muzzles trained in unison on the spatial gate in East District 3.
Brilliant halos flowed over their barrels, their power ready to unleash.
All three Soul Engineer Legions held their breath. Soul energy poured into the cannon barrels as the battlefield's tension reached its peak. Everyone waited silently for Kong Deming's order to fire.
Meanwhile, inside the Undead Demiplane, a very unconvincing cry rang out. "Ow, ow, ow! Nannan, that hurts!"
The ones speaking were none other than Huo Yuhao, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, and the others.
"In a moment, I'll use Spiritual Simulation. Everyone, sneak out one at a time, and stay hidden!"
Before you continue