An Enticing Proposal

In a flash, Ah Rou had already made up her mind.

She hid the coldness and calculation in her eyes, replacing them with a weak, helpless, pitiful expression.

Biting her rosy lips, she said in a trembling voice:

"You... you guessed right. The Soft Bone Rabbit in the core area and I are... mother and daughter. Her name is Xiao Wu. She is my daughter."

"Oh? Mother and daughter?"

Ronan raised a brow, seemingly quite satisfied with the answer. He flicked away some ash and gestured for Ah Rou to continue.

Ah Rou took a deep breath, as though she had made some kind of resolution, then raised her head to look at Ronan.

Her eyes were filled with sincerity. "I know you're very strong. You came for the Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring."

"But the core area of the Star Dou Forest is far too dangerous."

"The Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape possess monstrous strength. They are as close as brothers, and whenever they encounter an enemy, they will definitely join forces."

"Even if you are a Quasi-Titled Douluo, it would be nearly impossible for you to deal with both of them at once."

Ah Rou paused, tossing out her bait. "If you are willing to trust me, I can help you."

"Help me? How?" Ronan watched Ah Rou's performance with amused interest.

"I can go in first and, as her mother, lure Xiao Wu away from the Lake of Life."

Ah Rou carefully proposed.

"That way, you'll have one less Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast to deal with."

"Without Xiao Wu there to assist them, dealing with the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape will be much less taxing for you, and your chances of success will be greater."

"What do you think...?"

After saying that, Ah Rou stared nervously into Ronan's eyes, afraid that he would see through her scheme.

Ronan looked quietly at Ah Rou.

How could he possibly fail to see through this rabbit's little plan?

This bitch is certain I can't beat the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape.

She wants to lure me into the core area and use those two beasts to kill me. Ronan sneered inwardly.

However, Ronan did not expose her.

Although Ronan's current strength was already terrifying, the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape were, after all, the overlords of the Star Dou Forest, with deep reserves of power.

If those two giant beasts fought back desperately, with a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Rabbit interfering from the side, they would indeed cause him quite a bit of trouble.

If Ah Rou could truly lure Xiao Wu away, he could focus his efforts, defeat them one by one, and maximize his gains.

As for Ah Rou wanting to kill with a borrowed blade?

That depended on whether those two blades were sharp enough!

Once he absorbed a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring and broke through to become a Titled Douluo, forget Da Ming and Er Ming—even if all the Spirit Beasts in the Star Dou Forest joined forces, he would not take them seriously!

Well, excluding the Spirit Beasts of the Land of Great Evil...

"Your proposal is indeed very enticing."

Ronan casually flicked away the cigar that was nearly burned out in his hand, a smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"Having one less Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast to fight is certainly good news for me. I accept your proposal."

Hearing Ronan agree, Ah Rou was overjoyed inside, though she still maintained her weak appearance on the surface.

"However..."

Ronan's tone abruptly shifted. He suddenly reached out and pinched Ah Rou's smooth chin, forcing her to raise her head and meet his gaze.

His eyes instantly became incomparably domineering and aggressive.

"There is still a long way to go from here to the core area of the Star Dou Forest."

"Along the way, you must obediently follow my arrangements. Whatever I say, you will do. Understand?"

Seeing the possessiveness in Ronan's gaze, Ah Rou felt utterly humiliated.

She knew that before reaching the core area, she would never be able to escape this demon's clutches.

But for the sake of her eventual revenge, for the sake of leading this man into a death trap, she could only grit her teeth and swallow the humiliation.

"I... I understand. I will follow your arrangements." Ah Rou lowered her head and agreed in humiliation.

"Very good." Ronan patted Ah Rou's cheek in satisfaction. "Get dressed. We're getting ready to hit the road."

Over the following days, one man and one rabbit, each harboring their own schemes, began their journey deeper into the core area of the Star Dou Forest.

At Ronan's speed, it would originally have taken only a few days to cross the outer and mixed regions and reach the core area.

Yet he deliberately slowed down, as though he had not come to hunt Spirit Beasts at all, but to sightsee.

During the day, they strolled leisurely through the forest.

Whenever some high-level Spirit Beast foolish enough to attack them appeared, Ah Rou did not need to lift a finger.

With a casual wave of Ronan's hand, a terrifying surge of Soul Power would instantly crush ten-thousand-year Spirit Beasts into pulp.

That seemingly effortless yet world-shattering power made Ah Rou, who watched coldly from the side, increasingly terrified.

She had no choice but to admit that this man's strength had indeed reached an utterly terrifying level.

But the more so it was, the stronger the killing intent in her heart became.

Such a dangerous figure absolutely could not be allowed to remain in this world! Da Ming and Er Ming had to erase him completely!

Nighttime, however, marked the beginning of Ah Rou's true nightmare.

Ronan seemed to possess endless stamina. Every night, he would transform into a pastry chef and invite Ah Rou to sample cream puffs.

Endure! Just endure a little longer!

Once we reach the core area, once I see Da Ming and Er Ming, this demon will meet his end!

Time quietly passed amid that strange, tension-filled atmosphere.

About two weeks later.

The ancient trees around them grew increasingly massive, requiring more than a dozen people to encircle them.

The spiritual energy in the air was so dense it seemed almost liquid, yet it was accompanied by an immensely oppressive, suffocatingly terrifying pressure.

There was no trace of ordinary Spirit Beasts here. Even the sounds of birds and insects had completely vanished. It was as silent as a land of death.

They had finally reached a point only a few dozen kilometers from the Lake of Life, the core region of the Star Dou Forest.

At this point, Ronan finally stopped.

Standing on a thick tree branch, he gazed into the distance. Though his vision was blocked by the dense forest,

his powerful spiritual power allowed him to faintly sense three auras hidden within the unknown region ahead.

Without question, they belonged to the Sky Azure Bull Python, the Titan Giant Ape, and Xiao Wu!

Standing behind Ronan, Ah Rou looked at the familiar forest ahead, and a trace of barely noticeable excitement and madness flashed through her eyes.

Finally, they had arrived!

She took a deep breath, steadied her excited emotions, and walked to Ronan's side. "The core area is ahead."

"Da Ming and Er Ming are extremely perceptive. If we barge in directly, we will definitely alert them."

"Once they join forces, you will have little chance."

"So?" Ronan turned his head and looked at her with an ambiguous smile.