Sunset Forest.
"Xiao Hao, why did we come here to train? There's no challenge at all."
Hu Liena wandered around listlessly, grumbling a little.
Clearly, she looked down on Sunset Forest.
Although Sunset Forest was also one of the major gathering places for Soul Beasts, it was far inferior to the Star Dou Great Forest.
"If you have a problem with it, you can go back."
Chu Hao had no habit of indulging people. If she didn't like it, she could go back.
That meant the opportunity wasn't meant for her.
She didn't deserve an Immortal Herb.
"Th-this isn't what I meant, Xiao Hao."
When Hu Liena saw Chu Hao was about to send her away, she panicked.
She didn't want to leave.
"Then keep your mouth shut!"
Chu Hao shot her a cold glance, not giving her the slightest courtesy.
Hu Liena didn't dare say a word.
She felt so wronged.
She'd only complained once.
Did he really have to be so harsh with her?
"Old Du, did you bring it?"
Chu Hao glanced toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and asked thoughtfully.
"I'm ready," Du Feng replied.
"Then take it out," Chu Hao ordered.
"Okay!"
Du Feng nodded, pulled a small porcelain bottle from his clothes, and tossed it in front of everyone.
Crash!
The bottle hit the ground and shattered, making a crisp sound.
A cloud of pink mist immediately spread, accompanied by a strong, intoxicating fragrance.
Before long, the pale red mist drifted away on the wind.
But the heavy fragrance remained, lingering in the air.
"Th-this is Soul Luring Incense."
Xie Yue's expression changed dramatically as he caught the scent.
Soul Luring Incense was a special gas that attracted Soul Beasts.
Even releasing a little could draw Soul Beasts from within a thousand meters.
Du Feng had released an entire bottle, enough to attract Soul Beasts from tens of thousands of meters away, perhaps even hundreds of thousands.
"Soul Luring Incense?"
"Xiao Hao, what are you doing?"
Hu Liena knew how dangerous Soul Luring Incense was. Wasn't this just asking to die?
"This is our training."
"Old Du, you can leave now."
Chu Hao couldn't be bothered to explain. With a flash, he appeared where the bottle had shattered.
The scent of the incense was strongest there.
"Okay. Be careful!"
Du Feng nodded, then leaped away several times and left.
To get rid of the Soul Luring Incense on himself, he also took another porcelain bottle from his clothes.
It contained Soul-Removing Water, which was specifically used to eliminate the scent of Soul Luring Incense.
Just one drop could erase the incense's scent within a ten-meter radius.
"Xiao Hao, you're crazy!"
"Do you know what the consequences will be?"
When Hu Liena saw Du Feng leave, she completely panicked.
They were practically being sent to their deaths.
"I said, if you don't want to stay, then get lost. I won't force you."
"But if you choose to stay, keep your mouth shut."
"There's no shame in being afraid of death!"
"Those who stay, hold out for two hours."
Chu Hao replied coldly and waited in silence.
After hearing his words, Hu Liena felt even more aggrieved.
All he ever did was scold her.
Did he really hate her that much?
"All right, Nana. Chu Hao is doing this for our sake."
"Training like this is dangerous, but it's also the most effective way to improve our strength."
"Strength isn't just about Soul Power Level. It also comes from actual combat experience."
After thinking it over, Xie Yue immediately understood Chu Hao's intentions.
He wanted to create a desperate situation this way, improving their combat experience while also drawing out their potential to some extent.
At that moment, he even admired Chu Hao's approach to training through desperate struggle.
No wonder he was so strong.
"Yeah, Xie Yue is right."
"Nana, if you're afraid of dying, you can leave."
Yan wholeheartedly agreed with Xie Yue, and took the opportunity to provoke Hu Liena's pride.
"Yan, what are you saying?"
"You're the one who's afraid of dying! Your whole family is afraid of dying!"
Sure enough, Hu Liena got angry at Yan's words. She planted her hands on her hips and glared at him.
She looked utterly adorable.
"Then that settles it. Hurry up and get ready."
Yan stared blankly at her cute expression for a moment. When he came to his senses, he immediately summoned his Martial Soul and prepared for battle.
At the same time, Xie Yue and Hu Liena summoned their Martial Souls too.
The three stood back to back, taking their most familiar formation.
Chu Hao glanced at the three of them, ready for battle, and the corner of his mouth lifted in a faint, satisfied smile.
Clearly, he was pleased with their decision and attitude.
Just then, a series of heavy thuds rang out. Even the ground began to tremble, the shaking growing stronger with every thud.
Before long, the earth was rocking violently, as if an earthquake had struck.
Soul Beasts came charging toward them in droves.
Their blood-red eyes made Hu Liena and the others turn pale, their expressions grave.
It seemed they had still underestimated the power of Soul Luring Incense.
This was practically a small-scale beast tide.
Fortunately, they were on the outskirts of Sunset Forest. Most of the Soul Beasts rushing toward them were Hundred-Year Soul Beasts and Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.
Otherwise, they would have run the moment they saw this.
"Know your limits. Don't force yourselves."
Chu Hao looked at the densely packed Soul Beasts and gave a cold reminder, then slowly walked toward the oncoming horde.
The scent of Soul Luring Incense was strongest on him, so naturally, he attracted the most Soul Beasts.
Chu Hao didn't summon his Martial Soul. Sword qi simply coiled around him.
The moment the Soul Beasts charged, it burst forth.
In an instant, the surrounding Soul Beasts were torn to pieces. At least dozens died beneath his sword qi.
Then he pointed casually, and ten thousand sword beams surged into view.
No matter how many Soul Beasts came, he cut them down with a single strike.
However many came, he killed them all, without the slightest pressure.
In his eyes, the charging Soul Beasts seemed less like monsters and more like radishes rolling toward him.
By contrast, Hu Liena and the other two had only killed a few Soul Beasts.
And they had already paid a price for it.
The staggering gap left the three of them trembling with fear and feeling deeply inadequate.
Only now did they truly see how formidable—and ruthless—Chu Hao was.
He was a God of Slaughter.
No, he was a grim reaper who reaped lives.
One minute, two minutes...
A quarter of an hour, half an hour...
As time passed, Chu Hao only grew more ferocious. His aura grew increasingly vast, and the killing intent around him was honed to its utmost.
Corpses of Soul Beasts piled up around him. Their scarlet blood stained the earth, turning the place into a living hell.
If the Soul Luring Incense hadn't driven the Soul Beasts completely mad, Chu Hao's imposing aura would have scared them off long ago.
When two hours had passed, the fragrance of the Soul Luring Incense finally vanished. The few remaining Soul Beasts gradually regained their senses and fled in terror.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, on killing 512 hundred-year soul beasts and 153 thousand-year soul beasts, collecting nearly 700 soul beast souls, and earning a 500-year increase to your soul ring age.] [Ding! Congratulations, host, on collecting over 1,000 souls. You have been rewarded with the God-Demon Eye and gained half a level of soul power. Keep up the good work.] [God-Demon Eye: Possesses exceptional observation skills and can see through everything, inflicting mental damage on enemies (Note: The amount of mental damage inflicted on enemies depends on the host's soul power level).]
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