Three Hundred Thousand-Year Soul Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest!

In the western part of the Star Dou Great Forest lay a secluded deep pool, shrouded beneath ancient trees that blotted out the sky.

The water's surface was smooth as a mirror, reflecting the cold moonlight and mottled shadows of the trees.

Deathly silence

was the eternal theme of this region.

Even the chirping of insects and calls of birds had vanished here.

Not a single soul beast within several miles dared set foot in this territory.

Because a terrifying overlord dwelled here.

Suddenly!

"Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle!"

Without warning, the tranquil pool began to boil violently!

Countless bubbles surged up from the bottom in a bubbling torrent.

The once-clear water instantly turned into dark jade-green waves.

Boom!

Accompanied by an earthshaking roar,

a colossal azure shape burst through the water, throwing up towering waves dozens of meters high!

It was an enormous azure serpent, so immense it beggared belief.

Its body was as thick as a century-old tree,

and its densely packed azure scales gleamed beneath the moonlight with a cold, metallic luster.

It raised its incomparably massive head, its crimson tongue lashing wildly as it unleashed an exceptionally shrill hiss toward the vast night sky!

Hiss—!

The terrifying pressure of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast swept outward like a tsunami!

Wherever the sound waves passed, ancient trees exploded in swathes.

Some nearby hundred-year and thousand-year soul beasts did not even have time to scream before the invisible pressure slammed them to the ground, blood streaming from their seven orifices as they trembled violently.

The entire western forest instantly fell into apocalyptic panic.

The violent hissing did not last long.

A moment later,

the azure serpent's immense body slowly coiled as it descended once more onto the boiling pool.

The savagery and irritability in its eyes gradually faded, replaced by a profound gleam of great intelligence.

Its enormous emerald eyes remained fixed on the distant northern horizon.

As though it were awaiting and yearning for something.

Unlike the unrest at the deep pool in the west,

the Life Lake in the most central region of the Star Dou Great Forest remained peaceful and sacred.

This was the source of the entire great forest.

An immensely rich aura of life condensed into a faint white mist that drifted across the crystal-clear lake.

It was like a paradise on earth.

Yet the instant the azure serpent hissed, the peace of Life Lake was shattered.

Layer upon layer of massive ripples spread across the clear water.

From the depths of the lake, an enormous black shadow stretching dozens of meters slowly emerged.

Splash!

Water sprayed in all directions!

An incomparably massive bull's head broke through the surface!

Two enormous horns, dazzling like blue-violet lightning, grew from its head.

Yet its body resembled an immensely thick giant python, emanating a terrifying aura capable of destroying heaven and earth.

A hundred-thousand-year soul beast, the ruler of the Star Dou Great Forest—the Azure Bull Python!

On the shore of Life Lake, a black shadow resembling a small hill slowly rose to its feet.

It was a towering black giant ape.

Its entire body was covered in muscles like heavy armor forged from refined steel.

Its pair of enormous yellow, vicious eyes were like two bright lanterns hanging high in the air, radiating ferocity and savagery as though it could devour anyone it chose.

The king of the forest, the hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape!

The two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts both raised themselves higher and stared solemnly toward the west of the forest.

Er Ming raised a mountain-sized iron fist and rubbed the back of his head irritably.

"Da Ming! What kind of fit is that hundred-thousand-year old green snake in the west throwing again?"

His rumbling voice was like muffled thunder, making the leaves around him rustle.

"Not sleeping properly in the middle of the night, screaming like a ghost and making my ears buzz!"

Er Ming muttered in a deep, muffled voice. Veins bulged along his thick arms, and the air crackled as his fists clenched.

As he spoke,

Er Ming could no longer hold himself back and took a huge step forward.

With a thunderous stomp, he crushed a pit several meters deep into the ground.

He slammed his huge fists together, his vicious aura surging forth.

"How about I go over there and beat it up right now? Teach it who really has the final say in this Star Dou Great Forest!"

In the face of Er Ming's temper, Da Ming in the water appeared far more composed.

A gleam of intelligence flashed through Da Ming's enormous bull eyes.

He slowly exhaled a stream of white vapor. "Er Ming, do not act rashly."

"What is it?"

Er Ming blinked his bell-sized eyes and scratched his head in confusion.

"Don't tell me you're afraid of it?"

"It is not fear."

Da Ming shook his head.

His enormous, pillar-like snake body moved slightly in the lake, stirring up ripples.

Da Ming pondered for a moment as the faint glow around his horns flickered uncertainly.

"That green snake is no ordinary opponent. If we truly fought to the death, neither of us alone might be its match."

"Unless we attacked together."

"But causing such a massive disturbance would not be worth it."

Da Ming paused, his tone turning serious.

"Our duty is to protect Life Lake and every blade of grass and tree here."

"As long as it does not cross the boundary and invade the core region, there is no need to pay it any attention."

Upon hearing the word "protect,"

the previously aggressive Er Ming suddenly deflated like a punctured ball.

The violent ferocity around him instantly vanished without a trace.

A rare look of loneliness and longing appeared on his huge, savage ape face.

He slowly crouched down and sat by the shore of Life Lake.

His fists hung limply over his knees as he gazed blankly at his reflection on the water.

"Protect..."

"That's right. We promised Sister Xiao Wu that we would protect this place, protect Sister Xiao Wu's home..."

Er Ming's voice grew hoarse. The imposing aura he had shown when talking about beating someone up was gone, replaced by a trace of grievance and concern.

"Da Ming... I miss Sister Xiao Wu."

At the mention of "Sister Xiao Wu," Da Ming's enormous bull head trembled slightly as well.

Deep attachment and worry filled his giant eyes.

"Sister Xiao Wu has been gone from the forest, living in the human world, for several years now, hasn't she?"

Er Ming extended a finger as thick as a tree trunk and lightly traced lines across the lake's surface.

He grumbled incessantly.

"What's so good about the human world?"

"Those humans are skinny as dry firewood, and they have as many schemes as a honeycomb!"

"I heard humans have to wear all kinds of strange clothes and eat cooked grass and meat. How can that compare to the freedom we have in the forest?"

"What if... what if Sister Xiao Wu can't get enough to eat in the human world?"

"What if those cunning human soul masters see through Sister Xiao Wu's identity?"

As Er Ming spoke, his eyes began to redden, and fury rose in them once more.

"Those damned humans back then... they killed Mother! Not a single human is any good!"

Boom!

Er Ming smashed his fist into the ground, shattering several ten-thousand-year ancient trees nearby.

Da Ming let out a long sigh, and his massive exhalation stirred fierce gusts across the lake.

"Sister Xiao Wu chose to take human form and cultivate along the path of humans. That was her own decision."

"She bears the vengeance for Mother's death and also wishes to see the world beyond the forest. We cannot stop her."

"Though the human world is filled with danger, Sister Xiao Wu is clever and quick-witted. She should be all right for now."

Da Ming turned his head, his profound gaze settling on Er Ming. His tone was gentle yet incomparably firm.

"Er Ming, put away your restlessness."

"All we can do is guard this home well."

"Grow stronger and defend Life Lake more securely!"

"When the day comes that Sister Xiao Wu suffers injustice outside, or encounters danger she cannot resolve, as long as she returns to this forest, we brothers will be her most unbreakable support!"

"Yes!"

Er Ming abruptly rose to his feet.

His mountain-like chest heaved violently, and his eyes became fierce and blazing once more.

"Whoever dares touch even a single hair on Sister Xiao Wu's head, I'll twist off his skull and use it as a ball! I'll smash every last one of them into meat paste!"

Da Ming watched Er Ming regain his spirits and nodded faintly, a trace of relief appearing in his eyes.

"Cultivate yourself well. Do not waste your time."

After saying that, Da Ming spoke no further, and his massive body slowly sank.

Amid the splashing water,

the Azure Bull Python's majestic hundred-meter body submerged once again into the deep, clear blue waters of Life Lake.

Only Er Ming remained standing alone on the shore.

He looked toward the direction Xiao Wu had left in.

The longing in his heart tangled with his nowhere-to-spend violent energy, leaving him uncomfortable all over.

He missed Sister Xiao Wu so much that his heart ached!

Then he thought of that green snake in the distance, screaming for no reason earlier. The more Er Ming thought about it, the angrier he became.

It felt as though a stifling frustration was trapped in his chest with nowhere to vent.

Roar!!!!

Er Ming suddenly raised both arms high and hammered his broad, heavy chest madly with his massive iron fists like sledgehammers!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Dull, thunderous booms echoed between heaven and earth, making the trees throughout the core region sway wildly!

He threw back his enormous head and unleashed an incomparably violent roar toward the stars filling the sky!

The earthshaking roar turned into invisible shockwaves of sound.

Tens of thousands of flying soul beasts perched in the treetops were scared out of their wits.

They let out piercing cries and flew into the sky like dark clouds blanketing the heavens, desperately fleeing this place where the fierce beast raged.

"That feels much better!"

Having vented that roar, Er Ming let out a breath of stale air.

He no longer looked at the tranquil lake.

He abruptly turned around, strode forward, and charged into the depths of the dense forest like an unstoppable steel war chariot.

He smashed through countless boulders and trees in his way, leaving behind only devastation and a night sky that could not settle for a long time.