Fine Clothes, Fiery Steeds

Star Dou Great Forest.

As the region with the most luxuriant vegetation on the continent, it was home to countless soul beasts and the most important hunting ground for soul masters seeking Soul Rings.

Every day, countless people entered the Star Dou Great Forest, and many also died at the hands of soul beasts or other soul masters. Far more than mere soil lay beneath its vegetation.

"Students, the Star Dou Great Forest is far too dangerous at night, so we'll make camp here today. Tomorrow, we'll find suitable soul beasts for those of you who need to absorb Soul Rings."

The young man in azure robes wore a gentle smile. His resolute face was bathed in sunlight, lending him an exceptionally handsome glow.

A sword sheath hung at his waist, specially made to hold three swords. Yet among the academy students, no one had ever seen the azure-robed youth use more than one sword in a single battle.

What drew the most attention, however, was the young man's left arm. It looked neither human nor like the limb of a soul beast. Within the academy, it had a widely known name: Ghost Hand!

This youth in azure was naturally Yang Dong. Five Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, and black—revolved around his Ghost Hand. At sixteen, he was a level fifty-eight, five-ring Soul King. Such a cultivation speed had broken the records of the soul master world.

"Yang Dong, isn't it a little too early to set up camp now? There's still some time before sunset."

A youth in black and red stepped out from behind Yang Dong. It was naturally Tang Hao. He gripped the Haotian Hammer in his hand, a trace of puzzlement in his gaze as he looked at Yang Dong.

"It's better to be cautious. You know how dangerous the Star Dou Great Forest is. If we get careless, even a Title Douluo could die here. For everyone's safety, we should set up camp now."

Yang Dong explained with a smile, waving to the boys and girls beside him to signal for them to begin setting up camp.

"Then we'll do as you say."

Tang Hao shrugged and glanced around.

"Huh, where's my brother?"

Yang Dong spread his hands, indicating that he did not know either.

"Are you going to take part in this All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament?"

Tang Hao walked over to Yang Dong's side. Looking at the younger students busying themselves in the distance, he quietly asked for Yang Dong's opinion.

The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, initiated by the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires and assisted by Spirit Hall, had officially sent invitations to every advanced soul master academy. This was the first officially organized tournament on Douluo Continent. Not only were the rewards from the two great empires exceedingly generous, but Spirit Hall alone had put up ten Soul Bones as prizes. The scale of this event was unprecedented.

"The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament."

Yang Dong murmured the name. He had wondered before why he had never heard of this tournament. Now he finally understood—it had only been formally introduced this year.

"Are you asking me this on your own behalf, or on behalf of your Clear Sky Sect?"

Yang Dong did not give his answer. Instead, he posed a question to Tang Hao.

"Both for myself and for the Clear Sky Sect."

"Let me tell you something that many people still don't know. My grandfather is preparing to seek that illusory path to godhood, so the Clear Sky Sect needs to establish its prestige through this All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament and let others feel our strength."

Seeking the path to godhood?

Yang Dong was not surprised by this news at all. "When is he leaving?"

"After this All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament."

After answering Yang Dong's question, Tang Hao looked up at the sky obscured by the dense forest.

"Yang Dong, do you think gods really exist in this world? Grandfather has been going on and on about the path to godhood these past few years. I'm starting to wonder if he's lost his mind."

Did gods exist?

Wasn't your future son, Tang San, a god? He even held dual godhoods as the Sea God and Asura God.

Of course, Yang Dong did not say this aloud. After clearing his throat, he said, "If you believe, they exist. If you don't, they don't. So-called gods are merely people stronger than us."

"Gods are merely people stronger than us?"

Tang Hao repeated those words several times, light gleaming in his eyes.

"Stop dragging this off topic. Just tell me—are you joining this All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament or not?"

Tang Hao came back to his senses, speaking with slight dissatisfaction.

"I'm joining. Of course I'm joining. How could I miss such a grand event?" Yang Dong said with a smile.

"Good, then it's settled. You can't stand me up."

As the two spoke, a thousand-year Purple Green Steel Pig charged toward the temporary campsite from afar.

"Should we step in?"

"Wait and see."

Tang Hao did not immediately move to stop it. Instead, he maintained an ideal attacking stance, ready at any moment to rescue the dozen or so people in the camp.

"A Purple Green Steel Pig, and it's a thousand years old! What do we do?"

"Where are the senior students? The three senior students! Why haven't they acted yet?!"

The dozen or so people erupted into chaos, hurriedly summoning their martial souls. By then, the Purple Green Steel Pig had already rushed before them. The rank stench that hit them in the face made their limbs turn cold, and only a few of them could even use their soul skills.

Boom!

Tang Hao leaped into the air, and the Haotian Hammer in his hand expanded several times over. Even so, it was still far smaller than the Purple Green Steel Pig.

Yet this small Haotian Hammer directly sent the Purple Green Steel Pig flying. It smashed down several large trees in the forest and plowed a long trench through the ground.

"Your vigilance is far too poor. Remember, this is the Star Dou Great Forest. Don't think that having us around means you're absolutely safe. The soul beasts here come in all kinds. If you still keep the same mentality as before, then even on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, you may still die!"

Tang Xiao emerged from the forest behind them and earnestly lectured the people in the camp.

Yang Dong leaned against a tree trunk. He had known about Tang Xiao's way of doing things since last year.

That was why he had told Tang Hao to wait.

Night fell swiftly.

At night, all manner of terrifying cries could be heard in the Star Dou Great Forest. Yang Dong and the Tang Hao brothers sat together, their gazes continuously sweeping the surroundings.

What had happened four years ago had made all three of them extremely wary of nights in the forest.