The next morning, Li Long arrived at the study at the appointed time. Qian Shengyuan was already seated behind the long desk.
His aura was far more restrained than Li Long had sensed the night before. He had suppressed the pressure of a Peerless Douluo almost completely, but up close, Li Long could still feel its immense weight beneath the surface.
Once Li Long sat down beside him, Qian Shengyuan dispensed with pleasantries and opened a report on the desk.
"You probably sensed some of what was happening in Star Dou Great Forest last night."
He pushed the report toward Li Long. "Over the past six months, the Soul Beasts in the Core Area have expanded their range considerably."
"After the Titan Giant Ape died, the Sky Azure Bull Python organized a large-scale retaliation. It mobilized every Soul Beast over ten thousand years old in the Core Area to attack human Soul Masters as soon as they entered the forest."
"Spirit Hall has lost three Soul Hunting teams in the past six months, and two outposts on the outskirts have been forced to pull back several miles. There have also been scattered reports of Soul Masters being attacked near the surrounding villages and towns."
As Li Long read the report, a knock came at the study door.
Qian Shengyuan called out, and a middle-aged man in a platinum robe opened the door and entered.
Li Long recognized him: Ye Ling, master of Heaven Dou Sacred Hall, an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo and Platinum Bishop.
Ye Ling bowed to Qian Shengyuan, nodded to Li Long, then took a seat beside the long desk.
"Hall Master Ye is here to report the latest intelligence from Star Dou Great Forest," Qian Shengyuan said, motioning for him to continue.
Ye Ling opened the dossier in