Azure Jade Training Reveals Its Might

After resting for the night at the edge of Azure Jade Forest, the next morning, the group officially entered this vast and dangerous primordial land under the leadership of Elders Dongyue Qingxuan and Li Tianji.

The moment they entered the forest, the light abruptly grew dim. Towering ancient trees blotted out the sky, many of their thick trunks bearing the lustrous hue of green jade. The air was thick with a mixture of rich life energy and the scent of rotting vegetation. Beneath their feet lay layers of fallen leaves accumulated over countless years, soft and silent underfoot.

The two Titled Douluo did not release their powerful auras to intimidate anything. They merely spread their senses through the surroundings, remaining alert for soul beasts over ten thousand years old. Their purpose was clear: to ensure safety while allowing the younger generation to gain genuine experience.

"Maintain formation. Xuansheng and Ling, lead the way. Xuanbei and Yu, cover the flanks. Xuejian and A-Lin, stay in the center. Everyone else, bring up the rear. Stay alert," Li Tianji instructed in a deep voice, swiftly arranging the marching formation.

Li Xuansheng held the Divine Phoenix Halberd as he walked at the front. Dongyue Ling moved beside him, the Heavenly Heart Ring on his wrist emitting gentle spiritual ripples. Li Xuanbei's Book of Nature floated at his side, while Dongyue Yu lightly tapped the small Rain Bell at his fingertips. The entire group moved like a precise instrument, cautiously exploring within the safe zone established by the two elders.

On the first day, the group advanced slowly and carefully. Low-level soul beasts retreated on their own, while several rather aggressive thousand-year soul beasts, such as Azurewood Wolves and Withered-Leaf Pythons, became practice targets for the youngsters.

"Left side. Three Azurewood Wolves, around fifteen hundred years old," Dongyue Ling warned in advance as the Heavenly Heart Ring flashed faintly.

"I've got them!" Li Xuansheng shouted lowly, shooting forward like lightning. The Divine Phoenix Halberd swept out with a scorching gust, instantly sending the first Azurewood Wolf flying. The other two pounced from the flanks, only to be tripped by tough vines summoned by Li Xuanbei's Book of Nature, their movements briefly halted.

"Second Soul Skill, Ringlight Binding!" Dongyue Xuejian called out sharply. Two white rings flew from the Heavenly Heart Ring on her wrist, precisely looping around the hind legs of the two Azurewood Wolves and stopping them short once more. Li Xuansheng seized the chance, thrusting his halberd straight through one wolf's head. Then, with a twist of the shaft, he smashed the last wolf fiercely into the bushes. His movements were clean and efficient.

"Cousin Xuejian's control was perfectly timed." Li Xuansheng turned and smiled approvingly at Dongyue Xuejian.

Dongyue Xuejian's little face flushed slightly. Recalling the Heavenly Heart Ring, she said with shining eyes, "It was Cousin Xuansheng's attack that was too fast."

On the afternoon of the second day, they encountered a small hunting party of seven or eight people. The strongest among them was only a Soul Emperor. From afar, they saw the group's luxurious attire and the two elders with unfathomable auras, and immediately began whispering among themselves.

"Boss, judging by their clothes and banners, they look like people from the Li Family of Heavenly Phoenix City and the Dongyue Family..."

"And those two old men don't look easy to mess with. Should we leave?"

The middle-aged Soul Emperor leading them made a quick decision. "Go. Take another route. Don't stir up trouble." The group swiftly changed direction and disappeared into the dense forest on the other side.

"Looks like the names of our two families still carry some weight," Dongyue Ling said softly.

Li Xuansheng nodded, his gaze still vigilantly sweeping the surroundings. "Caution comes first. There are plenty of desperate outlaws in the forest. The truly vicious ones may not care about banners."

Sure enough, at noon on the third day, as they crossed a relatively open patch of woodland, they encountered another group head-on. There were over a dozen people on the other side, all uniformly dressed and wearing vicious wolf-head emblems on their chests. Their leader was a scar-faced, arrogant-looking middle-aged brute whose soul power fluctuations indicated a Soul Sage. They seemed to have just fought a battle, and the scent of blood still clung to them. When they saw Li Xuansheng's group—especially the strikingly beautiful Dongyue Xuejian and Li Xuanmeng—their gazes immediately turned hostile.

"Well, where did this little young master and young lady sightseeing party come from?" The scar-faced Soul Sage grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. His tone was frivolous. "Azure Jade Forest isn't a place for you to play house. These little beauties are really fresh-looking. How about chatting with your big brothers?" The members behind him burst into malicious laughter.

Li Xuansheng's eyes instantly turned cold, and he tightened his grip on the Divine Phoenix Halberd. Dongyue Ling stepped forward, shielding Dongyue Xuejian behind him. Though his tone remained restrained, it carried a chill. "Please show some respect. We have no intention of conflict. Kindly move aside."

"Move aside?" The scar-faced Soul Sage sneered. "Did your family build this road? I'm not moving today! Not only am I not moving, but these little beauties have to stay too!" His greedy gaze swept across the young women of the Dongyue Family.

The faces of the Li Family and Dongyue Family members grew even angrier. Soul power had already begun surging within Li Xuansheng, but at that moment, Elder Li Tianji, who had remained silent until now, slowly stepped forward and looked calmly at the scar-faced Soul Sage.

"Get lost within three breaths," Li Tianji said. His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority.

The scar-faced Soul Sage felt an inexplicable chill under that gaze. Yet relying on his Soul Sage cultivation and numerical advantage, he forced himself to remain calm. "Old bastard, who the hell do you think you are? You dare meddle in my business—"

Before he could finish, Li Tianji did not even release his martial soul. The soul power pressure of a level 92 Titled Douluo descended abruptly upon the Soul Sage and his companions like an invisible mountain!

"Urgh!" The scar-faced Soul Sage's savage grin froze instantly, turning into utter terror! He felt as if the air around him had solidified. The immense pressure made every bone in his body creak, and the surging soul power within him seemed frozen solid. He could not even release his martial soul! His companions behind him turned deathly pale. Several dropped to their knees with thuds, trembling all over.

"T-Titled Douluo..." The scar-faced Soul Sage squeezed out the words through clenched teeth. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back, and all his previous arrogance vanished without a trace, leaving only boundless terror and regret.

"P-Please spare us, Senior! This lowly one failed to recognize your greatness! We'll get lost right now! Right now!"

Li Tianji snorted and withdrew his pressure.

Like startled birds, the group scrambled away in panic. Supporting their limp companions, they fled miserably into the depths of the forest several times faster than they had arrived, not daring to look back even once.

The conflict vanished before it could truly begin.

Only then did Dongyue Qingxuan speak calmly to the thoughtful youngsters. "Do you see it? The strong devour the weak. That is the law of the forest, and a reflection of the continent as well. Without absolute strength to deter them, a bloody battle would have been unavoidable just now. You may not have feared it, but that was not the purpose of this training. Before you possess sufficient power, learn to make use of circumstance. More importantly, understand reverence. Know when to endure and when to strike like thunder."

The youngsters all nodded. Personal experience was far more unforgettable than any lecture.

On the evening of the third day, as they searched for a suitable campsite, another group approached from the side. The other party wore uniform clothing and had a relatively peaceful air. The green-robed elder leading them swept his gaze over the group, visibly pausing when he noticed Dongyue Qingxuan and Li Tianji. A smile then appeared on his face. He took several people over and cupped his hands from afar.

"Are you friends of the Dongyue Clan and the Li Family? I am Mu Yi of the Azurewood Sect. We happened to meet here, so I came to pay my respects."

Dongyue Qingxuan and Li Tianji exchanged a glance before returning the salute. "So it is Elder Mu Yi of the Azurewood Sect. A pleasure to meet you."

Elder Mu Yi smiled warmly. "You flatter me. You all look travel-worn. I presume you have brought the talented juniors of your clans here for training? The younger generation is truly formidable."

Li Tianji naturally took up the conversation and sighed. "Elder Mu Yi has keen eyes. We indeed brought these juniors out to broaden their horizons and search for suitable soul rings along the way. But Azure Jade Forest is vast, and suitable soul beasts are difficult to find. Has Elder Mu Yi heard of any noteworthy traces recently? It would help us avoid some unnecessary detours."

Elder Mu Yi stroked his beard and pondered for a moment. "Elder Li is too courteous. As it happens, disciples of our sect have indeed reported several soul beast traces worth noting recently."

After a brief pause, he continued, "Deep in the Secluded Valley to the southeast, someone has spotted a Prismatic Deer, around five thousand years old. It would be an excellent choice for a control-type or support-type soul master. In the Stone Forest to the north, groups of Rock-Armored Tortoises have recently been active. Individuals around eight thousand years old are not difficult to find, and their defensive power is astonishing."

"Also," Elder Mu Yi said, looking at Li Tianji, "if any of your disciples require a power-attack-type soul ring, there seem to be signs of Blazing Azure Luan activity around Redstone Mountain to the east. Judging from its presence, it should be between thirteen thousand and fifteen thousand years old. This bird not only possesses formidable offensive strength but also carries a thin Phoenix bloodline. There are also Shadowflash Leopards in the west. They are incredibly fast and are around ten thousand years old as well."

(Note: The Blazing Azure Luan was actually a twenty-one-thousand-year-old Blazing Azure Luan. Due to its extraordinary bloodline and restrained pressure, ordinary soul masters had misjudged its age.)

At the mention of "Blazing Azure Luan," Li Xuansheng's heart stirred. This was one of his potential targets, a powerful soul beast with a thin Phoenix bloodline!

Dongyue Qingxuan cupped his hands. "Elder Mu Yi has been so generous in sharing this information. We will remember this favor."

"You give it too much weight, Elder Dongyue." Elder Mu Yi waved with a smile. "They are merely ordinary bits of news. It is enough if they can help you. Azure Jade Forest is full of dangers. More friends are always better than more enemies. Consider it the beginning of a good relationship."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Elder Mu Yi took his people and departed.

Three days passed amid searching, training, and minor disturbances. They had yet to discover the specific soul beasts suited to Li Xuansheng, Li Xuanbei, and the others, but everyone had gained greatly.

Night fell once more, and the campfire was lit. Three consecutive days of traveling through the forest had left a trace of fatigue on the young faces, but their eyes had become even sharper.

"Of the locations Elder Mu Yi mentioned, the Blazing Azure Luan at Redstone Mountain best suits Xuansheng's needs," Dongyue Qingxuan decided. "Tomorrow, we will turn east and explore the Redstone Mountain region."

Li Xuansheng stroked the Divine Phoenix Halberd beside him, feeling the warmth from its shaft as he gazed toward the dark eastern horizon. Blazing Azure Luan... if it truly had a cultivation of more than ten thousand years, it would indeed be a suitable choice for his fifth soul ring. A faint anticipation rose within him.

(End of Chapter 6)