Forest Combat Training

"That wretched bastard! Damn him!"

Inside Spirit Hall's Worship Hall, Light Feather Douluo's childish voice rang through the entire building.

"In all my years, when have I ever suffered such humiliation? Absolutely outrageous!"

"Enough, Fifth Brother. Calm down," said Azure Luan Douluo, the Third Offering.

"Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down? I want to go back there right now and put an arrow through that bastard!"

Of course, those were only angry words. If he actually had to go back, he would not dare.

Ling Han's strength was simply terrifying. Even when Light Feather Douluo concealed himself in the shadows, Ling Han could drag him out in an instant.

Looking at Light Feather Douluo's sorry state, Azure Luan Douluo could barely suppress a smile.

Light Feather Douluo could not be bothered to argue with him and turned to someone else.

"Second Brother, you have to help me!"

The man he turned to wore heavy golden armor over his tall, burly frame. He was Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Second Worship of the Worship Hall, whose martial soul was the Golden Crocodile King and whose soul power had reached level 98.

Golden Crocodile Douluo looked at Light Feather Douluo calmly. "Fifth Brother, let this matter rest."

Light Feather Douluo immediately protested. "Why, Second Brother? Even you won't help me?"

A trace of helplessness crossed Golden Crocodile Douluo's eyes as he explained, "Then let me ask you: what level do you think that young man's soul power has reached?"

After a little thought, Light Feather Douluo replied, "Level 97 or 98. No higher than that."

"Then do you think you could have returned alive if he had meant you harm?"

Light Feather Douluo fell silent.

It was true. If Ling Han had meant him harm, he would already be dead.

Yet here he was, alive and well, with nothing but a sore backside that would recover in a couple of days.

"But..."

"No buts. Tell me, did you provoke him?"

Light Feather Douluo fell silent, then finally nodded.

"Xiao Xue asked me to keep an eye on him. Who knew his cultivation was so high? He spotted me immediately."

Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded. "There you have it. This matter ends here. Xiao Xue has already sent word that this young Ice Emperor Douluo is willing to support her ambition. That is enough. None of you are to provoke him again. A Super Douluo so young is almost certain to reach Eldest Brother's realm in the future. We cannot afford to make an enemy of someone like him."

"All right, Second Brother. I'll listen to you."

At Heaven Dou Royal Academy's training grounds.

"After all this training, you should have gotten used to my methods. Starting today, I'm going to raise the intensity!"

Ling Han addressed the members of the Imperial Fighting Team.

Despair filled everyone's eyes except Tang San's.

Over the past few days, they had barely kept up with the pace and intensity of Ling Han's training despite giving it everything they had. They had never imagined he would increase it again so soon.

Tang San felt no despair because he was already used to it. He also believed that only more intensive training could make him stronger.

Ling Han's training was well-designed and tailored to their needs. Its effectiveness was second to none.

In terms of talent, the Imperial Fighting Team's members could not even match the Shrek Seven Devils from the original story before they consumed immortal herbs.

That was why Ling Han had to push their training.

He was also confident he could raise the Imperial Fighting Team to heights beyond what their natural talent would normally allow.

"I've already requested permission from Chief Meng Shenji. Today, I'm taking you outside for some practical combat training. It'll also give me a chance to see how well you actually fight."

In truth, Ling Han did not need permission for anything he wanted to do. He only needed to tell Meng Shenji.

It was a notification, not a discussion.

"Teacher, are we going out to compete in soul fighting matches?"

The moment Osler heard they could leave the academy, he grew excited.

Ling Han gave a mysterious smile. "Of course not. This will be far more exciting than soul fighting matches."

While everyone was still puzzled, Ling Han waved a hand, releasing a strand of soul power that enveloped them before he soared into the air.

Ling Han flew swiftly at the speed of a Limit Douluo.

First, he brought them to the streets of Heaven Dou City.

"Go buy some dry rations and supplies. Make sure you bring enough."

Although they were confused, they did as instructed.

As students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they naturally had no shortage of money.

Before long, they had bought all sorts of supplies and dry rations.

Ling Han then took them straight out of Heaven Dou City.

Their destination was the Star Dou Great Forest.

Flying at full speed as a Limit Douluo, Ling Han soon reached the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

But the outermost edge was not their destination.

Most of the soul beasts here were only ten-year or hundred-year beasts. Tang San could clear them out by himself.

"Only by fighting real soul beasts can you test your true combat abilities and temper your resolve."

"In a moment, I'll take you deeper into the outer region, to the edge of the Mixed Zone. You'll spend the next three days in the forest, dealing with any soul beasts you encounter yourselves. I will only intervene if your lives are in danger."

Glancing at Xiao Wu, Ling Han added another instruction.

"We won't slaughter soul beasts needlessly when we aren't absorbing their soul rings. All I want you to do is drive off any beasts that attack. Of course, if you encounter one determined to kill you, there is no need to show mercy. The strong prey on the weak in the Star Dou Great Forest. Kill it outright."

Xiao Wu's brow relaxed at his words.

As long as they were not required to kill soul beasts, that was fine.

Ling Han then brought everyone to the edge of the Mixed Zone.

Most members of the Imperial Fighting Team were Soul Grandmasters. Only Tang San and Dugu Yan had reached the Soul Elder rank.

The soul beasts found along the edge of the Mixed Zone ranged from a hundred to a thousand years old, with the occasional beast older than a thousand years. It was an ideal place for their training.

Besides, in this era when the ferocious beasts lay dormant, Ling Han was the strongest being in the Star Dou Great Forest.

If the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python dared to come, they would have to prepare for their own funerals.

After setting everyone down, Ling Han vanished from the spot and moved somewhere concealed to observe them.

This was the first time the Imperial Fighting Team's members had been in the forest without an elder beside them.

As team captain, Tang San quickly composed himself and began assessing the situation.

"Don't panic, everyone. We're at the edge of the Mixed Zone, so the soul beasts here won't be too old. Teacher wouldn't send us to our deaths. We should proceed as steadily as possible, but don't back down when we encounter soul beasts. Have the courage to fight. I think that's why Teacher brought us here."

"Tang San is right. Pull yourselves together, all of you. Don't embarrass Brother Ling Han!" Dugu Yan chimed in.

Everyone nodded and grouped together, beginning to move cautiously along the outskirts of the Mixed Zone.

Watching from a short distance away, Ling Han nodded inwardly.