Golden sunlight filtered through layer upon layer of branches and leaves, scattering dappled light and shadows.
Under that golden sunlight, the once dark, damp forest grew bright and warm, filled with life and vitality.
"Qian Daoliu, correct? We'll be leaving now. We'll give you an answer in seven days."
Da Ming looked at Qian Daoliu with his azure eyes and spoke in a deep voice.
Then Da Ming and Er Ming, both enormous and imposing, headed deeper into the forest with Xiao Wu and her mother.
Every step Er Ming took seemed to make the earth tremble, as though declaring his strength.
On Da Ming's bull head, Xiao Wu nestled close to her mother and asked curiously:
"Mom, are we really going to agree to their proposal?"
"Let's think it over. We'll watch what they do over the next few days and see what sort of people they are first."
Xiao Wu’s Mother stroked Xiao Wu’s head as she spoke.
"All right. Er Ming and I will watch them ourselves."
Da Ming's deep voice echoed through the forest, as though reassuring Xiao Wu and her mother.
Er Ming surveyed their surroundings, checking whether any soul beasts foolish enough to court trouble had intruded on their territory.
As they drew closer, the Lake of Life finally appeared before Da Ming, Er Ming, Xiao Wu, and her mother.
Like an enormous mirror, it lay quietly upon the earth. Its waters were a deep, rich emerald green, like a flawless piece of jade, radiating an intoxicating luster.
A gentle breeze brushed the lakeshore, sending ripples across the surface. Rather than churning waves, they gave the lake an air of peace and tranquility.
The water along the shore was clear all the way to the bottom. Through its emerald depths, sand, stones, and aquatic plants were visible, swaying gently as though telling the story of life.
The Lake of Life was more than a pool of emerald water; it held boundless life energy.
That energy was invisible to the naked eye, yet anyone who approached could clearly feel a vibrant breath of life washing over them, as though the lake possessed the magic to heal everything.
Xiao Wu’s Mother gazed at the Lake of Life and murmured, "What would you choose if you were in my place?"
Elsewhere,
Qian Daoliu gazed intently in the direction Da Ming and the others had left. The Lake of Life! That was the true heart of the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Big Brother, your martial soul hasn't even had a soul ring added yet, and it already has such might. It even subdued those two beast kings."
Beside Qian Daoliu, Golden Crocodile recalled what had happened.
When Qian Daoliu had released the Chaos Bell, Da Ming and Er Ming had not been the only ones to feel the Three-Legged Golden Crow's two cries. They had felt them too.
Although Qian Daoliu had done his best to contain its aura within a certain range, it was not because Golden Crocodile and the others were nearby that they had felt it, but because that figure was simply too powerful.
That was the might of an emperor!
The Heavenly Emperor of an era!
The Three-Legged Golden Crow's bloodline stood above this entire world.
Without the Chaos Bell's cooperation, Qian Daoliu would have had some difficulty containing its reach.
"It was a 'divine gift,' after all. Such might is only fitting."
Qian Daoliu spoke.
"We'll wait here for their answer. Seven days isn't exactly a short time."
Withdrawing his gaze, Qian Daoliu addressed the group.
Their location was a relatively open patch of forest, surrounded by trees, like a secluded haven painstakingly crafted by nature.
"Let's set up a place to rest here."
"With Da Ming and Er Ming as our neighbors, there are relatively few soul beasts in this area."
Qian Daoliu's voice was steady and strong, carrying unquestionable authority. Bibi Dong and the others nodded slightly.
Then Qian Daoliu took a camping tent out of his Space Ring and channeled soul power into it. The tent set itself up.
Bibi Dong: "..."
Was this a soul tool? Or a tent?
Spirit Hall had something like this?
Golden Crocodile and the others were already used to it. Who knew how many years older than Bibi Dong that tent was?
Qian Daoliu then began directing Golden Crocodile, Guang Ling, and Jiang Mo as they arranged the camp.
The burly Golden Crocodile hauled wood for the fire, while Guang Ling flitted through every corner of the forest like a nimble bird, gathering branches to conceal the tent.
Jiang Mo silently released his martial soul and vanished from the spot, heading toward the forest's outskirts. They needed food, after all...
The last strand of sunset slipped away from the treetops of the Star Dou Forest.
At some point, the energy crystal atop the soul-tool tent began to glow. At first, it was only a pinprick of warm yellow light, but in a blink, it spread into a halo enveloping the entire tent, keeping the gathering darkness outside the canvas.
The world outside sank completely into darkness. Only the energy crystal's glow traced a soft boundary across the canvas, edging the night-shrouded camp with a warm golden border.
The soul-tool tent contained its own space, measuring nearly thirty square meters.
Everyone gathered around a copper stove, its fire blazing.
Jiang Mo tended the Pipi Pig he had just set on the spit. Fat sizzled over the charcoal, golden grease dripping onto the coals and sending up white smoke fragrant with meat. Mingling with the warm glow of the crystal lamp in the corner, it bathed everyone's faces in warmth.
Jiang Mo sliced off a piece of the tenderest pork loin with a silver knife and tossed it into Qian Daoliu's bowl:
"Big Brother, give it a try! This Pipi Pig ran unbelievably fast around the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest. I chased it for three li before catching it-even chasing that ten-thousand-year demon bear back then wasn't this much trouble!"
Specks of grease clinging to the blade dripped onto the stone slab, spreading into little oily stains.
Qian Daoliu picked up the meat with his jade chopsticks and dipped it in pepper salt:
"You still haven't changed. You even have to get serious to catch a Pipi Pig."
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the barely touched plate before Bibi Dong and added,
"Dong'er, try some. Your Seventh Teacher's skill at roasting meat is unmatched in the Worship Hall."
"All right."
Bibi Dong picked up her jade chopsticks and began eating. Her eyes lit up. Her Seventh Teacher really was an excellent cook.
"Will Xiao Wu’s Mother agree to the 'God-Making Plan' you mentioned in the Star Dou Forest today, Teacher?"
Her voice was soft, yet the noise inside the tent suddenly faded a little.
Qian Daoliu paused in the middle of cutting meat with his silver knife:
"She'll naturally have reservations. After all, no one knows whether it will succeed."
"You might not have seen it, but Ling, you should have noticed. When she said that, Da Ming quietly curled his tail tighter-he was worried."
Guang Ling, who had been twirling his jade chopsticks between his fingertips, stopped at those words:
"I thought Er Ming was even more interesting. His claws were pressed firmly into the ground. He was genuinely afraid something would happen to that little rabbit."
Guang Ling suddenly laughed, imitating the way Er Ming had bared his teeth.
"That goofy look might have been even cuter than Jiang Mo chasing the Pipi Pig."
"Hey! Fifth Brother, how can you compare me to Er Ming..."
Jiang Mo was about to protest, but Golden Crocodile stopped him with a look.
Golden Crocodile set down his jade chopsticks and tapped his knuckles on the table:
"This is the first time I've seen four hundred-thousand-year soul beasts of different species living together so peacefully, just like a family."
Qian Daoliu shook his head and said:
"That family of theirs is..."
The evening ended amid their discussions.
Once the night grew deep and quiet, Qian Daoliu immediately activated the Nine-Yang Divine Skill and began cultivating.
As they had ventured deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest, the life energy had grown increasingly abundant. This place was exceptionally well suited to cultivating the Nine-Yang Divine Skill.
Qian Daoliu wanted to see whether he could achieve a breakthrough in the Nine-Yang Divine Skill without adding a soul ring.
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