Because by the sunlight, they could see clearly.
The five dark-gold peaks towering into the clouds actually converged on an even more enormous dark-gold base hundreds of meters underground.
The surface of that base was covered in enormous scales.
Following the patterns of the scales upward, the arrangement of those five peaks, their relative lengths...
Combined with their inward curve...
These were no five mountains of gold. This was clearly a claw!
A claw large enough to crush the entire Sunset Forest in a single grip!
"Gulp."
Dugu Bo swallowed, his scalp tingling.
He tilted his head back, looking at the gigantic claw that pierced the clouds and stretched beyond sight.
If these five peaks were merely one claw of some creature...
Then just what level of existence was the owner of this claw?
"This fucking..."
At that moment, Dugu Bo could no longer maintain his air of lofty mastery. Even his voice was trembling.
"This is a fucking claw!"
Beside him, Prince Xue Xing's legs gave way, and he collapsed straight onto the ground.
He had actually been fantasizing about digging this thing up and taking it back to forge weapons?
Digging up a claw larger than the entire Sunset Forest?
If they woke that monster underground, never mind the Heaven Dou Empire...
Even the entire Douluo Continent probably would not withstand a single slap!
"Retreat..."
Dugu Bo grabbed Prince Xue Xing, who lay limp on the ground.
"Retreat, now!"
"Seal this place off completely! No one is allowed even half a step closer!"
With that, Dugu Bo could no longer spare a thought for the Imperial Knights. He immediately channeled his Soul Power, turned into a streak of green light, and fled madly.
All he wanted now was to get as far away from that claw as possible.
In a secluded cave on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The Shrek group had a campfire burning, and the atmosphere was somewhat somber.
Yu Xiaogang had changed into clean clothes and sat beside the fire, his expression so dark it could have dripped water.
Today, before Spirit Hall, he had lost a lifetime's worth of face.
Golden Crocodile Douluo had carried him like a chick, then finally thrown him into a muddy puddle.
It was an utter disgrace!
In a corner.
Xiao Wu curled up in Tang San's arms, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.
Others did not know what that aura signified, but as a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who had taken human form, she sensed it all too clearly.
It was an absolute suppression that reached into the depths of her soul!
It was even ten thousand times more terrifying than Da Ming and Er Ming combined!
"Brother... let's go back to the academy. It's too scary here."
Xiao Wu's voice was thick with tears, which welled in her eyes.
Tang San patted Xiao Wu's back tenderly, a trace of dismissiveness flashing through his eyes.
"Don't be scared, Xiao Wu. Your brother's here."
"That was nothing more than a disturbance from an array Spirit Hall set up. It can't hurt you."
Hearing Tang San's words, Yu Xiaogang snorted coldly.
"Little San is right!"
"What do those brutes from Spirit Hall know?"
"That old bastard Golden Crocodile Douluo actually pointed at Array Energy Fluid and insisted it was a blood vessel!"
"How could a creature that large exist in this world?"
The more Yu Xiaogang thought about it, the more unconvinced he became.
He was the foremost theoretical expert on the entire continent!
He firmly believed that the layer of golden liquid he had seen was definitely the Core Power Source of some Ancient Ruins.
Even if he conceded ten thousand steps, even if it really was a Soul Beast, it was definitely a dying creature trapped underground by an Ancient Great Array.
As long as he could unravel this secret and retrieve the precious treasures inside.
Never mind holding his head high before Bibi Dong.
His name, Yu Xiaogang, would undoubtedly live on through the ages, and the entire Douluo Continent would revere him as a god!
At this thought, a trace of fervor flashed in Yu Xiaogang's eyes.
He turned toward Flender beside him.
"Flender, send word to Erlong immediately."
"Tell her to come to the Star Dou Great Forest as quickly as possible and meet up with us."
Flender froze for a moment, somewhat hesitant.
"Xiaogang, even Spirit Hall has sealed that place off. Are we still going to get involved?"
"What if it really is some peerless Ferocious Beast, like they said..."
"Foolish!"
Yu Xiaogang cut Flender off directly.
"I already told you, it's an Ancient Great Array!"
"As long as our Golden Iron Triangle gathers and unleashes our Martial Soul Fusion Skill."
"Could we possibly fear being unable to deal with an inanimate thing?"
Still, Yu Xiaogang was not entirely confident.
After all, the wave of heat that had erupted from the abyss earlier really had been somewhat intimidating.
To be safe, he turned his gaze toward Tang San as well.
"Little San, I remember you mentioned meeting the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny seniors in the Star Dou Great Forest?"
Tang San nodded.
"Yes, Teacher."
"The Peerless Dragon Snake couple should still be hunting Soul Beasts on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, looking for suitable Soul Rings."
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang slapped his thigh.
"Good!"
"Go find them immediately!"
"Tell the Peerless Dragon Snake couple that an unknown top-level Soul Beast has appeared beneath the Star Dou Great Forest, and it's currently gravely injured and dying."
"As long as they're willing to help clear the area, we can split any Soul Bones it drops equally!"
After hearing this, Tang San's eyes lit up too.
The Dragon Duke and Snake Granny were renowned powerhouses in the Soul Master World.
Their combined Martial Soul Fusion Skill could even withstand several attacks from a Titled Douluo head-on.
With their help, this would be a sure thing!
Several hours later.
Tang San brought Dragon Duke Meng Shu and Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang to the Shrek group's camp.
After hearing Yu Xiaogang's description, Dragon Duke Meng Shu stroked his graying beard, a trace of greed flashing through his eyes.
"Grandmaster Yu, are you certain the thing underground isn't the Sky Azure Bull Python or the Titan Giant Ape?"
Yu Xiaogang held his head high and puffed out his chest, waving a hand with great confidence.
"Rest assured, Senior Meng."
"The Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape are both staying in the core region."
"This is definitely an undiscovered, unknown Soul Beast, or merely the remains of an Ancient Divine Beast."
Hearing that it was neither of the Star Dou Great Forest's two overlords, Dragon Duke Meng Shu immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as it was not those two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, what else in the Star Dou Great Forest could stop them, the Peerless Dragon Snake?
"Good!"
Meng Shu laughed loudly and slammed his dragon-headed cane into the ground.
"Since Grandmaster Yu has extended such a gracious invitation, I shall make this trip!"
"Whether it's some Ancient Ruins or an unknown Soul Beast."
"Before my Dragon Staff, it will have to obediently reveal its true form!"
Beside him, Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang sneered repeatedly as well.
"Even Spirit Hall was scared off. It seems Bibi Dong has nothing but wine sacks and rice bags under her command."
"Today, let's go claim this heaven-sent opportunity!"
Seeing the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny so confident, Yu Xiaogang's lips curled into a smug smile.
For strength, they had the Peerless Dragon Snake and the Golden Iron Triangle.
For wisdom, they had him, the foremost theoretical grandmaster.
This was practically a flying dragon riding right into their faces. How could they lose?
Once he obtained the supreme treasure underground, he would definitely smash it into Golden Crocodile Douluo's old face!
"There's no time to lose. As soon as Erlong arrives, we'll set out!"
Yu Xiaogang issued his orders in high spirits.
Throughout the camp, apart from Xiao Wu, who hid trembling in a corner.
Everyone was brimming with confidence.
Half a day later.
A powerful gust suddenly swept through Shrek Academy's temporary camp.
A fiery-red figure came down like a meteor, landing heavily before everyone.
The newcomer wore skintight leather, with a voluptuous figure and an even more fiery temper, like a blazing inferno.
It was none other than the Golden Iron Triangle's Horn of Slaughter, Liu Erlong!
"Xiaogang!"
The moment Liu Erlong landed, she spotted Yu Xiaogang, who had washed and changed but was still deathly pale.
Her eyes immediately reddened, and the Soul Power throughout her body surged uncontrollably.
"Did those bastards from Spirit Hall bully you?"
"Tell me! I'll go tear them apart right now!"
Watching Liu Erlong radiate such overbearing power, Yu Xiaogang felt immensely satisfied.
On the surface, however, he still pretended to be calm and unruffled, waving a hand slightly.
"Erlong, don't be rash."
"Those people from Spirit Hall are nothing but a bunch of brutes with courage but no brains."
"They're guarding a mountain of treasure without knowing how to mine it. All they can do is stare helplessly in disgrace."
Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with powerful confidence.
"I've already gotten to the bottom of it."
"What appeared beneath the Star Dou Great Forest is definitely an Ancient Great Array left behind from ancient times."
"And the array's Core Power Source has begun leaking from ages of disrepair."
"As long as our Golden Iron Triangle joins forces, together with the two Peerless Dragon Snake seniors' Martial Soul Fusion Skill."
"In this forest, even if Bibi Dong came in person, we could still get away unscathed!"
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's assured words.
Dragon Duke Meng Shu, standing nearby, also stroked his graying beard in satisfaction.
"Grandmaster Yu truly lives up to his reputation."
"Since even Spirit Hall is helpless, this heaven-sent opportunity rightfully belongs to us."
Meng Shu tightened his grip on his dragon-headed cane. He and his wife had been stuck at their current levels for many years.
If they could obtain even a little of an Ancient Great Expert's inheritance in these Ancient Ruins, or pick up a Top-Grade Soul Bone.
Then their Peerless Dragon Snake Family could leap straight into the ranks of top powers, equal to the Upper Three Sects!
"There's no time to lose. Let's set out immediately!"
At Yu Xiaogang's command, this hastily assembled "Treasure-Hunting Squad" set off toward the center of the forest in a grand procession.
In the middle of the group.
Tang San held Xiao Wu's hand tightly.
He noticed that Xiao Wu had kept her head lowered since earlier, her entire body trembling.
"Xiao Wu, what's wrong? Are you sick?"
Somewhat worried, Tang San felt Xiao Wu's forehead.
Xiao Wu raised her head. Those eyes, once so full of life, were now filled with irrepressible terror.
"Brother... can we please not go?"
"I feel something really frightening over there."
"That feeling is too terrifying."
Xiao Wu's voice was clearly choked with tears.
As a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who had taken human form, she did not know what exactly lay buried underground.
But the faint traces of lingering bloodline might in the air had already set even the soul within her trembling.
Yet Tang San merely smiled faintly, paying no heed to Xiao Wu's words.
He thought Xiao Wu was simply being a timid girl.
"Don't be afraid. Teacher is here, and so are all these seniors."
Tang San patted Xiao Wu's shoulder reassuringly.
Then he reached out and touched the Twenty-Four Bridge Bright Moon Night at his waist, brimming with confidence.
His hidden weapons were ready.
Even if they really encountered danger, he was confident he could bring Xiao Wu out unscathed using the Tang Sect's techniques.
The group pressed on in silence.
The deeper they went, the stranger their surroundings became.
The once-dense primeval forest was now littered with towering trees torn out by the roots, and the ground was riddled with bottomless fissures.
Even the air was permeated with an unsettling, scorching heat.
"Everyone, stop."
Meng Shu, who was leading the way, suddenly raised his hand, signaling the group to halt.
"There's movement up ahead."
Everyone hurriedly softened their footsteps and peered through the bushes ahead.
When they clearly saw the scene before them,
everyone sucked in a breath of cold air, except Xiao Wu, who buried her head in Tang San's arms, not daring to look.
There, at the edge of that enormous Abyss Canyon ahead,
countless massive, high-ranking Soul Beasts were packed together!
Man Faced Demon Spider Kings, Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears, Cave Demon Spiders...
They were all apex predators of thirty thousand years, or even over fifty thousand years!
And at the very front of these Soul Beasts,
two figures as massive as mountains stood in silence.
The Sky Azure Bull Python, with its bull's head and serpent's body!
The Titan Giant Ape!
"Gulp."
At that moment, even Flender swallowed with difficulty, feeling his legs go weak.
"Two... two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts?"
"And this many ten-thousand-year overlords?"
"Xiaogang, how are we supposed to fight this?"
Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others were so frightened by the sight that their faces turned ashen.
If they charged in, they probably would not even be enough to fill the gaps between those beasts' teeth!
Even Dragon Duke Meng Shu, who had been brimming with confidence just moments earlier, now knitted his brows tightly, cold sweat coating the palm gripping his cane.
The Peerless Dragon Snake's Martial Soul Fusion Skill was indeed powerful.
But against so many high-ranking Soul Beasts, along with two hundred-thousand-year forest overlords, the pair would only be serving themselves up on a platter.
Just as everyone was thinking of beating a retreat,
Yu Xiaogang suddenly chuckled.
"What are you afraid of?"
Yu Xiaogang turned around and shook his head disdainfully at their spineless display.
"Take a close look at what those Soul Beasts are doing."
Everyone froze, then hurriedly focused their gazes on them.
Those normally savage Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts all had their heads pressed against the ground.
Their bodies were still trembling faintly beyond their control.
Even the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape had their heads lowered, looking utterly fearful.
"Do you see?"
Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back, a smile curling his lips.
"They aren't defending anything. They're afraid!"
"If there really were some Soul Beast underground, how could a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast's territorial instincts allow so many other Soul Beasts to come close?"
Yu Xiaogang's words left everyone stunned.
That did seem to make sense.
Seeing that he had swayed everyone, Yu Xiaogang continued his analysis in an unending stream.
"There is only one truth!"
"The Ancient Great Array underground has completely broken down, and the Array Energy Fluid inside is leaking out in massive quantities."
"These Soul Beasts haven't gathered here to protect anything at all."
"They're absorbing the leaking energy!"
"As for why they're trembling?"
"It's merely because a trace of pressure lingering in the array frightens them."
The more Yu Xiaogang spoke, the more excited he became, as though he could already see the peerless treasures at the bottom of the array beckoning to him.
"So we don't need to fight them head-on at all."
Before you continue