Star Dou Great Forest

Star Dou Great Forest.

This was the largest Soul Beast Forest on Douluo Continent, spanning both the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire. Its area was nearly equivalent to that of the entire kingdom of Balak.

It had the greatest number, widest variety, and most complete range of Soul Beasts. It was also home to the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast known throughout the continent—the Titan Giant Ape. Some powerful figures also knew that an even stronger Sky Azure Bull Python dwelled within.

Almost every Soul Master could find a suitable Soul Ring here, and many genius Soul Masters had obtained their Soul Rings from this place.

At the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, Mu Chen and Sword Douluo resupplied and rested in a nearby town.

Mu Chen was still somewhat awestruck by the towering ancient trees everywhere before him. The boundless forest and the energy contained in its fresh air were far richer than the outside world, and it brimmed with life and vitality—something no human-raised Soul Beast Forest could compare to.

"Little Chen, this is the Star Dou Great Forest. Even I wouldn't dare say I can act without fear here. You mustn't run off on your own. Stay within my sight," Sword Douluo said sternly as he looked at the excited Mu Chen.

"Mm, Grandpa Sword, I understand."

Mu Chen nodded. With his current level-thirty Soul Power, combined with Sword Momentum and his External Soul Bone, he could at most fight an ordinary ten-thousand-year Soul Beast.

Even if he used both Dragon Hairpins, he could still be finished if he encountered an exceptionally powerful ten-thousand-year Soul Beast, such as the Titan Giant Ape or the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.

After checking their belongings once more, the two of them set off deeper into the forest.

The Star Dou Great Forest was generally divided into three regions: the outer region, the mixed region, and the core region. The outer region was home to Soul Beasts below ten thousand years, while the mixed region was the domain of ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts. The core region was naturally the territory of the two great overlords.

Mu Chen knew that the true terror of the Star Dou Great Forest lay even deeper within. The two apparent overlords could only be considered weaklings before those beings.

The two continued deeper into the forest. Since Mu Chen's third Soul Ring needed to be around five thousand years old while also being of high quality, they set their destination near the boundary between the mixed region and the outer region.

The density of Soul Beasts along the way gradually thinned out from densely packed numbers. Although some blind Soul Beasts attacked them, Sword Douluo did not even need to lift a hand—Mu Chen could handle them himself.

Of course, they relied more on intimidation than slaughter.

If that failed, Mu Chen and Sword Douluo simply treated the Soul Beasts as an extra meal. Their preparations proved especially useful at such times, particularly in the hands of someone with Mu Chen's God-tier Cooking Skill.

After a full four days, the two were finally about to leave the outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest. This place was simply too enormous, and they were both Soul Masters.

If they had been ordinary people, merely walking this far would have taken more than half a month.

"Little Chen, we're about to enter the mixed region. We've already encountered some ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts. Haven't you found a suitable Soul Ring even now?

"Further in, they'll all be ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts. Your physical condition still isn't enough to support absorbing a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring," Sword Douluo said wearily.

"Sigh... Grandpa Sword, let's wait a little longer. I'm still not satisfied with those Soul Beasts," Mu Chen said. Spending more time was no issue. This was his choice of Soul Ring, one of his most important methods until he became a god.

"Fine, you brat. Hurry up and roast this rabbit. I thought yesterday's spicy rabbit head was pretty tasty." Sword Douluo took a dead rabbit from his Storage Soul Tool.

"Alright, Grandpa Sword. Let's call it a day here." After looking around and finding no clues for the moment, Mu Chen took out a grill and various seasonings, preparing to roast the rabbit.

However, Mu Chen realized that as they ventured deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest, his martial soul, the Emperor Dragon Sword, seemed to have sensed something. It resonated faintly, and the feeling was growing stronger.

If something resonated with the Emperor Dragon Sword, it could not be the sword's own material. The Emperor Dragon Sword had been tempered by Azure Dragon blood, so the only possibility was something related to the Azure Dragon.

Across the entire Douluo Continent, the only beings with pure Dragon Clan bloodlines were Hell Demon Dragon King Zi Ji, Beast God Di Tian, and Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena. At most, there was also the Auspicious Beast Three-Eyed Golden Beast. He did not know which one it could be.

However, Mu Chen felt that Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena was the most likely possibility. Although she was severely injured and recovering at the bottom of the Lake of Life, her strength at her peak had rivaled that of a God King. Her spiritual power in particular far surpassed that of the others.

Even if a Dragon Clan member had sensed the dragon aura of Mu Chen's martial soul, the Silver Dragon King should have been the first to notice.

After finishing their work, Mu Chen and Sword Douluo began eating the rabbit to replenish their energy. Following a brief rest, the two set off once again.

They first searched the surrounding area. Another two days passed, yet they still found nothing.

A full week passed without any results, and the two of them began to grow anxious.

"I'm telling you, Little Chen, I think that four-thousand-five-hundred-year Xuanwu Underworld Turtle we saw yesterday was already very suitable.

"Whether it's its age or its powerful defensive ability, it's an excellent fit. Its defense is especially impressive—even ordinary ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts cannot break through it. Why are you still dissatisfied?"

Sword Douluo spoke earnestly. It was not that he was impatient, but there was no need to spend so much time obtaining a Soul Ring like this, especially when it was only the third Soul Ring.

"Although the Xuanwu Underworld Turtle has powerful defense, and the spikes on its shell even possess an ability similar to reflective armor, it's still not what I want most. It's lacking something.

"Grandpa Sword, how about this? Let's search for one more day. If we still find nothing, then I'll choose that Xuanwu Underworld Turtle as my third Soul Ring," Mu Chen said.

Of course, there was another reason Mu Chen did not want to choose the Xuanwu Underworld Turtle as his third Soul Ring: he thought the thing was ugly. But if he said that to Sword Douluo, he would probably get beaten up.

"Then it's settled, you brat." Sword Douluo agreed, and the two entered the mixed region, the domain of ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts.