Cultivating Eight Extremes Collapse!

The Star Dou Great Forest was indeed the largest gathering place for Soul Beasts on the Douluo Continent.

In his previous life, when he had watched scenes of the Star Dou Great Forest in the anime, he had been able to feel how primeval and ancient it was. Now that he was here in person, he felt even more as though he had entered a place cut off from the world.

What delighted Jiang Nian most was not the abundance of Soul Power particles here, but the medicinal herbs everywhere he looked.

Although these herbs were not from the Battle Through the Heavens World, identifying their medicinal properties could not have been easier for Lu Jin, who had received Yao Chen's Inheritance.

Qian Renxue could not help tightening her grip on Jiang Nian's hand. "Teacher, is this the Star Dou Great Forest?"

"Yes, this is the Star Dou Great Forest. There are countless kinds of Soul Beasts and opportunities beyond number, but dangers lurk everywhere just the same."

Since Qian Renxue's Martial Soul had received the template of Kayle the Seraph, it would be easier for her to cultivate in a place rich in fire elements.

The Star Dou Forest was so vast that it took Jiang Nian some time to find a place suitable for Qian Renxue to cultivate.

Once they arrived, Jiang Nian told Qian Renxue to try cultivating Eight Extremes Collapse first. He left some Bone Spirit Cold Flame inside her, then went looking for the medicinal herbs they would need next.

With Qian Renxue's current physique, she could withstand the impact of an eight-hundred-year Soul Ring at most. Even if she cultivated diligently for a while longer, she would only be able to raise that limit to a thousand years.

And this was no game, where she could get a Soul Ring of whatever age she wanted.

To guard against accidents, Jiang Nian needed to find some medicinal herbs and refine pills that could help Qian Renxue absorb a Soul Ring without mishap.

Fortunately, the Star Dou Great Forest was indeed rich in resources, and Jiang Nian found the herbs he needed in no time.

After gathering the herbs, Jiang Nian sighed. "The natives of the Douluo Continent haven't developed even one percent of the potential of medicinal pills. There really are treasures everywhere here. I wonder what the precise medicinal effects of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well are."

Just as he was about to head back, he suddenly sensed a disturbance in the Bone Spirit Cold Flame.

"Did something happen to Xue'er?" Jiang Nian had no time to think. He raised a hand, tore open space, and hurried toward the place where Qian Renxue was training.

In less than two breaths, Jiang Nian stepped out of the void and landed not far from Qian Renxue's training ground.

He arrived just in time to see an insect-type Soul Beast several meters long attacking her.

It was a Thousand-Legged Illusory Poison Centipede, a thousand-year Soul Beast adept at using its venom to paralyze its opponent's nerves and create illusions.

Jiang Nian had intended to intervene, but he saw that Qian Renxue was not at a loss. Instead, she was concentrating on trying to defeat the Soul Beast.

"This girl..." Jiang Nian breathed a sigh of relief.

Qian Renxue was a genius, and a genius ought to have her own unique way of cultivating.

A thousand-year Soul Beast was indeed a little difficult for Qian Renxue to deal with, but it was not unbeatable.

I'll watch first and step in if her life is in danger... Having made up his mind, Jiang Nian began observing Qian Renxue's shortcomings in battle.

Qian Renxue relied on her nimble movements to keep putting distance between herself and the Thousand-Legged Deadly Poison Centipede.

The Thousand-Legged Deadly Poison Centipede's venom caused hallucinations. Even a little contact would affect her judgment of the battle, so keeping her distance was the best choice.

But the next question was how Qian Renxue could hit the Soul Beast.

For now, all Qian Renxue could rely on were Eight Extremes Collapse and Suction Palm.

Although she had learned Suction Palm, Qian Renxue was not yet strong enough to use it to threaten the life of a thousand-year Soul Beast.

Eight Extremes Collapse was powerful enough, but Qian Renxue had only just learned the basics, and she could not get close enough to wear the beast down, so she could not put it to use for the time being.

Qian Renxue's mind raced, but she still could not think of a way to deal with it.

Gradually, her state of mind began to suffer. In a moment of distraction, she saw the Soul Beast lunge at her, its gaping, bloody maw opening to devour her.

Just as the Soul Beast was about to reach Qian Renxue, its massive body suddenly flew backward out of control.

Jiang Nian used Suction Palm to pull the Thousand-Legged Illusory Poison Centipede away, then flashed to Qian Renxue's side to check her for injuries.

"Thank you, Teacher." Qian Renxue breathed a sigh of relief. Then a guilty look appeared on her face. "Xue'er embarrassed you. I couldn't even touch it."

Girl, you're only six!

Jiang Nian shook his head. "You did wonderfully. All you need to do next is reflect on it. I'll deal with this beast for you."

"Don't, Teacher!" Qian Renxue stopped Jiang Nian, her gaze serious. "Xue'er wants to kill it herself!"

Jiang Nian understood. The girl was holding a grudge.

He nodded, then swept his sleeve, binding the Soul Beast and tossing it into a nearby cave to keep it penned up. "Then I'll keep it for you."

One month later.

The morning air in the Star Dou Great Forest was exceptionally fresh, and the thin mist hanging over the forest lingered for a long time.

Beneath the mist, Qian Renxue, who had grown a little taller, once again asked to fight the Soul Beast.

This one was not actually the original Thousand-Legged Illusory Poison Centipede anymore.

After all, she had picked a fight with it every day. Even when it won, it could not escape, and as time went on, the Soul Beast had grown somewhat depressed and given up.

In recognition of how long the fellow had served as a sparring partner, Jiang Nian rewarded it with a cultivation pill and let it go.

The current Soul Beast was several hundred years older than the one he had released, and its build was sturdier too.

"Are you ready?" Jiang Nian looked at Qian Renxue. "Let's be clear: just like before, I won't step in lightly this time, even if you get hurt. If you can't beat it, remember to admit defeat. Only then will I help you."

Jiang Nian wanted to teach Qian Renxue that losing was not truly frightening. What was frightening was being unable to accept defeat.

There would come a time when Qian Renxue had to stand on her own. If she suffered defeat then and still stubbornly held on, it would only end in irreparable regret.

Qian Renxue nodded. "Don't worry, Teacher. Xue'er knows!"

Jiang Nian nodded and wasted no more words. He released the Thousand-Legged Illusory Poison Centipede trapped in the cave.

Creak, creak~

The Thousand-Legged Illusory Poison Centipede belonged to the insect family and did not roar like a wild beast, but the sound of its densely packed legs constantly knocking together was even more unnerving than a beast's roar.

Qian Renxue focused completely. Without waiting for the Thousand-Legged Illusory Poison Centipede to attack, she struck first with Suction Palm.

The sudden attack enraged the Thousand-Legged Illusory Poison Centipede, and it immediately charged after Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue had been through this scene countless times, but this time she had no intention of continuing to flee.

Just as the Thousand-Legged Illusory Poison Centipede charged at her, she reversed Suction Palm, instantly propelling herself away.

Then, while the Thousand-Legged Illusory Poison Centipede was unable to turn around at once because of its momentum, she used Suction Palm again to pull herself toward it.

"Eight Extremes Collapse!" Qian Renxue shouted, punching the Thousand-Legged Illusory Poison Centipede in the back of the head.

After a month of practice, she could now release an additional layer of force.

Under the impact of the two layers of force, the Eight-Legged Illusory Poison Centipede's body slammed to the ground with a boom.

The whole sequence left even Jiang Nian dumbfounded.

After holding it in for a long while, all he could say was, "Your mother's Martial Soul really is a spider, all right. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were cosplaying Spider-Man!"

She had reversed Suction Palm to push herself away, then used it normally to close in while the target was still carried by its momentum, before following up with a punch using Eight Extremes Collapse.

Jiang Nian had to admit that Qian Renxue's talent for combat was no joke.

The battle continued. The Thousand-Legged Illusory Poison Centipede was a thousand-year Soul Beast, after all; expecting a single punch like that to rob it of its fighting ability was pure wishful thinking.

With one success behind her, Qian Renxue grew increasingly adept at her guerrilla tactics.

She always kept an ambiguous distance from the Soul Beast: close enough to use Suction Palm to approach and land a punch, yet far enough away to evade its attacks.

Jiang Nian watched with relish. Rather than a battle, this was more like a combat performance by Qian Renxue.

She really was kiting it.

Just then, footsteps sounded nearby. Jiang Nian frowned. "How did she end up sticking with those two after all?"

A hearty voice rang out from the side. "Brother Jiang, I didn't expect us to meet again so soon!"

Jiang Nian did not look at the newcomer, keeping his eyes fixed on Qian Renxue's battle.

Ah Yin, on the other hand, was somewhat reluctant to meet Jiang Nian's gaze. Even now, she did not understand how he had seen through her true identity as a Soul Beast.

In truth, she did not want to stay with Tang Hao and the other man either. Jiang Nian had frightened her earlier, and she had intended to flee back to the Star Dou Forest and find another place to cultivate.

But Tang Hao had followed her like a lingering ghost, insisting on coming along, leaving her no choice but to travel with the two of them.

Tang Hao was not annoyed by the cold reception. Following Jiang Nian's gaze, he looked toward Qian Renxue, and his pupils narrowed slightly at the sight of her unusual fighting style.