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Rumble, rumble…
Under the cover of night, a seemingly ordinary carriage quietly departed through the northern gate of Wu'an City without causing any disturbance.
"Chengfeng, why do we have to be so careful leaving the city? Are we really that afraid of being discovered by spies from Wu Ping City?"
After traveling ten miles away from the city, Zhu Fan, disguised as an ordinary coachman, finally couldn't help but ask the question that had been on his mind, directing it toward Dai Chengfeng inside the carriage.
"Why do we have to be so careful?"
Upon hearing this, Dai Chengfeng's eyes grew deep and profound. "Because I've spent five and a half months sharpening a 'sword,' all to create one opportunity…"
"An opportunity for a single, fatal strike—to exact my revenge!!!"
"Now that the cicada has entered the net… I don't want any unexpected complications!"
Hearing Dai Chengfeng's reply, Zhu Fan fell into deep thought. "Five and a half months, just to create one chance for a decisive strike?"
"And our Wu'an City, coincidentally, spent five and a half months repairing the road… That absurd military order Chengfeng issued before was indeed the result of careful consideration!"
For a moment, Zhu Fan felt immense anticipation. How would his nephew deliver a decisive blow to Wu Ping City?
Would it be as brilliant as the defense of Wu'an City?
But he didn't ask!
He trusted his nephew. All he needed to do was follow orders and unconditionally execute them!
"I see. Then I look forward to your command this time, Chengfeng…"
Zhu Fan suddenly stopped the carriage. "But you still haven't told me—where are we going?"
"And which spirit beast will you use for your second soul ring?"
At this point, Zhu Fan still couldn't let go and cautiously tried to persuade him on behalf of the Emperor. "And Chengfeng, are you really not considering absorbing the soul ring of the Gold Wave Beast?"
"Although I've helped conceal the fact that your soul power has already reached level 20, causing His Majesty to misjudge and not send anyone to forcibly bring you back in time…"
"Someday, His Majesty will find out."
"At that time, won't you fear His Majesty's wrath?"
"Besides, the Gold Wave Beast isn't bad at all. The White Tiger Intense Light Wave is a very powerful soul skill!"
Dai Chengfeng shook his head. "Uncle, please stop trying to persuade me."
"The White Tiger Intense Light Wave is a powerful soul skill? Compared to something like Blue Silver Grass Entanglement, sure, it's impressive. But in terms of potential…"
"Blue Silver Grass Entanglement?"
Before Dai Chengfeng could finish, Zhu Fan looked at him helplessly. "Controlling plants to bind and attack—that's a basic technique any plant-type soul master can do!"
"What kind of genius would waste a soul ring just to teach plants how to bind and attack?"
At this point, Zhu Fan sighed slightly. "It's hard for you to even come up with such a ridiculous name for a soul skill…"
"Fine!"
"If you're so determined not to absorb the soul ring of the Gold Wave Beast, Uncle won't force you anymore."
"Uh…"
Looking at Zhu Fan, Dai Chengfeng wore an odd expression.
After all, there really were such "geniuses" in the world whose soul skills were called Blue Silver Grass Entanglement—but he couldn't explain how he knew that. "Never mind, Uncle will meet that genius someday."
With that thought, Dai Chengfeng stopped dwelling on it and instead said, "Uncle, head to Tiger's Might Mountain Range. My target is there."
"Alright!"
Zhu Fan flicked the reins, and the carriage creaked and groaned as it slowly started moving again.
The Tiger's Might Mountain Range began near Star Luo City.
Stretching endlessly westward, Wu'an City was located at the far western end of the Tiger's Might Mountain Range. And the spirit beast Dai Chengfeng intended to slay and absorb the soul ring from resided there.
It was a type of spirit beast known as the Blood Tiger, unique to the area around Wu'an City.
It was said that these tigers could feed on killing intent. Perhaps because Wu'an City had endured centuries of warfare and slaughter, it provided the perfect conditions for their growth.
Thus, they had made their home here.
As for why Dai Chengfeng wanted to obtain the Blood Tiger's soul ring—
It wasn't just because of their ability to consume killing intent, but also because these Blood Tigers were fundamentally different from ordinary tiger-type spirit beasts!
As the saying goes, one mountain cannot house two tigers.
Even in the world of Douluo, this adage still held true.
Tiger-type spirit beasts preferred solitude.
But the Blood Tigers were different!
They lived in groups—not because they were too weak and needed to huddle together for warmth, but because among the Blood Tiger population, there was a very small chance that one in every ten thousand Blood Tiger cubs would be born as a natural king—the Imperial Blood Tiger.
The appearance of the Imperial Blood Tiger wasn't much different from that of an ordinary Blood Tiger, but its strength was worlds apart. This was because it was born with an extremely unique domain.
Within this domain, not only will the Imperial Blood Tiger benefit…
Other ordinary Blood Tigers within the domain would also receive enhancements, with their speed, strength, defense, and other attributes receiving comprehensive boosts.
"If I absorb the soul ring of an Imperial Blood Tiger and gain this domain-type soul skill, combined with my White Tiger martial soul… I'll become unstoppable on the battlefield!"
"Even if I only gain the most basic skill of devouring killing intent, it will still perfectly synergize with my White Tiger martial soul!"
For a moment, Dai Chengfeng's eyes were filled with anticipation.
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Since the Tiger's Might Mountain Range wasn't far from Wu'an City, despite the difficulties of nighttime travel by carriage,
By early morning the next day, Dai Chengfeng and Zhu Fan had already arrived at the foot of the Tiger's Might Mountain Range.
Dai Chengfeng gazed at the towering ancient trees, the endless expanse, and the incredibly steep and perilous peaks before him. He softly spoke, "This is the Tiger's Might Mountain Range."
Zhu Fan nodded. "Yes."
"Because the royal family of the Star Luo Empire has the White Tiger as its martial soul, there are many mountains and ranges with 'tiger' in their names. The Tiger's Might Mountain Range is one of the most dangerous and steep among them."
As Zhu Fan spoke, he took out a map to confirm their location.
After a while, he handed the map to Dai Chengfeng, pointing as he explained, "Chengfeng, look. Blood Tiger packs are generally found in the northwestern part of the Tiger's Might Mountain Range's terminus, and we're roughly here now."
Dai Chengfeng nodded, turning his gaze toward a rugged animal trail nearby.
"So that means if we follow this trail, we should be able to find the Blood Tiger pack?"
"Exactly."
With Zhu Fan's confirmation, Dai Chengfeng took a deep breath. "Then let's go."
"Let's aim to acquire the soul ring I want today…"
"Tomorrow, we swear an oath and take our revenge!"
Without further hesitation, the two followed the rugged animal trail, stepping into this forest that blotted out the sky.
An hour later
Watching Zhu Fan once again slash down a three-thousand-year-old Shadow Leopard with a single claw…
All Dai Chengfeng could say was, "No wonder the Tiger's Might Mountain Range is famous for being dangerous and steep!"
Along the way, he had lost count of how many times they'd been ambushed by spirit beasts.
Fortunately, Zhu Fan, a Soul Douluo, was with him, so no spirit beast managed to reach Dai Chengfeng alive.
Until—after another four hours of walking, the sky began to darken.
Logically speaking, nighttime was when spirit beasts were most active, making it even more perilous than during the day.
But strangely…
The two hadn't encountered a single spirit beast since then.
The dense forest allowed occasional patches of twilight to filter through the canopy, casting eerie light onto the treetops. The surroundings were deathly silent, except for the occasional faint chirping of insects, which only added to the oppressive stillness.
Suddenly!
Roar—!
A long, chilling tiger's roar, laced with killing intent, echoed through the silent forest.
Instantly, countless birds that had been resting quietly on the branches scattered in panic, feathers fluttering down like snow.
Many small animals hiding in the underbrush were paralyzed with fear, trembling so violently they couldn't even attempt to flee.
But Dai Chengfeng and Zhu Fan exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with excitement.
"Blood Tigers?!"
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