Multiple Inner Courtyard Disciples acting together was actually a double-edged sword.
On the positive side, the Disciple walking on the outermost edge would rotate every so often, so Wang Nan didn't have to be constantly on edge.
But the downside was also obvious: thirteen Disciples needed to obtain spirit rings, which couldn't be easily resolved in just a day or two.
Their group had searched the Star Dou Great Forest's Mixed Zone for nearly a month, getting closer and closer to the most dangerous Core Zone. Yet, three Disciples, including Wang Nan, still hadn't found suitable spirit rings.
"Rest in place for half an hour. Outer Disciples meditate to restore spirit power; other Disciples maintain vigilance." Seeing that it was already past noon, Zhang Lexuan, who was walking at the front, gradually slowed down and called out to the back.
Wang Nan had already rotated to the inner side of the team. At this moment, he hadn't expended much, so instead of sitting down to meditate, he vigilantly observed his surroundings.
Just then, a massive mental force fluctuation spread from the south side of the Star Dou Great Forest across the entire forest.
By the time it reached Wang Nan, it had weakened considerably, but it still caused waves in his Sea of Consciousness.
Such a vast mental force, its power far surpassed that of a 100,000-year Spirit Beast.
Immediately after, the sky, which had been perfectly clear a moment ago, suddenly darkened. A thunderous roar echoed high in the sky, and in that instant, the sun's light was completely obscured by darkness. A tremendous pressure descended from above.
Even from the northern side of the Star Dou Great Forest, Wang Nan and the others could see such a huge change in the sky. In Wang Nan's Sea of Consciousness, the Break Evil Dragon held its head high; even against such overwhelming heavenly might, it refused to bow.
Wang Nan suddenly smelled a scent of wine, and then a disheveled old man walked out from seemingly nowhere.
The person who arrived was Xuan Zi. He was looking at the sky with a serious expression, then said to Yan Shaozhe, "This power is definitely not released by an ordinary Spirit Beast, and this Spirit Beast's strength is probably more than just an ordinary 100,000-year one."
"A 100,000-year Spirit Beast appearing in the outer zone of the Star Dou Great Forest must have other reasons. You take the Inner Courtyard Disciples and withdraw from the Star Dou Great Forest first. I'll go take a look."
As he spoke, yellow light shone on Xuan Zi's body, and in the next instant, he vanished.
Wang Nan looked at the spot where Xuan Zi disappeared, only then realizing that Yan Shaozhe wasn't the only one leading the Inner Courtyard Disciples to obtain spirit rings this time; Xuan Zi had actually been secretly protecting them all along.
"All Disciples stop resting, be vigilant of your surroundings, and withdraw from the Star Dou Great Forest!" With the sudden change in the Star Dou Great Forest, Yan Shaozhe no longer had thoughts of training the Inner Courtyard Disciples and immediately arranged for their departure.
However, before anyone could act, Wang Nan vaguely heard a Dragon's roar echo from deep within the Core Zone, followed by several terrifying auras fluctuating violently.
"Quick, go!" Yan Shaozhe's tone became urgent. Even with his strength as a Level 95 Super Douluo, his expression couldn't help but change slightly upon sensing so many 100,000-year Spirit Beast auras.
"Go? I'm afraid you won't be able to leave the Star Dou Great Forest!"
As this voice sounded, a three-headed, lion-like Spirit Beast slowly emerged from the forest.
It was the Clan Chief of the Crimson Demon Dog clan, the Crimson King, ranked eighth among the Ten Great Vicious Beasts of the Douluo Continent.
"Crimson King?" Yan Shaozhe frowned. "Our Shrek Academy and your Vicious Beasts have an agreement. Are you trying to break the agreement?"
"Put away your human ways. We Spirit Beasts won't go back on our word like you humans, but this time, you were the first to break the agreement."
Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe was a bit confused. "I only brought Disciples to obtain spirit rings and didn't actively attack. There shouldn't be any breach of the agreement, right?"
"Hmph, after you entered the Star Dou Great Forest, a treasure of our forest disappeared without a trace. Is this not Shrek's doing?"
The Crimson King's three heads simultaneously let out a heavy snort, exhaling six streams of hot air.
Yan Shaozhe knew that although these Vicious Beasts were Spirit Beasts, aside from being occasionally unreasonable, their actions were generally straightforward and honorable. They would never frame someone, so a treasure must have indeed been lost.
Could it be the change that just occurred?
"Crimson King, there might be some misunderstanding here."
"I don't want to hear your human sophistry. Whether or not you stole that treasure, you must remain in the Star Dou Great Forest first." With that, the Crimson King raised its head and howled. Instantly, more than a dozen Crimson Demon Dogs appeared from the forest and slowly surrounded them, encircling everyone.
Roughly estimating, all of them had cultivation levels of over ten thousand years.
Seeing the Crimson King already lunging at him, Yan Shaozhe quickly raised his hand to protect himself. In the brief moment he fended off the Crimson King's first attack, he turned and shouted to Zhang Lexuan, "Le Xuan, quickly take the other Disciples and withdraw from the Star Dou Great Forest!"
Facing the attacking Crimson Demon Dog pack, Zhang Lexuan held nothing back. A brilliant light erupted behind her, and a crescent moon rose from her back. In the next instant, her Silver Moon True Body was unleashed, and the intense silver-white light suddenly became dazzling. The crescent moon from before had transformed into a full moon.
As her fifth spirit ring shone, the moon in the sky suddenly turned golden. In a flash, another crescent moon of the same size separated from around that moon and instantly fell from the sky.
The golden moonlight directly bisected two Crimson Demon Dogs, tearing open a gap in the Crimson Demon Dog pack's encirclement.
Zhang Lexuan's gaze swept across the scene and spotted Wang Nan, who was in relatively good condition. "Wang Nan and Wu Ming, provide cover. Everyone else, break through the opening I created."
Wang Nan knew this was not the time for politeness. His golden fourth spirit ring lit up, and the entire spirit ring seemed to come alive, circling Wang Nan once. Under the illumination of the golden light, a golden set of armor appeared on Wang Nan's body.
To describe it as Tyrannosaurus Armor would already be somewhat inaccurate; what appeared on Wang Nan's body should be the Golden Dragon Armor.
As soon as the Golden Dragon Armor appeared, an invisible pressure spread outwards. The surrounding Crimson Demon Dogs all took a step back, their eyes revealing instinctive fear.
Then his first spirit ring lit up, and golden light suddenly appeared beneath Wang Nan's feet. He leaped out several meters, his golden Coiling Dragon Staff raised high, descending from behind a Crimson Demon Dog onto its back.
Seeing Wang Nan's attack prove effective, and another Crimson Demon Dog fall, the other Inner Courtyard Disciples also began to withdraw towards the outer regions of the Star Dou Great Forest. Leading the charge was a male Disciple who had recently obtained his sixth spirit ring. He transformed into a bolt of lightning, constantly surpassing the other Disciples as he rushed toward the forest's outer perimeter.