At this moment, Yang Xiong was carefully observing his own body. After absorbing this ten-thousand-year soul ring, his soul power had reached level 45. Of course, this included the power from the ten-thousand-year soul ring as well as a one-hundred-thousand-year soul bone.
After absorbing the soul ring of the Primordial Dragon-Elephant, he also obtained a powerful soul skill called Dragon-Elephant Steel Body.
When this soul skill is activated, the muscles swell, the skin and bones harden, and the body is infused with the power of the Primordial Dragon-Elephant. Strength and attack increase by 200%, defense increases by 200%, and the body's capacity to withstand pressure also increases by 200%. It is a top-tier self-enhancement soul skill.
Seeing this soul skill made Yang Xiong very excited. He was already familiar with soul skills that enhance strength and defense, but this was the first time he had seen one that increased the body's tolerance for pressure. It seemed particularly suited for his martial soul. As expected, it came from a legendary soul beast.
Given his current level of soul power, Yang Xiong was confident he could reach level 50 within one or two years, which would make it easier for him to proceed with his next plan.
After confirming his new soul skill, Yang Xiong helped Lin Gong dissect the corpse of the Primordial Dragon-Elephant. Unfortunately, no soul bone was found.
Just as they were about to leave, Yang Xiong suddenly asked, "Teacher Lin, haven't the people from the Elephant Armor Sect come to cause trouble? Huyan Zhen doesn't seem like someone who'd give up so easily."
Lin Gong snorted, "Huyan Zhen? Why are you afraid of him? The Elephant Armor Sect did come once, but it was just two other Soul Sages. I scared them off."
Yang Xiong looked puzzled. "Does the Elephant Armor Sect have that many Soul Sages? That's already four. It seems their operation this time isn't simple. I wonder what level of soul beast they're after."
Lin Gong laughed. "Who cares about them? The Elephant Armor Sect is just a bunch of brainless brutes. They may have great strength and defense, but their heads aren't very bright. From the looks of it, Huyan Zhen may never break through to Titled Douluo."
Yang Xiong quickly replied, "It's said that the Elephant Armor Sect is closely tied to the Spirit Hall. Maybe Spirit Hall will help Huyan Zhen break through. If that happens, they could become enemies of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. You know Huyan Zhen has always been at odds with our sect master."
Lin Gong looked curious. "Xiao Xiong, are you thinking of checking out what Huyan Zhen and his people are doing?"
Yang Xiong smiled. "No need to guess,they're clearly here to hunt soul rings. But sending out so many experts suggests they're after at least a seventh or even an eighth ring. It's worth checking out. Maybe we can steal a benefit while they're distracted."
Lin Gong gave him a glance. "Don't forget, you're just a Soul Ancestor. In the eyes of real experts, killing you is like crushing an ant."
Yang Xiong replied, "We'll just observe from afar. We might gain something useful. Besides, Teacher Lin, your martial soul is a plant-type, right? In the Star Dou Forest, your observation ability should far surpass those muscleheads from the Elephant Armor Sect."
Though Lin Gong was a bit hesitant, he eventually agreed, sensing that Yang Xiong might be up to something.
The two didn't leave immediately but hid nearby instead. Sure enough, not long after, another Soul Sage from the Elephant Armor Sect came to scout the area. It seemed they wanted to prevent interference from Lin Gong, a Soul Douluo.
Yang Xiong and Lin Gong exchanged a glance, both realizing this mission from the Elephant Armor Sect was definitely significant,this already made five Soul Sages.
They quietly followed this Soul Sage, who gradually led them toward the core region of the Star Dou Forest.
After two full hours of following them, both were surprised.
It had to be said, plant-type martial souls were indeed advantageous in a soul beast forest. Not only did they greatly enhance perception, but they also had strong concealment capabilities. No wonder Tang San always seemed so at ease in the forest.
The two cautiously hid and watched from afar. The group from the Elephant Armor Sect was extremely cautious. As expected, Huyan Zhen had personally come to the Star Dou Forest, accompanied by over a dozen burly men. Even from a distance, their presence was intimidating. It seemed most of the sect's top experts were gathered here.
They were surrounding a massive soul beast, and one of them appeared to be preparing to absorb a soul ring. The beast was a sixty-thousand-year Earth Demon Bear,most likely for someone's eighth ring.
Yang Xiong and Lin Gong quietly retreated. Even Lin Gong looked serious. "Xiao Xiong, it looks like the Elephant Armor Sect is about to gain another Soul Douluo. Just now, there were three Soul Douluo and nine Soul Sages,that's nearly half of their high-level members."
Yang Xiong chuckled. "Teacher Lin, if all of them were wiped out here, even with the Spirit Hall backing them, would they still dare to casually provoke our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Lin Gong couldn't help but say, "Xiao Xiong, aren't you overestimating my strength? If we get discovered by the Elephant Armor Sect, they might turn on us. I could probably hold my own, but you might not even be able to escape."
Yang Xiong said, "We don't need to make a move. This is the core area of the Star Dou Forest. Top-tier soul beasts are everywhere. If we attract two hundred-thousand-year beasts, how many of those Elephant Armor Sect members do you think will survive?"
Lin Gong looked doubtful. "There aren't that many hundred-thousand-year beasts in the world. Besides, they've got three Soul Douluo. Against most high-level soul beasts, they could at least put up a fight."
A cold gleam flashed in Yang Xiong's eyes. "If I hadn't witnessed this, I might've ignored it. But now that I know, at least half of them must die. Otherwise, it would've been a wasted trip."
Yang Xiong thought of the original story, where during the destruction of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Huyan Zhen had led the charge. The Four Lower Sects had mobilized a thousand soul masters to attack them. How could he miss such a chance to strike back?
Yang Xiong and Lin Gong were now deep in the core of the Star Dou Forest, surrounded by towering trees and dense darkness. Visibility was very low, and the air was filled with rich energy,definitely an ideal place for cultivation.
Yang Xiong pondered, "Teacher Lin, I think that quasi-Soul Douluo from the Elephant Armor Sect will need at least three days to absorb the sixty-thousand-year soul ring, right?"
Lin Gong nodded. "More or less. The Earth Demon Bear is a very good strength-type soul beast and quite fitting for the Elephant Armor Sect's martial soul. Absorbing it would take at least three to five days. It looked like he had only just begun."
Yang Xiong hardened his heart. "Let's go to the Lake of Life. Maybe we'll run into some familiar soul beasts, and we won't even need to act ourselves."
Lin Gong's expression darkened. "You have acquaintances among soul beasts?"
Yang Xiong laughed. "Teacher Lin, have you forgotten? I have a classmate who is a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form. Maybe we'll bump into her."
Lin Gong sighed. "Fine, I'll play along. I swear one day you'll get me killed."
The two of them moved cautiously deeper into the Star Dou Forest's core. It truly lived up to its reputation as a forbidden zone of life,terrifying soul beasts lurked everywhere. Even Yang Xiong felt a chill, and Lin Gong looked visibly uneasy.
After walking over 30 kilometers, they finally arrived near a massive lake.
The air was thick with a strong life force, so much so that mist had formed, reducing visibility. Even Lin Gong was reluctant to approach the lake, wary of what might be lurking beneath its surface.
Yang Xiong grinned at Lin Gong. "Teacher Lin, I think it's your time to shine."
Lin Gong, the little old man, wore a rare look of resentment. He felt that Yang Xiong was up to no good and was practically sending him to his death.
But they had already made their plan. Lin Gong's expression grew serious as he revealed his soul rings,two yellow, three purple, and three black,releasing the aura of a top-tier Soul Douluo in a manner that seemed provocative.
In truth, top-tier Soul Douluo didn't mean much in the core region of the Star Dou Forest, where apex soul beasts were everywhere. Releasing his martial soul and pressure here was practically asking to be killed, which was exactly why Lin Gong looked so bitter.
Sure enough, as he unleashed his aura, countless beastly roars echoed in the distance,first a terrifying tiger roar, then a thunderous dragon's cry. Clearly, the forest was full of powerful soul beasts, and the entire core area was only a few dozen kilometers wide.
Yang Xiong's target, however, was specific,he aimed his pressure at the Lake of Life, where the being he sought resided.
Soon after Lin Gong's release of pressure, the ground began to tremble slightly. Some vicious soul beasts had likely felt provoked and were preparing to attack.
At that moment, a dark shadow flickered across the lake's surface, and the water began to bubble. A massive bull-like head slowly emerged from the center of the lake.
The creature's head alone was over four meters in diameter, with two huge horns. Its body was that of a gigantic python, several dozen meters long, with a girth as wide as a water tank. Its eyes glowed like enormous lanterns, and it radiated terrifying energy, like rolling thunder.
Even standing behind Lin Gong, Yang Xiong felt as if his body was frozen,his soul power suppressed entirely, as if he were an ordinary person facing a supreme master. This pressure was even more intense than that of Sword Douluo.
As for Lin Gong, his face had darkened. He had simply released a bit of pressure, yet this monstrous being appeared. If this Sky Azure Bull Python actually attacked, he might not even be able to escape.
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