The guards' explanations were carefully crafted lies. The truth was far uglier. When the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger appeared, fear overwhelmed them. Facing death, their survival instincts kicked in, and they abandoned Qian Renxue without hesitation, scattering in three directions to flee the Star Dou Forest. After escaping, they waited an hour outside, but the Young Master never emerged. They knew then—she was likely doomed, probably in the clutches of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.
The beast's infamy was notorious, not just among soul beasts but humans too, synonymous with evil. Any human, young or old, strong or weak, who fell into its grasp was devoured. Hearing this, a chilling, menacing aura enveloped Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile Douluo.
"I tasked you with protecting the Young Master, and this is how you do it?" Qian Daoliu's voice dripped with fury. The double blow—his son's injury and his granddaughter's likely death—ignited a terrifying killing intent in his eyes. With a sweep of his hand, a powerful suction force yanked the guard captain into his grip, his fingers tightening around the man's throat, lifting him off the ground.
"G-Great Offering, have mercy!" the captain gasped, feet dangling, toes scraping the floor.
"Hmph!" Qian Daoliu's face was ice-cold. "Do you take me for a fool? You return unscathed, but Xue'er is gone, likely in the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's clutches. You clearly fled in fear, abandoning her!" His voice thundered. "As her personal guards, you failed to protect her. You don't deserve to live!"
Crack! With a single motion, he crushed the captain's neck. The other two guards, trembling in terror, dropped to their knees, begging for mercy. "Great Offering, we know we were wrong! Please spare us!"
Golden Crocodile stepped forward, delivering a swift palm strike to each of their skulls, shattering them instantly. Both collapsed, dead. "Hmph! Fail to protect the Young Master and expect to live?" he sneered.
Turning to Qian Daoliu, he asked, "Great Offering, what now?"
Qian Daoliu stared ahead, silent for a moment, his voice low and resolute. "To the Star Dou Forest. I'll confirm if Xue'er is truly gone. If she's been killed by the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, I'll slay it to avenge her." He paused, then issued orders. "Old Two, it's been days, and we don't know if Xue'er is safe. I'll head to the Star Dou Forest first. You stay, organize the Martial Soul Hall, and rally our full forces to march on the forest."
"Old Three, visit the Haotian Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects. Invite them to join us in attacking the Star Dou Forest to hunt the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger."
"Old Four, go to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Invite their sect leader to join us in the assault."
"Old Five, head to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Invite them to join the attack."
"Old Six, go to the Heaven Dou Empire. Invite them to join us."
"Old Seven, to the Star Luo Empire. Invite them to join the assault."
With orders assigned to the six offerings, Qian Daoliu activated his Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul. Six golden angel wings sprouted from his back. Soaring out of the Hall of Offerings, he transformed into a streak of golden light, speeding toward the Star Dou Forest. Moments later, his figure vanished into the horizon.
As Qian Daoliu left Martial Soul City, the offerings dispersed to carry out their tasks. Golden Crocodile headed to the Pope's Hall, convening an emergency meeting of the Martial Soul Hall's leadership. Azure Luan Douluo went to the Haotian Sect—despite Tang Hao's recent attack on Qian Xunji, the matter wasn't yet public, and eliminating the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger took priority, so the grudge was set aside for now. Lion Douluo visited the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Light Feather Douluo went to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Thousand Jun Douluo to the Heaven Dou Empire, and Demon Subduing Douluo to the Star Luo Empire.
In a secret chamber beneath the Pope's Hall, Qian Xunji learned of his daughter's disappearance in the Star Dou Forest. Gravely injured, he could barely summon his martial soul, let alone travel to rescue her. Recovery would take one or two years. Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, similarly wounded, couldn't attend the emergency meeting either.
In the Pope's Hall, the gathered elders were puzzled by the sudden summons. "Second Offering, why call us so urgently?" asked She Long, a level-92 assault-type Titled Douluo, Snake Spear Martial Soul, titled "Snake Spear," and an elder of the Elder Hall.
Golden Crocodile briefly explained. "The Young Master has vanished in the Star Dou Forest. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's presence has made the forest inaccessible, depriving soul masters of soul rings. After careful consideration, the Great Offering has decided to unite all human forces to march on the Star Dou Forest and eradicate the beast. Any objections?"
With Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo incapacitated, the attending elders—Snake Spear Douluo, Porcupine Douluo, Demon Bear Douluo, Ghost Leopard Douluo, and the Ninth Elder—voiced no objections. For years, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger had blocked soul ring hunting, causing widespread frustration among soul masters, who had long demanded the Martial Soul Hall act.