Chapter 67:
Tang San's eyes gleamed as the thousand-year purple soul ring floated before him, its powerful fluctuations surging in the air. Without hesitation, he sat cross-legged, summoned his Blue Silver Grass martial spirit, and began the fusion process.
As the torrent of soul power coursed into his body, a grimace twisted Tang San's face.
Yu Xiaogang stood nearby, his expression tense. Flender, however, seemed distracted, his mind still preoccupied by Lin Bai's earlier reveal.
"A thousand-year second soul ring… That kid's a true little monster," Flender muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing with determination. "If we can bring him to Shrek, nurture him properly, he'll be a legend across the continent. Not just for his strength—but for what he'll mean to the academy's future."
It wasn't mere ambition. Flender wanted more than strong students; he wanted Shrek to rise as a name the world could not ignore.
As Tang San's expression contorted further in pain, Ying Tian grew restless. Boredom was torture for the gluttonous dragon beast, and he nudged Lin Bai impatiently.
"Relax. We'll be moving soon," Lin Bai murmured without even looking his way.
No one paid his casual remark any mind — until a distant rumble echoed through the forest, followed by the scattered cries of soul beasts.
Birds burst into the sky as dust clouds thickened on the horizon. Flender's face darkened immediately. Without a word, he soared upward, scanning the forest canopy. Moments later, he descended with a grim expression.
"Not good," he announced. "A beast tide is heading straight for us."
His sharp gaze cut to Zhao Wuji. "Old Zhao, get ready. The rest of you — climb the trees. Pick the thickest branches and stay hidden. No unnecessary movement. Don't provoke them."
The team reacted swiftly. Even Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, though strong, followed orders without hesitation.
Lin Bai, however, remained still, his gaze fixed toward the approaching dust cloud. There might be something worthwhile within that stampede.
"Damn it… Xiao San's still in the middle of fusing his ring. What triggered this?" Yu Xiaogang's face turned pale.
"It's not a major beast tide," Flender assessed. "Looks like a small one. Old Zhao and I should be able to contain it. But I sense soul beasts closing in from multiple directions. If it gets worse, we may have to interrupt Tang San's fusion."
Yu Xiaogang clenched his jaw so hard his lip split. He knew what would happen if they were forced to stop the process. Tang San's life could be saved — but his martial path would be crippled forever.
After a long, painful silence, Yu Xiaogang exhaled through his teeth. "Alright."
Flender gave him a sharp look but said nothing. He understood the weight of that decision. No one here wanted to see Tang San's future shattered.
"Old Zhao, guard Tang San. I'll intercept anything that breaks through."
"Hmph, don't forget who you're talking to," Zhao Wuji grunted. He stepped up beside Tang San, releasing his martial spirit. The massive Vajra Bear appeared, golden light cloaking his frame. His deep roar echoed across the clearing, shaking leaves loose from branches above.
Despite his confident show, Zhao Wuji wasn't entirely certain how long he could hold the line. He wasn't a Titled Douluo — and against wave after wave of beasts, even a Soul Sage could fall.
"I just hope most of them pass us by…"
Lin Bai glanced up at Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, perched nearby.
"I'll head down in a bit. You two stay put."
"Got it." Neither hesitated. Their trust in Lin Bai was absolute.
As the dust cloud neared, Lin Bai wasn't particularly concerned. Even with the faint traces of dragon blood in his body, this was only the outer reaches of Star Dou Forest. The strongest beasts he'd attract would be Soul King level at best. Nothing too dangerous.
At most, three or four thousand-year beasts mixed in.
He watched as the first wave broke through the underbrush. Rock lizards, shrieking birds, deformed monkeys, white wolves, even a few winged tigers.
Lin Bai's eyes sharpened.
So… the beast-luring incense worked better than expected.
"Ying Tian," Lin Bai murmured, "don't kill. Drive them off."
That was the way of a dragon knight. A dragon's presence alone could dominate battlefields — but without a bond of trust, commanding a creature as arrogant and lazy as Ying Tian was impossible.
Ying Tian let out a joyous roar and took flight, eager to show off.
At the same time, Lin Bai extended his telekinetic senses, sweeping through the chaotic herd. The incense's potency wavered with the breeze. In a place like Star Dou Forest, the wind was ever-changing. They had to move quickly.
"As my dungeon experience grows, my stats climb, but my next soul skill needs to directly enhance my raw strength. The problem is finding a beast worthy of my Ruyi Qiankun Gun." Lin Bai's grip on the staff tightened. "I won't waste a soul ring slot."
Down below, Zhao Wuji swatted a Wind Wolf aside with a casual palm strike, holding his ground in front of Tang San. Flender darted through the air, keeping an eye out for high-threat targets.
Neither of them killed needlessly. Blood scent would trigger a frenzy, and in a place like this, the results could be catastrophic.
Soul beasts, especially those of Star Dou Forest, were born with deep-rooted hatred for human soul masters. With their evolving intelligence, that hatred only deepened. They knew what humans hunted them for — and instinctively, they responded with violence.
Man and beast. Hunter and prey. Fates forever in conflict.
And now, with the incense luring them in, but no treasure waiting, their frustration sharpened. They realized the humans had stolen whatever prize awaited.
A sudden, sharp cry sliced through the air.
Lin Bai's expression darkened. From within the chaos, a slender, violet-furred figure emerged — a purple fox.
A sound wave rippled outward from its throat, calming the frenzied beasts. Their madness dulled. Control returned.
Lin Bai narrowed his eyes.
"That fox…"
Even with the lingering incense in the air, these beasts were resisting its lure. That shouldn't have been possible.
Unless…
His gaze locked onto the fox.
"A spiritual-type soul beast."
Fox-type beasts specialized in mental attacks, illusions, and charm techniques. Unfortunately for Lin Bai, they were a poor match. His own martial spirit leaned toward brute force and telekinesis — what he truly needed was a beast that could boost his mental power, something rare even among high-level soul beasts.
He hesitated. This fox… wasn't acting on instinct alone.
It was thinking.
Moving strategically. Observing the battlefield. Waiting.
A flicker of unease crept into Lin Bai's heart.
"The soul beasts in Star Dou… have evolved this much already?"
He studied the fox's posture, the subtle shift in its eyes, the calculated way it positioned itself near the edge of the stampede.
In that moment, it resembled a scheming human more than any beast.
And that, Lin Bai realized, was far more dangerous than any ten-thousand-year threat lurking in this forest.
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