After Bibi Dong and her group left, Tang San and Xiao Wu quickly began treating the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python. These two were indeed top-tier spirit beasts with exceptionally strong bloodlines, and their recovery abilities were extraordinary.
Even though Bibi Dong's poison was extremely potent, without any fatal injuries, the wounds of the two hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts stabilized relatively quickly. However, it would still take a long time for them to fully recover to their peak condition.
Yang Xiong sat by the Lake of Life, quietly waiting for the Sky Azure Bull Python to regain consciousness.
Tang Chen, on the other hand, was quite surprised to see Yang Xiong like this. He hadn't expected Yang Xiong to have mastered the Asura Demon Sword so quickly. Moreover, judging from the sword strike Yang Xiong had unleashed earlier, he was already capable of utilizing the power of the Asura God embedded in the sword—a level of control that even surpassed Tang Chen's own.
It wasn't until two full days later that the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape gradually regained consciousness. However, their weakened state suggested that it would take a long time for them to fully recover.
Yang Xiong didn't particularly care about the fate of these two hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts; his main goal was simply to ask the Sky Azure Bull Python for directions.
Seeing the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python showing signs of improvement, Tang San and Xiao Wu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
At this point, Tang San turned to Yang Xiong: "Yang Xiong, thank you for helping us. I owe you another favor."
Yang Xiong smiled: "Tang San, I didn't come specifically to help you. I just had something I needed to ask the Sky Azure Bull Python. If he had died, I wouldn't have known who else to turn to."
Xiao Wu, standing nearby, looked puzzled: "You little bear, you've done such a good deed, yet you're still acting like this? What exactly do you want from Da Ming?"
Yang Xiong replied: "I came to the Great Star Dou Forest to look for a spirit beast. I believe only the Sky Azure Bull Python has seen what I'm looking for. Aside from him, I don't know who else to ask."
Turning to the Sky Azure Bull Python, Yang Xiong continued: "Sky Azure Bull Python, I remember you once mentioned seeing a black dragon and a Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear fight when you were young. I want to know where their battle took place and where they eventually disappeared to."
The Sky Azure Bull Python let out a low bellow: "Human, although you are a friend of Tang San and Sister Xiao Wu, and you helped me, I cannot betray the location of a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast."
"You're already at Level 90, so you must be seeking one of those two spirit beasts as your ninth spirit ring. As a member of the spirit beast race, I cannot sell them out."
Yang Xiong chuckled: "Sky Azure Bull Python, you misunderstand me. I'm not looking for them to obtain a ninth spirit ring. I simply want to conduct a small transaction with them, which might affect the future of your entire spirit beast race."
There was a long silence among everyone present. Even Tang San and Xiao Wu were unsure what to say. Finally, the Sky Azure Bull Python sighed.
"Very well, since you saved my life and Er Ming's, I always repay my debts. I'll take you to the place where that battle occurred. However, if you dare to harm them, I will stop you, even if it costs me my life."
"You've placed your trust in me, so I'll take you to the true core area of the Lake of Life, a place even I rarely enter."
Xiao Wu quickly interjected: "Da Ming, I don't trust this Little Bear. I'm afraid he might attack you. I want to go with you."
The Sky Azure Bull Python replied: "Alright, Sister Xiao Wu, I'll take you to the center of the Lake of Life. As for others, they should stay here."
Tang San quickly added: "Da Ming, I'm coming too. I can't leave Xiao Wu's safety to chance."
The Sky Azure Bull Python hesitated: "This isn't ideal. Even I can't delve deep into that place."
Xiao Wu playfully pleaded with the Sky Azure Bull Python: "Da Ming, please take me and Third Brother with you. I'll feel safer with him around."
After some discussion between Xiao Wu and Tang San, it was decided that Tang Chen and the Titan Giant Ape would stay behind, while Yang Xiong, Xiao Wu, and Tang San accompanied the Sky Azure Bull Python to the core area of the Lake of Life.
The three leapt onto the head of the Sky Azure Bull Python, who then surged forward, creating ripples as he swam toward the center of the lake.
The Sky Azure Bull Python was enormous, with a head as large as a small house. Even ten or eight people could comfortably stand on it.
Tang San couldn't help but ask: "Yang Xiong, why are you looking for those spirit beasts in the Great Star Dou Forest? How did you even learn about them?"
Yang Xiong smiled: "I only came across brief mentions of them in ancient texts. My purpose in finding them is for another reason—perhaps to make a deal."
"By the way, Tang San, how did you break through to become a Title Douluo so quickly?"
A faint smile appeared on Tang San's face: "Under the guidance of my great-grandfather, I am now able to add spirit rings to my Hao Tian Hammer. Recently, I've consecutively added two spirit rings to it, and my soul power has now reached Level 90."
Yang Xiong said: "Congratulations. If you continue adding spirit rings to your Hao Tian Hammer, you'll soon reach the Super Douluo level. By the way, I remember that completing the seventh Red Rank Trial on Sea God Island grants a divine-bestowed spirit ring. Have you absorbed it yet?"
Tang San nodded: "The final reward from Sea God Island was a spirit ring for my Blue Silver Grass. I just absorbed two spirit rings when we encountered Bibi Dong attacking Da Ming and Er Ming. I haven't had time to absorb the ninth spirit ring for my Blue Silver Grass yet."
Yang Xiong noticed that Tang San not only exuded newfound confidence but also seemed subtly different in terms of his soul power. Moreover, a black scythe had appeared on Tang San's forehead. It was clear that the two spirit rings Tang San had absorbed were no ordinary ones.
In particular, Tang San now carried a trace of divine presence. Among all the creatures in the Great Star Dou Forest, the only one truly connected to the divine was the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger.
If Tang San really obtained the inheritance of the Evil God through the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, the future of the Douluo Continent would become incredibly intriguing. After all, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was said to be the embodiment of the Evil God descending upon a white tiger. If Tang San truly inherited the Evil God's power, the continent would descend into chaos.
Yang Xiong couldn't fathom how Tang San, having left the Sea God's inheritance, had gained the inheritance of another god. Was Tang San's luck really this extraordinary? Moreover, Yang Xiong felt that the scythe on Tang San's forehead seemed vaguely familiar, as did the trace of divine presence emanating from him.
After exchanging a few words with Tang San and Xiao Wu, everyone focused their attention on the situation at hand.
The Lake of Life was an unusual place. Though it was an enormous lake, its location in the core area of the Great Star Dou Forest made it rich in spiritual energy. Even the air was saturated with dense soul power.
As a result, the entire Lake of Life was shrouded in darkness, devoid of sunlight, with extremely low visibility.
As the Sky Azure Bull Python swam deeper, the visibility worsened, turning gray and murky. Even the range of spiritual detection diminished significantly.
Several minutes later, the Sky Azure Bull Python finally stopped. At this point, it seemed they had reached the very center of the Lake of Life.
"This is it," the Sky Azure Bull Python said. "There's a reef here. I remember hovering above it when I witnessed that cataclysmic battle. Even with my current strength, recalling that battle still sends chills down my spine."
"I've searched here many times over the years, but I've never found that elder from back then. Perhaps both parties perished in that battle."
True to the Sky Azure Bull Python's words, there was indeed a smooth reef visible in the distance. The reef was just large enough for one person to stand on, surrounded by eerie waters.
Without hesitation, Yang Xiong leapt onto the reef.
"Thank you. I'll handle the rest myself. Sky Azure Bull Python, do you still wish to stay here?"
The Sky Azure Bull Python replied: "That battle has haunted me my entire life. I'd also like to see if there are any elders of our spirit beast race here."
Yang Xiong understood that if the Sky Azure Bull Python had searched multiple times without success, it meant these formidable beasts had gone into hiding. Ordinary people couldn't reach them—it was likely they were concealed using some form of divine power.
After all, this was the true core area of the Lake of Life. Even tens of thousands of years later, no one had been able to penetrate it.
Yang Xiong unsheathed the Asura Demon Sword, instantly flooding the area around the Lake of Life with crimson light. An overwhelming aura of slaughter permeated the lake, causing even its previously calm surface to churn violently.
A blood-red sword qi seemed intent on splitting the entire Lake of Life apart.
Yang Xiong knew well that whether it was Di Tian or the Silver Dragon King, the one they hated most was the Asura God. Now that the Asura Demon Sword had reappeared, it was sure to provoke them.
…
In a hidden area of the Lake of Life, several towering figures stood, each exuding an aura far more terrifying than that of a Title Douluo in the soul master world.
Suddenly, all the figures were startled. They sensed a terrifying divine power manifesting above the Lake of Life. This power was filled with an aura of slaughter, causing even the spirit beasts to feel a chill run down their spines.
One massive bear-like figure roared in anger: "Boss, this person dares to provoke us so brazenly. I'll tear him to pieces right now!"
Another figure, calmer than the rest, intervened: "Wait. If it's truly the Asura God descending, none of us would survive his wrath. But it's unlikely to be him."
"However, this aura feels strangely familiar. There's something about it that resonates with me, and it shares origins with my dragon lineage."
This figure appeared even taller, with golden eyes.
He was none other than Di Tian, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, the strongest being in the Great Star Dou Forest.
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)