Douluo Continent, Outer Region of the Star Dou Forest
Sparse sunlight filtered through the dense forest, lazily bathing the massive body of a tiger. The tiger was robust and majestic, like a small mountain. Its entire body was pitch black, with a pair of black wings sprouting from its back. Its tail wasn't that of an ordinary tiger but a scorpion-like Evil God Hook. Its blood-red eyes gleamed with a predatory aura.
As the tiger patrolled its territory, its massive paws left deep plum-blossom-shaped prints on the ground.
This was the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, Qin Feng's new identity after transmigrating into the Douluo Continent. Originally a 60,000-year soul beast, Qin Feng, through devouring other soul beasts and hunting soul masters, had grown into a 100,000-year soul beast. He became one of the three overlords of the Star Dou Forest, ruling over its outer region.
All soul beasts in the outer region were under his command.
As usual, Qin Feng patrolled his territory, ensuring no human poachers dared to hunt his soul beasts. These soul beasts were his "livestock," raised for him to devour. He couldn't let humans take them for free.
Qin Feng planned to exploit the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's devouring ability to break through to a million-year cultivation level, achieving godhood through sheer power and becoming the God of Devouring. The Dragon God's decree that soul beasts couldn't become gods only applied to those inheriting divine positions. Qin Feng's path was to create his own divine position, free from the Dragon God's control.
"Hmm? The scent of humans—poachers again?"
Qin Feng's nose twitched as he caught the faint scent of several humans. His blood-red eyes flashed with killing intent, and a menacing grin spread across his tiger face.
Raising a massive paw, he swiped his claws through the air, tearing open a spatial rift. Qin Feng stepped into the rift, heading toward the intruders.
…
In another part of the forest, three burly men knelt behind a blonde little girl. The girl stood with her hands behind her back, facing away from them.
"How's the investigation going?" she asked. "Are you certain Xue Qinghe will come to the Star Dou Forest to hunt soul beasts?"
"Reporting to Young Master, we are absolutely certain. The Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe, will come to the Star Dou Forest to hunt soul beasts," one of the men replied confidently.
The blonde girl slowly turned, fixing her gaze on the man who spoke. "Remember your words. If Xue Qinghe doesn't show up and I miss this rare opportunity, you know the consequences, don't you?"
The man shuddered but quickly reassured her, "Young Master, rest assured. I'm absolutely certain Xue Qinghe will come to the Star Dou Forest to obtain his third soul ring. Ever since the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger reached 100,000 years and claimed the outer region of the Star Dou Forest as its territory, forbidding humans from hunting soul beasts here, soul masters across the continent have been limited to the Sunset Forest or the sea for soul rings. The Sunset Forest has been overhunted for years, and its soul beast population is nearly depleted—there are no suitable soul beasts for Xue Qinghe's soul ring. The vast sea is far too dangerous, even for Titled Douluo. So, Xue Qinghe's only option is to take the risk and enter the Star Dou Forest to hunt soul beasts."
The blonde girl frowned, still a bit worried. She glanced at the three men. "Are you sure he won't go to the sea?"
The three men shook their heads in unison, replying with certainty, "No, Young Master. The Star Dou Forest, despite the danger of the 100,000-year Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, is still a better bet than the unpredictable sea. The forest's outer region is vast, and there's a chance they won't encounter the tiger. As long as they avoid it, they can quickly hunt a soul beast and leave without issue."
Hearing this, the blonde girl finally relaxed. She nodded and said, "Very well, let's prepare. When Xue Qinghe arrives, I'll use my Cloud Illusion to disguise my true appearance. You three will pretend to be villains chasing me. I'll act unconscious and appear in Xue Qinghe's line of sight, letting him 'save' me. After I'm 'rescued,' find an opportunity to slip away. Understood?"
The blonde girl excitedly laid out her plan, explaining what they should do when Xue Qinghe appeared.
The three men exchanged uneasy glances. "Young Master, isn't this putting us in a tough spot? How could we dare to 'chase' you?"
"This is an order!" the blonde girl snapped, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"Shh! Young Master, Xue Qinghe is here! Let's hide!" one of the men whispered urgently.
The blonde girl immediately ducked behind a tree, giving the three men a signal to start the act.
In the next moment, her body was enveloped in a radiant golden light, like liquid gold. Her appearance transformed dramatically—her sharp features softened, losing their earlier stunning allure. Her brilliant golden eyes and hair dulled to a more ordinary pale gold.
Once her transformation was complete, the three men instantly got into character. Their gazes turned fierce and menacing as they closed in on her, blocking three directions and leaving her only one path to flee—straight toward where Xue Qinghe was entering the forest.
A carefully orchestrated trap for Xue Qinghe had begun.
"Help!" the blonde girl cried out as she fled, her acting so convincing that it seemed she was genuinely being hunted.
Xue Qinghe, who had just entered the forest, heard the desperate cry for help. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and his eyes filled with fear as he looked toward the source of the sound.
Seeing it wasn't the terrifying black tiger but three menacing men chasing a blonde little girl, Xue Qinghe's tense heart eased, and he let out a long sigh of relief. "Thank goodness my luck isn't that bad. I didn't run into the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger the moment I entered the forest."
But just as Xue Qinghe was celebrating his good fortune, the space behind him rippled and twisted. With a tearing sound, a rift opened, and a black tiger with wings emerged.