The Tears of the Wind God on her chest emitted a cool fluctuation, like clear spring water extinguishing the fire in her heart. Bibi Dong took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions. She couldn't lose her composure; now was not the time.
"Continue surveillance, but be extremely careful. Tang San has that 100,000-year soul beast transformed rabbit by his side, plus two from the Golden Iron Triangle; their perception is not weak. The depths of the Great Star Dou Forest are full of dangers; they may not get their wish. Let our people set up control on the perimeter; focus on collecting information, especially regarding any contact they might have with special existences." Bibi Dong ordered calmly.
"Yes, Teacher." Hu Liena accepted the order but did not withdraw immediately. She raised her eyes to look at Bibi Dong, seeming to want to speak but hesitating.
"Is there anything else?"
Hu Liena bit her lip and finally asked, "Teacher, recently rumors about strange phenomena appearing everywhere on the continent are rampant, some even say... it's divine miracles. How does our Spirit Hall view this? Do we need... to take some action?"
Bibi Dong looked at her deeply. Hu Liena had also keenly noticed the change in the wind direction.
"Talk of divine miracles is ethereal, but there is no smoke without fire," Bibi Dong said slowly. "Spirit Hall has already sent people to investigate. Nana, you are the Holy Maiden; you will bear more in the future. Remember, any extraordinary power, whether it is an opportunity or a trap, must be treated with the most cautious attitude. Power itself is neither good nor evil, but the method and purpose of obtaining power determine whether one ultimately ascends to the peak or falls into the abyss."
Hu Liena looked thoughtful and answered respectfully, "Your disciple will keep Teacher's teachings in mind."
"You may go. Focus on cultivation; your soul power has reached a bottleneck, breakthrough is imminent, do not get too distracted."
"Yes." Hu Liena bowed and withdrew from the great hall.
The hall door closed again. Dai Chengfeng walked out from behind the curtains, his expression slightly condensed. "The Great Star Dou Forest... there are indeed many secrets hidden there. Tang San choosing to go at this time is absolutely not accidental. This child Nana also seems to have something on her mind."
"She clashed with Tang San at the Advanced Soul Master Tournament, and later in Slaughter City... there were also some entanglements." Bibi Dong rubbed her brow. "Matters of the younger generation, as long as they don't damage the foundations of Spirit Hall, let them be. But Tang San..." A sharp light reappeared in her eyes. "His growth speed must be curbed. Even if we cannot eliminate him immediately, we must create enough trouble for him."
"What do you want to do?"
"Isn't he going to the Great Star Dou Forest?" The corner of Bibi Dong's mouth hooked into a cold arc. "Transmit orders to the 'Dark Night' squad active near the Great Star Dou Forest to find them some 'fun'. There's no need for direct conflict; create some 'accidental' soul beast riots, or guide a few difficult forces to the areas they might pass through. Additionally, use secret channels to leak news that Tang San's group might be carrying heavy treasures (hinting at Xiao Wu's identity) to several greedy and powerful soul master gangs or mercenary groups active in the forest. Remember, it must be done cleanly, looking like a naturally occurring struggle."
Borrowing a knife to kill, driving wolves to swallow tigers. Dai Chengfeng understood. "Good strategy. Even if we cannot heavily injure them, it can greatly delay their journey and consume their energy. I will go handle it immediately."
"Wait," Bibi Dong called out to him, her tone slightly softer. "You... this time going back, really nothing wrong? Looking at your complexion, it seems the loss is not small."
Dai Chengfeng felt warmth in his heart. He walked back to embrace her, his chin lightly rubbing the top of her hair. "Just handled some old hidden dangers and used a bit more of my origin. A few days of meditation will fix it. Don't worry."
Bibi Dong stayed quiet in his embrace for a moment, then whispered lowly, "Regarding the God Inheritance matters, I always feel somewhat uneasy. The Raksha God's consciousness, although recently suppressed by the Tears of the Wind God, occasionally sends fragmentary information filled with violence and chaos, as if the God Realm is not peaceful."
Dai Chengfeng was silent for a moment, then hugged her tighter. "In my inheritance memories, the parts about the God Realm are also vague and incomplete. But I vaguely remember that the God Realm is not a monolithic block; between different gods and different god systems, there are also conflicts. Inheritors in the lower world are sometimes merely pieces and chips. Dong'er, no matter what, protect yourself. The Raksha inheritance, use it only if necessary. I will continue to help you nurture and activate the Tears of the Wind God; it might become your true reliance."
"Mn." Bibi Dong answered softly. The two embraced quietly, drawing from the moments of peace and strength given by each other amidst the increasingly unpredictable situation.
The Great Star Dou Forest, a vast land where life and savagery intertwine.
Tang San's group's journey was not smooth. Not long after entering the Mixed Zone, they encountered several waves of unusual soul beast attacks. Originally relatively tame thousand-year soul beast groups were inexplicably irritable, and several powerful soul beasts with cultivation close to ten thousand years seemed to be intentionally guided onto their planned route.
"Something's wrong." Master Yu Xiaogang frowned tightly, looking at a furious Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear that had just been beaten back by Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing working together. "This bear's territory should be in a deeper region, and its state seems like it received strong stimulation or was driven out."
Liu Erlong protected Xiao Wu's side; her fiery temper made her wish to immediately drag out the person causing trouble. "Someone is definitely causing trouble! Is it those lingering ghosts from Spirit Hall?"
Tang San opened his Purple Demon Eye to the maximum, carefully scanning the surrounding jungle, then shook his head. "No obvious human traces found; the aura on the soul beasts is also very natural, doesn't seem like direct control. But their movement trajectories indeed reveal something suspicious." He felt solemn in his heart; Spirit Hall's influence was everywhere, and this kind of subtle interference made them even more difficult to deal with.
Xiao Wu approached Tang San somewhat uneasily. The Great Star Dou Forest was her home; she felt the abnormalities here more deeply. "Brother, I feel the forest is 'very irritable', as if something is making them uneasy." As a 100,000-year soul beast transformed into human form, she had a vague perception of the emotions of higher-level soul beasts.
Oscar created several Recovery Big Sausages and distributed them to everyone, making a bitter face. "We just entered and there's already so much trouble; the place we're looking for, who knows how far away it is."
Their journey this time was indeed guided by secret information provided by Ning Fengzhi. Ancient classics of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect mentioned that near the core Life Lake of the Great Star Dou Forest, there might exist an ancient sacrificial site related to the "God of Nature" or "Source of Life," perhaps related to the recently rumored God Inheritances. Ning Fengzhi judged this might be an opportunity for Tang San to breakthrough further, and also a window to understand the movements of the gods.
Dai Mubai swallowed the sausage, his tiger eyes shining with power. "Regardless of who is causing trouble, we'll handle them one by one! Xiao San, are you sure about that location?"
Tang San spread out an old leather map; the lines on it were simple and vague, pointing to an unmarked area southwest of the Life Lake. "Based on the information Uncle Ning gave and comparing with the map, roughly in this direction. But the specific entrance needs careful investigation once we get near."
"Everyone be careful; I fear the road ahead will be even less peaceful." Grandmaster said solemnly. "Adjust formation; Mubai, Zhuqing in front; Hongjun, Erlong protect the two wings; Xiao San in the center to coordinate; Xiao Wu and Oscar in the middle. Maintain vigilance, increase speed."
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