The God Realm. A soft halo, like a mother's hand, gently touched the delicate skin of the clouds and mist. The ethereal space had an exceptionally moving sense of substantiality.
Vaguely, in the highest, magnificent palace of the God Realm, stood a handsome man with a waterfall-like, sea-blue long hair. The man wore a luxurious blue robe, and a faint golden trident mark shone on his forehead.
At this moment, the man's profound eyes were extremely solemn, focusing on a tall figure also standing in the palace, whose entire body was permeated with a violent, destructive aura.
The tall figure wore a large purple cloak, covering his head. Only two clusters of red light could be vaguely seen flickering within the cloak, obscuring his face.
"Destruction, why do you obstruct me!" The man said with a dark expression. Although the Eye of Ice and Fire was no longer of much use to him, the Lovesick Heartbroken Red within it was an important prop he used to test the Son of Destiny.
"Gods are not allowed to interfere with the lower realm. Whatever happens in the lower realm is the lower realm's business. As a god, it is better to observe. Action is not permitted," the god, whom the man referred to as Destruction, said coldly. "Tang San, do you still remember our bet!?"
Tang San remained silent, his deep blue eyes fixed on Destruction, but he did not argue with Destruction on this point. Destruction had preserved the images of him manipulating the fate of the Son of Destiny.
Arguing about this would lead to an utter loss for him. Tang San pondered internally. Instead of looking at Destruction, he looked toward another canyon on the continent.
He raised his hand and pointed to that canyon, saying: "Since the Eye of Ice and Fire, one of the great treasure lands of the Douluo plane, has already been dug away by the person you arranged..."
"Be clear, Tang San. That was a spontaneous action of that soul. I have never interfered with his life trajectory."
Destruction interrupted Tang San.
"Hmph!" Tang San snorted, not arguing with Destruction on this point. Again, he knew in his heart that he couldn't win an argument against the God of Destruction on this.
"But this treasure land has not yet been set foot in. Why don't we make another bet? Let's see whether your person enters first, or my person enters first.
"Unlike the Eye of Ice and Fire, this treasure land requires someone to preside over it. So the stake is the presidency of this treasure land. If I lose, you preside. If you lose, I preside."
Finished speaking, Tang San looked deeply at Destruction. The clusters of red light under Destruction's cloak flickered. He naturally understood Tang San's intention.
Tang San merely wanted to use that treasure land as an excuse to openly interfere with the lower realm. Whoever's person entered first could give their person the green light.
After thinking for a moment, and perhaps recalling someone, the two clusters of red light under the cloak flickered, and Destruction finally agreed.
"Then let's bet once more!"
"Good!"
Tang San's eyes shone brightly upon hearing this, thinking, As expected, even the God of Destruction cannot hide his intention to interfere with the lower realm. Thinking this, his contempt for Destruction deepened slightly.
He turned to look at the Douluo Continent, his gaze fixed on that treasure land, beginning to ponder how to perfectly utilize that treasure land.
The God of Destruction also looked down at the lower realm, but his gaze landed on Shrek Academy. The two clusters of flickering red light under his cloak softened considerably, showing an aura of kindness.
If the Goddess of Life were here, she would surely tease him by calling him "Uncle Zi."
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Meanwhile, in the depths of the Star Dou Forest,
On a lake surface as smooth as a mirror, radiating a rich aura of life, a black-clad man over two meters tall floated cross-legged.
His long black hair stood upright, with a single golden streak at the front. The man's handsome and stern face had an indescribable imposing presence.
Suddenly, the man abruptly opened his eyes. A pair of golden vertical pupils showed an unspeakable joy. He immediately stood up, kneeling on one knee on the lake surface.
"Master, you have finally awakened."
A faint silver halo circulated, and an ethereal voice followed.
"Di Tian, the fate of the Auspicious Beast has undergone subtle changes. Let it go."
"Let it go now? Isn't it too early?"
The man called Di Tian said in a deep voice, his stern face also showing a look of confusion.
"That is irrelevant. This may be the only chance for the Auspicious Beast to escape its destiny. But don't hold any hope. Destiny, heh heh..."
As the voice reached the end, the ethereal voice carried a hint of subtle mockery.
"Yes, Master."
Di Tian stood up, his golden vertical pupils becoming animated.
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Above the Sunset Forest,
Long Xiaoyao, floating in mid-air with Wang Lin, slowly landed on a clearing.
The old black dragon looked toward the depths of the Sunset Forest, spat out the Heart of Qiluo from his mouth, wiped it clean, and returned it to Wang Lin's hand.
"Little Linzi, what did you do inside?"
"I didn't do much. I ate an immortal herb and asked for this Heart of Qiluo." Wang Lin said with an innocent look. He stared at Long Xiaoyao, and only after confirming that all the emerald green on Long Xiaoyao's skin had faded did he confidently put away the Heart of Qiluo.
"Immortal herb? The legends are true!?"
Long Xiaoyao recovered, staring at Wang Lin, and asked: "Tell me the specifics. What is the name of the immortal herb you ate, and what exactly happened inside?"
"I ate the Strange Velvet Sky-Controlling Chrysanthemum. Oh, by the way, Master, I'm already Level 40 now. I can go hunt for my fourth soul ring."
As he spoke, a faint chrysanthemum fragrance permeated Wang Lin's body. He then explained everything that happened in the Eye of Ice and Fire, omitting the part about Elder Yi.
"You recognized those immortal herbs?"
Long Xiaoyao couldn't help but ask upon hearing that Wang Lin, after being poisoned, immediately headed toward the Delightful Fragrance Qiluo Immortal Herb.
"Of course. I had seen relevant records in ancient books at home before, so I knew the general effects of those immortal herbs." Wang Lin fabricated the answer casually, not worried about being exposed.
He hadn't had a home since his parents died in this life.
"So that's how it is."
Long Xiaoyao nodded. Wang Lin continued his explanation. After his entire explanation was complete, the old black dragon stared at Wang Lin and suddenly laughed.
"I never thought that after taking you on as a disciple, this old man would become so overworked, running around all day."
"What are you talking about? It's your fault for not taking me soul hunting before. Moreover, even without eating the immortal herb, absorbing those two soul bones would have still pushed my cultivation to Level 40. As a Master, shouldn't you take your disciple to hunt for soul rings?"
Wang Lin was self-righteous and confident.
"Yes, yes, yes, whatever you say is right, you brat!"
Long Xiaoyao patted Wang Lin's shoulder, turned around, and walked away. Wang Lin quickly followed, arguing with the old black dragon. The old man and the young one refused to yield to the other.
They didn't really come to a definite conclusion, but they did discuss the soul hunting location. Mental attribute soul beasts were hard to find.
Especially high-level mental attribute soul beasts. Therefore, the master and disciple naturally chose the Star Dou Forest as the hunting ground for this soul hunt.