As the chosen one of the Douluo Continent, the transmigrator had also inherited the fate and luck that originally belonged to Huo Yuhao.
For those chosen by destiny, smooth sailing simply doesn't exist. For them, the real surprise is when nothing unexpected happens at all.
According to the original plan, Huo Yuhao had already led the Soul Hunting Team to the territory that was originally occupied by a group of Greathead Spirit Apes.
His target this time was the leader of that group,a Greathead Spirit Ape that had just reached the thousand-year level, from which he planned to obtain his second soul ring.
With his current physical condition, it would be a bit difficult, but with the help of the Skydream Iceworm and his improved body, absorbing a thousand-year soul ring was more than possible.
However, something subtle had changed in the information the Skydream Iceworm had shared with him after scanning the forest using spiritual power.
At this moment, the forest was unnaturally quiet, and there were no signs of other soul beasts moving around. Only Huo Yuhao, using his Eye of Truth, could faintly perceive the concealed traces hidden within the foliage.
"What's going on? Although Greathead Spirit Apes are among the more intelligent soul beasts, covering up their tracks inside their own territory isn't in line with their habits."
"Could something else have happened?" Huo Yuhao thought, while signaling the others to stay alert.
Lie Yong narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Something's off. We may have entered another soul beast's territory,and a troublesome one at that. Be careful."
As he spoke, the aura of a Soul Sage surged from his body like blazing fire, spreading a powerful pressure in all directions. Even though it wasn't aimed directly at Huo Yuhao and the others, the sheer difference in soul power made it hard for them to breathe.
As Lie Yong's aura swept outward, the forest that had been silent began to stir. Weak soul beasts fled, while stronger ones in the distance released their auras to challenge Lie Yong's presence.
However, due to territorial instincts, even the ten-thousand-year soul beasts deep within the forest didn't cross their boundaries to confront him.
Huo Yuhao and the others quickly entered their Martial Soul Possession states, vigilantly scanning their surroundings. Under Lie Yong's oppressive aura, the soul beasts that had been hiding began to reveal themselves one by one.
"Chii-chii-chii!" From the treetops came sharp cries, as groups of apes called out. The forest began to move as if stirred by an invisible wind, the noise drawing closer to Huo Yuhao's team.
Soon, pairs of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness, staring intently at them.
Several of the Greathead Spirit Apes stood out with much stronger auras and noticeably larger heads,clearly those who had reached, or were close to, the thousand-year level.
Lie Yong's expression darkened. Entering his Martial Soul state, his body transformed into that of a humanoid lion. Fiery hair turned into a blazing mane that spread behind him, burning with heat.
His entire body was covered in molten armor,this was the complete manifestation of his Martial Soul, the Molten Flame Lion.
Through the treetops, Huo Yuhao could see dozens of Greathead Spirit Apes, each around the hundred-year level, glaring down from above.
There were about thirty of them. While that number meant little to a Soul Sage from Shrek Academy like Lie Yong, he wasn't alone,his team included four relatively weak students.
And psychic-type soul beasts were infamous for being unpredictable, hard to guard against, and dangerously cunning.
While the Greathead Spirit Ape was considered an auxiliary-type beast spirit among soul masters, in the wild it was far from weak.
Due to their social nature, Greathead Spirit Apes could share or enhance each other's spiritual power, granting collective strength far beyond their individual levels.
Combined with their naturally strong mental energy, a large group of them could defeat even a much stronger opponent.
Though herbivorous and rarely aggressive, this cooperative ability made them formidable when defending their own kind.
Their main enemies were other spiritual-type soul beasts, which usually hunted alone. The Greathead Spirit Apes' brain matter could replenish or even enhance the mental strength of those predators, making them a prime target.
Hence, while they had protective numbers, true powerhouse individuals or large tribes of them were rare.
But something about this group was different. Huo Yuhao's Eye of Truth revealed that one among them had an unusually strong soul power structure and spiritual force,far beyond the rest.
Its soul power was about at the thousand-year level, but its mental strength rivaled some ten-thousand-year soul beasts.
"Hmm? A Three-Eyed Demon Ape? Strange… When I scanned the outer areas of the Star Dou Forest earlier, there wasn't any sign of one," the Skydream Iceworm's voice echoed in Huo Yuhao's mind.
"And normally, Three-Eyed Demon Apes and Greathead Spirit Apes aren't part of the same tribe. Why is it here?"
"Could it have been drawn by your earlier spiritual fluctuations?" Huo Yuhao asked through their mental link.
"Possibly… No, wait,this one isn't a normal Three-Eyed Demon Ape. It might be a variant, exiled from the mixed zones of the forest."
"Three-Eyed Demon Apes specialize in fear and mind control, but this one's mental frequency is different,it seems to have evolved in the direction of command and domination."
"I can also sense its aura,it's darker and colder than usual, likely a corrupted soul beast."
"That would explain why this group of sixty Greathead Spirit Apes has been reduced to barely thirty."
"No wonder it became their leader. A variant Three-Eyed Demon Ape with that kind of bloodline would easily overpower normal Greathead Spirit Apes."
"Tsk tsk, looks like you're in trouble this time. A variant Demon Ape commanding a troop of psychic beasts? Not easy to deal with."
Since the ape had masked its presence with spiritual energy, even Lie Yong, whose attention was on the Greathead Spirit Apes, didn't detect it.
His expression grew tense. Dealing with a group-based spiritual-type soul beast was troublesome enough,even for a Soul Sage.
He had originally only wanted to scare the beasts away, but now it seemed they weren't going to retreat.
Lie Yong glanced at Huo Yuhao. "Greathead Spirit Apes,how do you feel about them? Would one of them suit your second soul ring?"
Huo Yuhao nodded. "Yes, they were one of my targets. But I can sense that the strongest ones here aren't the real leaders."
He then looked toward an inconspicuous patch of grass. "There's a faint spiritual fluctuation over there. It's very subtle, hidden within the apes' mental waves."
Lie Yong frowned. Though he was a Soul Sage, his understanding of spiritual power was limited,his strength came from raw might, not psychic finesse.
Unable to locate the source himself, he decided to act decisively. With a roar, his body expanded into his true martial form, the Molten Flame Lion. His sixth soul ring shone brightly beneath him.
From his back emerged a massive lion wreathed in molten armor,his soul power taking physical shape,as it charged toward the spot Huo Yuhao had indicated.
At the same time, his fifth soul ring flashed, sending out a wave of crimson sound energy. The attack struck several of the stronger apes head-on, hurling them from the trees, heavily injured or unconscious.
The remaining apes shrieked in panic, some hundred-year ones even throwing themselves suicidally toward the Molten Flame Lion.
But what could mere hundred-year beasts do against the sixth soul skill of a Soul Sage in full form?
Even when they tried to shield themselves with barriers of soul and spiritual power, they were crushed like fragile bubbles.
Lie Yong had chosen the best strategy,attack the commander first. Although cautious because of the students, he trusted they could handle themselves and aimed to end the battle quickly.
The Greathead Spirit Apes' unity was also their weakness. Their coordination depended on an external will,without that, chaos would ensue.
By threatening their leader, he could force them to abandon the weaker students and instead defend their commander, regaining control of the battle's rhythm.
His molten lion slowed its assault intentionally, giving the hidden soul beast time to react, while reducing the number of lesser apes through controlled attacks.
With a single strike, over a dozen apes were either killed or crippled. But then a surge of dark purple energy shot from the shadows, dispersing his weakened attack.
At that moment, Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea rippled slightly, and the Skydream Iceworm snorted coldly.
"Hmph, that little monkey dares to touch my boy? Yuhao, that's your target. Its age is around eleven hundred years, but it suits you perfectly. Don't worry about the rest,just absorb its soul ring. I'll handle the rest."
"As for the lost years, I'll use my own spiritual essence later to raise it up. I'll make sure every one of your rings reaches the hundred-thousand-year level!"
Huo Yuhao replied calmly, "Understood,but that's not the most important thing right now."
He moved swiftly, flicking out dozens of silver needles that struck several students' acupoints.
Before they could react, they collapsed to the ground, mumbling incoherently, their eyes dull and unfocused.
Clearly, their bodies were no longer responding to their own will.
Huo Yuhao turned to Lie Yong. "Teacher Lie, the hidden creature is trying to control us with spiritual power. I can't hold it off for long,please finish this quickly."
Then he activated the pre-set Level Three Soul Power Circuit,Refraction.
Around him, the Greathead Spirit Apes screamed in confusion as their leader's psychic control failed, leaving them panicked and disorganized.
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