Chapter 68: Arriving at the Star Dou Great Forest! Finding the Singing Cricket!
Facing the utterly astonished gazes of Long Aotian and Du Busi, Liu Yuan's expression remained a portrait of absolute calm. He bowed slightly, his posture relaxed, and replied in a measured, even tone. "Well, while meditating a few days ago, I felt my bottleneck loosen. I simply followed the flow of energy and happened to make a breakthrough by chance."
Hearing this casual explanation, the sheer shock frozen on Long Aotian's face gradually melted into a deep, deeply bitter smile. He lowered his head, staring at his own hands. Just moments ago, the surging vitality of his newly stabilized Rank 52 soul power had filled him with immense pride. Now, that hard-earned sense of achievement vanished like smoke in the wind.
"Junior Brother, your speed of leveling up is truly too fast," Long Aotian muttered, shaking his head with a helpless, drawn-out sigh.
"I had originally intended to say that after obtaining my fifth soul ring and achieving a breakthrough this time, I could finally relax for a few days. I wanted to take my time and stabilize my realm." He let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "Now it seems I was overthinking it. With a Junior Brother like you chasing right on my heels, if I dare to slack off for even half a step, I fear I will truly be left in the dust."
Liu Yuan observed the Chief Disciple. Despite the heavy blow to his pride, a fierce, reignited fighting spirit was already burning within Long Aotian's eyes. A faint, approving smile touched Liu Yuan's lips. "Isn't this the very backbone of our Body Sect? Chasing after one another, pushing our limits to the absolute brink. This is what we call mutual improvement."
Long Aotian paused, stunned for a brief second, before throwing his head back and bursting into hearty, booming laughter. The lingering despondency was swept away entirely. "A wonderful 'mutual improvement' indeed! Junior Brother, you are absolutely right. The path of cultivation is like sailing against a raging current. Having a monster like you pushing me from behind truly forces out every drop of a person's potential."
He stepped forward, his gaze sharpening with a martial artist's hunger. "How about this? After you return from obtaining your fourth soul ring, let us have a formal spar. Coincidentally, I want to test exactly how much power my newly acquired fifth soul skill can exert when facing the absolute suppression of your Double Pupils."
"With pleasure," Liu Yuan agreed, his tone solemn and respectful. He knew perfectly well that crossing fists with a martial genius of Long Aotian's caliber was an indispensable opportunity for honing his own lethal combat techniques.
Standing to the side, Du Busi finally managed to rein in his own internal shock. Listening to the spirited exchange between his two most prized disciples, the old man's emerald-green eyes softened, brimming with immense gratification and towering expectations. He raised a weathered hand, signaling for the martial hall to quiet down. When he looked at Liu Yuan again, his demeanor shifted, adopting the serious, commanding aura of a sect master.
"Alright, now that the playful talk is over, let us get back to business," Du Busi said, his deep voice echoing through the room. "Since you have already crossed the threshold of Rank 40, as your master, it is time for me to personally escort you to obtain your fourth soul ring. However, you have always possessed your own distinct ideas regarding your path. During this time, you must have already chosen your desired target, correct?"
Du Busi knew better than anyone that Liu Yuan possessed an incredibly advanced, almost terrifyingly precise understanding of his own soul power system. From his first soul ring all the way to his third, every single choice had been carefully calculated, perfectly aligning with the unique evolutionary trajectory of his Double Pupils. Because of this, the Super Douluo did not directly designate a specific soul beast as he would for an ordinary disciple. Instead, he granted his monstrous apprentice complete autonomy.
Liu Yuan nodded, offering no concealment as he laid out his strategic thought process. "Master, I currently possess reliable means for mental strikes, physical body restoration, and devastating close-quarters combat. Therefore, at this Rank 40 stage, I do not intend to add any new offensive moves to my arsenal. Rather, I hope to obtain a soul skill that can comprehensively amplify my mental attributes."
He met his master's gaze, his own eyes reflecting cold, pragmatic logic. "Only when the foundation of my mental force becomes unfathomably deep can my existing soul skills unleash a destructive power capable of transcending ranks."
Without missing a beat, Liu Yuan stated his chosen target. "After browsing through the sect's ancient texts, I have selected a ten-thousand-year soul beast known as the Singing Cricket. Its unique mental resonance characteristic can maximize the strengthening of my Double Pupils' origin."
Hearing this flawless explanation, Du Busi did not raise a single objection. Instead, his weathered face broke into an expression of deep approval. He stroked his beard, nodding slowly. "Hmm, this line of thinking is excellent. You are not rushing for quick, flashy success, but choosing to dig deep and solidify your foundation. Truthfully, before coming to ask you, the direction I favored in my own heart was also an amplification type."
The old master paced a few steps, his mind rapidly evaluating the choice. "As for the Singing Cricket, although this soul beast's direct combat power is relatively average, its mental amplification properties are indeed among the absolute best for soul beasts of the same level. It is perfectly tailored to the demanding needs of your Double Pupils."
Du Busi stopped, his aura surging with sudden, decisive energy. "Since the target is clear, let us not delay. We set off now." The master of the Body Sect was famous for his swift and ruthless style; once a decision was made, he never dragged his feet. "I will take you directly into the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest. Given your monstrous physique, this time, you should be able to absorb a soul ring ranging from forty to fifty thousand years."
Liu Yuan agreed immediately.
Before departing, he exchanged brief farewells with Vina and Long Aotian. Although Vina's brow creased with genuine worry regarding the lethal dangers lurking within the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, her anxiety eased when she looked at Du Busi. With a Rank 98 Super Douluo personally overseeing the hunt, the risk was practically nonexistent. She stepped close, her voice soft and intimate as she urged Liu Yuan to be careful.
They took no attendants. They needed none.
Two terrifying surges of soul power erupted from the courtyard. Master and disciple transformed into two blinding streams of light—one a toxic, overbearing emerald green, the other a deep, oppressive dark red. They shot into the sky, leaving the towering mountain gate of the Body Sect behind as they tore through the clouds at maximum speed, heading straight toward the southeast.
The wind howled like a dying beast against their ears. Du Busi unleashed a fraction of his monstrous soul power to carve a path through the atmospheric pressure, creating a slipstream for his disciple. Liu Yuan followed closely behind, his dark red aura burning like a meteor. During this high-intensity, high-altitude journey, Liu Yuan did not waste a single second. He constantly circulated his newly acquired Rank 40 soul power, using the extreme friction of their flight to hone his absolute control over the surging energy within his meridians.
They crossed the sprawling borders of the Heavenly Soul Empire in a matter of hours. Bypassing the smaller, insignificant soul beast settlements scattered along the human territories, the colossal, primeval canopy of the Star Dou Great Forest soon loomed on the horizon. It was a sea of endless, suffocating green.
This time, they were not here to browse. Their goal was absolute, and their route was a straight, targeted spear thrust into the heart of the danger zone.
The moment their boots touched the damp, rotting soil of the forest floor, Du Busi released a wave of his terrifying mental pressure. It swept outward like an invisible tsunami, instantly crushing the hostile intent of any low-level soul beasts lurking in the underbrush. The lesser creatures fled in absolute terror, leaving a wide, silent path for the two humans.
They ventured deeper, the shadows lengthening as they crossed from the relatively safe outer zone into the perilous mixed living area. Here, the ancient trees grew to monstrous heights, their thick canopies blotting out the sun. A dense, cloying poisonous mist clung to the massive roots, smelling of decay and sweet nectar.
Liu Yuan's eyes underwent a chilling transformation. His Double Pupils activated, the dual irises overlapping and glowing with a deep, ancient light. He pushed his innate abilities to the absolute extreme, piercing through the thick illusions of the miasma and expanding his perception. His mind became a finely tuned net, capturing even the most microscopic mental vibrations echoing through the complex, suffocating sea of trees.
Finally, on the morning of the second day after plunging into the deep zones of the forest, the hunt yielded results.
Liu Yuan suddenly halted his steps. His boots sank slightly into the moss. His Double Pupils locked onto a sunken valley ahead, entirely choked by thick, pulsating purple vines. From deep within the depression, a rhythmic chirping sound echoed outward. It sounded like heavy metal striking hollow stone, carrying a strange, hypnotic melody that physically vibrated against the eardrums, piercing straight through the layers of toxic mist.
"Found it," Liu Yuan said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
Resting atop a pile of jagged, loose stones in the center of the valley was a massive insect. It possessed a heavily armored, dark gold body, and a pair of transparent, razor-sharp wings that trembled slightly, generating the hypnotic metallic hum. This was the ten-thousand-year Singing Cricket. Judging by the rich, almost blackened depth of its golden carapace, its cultivation base was easily around forty-five thousand years—the exact, razor-thin limit of Liu Yuan's current physical tolerance.
However, it was not alone.
Surrounding the rock formation were three massive, horrific arachnids. Their bodies were covered in thick, earthen armor, their eight compound eyes gleaming with predatory malice. These were Pit Demon Spiders, each boasting a cultivation of at least twenty thousand years. They circled the Singing Cricket, venom dripping from their mandibles, clearly regarding the rare amplification-type soul beast as their hard-earned trophy.
Du Busi stood casually beside his disciple, a cold, mocking smile curling the edges of his lips. "Good luck indeed. We actually managed to find it."
The Super Douluo cracked his knuckles, the sound like snapping timber. "However, these little spiders do not seem to understand basic manners. Liu Yuan, do you want your master to crush them into paste directly, or do you intend to practice your hands on them yourself?"
Liu Yuan did not answer immediately. His cold gaze remained locked onto the valley floor. Deep within his Double Pupils, a terrifying surge of dark red soul power began to gather with frantic, lethal intensity.
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