Chapter 526: The Barren Land: A Potential Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast

"This is the map of the area surrounding the core of the Star Dou Great Forest, centered on the Life Lake. I have explored many places, but I have yet to find any traces of a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast," Feihuang said, troubled.

In truth, his method was simple: search around the lake and ask Red Hare for help along the way.

Logically speaking, although the Life Lake is vast, it is still circular; if one considers the center of the lake where the Silver Dragon King resides as the center of the circle.

Then, using the center as a pivot, drawing a line parallel to the Two Great Empires and another line perpendicular to it would yield four points.

To guard the Life Lake well, these four points must all be occupied by powerful Spirit Beasts.

The point near the Heaven Dou Empire was once inhabited by the Azure Ox Python and the Titan Giant Ape; after they died, it was occupied by three Qianjun Ants.

Then, the other three points should logically also have powerful Spirit Beasts.

Yet, Feihuang has searched repeatedly these past few days, and the strongest he found were only around eighty-thousand-year Spirit Beasts. While they are quite good, they are still a far cry from a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast.

Unless it is an extremely special existence like the Dark Evil God Tiger, which can surpass the Hundred Thousand Year level in just tens of thousands of years and possesses six major attributes, including the two supreme attributes of time and space.

Feihuang would be willing to accept such a Spirit Ring even if the age were insufficient, but unfortunately, there seems to be only one Dark Evil God Tiger in the entire Star Dou Great Forest, and since the area of the Star Dou Great Forest is even larger than the territory of the Two Great Empires, his luck was poor and he could not encounter it.

"Feihuang, what place is this? Why didn't you mark it?" Qian Renxue asked, pointing at a patch of empty land in confusion.

The entire map was densely marked by Feihuang, except for that one spot, which was completely blank.

"That place? When I went to look, there was nothing there—no flowers, plants, or trees, no birds or beasts. I couldn't even feel a trace of life, so I excluded it," Feihuang said.

"I really didn't expect that a place called the Life Lake would have such a spot nearby," Qian Renxue remarked. "This Life Lake really doesn't live up to its name."

The hand Feihuang was using to draw suddenly stopped. The speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it to heart; he suddenly realized, "That's right, this is the Life Lake. The climate here is the most suitable for the growth of animals and plants. How could there be a place with no life at all?"

"Could it be a concealment-type soul skill? But what kind of concealment soul skill could deceive even me?"

Feihuang hadn't thought in this direction at first because he was too confident in his own strength. With his current power, which rivals a Limit Douluo, no Spirit Beast, no matter how skilled at concealment and escape, should be able to evade his detection.

Moreover, he possessed a soul bone highly specialized in detection, the Ghost Xiaotian Bead; all illusions and concealment skills were like decorations to him.

"There is one!" Qian Renxue smiled slightly. "You might not know, but in the records of my Spirit Hall, there really is such a Spirit Beast that possesses a super concealment skill known to be able to deceive even gods."

Qian Renxue had once scoured the Spirit Hall's library to help Nan Feihuang find information on the Demon Shadow Beast, reading through thousands of types of Spirit Beasts.

With her profound cultivation, sharp ears and eyes, and a photographic memory, she didn't need to memorize things by rote like a Grandmaster; instead, she unconsciously cultivated herself into a theoretical master regarding Spirit Beasts.

"A concealment Spirit Beast that can even deceive gods?" Feihuang became interested. "Is there really such a Spirit Beast in this world?" "Yes, it's called the Spirit of Nature!" Qian Renxue recalled. "I remember that this Spirit Beast looks like a gecko and can merge its body into nature, and the strength of this fusion ability is entirely determined by its cultivation."

"According to what you said, Feihuang, it doesn't just merge itself, but even the life around it, into the surrounding environment, which is why you couldn't detect any life reactions. Then its cultivation age must be terrifyingly high," Qian Renxue said. "I estimate at least ninety thousand years, perhaps even a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast!"

"Xue Jie, in the information you've read, does it say how to deal with it? Now that it has merged with the environment, it is hard for even gods to find. Even though I have the combat power to rival a Limit Douluo, I am helpless against it," Feihuang said, troubled.

To have the strength but be unable to use it was truly frustrating.

"No, once a Spirit of Nature reaches the Hundred Thousand Year level, it is almost unsolvable unless it reveals itself voluntarily," Qian Renxue shook her head. "Feihuang, in any case, let's go check that place out first. Perhaps we might find some clues."

Nan Feihuang nodded. "Alright, let's go take a look first."

If a Spirit of Nature truly existed in that place, it must have a reason for living there year-round.

If that reason could be found, perhaps it could be forced out.

Having said that, Feihuang brought Qian Renxue to that patch of empty land. It was truly bizarre; despite having the best living environment—ample light and fertile soil—there was not a single plant or animal.

It was just a barren stretch, like a wasteland.

Feihuang activated his Ghost Eye, strengthening his vision as much as possible, and Qian Renxue also closed her eyes to sense the surroundings. Unfortunately, just like before, they gained nothing.

They could see nothing, and they could feel nothing.

"Feihuang, why don't we try an indiscriminate attack?" Qian Renxue suggested. "If we completely destroy this place, I don't believe that guy won't come out."

"No!" Feihuang refused decisively. "First of all, the existence of a Spirit of Nature here is just our guess. Perhaps some powerful Spirit Beast fought here, which is why it became a wasteland."

This was also Feihuang's thought when he first came here; he thought he had stumbled into a war zone where Spirit Beasts had fought, so he didn't think much of it and retreated immediately.

After all, the Guteleisi Mountain, where he had previously fought other Title Douluos, was currently in a similar state—barren and devoid of grass.

"Furthermore, Xue Jie, as you said, the Spirit of Nature's ability is strong enough to conceal other species around it. If we attack indiscriminately, I don't know if the Spirit of Nature will come out, but we will definitely cause grave slaughter. I don't mind, as I'm not a good person anyway, but the problem is you, Xue Jie. Are you sure it won't affect your God Trial?" Feihuang asked.

Qian Renxue was stunned. That's right, her Angel God Trial placed great emphasis on the word 'justice'. If the slaughter was too great, the 'judging of sins' segment that would inevitably appear in later trials might not even spare Feihuang, let alone herself.

Her heart was filled with unwillingness. "Damn it, what a hypocritical divine trial. That main personality wants to take the trial, forcing me not to go on a killing spree. Boring!"

(End of chapter)