Chapter 284: Core Zone of Life Lake

After Bibidong and his party left, Tang San and Xiao Wu hurriedly treated the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python; these two truly are top‑grade Soul Beasts, and they possess extremely robust bloodlines, so their recovery ability is very strong.

Even though Bibidong's toxin is extremely potent, as long as there are no mortal wounds, the injuries of the two Ten‑thousand Year Soul Beasts soon stabilized, but to return to optimal condition will likely require a long wait.

Yang Xiong sat beside the Life Lake, quietly waiting for the Azure Bull Python to regain consciousness.

Tang Chen was quite surprised to see Yang Xiong like that; he hadn't expected Yang Xiong to have mastered the Asura Demon Sword so quickly, and from the swing just now, Yang Xiong was even able to wield the Asura Divine Power on the sword, a level of control that even surpassed his own.

It took a full two days before the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape began to gradually awaken, but given their languid state, it seemed they wouldn't fully recover for quite some time.

Yang Xiong didn't care about the fate of the two Ten‑thousand Year Soul Beasts; he mainly just wanted to ask the Azure Bull Python for directions.

Tang San and Xiao Wu, seeing the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python improve, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Tang San then looked at Yang Xiong: "Yang Xiong, thank you for helping us; I owe you another favor."

Yang Xiong smiled: "Tang San, I didn't come specifically to help you; I just have something to ask the Azure Bull Python about. If it were dead, I'm afraid I couldn't go looking for anyone else."

Xiao Wu beside them was a bit puzzled: "You, Xiao Xiongzi, clearly did a good deed, so why are you still like this? What exactly are you looking for from Da Ming?"

Yang Xiong said: "I came to the Star Dou Great Forest just to find a Soul Beast; I think only the Azure Bull Python has ever seen one there, and beyond that I have no idea who else to look for."

After speaking, Yang Xiong turned to the Azure Bull Python: "Azure Bull Python, I recall you once said you saw a black dragon and a Dark Golden Claw Bear battling when you were young; I want to know exactly where that battle took place and where they vanished afterward."

The Azure Bull Python let out a bellow: "Human, although you are friends of Tang San and Sister Xiao Wu, and although you helped me, I cannot help you find Ten‑thousand Year Soul Beasts."

"You are already Level 90; you must be seeking those two Soul Beasts from back then as the Ninth Soul Ring. As a member of the Soul Beast Clan, I cannot betray them."

Yang Xiong smiled: "Azure Bull Python, you've misunderstood; I'm not after the Ninth Soul Ring, I just have some business with them."

The Azure Bull Python showed a hint of doubt: "How could that be? With your strength, you should be pursuing the ultimate Ninth Soul Ring. Apart from the Star Dou Great Forest, where else could a Soul Ring suitable for you be found?"

Yang Xiong shook his head: "The two Soul Beasts I'm inquiring about are stronger than me; I only want to make a small trade with them, which might affect the future of your entire Soul Beast Clan."

Everyone present fell silent for a long time; even Tang San and Xiao Wu didn't know what to say, and finally the Azure Bull Python sighed.

"Very well, you've also done me and Er Ming a life‑saving favor this time; I'm always clear about grudges, so I'll take you to that place from back then. But if you attack them, I'll risk death to stop you."

"You're on my back; I'll take you to the true Core Zone of the Life Lake, a place I rarely set foot in myself."

Xiao Wu quickly spoke: "Da Ming, I'm uneasy about Xiao Xiongzi; I fear he might strike you, so I want to go with you."

The Azure Bull Python said: "Alright then, Sister Xiao Wu, I'll also take you to the center of the Life Lake to have a look; as for the others, let them be."

Tang San hurriedly said: "Da Ming, I also want to go with you; I truly can't rest easy about Xiao Wu's safety."

The Azure Bull Python hesitated a bit: "That's not ideal; even I cannot venture deep there."

Xiao Wu begged the Azure Bull Python: "Da Ming, just take me and San Ge; following San Ge makes me feel safer."

After Xiao Wu and Tang San finished discussing, Tang Chen and the Titan Giant Ape waited on the spot, and Yang Xiong, Xiao Wu, and Tang San together followed the Azure Bull Python to the Life Lake Core Zone.

The three of Yang Xiong leapt onto the Azure Bull Python's back; the Azure Bull Python kicked up a spray of water and swam straight toward the center of the Life Lake.

The Azure Bull Python's body was enormous; its head alone was like a small house, so even ten or eight people could sit on it without issue.

Tang San asked, a little puzzled: "Yang Xiong, why did you go to the Star Dou Great Forest to look for those Soul Beasts? How did you know about them?"

Yang Xiong smiled: "I only saw fragments about them in ancient texts; I'm looking for them mainly for another purpose, perhaps a transaction."

"By the way, Tang San, how did you break through to Title Douluo so quickly?"

A smile appeared on Tang San's face: "Thanks to my great‑grandfather's teachings, I can now add Soul Rings to the Clear Sky Hammer; recently I added two Soul Rings in succession, and my soul power has reached Level 90."

Yang Xiong said: "Congratulations then; if you keep adding Soul Rings to the Clear Sky Hammer, you should soon reach Super Douluo level. I recall that after completing the Red Level Seven Trials on Sea God Island, a divine‑gifted Soul Ring is awarded; haven't you absorbed it yet?"

Tang San nodded: "The final Soul Ring rewarded on Sea God Island is the Blue Silver Grass one; I just absorbed two Soul Rings when Bibidong attacked Da Ming and Er Ming, so I haven't had time to absorb the Ninth Soul Ring from the Blue Silver Grass."

Yang Xiong felt that at this moment Tang San was not only brimming with confidence, but his soul power seemed subtly altered from before, and even a black scythe hung at Tang San's forehead; judging by that, those two Soul Rings of his must be extraordinary.

Moreover, Tang San seemed to exude a trace of divine aura, and within the entire Star Dou Great Forest, the only being truly linked to a god is that Dark Demon Evil Tiger.

If Tang San truly obtained a divine inheritance through the Dark Demon Evil Tiger, the Douluo Continent would become interesting, especially since the Dark Demon Evil Tiger claims the God of Evil descends upon a White Tiger; if Tang San indeed bears the inheritance of the God of Evil, the continent will be bustling thereafter.

Yang Xiong couldn't have imagined that after leaving the Sea God's inheritance, Tang San would have another divine inheritance; could Tang San's luck truly be that great? Moreover, Yang Xiong thought the scythe on Tang San's shoulder looked vaguely familiar, as did the trace of divine aura.

After Yang Xiong chatted briefly with Tang San and Xiao Wu, everyone's focus shifted to the situation before them.

The Life Lake is a very strange place; although it is a massive lake, being in the core of the Star Dou Great Forest makes the spiritual energy extremely dense, and even the air is saturated with soul power.

This makes the entire Life Lake exceedingly dim, with virtually no sunlight and very low visibility.

As the Azure Bull Python moves, visibility grows ever lower, everything turning grayish, and even the range of mental‑force detection drops significantly.

After several minutes, the Azure Bull Python finally stopped; at that moment everyone seemed to be at the very center of the Life Lake.

"This is it. There's a reef here; I recall circling above that reef back then and witnessing that world‑shattering battle. Even with my current strength, recalling it still gives me chills."

"I've searched here many times over the years, but never found that senior from back then; perhaps they all fell in that battle."

Sure enough, where the Azure Bull Python looked, there was an extremely smooth reef, just large enough for one person to stand on, surrounded by eerie lake water.

Yang Xiong didn't hesitate and leapt straight onto the reef.

"Thanks, I'll handle the rest myself. Azure Bull Python, do you still wish to stay here?"

The Azure Bull Python said: "That battle from back then has been a shadow over my life; I also want to see if any of our Soul Beast Clan's seniors are here."

Yang Xiong knew well that if the Azure Bull Python had personally searched many times, it meant those Fierce Beasts had all hidden themselves, beyond the reach of ordinary people, perhaps concealed by some divine power.

One must realize this is the true Core Zone of the Life Lake; even after tens of thousands of years, no one could breach it.

Yang Xiong drew the Asura Demon Sword, and instantly the area around the Life Lake was bathed in blood‑red light, endless killing aura flooding the lake, even the previously calm surface began to roil.

Especially a blood‑red sword aura seemed ready to cleave the entire Life Lake apart.

Yang Xiong knew well that whether Di Tian or the Silver Dragon King, the most detested is the Asura God; with the Asura Demon Sword resurfacing, they would likely be provoked.

……

In a hidden part of the Life Lake, several towering figures stood, each exuding a terrifying aura far surpassing that of Title Douluo in the Soul Master World.

At that moment the figures were startled, for they sensed a terrifying divine power appearing above the Life Lake, a divine force filled with killing aura that even a Soul Beast found chilling.

One massive bear silhouette, extremely angry, shouted: "Boss, this person dares to provoke us; I'll tear him to pieces."

Another figure, comparatively calm, said: "Hold on, if it truly were the Asura God descending, we wouldn't be enough to kill him; it likely isn't the Asura God."

"But the aura outside feels familiar to me; he seems to carry a scent I know, and it's of the same origin as my Dragon Clan."

This figure looked even taller, especially a pair of eyes that were actually golden.

This person is the Gold‑eyed Black Dragon King Di Tian, also the strongest of the Star Dou Great Forest.

(End of Chapter)