C16 Fire Spirit Monkey

Zuo and Elder Shee were a mere 300 meters from Ye Cann. If they chose to kill him now, they could easily claim his dagger. And even if they encountered his elders later, a few lies could easily explain away the incident. After all, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for a child lacking Soul Points to fall prey to a Soul Beast in the forest.

Eryou, however, couldn't be sure whether Ye Cann had a powerful protector lurking nearby. As a Soul Sovereign, he lacked the ability to sense the presence of a Soul Ancestor-level Soul Master.

After a moment's contemplation, Eryou offered an awkward smile. "I was just concerned that you might not be able to handle that Gold Devouring Rat. I never imagined you could take down a hundred-year-old Soul Beast on your own. Is your mentor close by, by any chance?"

Ye Cann let out a cold laugh. His time training in the forest had brought him face to face with numerous Human Soul Master groups. He had witnessed firsthand how quickly alliances could shatter over a Thousand-year Soul Beast.

In the Soul Beast Forest, one had to be vigilant not only against the stealthy attacks of Soul Beasts but also against the treachery of fellow humans.

"Why should you care whether my family's elders are nearby? Instead of wasting time chatting with me, you'd be better off hunting for a Soul Ring!" Ye Cann retorted, then turned to leave the clearing.

He needed to stay composed. He sensed a whiff of danger emanating from Eryou. The Ancient Saint Body within his bloodline was alerting him to the threat. Eryou's Soul Point was at least at level 35, marking him as a formidable Soul Sovereign.

Typically, a Soul Sovereign's might was on par with that of a Thousand-year Soul Beast. Ye Cann had indeed grown stronger, but without any Soul Points, his limit was hunting three-hundred-year-old Soul Beasts.

The second tier of the twelve trials of immortality had already begun. The first had required Ye Cann to absorb the essence of a hundred ten-year-old Soul Beasts. To expedite his mission, he would venture to the forest's outskirts before daybreak to confront the Wind Baboons. These creatures, once dominant in the forest's periphery, had been decimated by Ye Cann to the point of near extinction.

A shadow crept into the corner of Eryou's eye as he gripped the dog head hammer, poised for a deadly blow. With a single strike, Ye Cann's head would be nothing but a memory.

Eryou was known for his explosive temper, especially among Elder Shee's trio. He was typically the one to carry out their executions.

"Kid, what does it matter if you have an elder watching your back? Killing you would take me less than three seconds. Do you think your elder can save you in that time? Or do you believe you can withstand my assault until they arrive?" Eryou taunted.

With a surge of power from his right leg, Eryou transformed into a meteor, hurtling toward Ye Cann.

Chills ran down Ye Cann's spine. His master was likely basking in the sun on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest at that very moment.

Time spent with Yu Tianlang had revealed a critical weakness in Ye Cann's martial soul. Daily sunbathing was essential to curb the ferocity of the White-Eyed Azure Dragon within him. If left unchecked, the beast could unleash havoc across the Douluo Continent.

Instinctively, Ye Cann's Blue Electric Dagger lanced out as a streak of lightning, aimed at the unseen threat behind him.

To Ye Cann, facing a Soul Sovereign was akin to confronting a colossal prehistoric creature.

The forest was bathed in blue as a canine howl echoed through the trees.

Elder Shee's face tensed upon hearing the bark. He exchanged a grave look with Zuo before declaring, "Eryou has met a formidable foe. Assist him in holding the line while I rally the others for backup."

With a nod, Zuo hastened in the direction Eryou had vanished.

Elder Shee, observing Young Master Huang and his group tormenting a young girl, cleared his throat and spoke with a chilling tone, "If you value your lives, follow me."

Huang Tian, his features contorted, dismissed Elder Shee's command with a wave. Pinning the girl beneath his boot, he sneered, "Lucky you, brat. I was about to entertain myself with your demise."

A young man with shifty eyes ingratiated himself, "She had the audacity to vie with Young Master Huang for the position of the sect's core disciple. She truly doesn't know her place."

"Every single time! Young Master Huang, you're a shoo-in for the sect's core disciple this year! She's nothing but a beggar that the Fifth Elder picked up from the streets."

Young Master Huang caressed Zilan's hand, and the malevolence on his face lessened considerably. He then adopted the demeanor of a humble gentleman and murmured, "Let's go."

Left behind, her pale face was marred with scars. Her body bore the telltale purple marks and bruises of a beating. They hadn't used sharp weapons to inflict pain; they had resorted to their fists and feet.

A three-centimeter-long gash adorned her right cheek, from which blood steadily trickled.

"I can't cry! My grandfather said I have to be strong and survive! No matter how much they beat me, I can't cry! I have to heed my grandfather's words!"

Tears welled up, spilling from the corners of her eyes. On her exposed back, a black mass emerged, clinging to her skin and coursing through her meridians.

"But!"

"But!"

She stifled a sob, fighting through the agony that wracked her body. Clutching at the nearby Bluesilver Grass, she gripped it so tightly that the resilient plant deformed, oozing a sapphire-hued sap.

"Why does living have to hurt so much?"

She rose unsteadily to her feet, driven by a single thought – her grandfather's dying advice.

Survive!

Just survive!

That was the only way she could accomplish everything she longed for!

Behind Zuo, four Soul Rings materialized. Two yellow, two purple – his Soul Rings differed from his brother's. Zuo's Soul Point aptitude far surpassed Eryou's, and his integrity shone through. The malice within him did not impede his spiritual progress.

A Fourth Ring Soul Ancestor!

"Eryou!"

Zuo halted abruptly after crossing a swath of grass. There, a dog head hammer stood silently in the clearing.