Delving deep into the Evil Demon Great Forest, Chu Chengzhou looked down at the soul beasts he passed and released his own aura to announce himself to the land's master. A question surfaced in his mind.
Although the Evil Demon Great Forest is the largest soul-beast habitat on the Sun Moon Continent, its area is not as large as the Star Dou Great Forest of the Douluo Continent. Yet in terms of the proportion of high-age soul beasts, Chu Chengzhou found that among those he encountered along the way, the share over fifty thousand years far exceeded that of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Notably, he also spotted a hundred-thousand-year soul beast that was extremely rare in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Dozens of li to his northwest, within the earth, perhaps sensing the terrifying might radiating from him, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast that looked very much like an earthworm was fleeing for its life underground.
Is it because the Sun Moon Continent's soul master world is weaker overall, and because Xie Di's fearsome reputation precedes him, that high-level soul beasts in the Evil Demon Great Forest get killed less?
Chu Chengzhou could not help thinking.
That made sense. If the likes of Di Tian and other ferocious beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest had the same notorious reputation as Xie Di of the Evil Demon Great Forest, then those experts whose strength was not weak yet did not count as true top-tier would mostly avoid going unless necessary, so as not to suffer a setback.
With fewer high-level soul masters venturing in, over the years the forest's soul-beast quality would naturally rise. Those genius soul beasts with the makings of a beast king, who originally would have been hunted by human soul masters, would have more chances to grow into hundred-thousand-year beast kings.
Suddenly, Chu Chengzhou raised a brow and turned his gaze north.
Within his spiritual perception, a presence that would be extremely terrifying to an ordinary soul master rose a hundred li to the north and was rushing toward him at high speed.
He had not yet seen its true form, but barring accidents, the land's master was coming out to greet the guest.
Both sides were fast. Not long after, Chu Chengzhou saw a sinister figure with flying black hair coming through the northern sky.
After sizing up the human form of Xie Di, Chu Chengzhou had a measure of him.
Much as he had expected, judging by his aura, the Evil-Eyed Tyrant Emperor Xie Di should be around seven hundred seventy or seven hundred eighty thousand years.
But age is age and strength is strength. In general, a ferocious beast of five hundred thousand years is enough to leave a 99th-rank Peerless Douluo helpless.
Converted into human soul master terms, Xie Di was at least a spiritual-type demigod. If he possessed innate soul skills that amplified spiritual power, his strength would absolutely be sufficient to step temporarily over the divine threshold.
"Who are you? There is absolutely no such figure on the continent."
Frowning, Xie Di asked as he looked at Chu Chengzhou standing in midair on the back of a platinum-colored divine dragon.
Since Chu Chengzhou had not restrained his aura, Xie Di could tell that the youth standing on the dragon's back was an Invincible Douluo whose soul power had reached rank 99.
Like Peerless Douluo, Invincible Douluo was a term unique to the Sun Moon Continent's soul master world for a rank-99 Titled Douluo expert.
However, the Sun Moon Continent had not produced a rank-99 Invincible Douluo in many years, so Xie Di was certain this youth-like Invincible Douluo was not from the Sun Moon Continent.
As for the million-year Time Dragon Summoned Spirit, Xiao Guang?
Chu Chengzhou had deliberately restrained Xiao Guang's aura so that Xie Di would not detect in advance that a million-year soul beast with an unusual aura was at his side, get scared off, and force him to waste effort tracking him down.
For that reason, Xie Di failed to notice that there was a Summoned Spirit beneath the feet of the Invincible Douluo before him whose age far surpassed his own.
"Heh, take a guess?"
At that, Chu Chengzhou chuckled. A green light flashed around him and the Nine Heavens Chaos Armor manifested.
Next, as his soul power circulated, the Life Tree Summoned Spirit, Xiaoqing, which he had previously withdrawn, suddenly condensed beside him, then turned into a verdant streak and merged into his body.
In an instant, Chu Chengzhou's aura surged without limit, directly breaking through the level-100 cap. Vast pressure blanketed hundreds of li around.
"What?!"
Seeing the youth's aura explode in an instant, not only breaking through the level-100 limit but reaching a realm he could by no means touch, Xie Di cried out in disbelief.
The next second, Xie Di fled through the air without hesitation.
There was no doubt that Xie Di was the supreme king of the Evil Demon Great Forest and the strongest being on the Sun Moon Continent, but when it was time to yield, he could set aside the face of a king.
After all, a hard death is not as good as shamelessly living. Only by living can one have everything. If he did not run now, when would he?
Xie Di had originally thought the visitor was just a rank-99 "weakling." He had killed such a level of goods more than once over the hundreds of thousands of years. They hardly deserved the name of Invincible.
But unexpectedly, this Invincible Douluo really was invincible. At least in terms of aura alone, he was by no means a match.
To be safe, running was best.
In any case, soul masters could not become gods and their lifespans were at most a millennium. At worst he could run and hide for a thousand years. By then he, Xie Di, would still be the Evil-Eyed Tyrant Sovereign unrivaled on the continent.
As for this youth becoming a god in the future? Once he became a god, he likely would not bother to keep a small ant like him in mind.
"Run? You think you can run?"
Seeing Xie Di turn tail immediately, Chu Chengzhou was a bit taken aback. Coming back to himself, he curled his lip in disdain and activated the Void Illusion Realm.
Terrifying spiritual power surged out, in an instant crossing several hundred meters to descend upon Xie Di's sea of consciousness.
In a flash, after a bout of spiritual power clash, Chu Chengzhou, wearing the Nine Heavens Chaos Armor, whose base had stepped into level 100 and who, in the Spirit Transformation state, had a soul power level well above 100, prevailed and successfully altered Xie Di's consciousness.
After that, Xie Di, eyes filled with devotion, turned back through the air and returned to a point not far in front of Chu Chengzhou.
"Good. Come, show your true form and let your lord here take a look."
Chu Chengzhou nodded in satisfaction and gave Xie Di an order.
It was said that the true form of the Evil-Eyed Tyrant Sovereign Xie Di was very ugly and extremely ferocious. He wanted to see what it was like.
"Yes, Great Lord God."
As the words fell, black-purple light flashed around Xie Di and his form shifted, transforming into a massive sinister eye over three hundred meters in size with huge tentacles.
Most distinctive of all, around the terrifying giant eye were a full eighty-one tentacles, each more than five hundred meters long.
"Damn!"
Seeing Xie Di's countenance, Chu Chengzhou could not help letting out a classic curse.
Eye-opening. He had seen ugly, but never this ugly.
Of course, calling it ugly was Chu Chengzhou judging by a normal human's aesthetic. Perhaps among the Evil-Eye race, the ferocious and ugly Xie Di was actually the most handsome.
That said, Xie Di's true form was indeed huge. It was the largest living being he had seen in his life.