Three days later, within the Sunset Forest.
Xiao Lin and his group were searching through the Sunset Forest for a earth-attribute soul beast, to be used as nourishment to help A Yin restore her body.
At the same time, they planned to use an earth-attribute soul beast to improve part of the land surrounding the Ice and Fire Yin–Yang Eyes.
That area was all sulfurous ground near volcanic terrain—land saturated with extreme ice and fire attributes.
Even A Yin, the Blue Silver Emperor, might not be able to adapt to such an environment quickly.
At this moment, among the four of them, Xiao Wu was feeling rather uncomfortable.
Killing a ten-thousand-year earth-attribute soul beast just to hasten A Yin's revival made her uneasy—after all, she herself was a soul beast that had taken human form.
But Xiao Wu could also understand it if she put herself in their place.
If she needed a ten-thousand-year soul beast's body to revive her own mother, she would also choose to act.
Sensing the change in Xiao Wu's emotions, Tang San put an arm around her shoulders and comforted her.
"Xiao Wu, ten-thousand-year soul beasts already possess considerable intelligence. If that soul beast is willing to directly use its soul power to improve the land, we don't have to kill it."
In front of Xiao Wu, Tang San was still as pure and upright as ever.
"If that's the case, it'll take quite a bit more effort."
Hearing this, Xiao Lin couldn't help but reply.
If they only needed a corpse, hunting one would be much simpler, and they wouldn't have to care what kind of earth-attribute soul beast it was.
But if they wanted to capture one alive and negotiate, they would need sufficient strength to make a ten-thousand-year soul beast listen to them.
Moreover, they would have to find a soul beast that actually had the ability to improve land.
Otherwise, if it were something like a earth-attribute soul beast that only excelled at digging tunnels, it would be useless.
And most importantly, ever since they entered the Sunset Forest,
Tang Hao had stated that all battles here would be left to Xiao Lin, Tang San, and Xiao Wu.
Tang Hao would not intervene at all—he simply wanted to test their strength.
Xiao Lin's meaning was something both Tang San and Xiao Wu understood very well.
"Brother Lin, if we're looking for earth-attribute soul beasts that are good at improving land, which ones would be suitable?"
Looking at the kindness in Xiao Wu's eyes, Tang San couldn't bear to refuse and could only choose negotiation with soul beasts.
"If it's land improvement, then in the Sunset Forest, there are probably only three or four types that are suitable."
Xiao Lin pondered for a moment before speaking.
"The first is the Rock-Armored Beast. It looks like a combination of a pangolin and a land tortoise. Its shell is covered with moss and lichen, and as it moves, it sheds many nutrient substances that improve soil quality."
"If we encounter a ten-thousand-year Rock-Armored Beast, we can just take part of the moss and lichen from its shell."
"The second is the Earth Dragon—a kind of giant earthworm that specializes in burrowing and changing soil structure. Its body secretes a mucus that gathers earth elements, which can also be used to improve land."
"The third is the Earth Spirit Deer, which excels at controlling the land, reviving the earth, purifying soil, and resonating with nature. According to legend, it is a messenger of the Earth Goddess."
…
"Stop, stop, stop—Brother Lin, the more you talk, the more wrong this sounds."
Suddenly, Tang San, who was walking behind Xiao Lin, showed a helpless expression and hurriedly stopped him from continuing his display of knowledge.
"Brother Lin, don't you think something like an Earth Spirit Deer is already a legendary soul beast?"
When Tang San heard something like an Earth Goddess, he immediately felt this soul beast was anything but ordinary. If it truly existed, it would have long become a hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
How could such a creature possibly exist in the Sunset Forest?
"Then what else can I say?"
Xiao Lin spread his hands helplessly.
"Soul beasts are creatures like this—do you really expect them to actively improve the environment?"
"If they used their soul power to develop such abilities, they'd easily end up as food for other soul beasts."
"Unless they're soul beasts that are inherently powerful by nature…"
Survival of the fittest—this was the rule of the soul beast world.
"Let's forget it then. We'll look for Rock-Armored Beasts and Earth Dragons first."
After struggling internally for a while, Tang San ultimately decided not to slaughter soul beasts indiscriminately.
Thus, Tang San decisively unfolded his Blue Silver Domain.
After summoning the Blue Silver Emperor martial soul, Tang San closed his eyes tightly.
Countless Blue Silver Grasses throughout the Sunset Forest rejoiced at Tang San's presence.
Gradually, Tang San began using the Blue Silver Grass to search for Rock-Armored Beasts and Earth Dragons.
As enormous amounts of information flooded in from countless Blue Silver Grasses, Tang San quickly felt information overload.
The massive influx made it impossible for him to focus on anything else—he could only walk instinctively while following Xiao Lin and the others.
Before long—
Joy surged in Tang San's heart, and he suddenly opened his eyes.
"Found one—a Earth Dragon of about twenty thousand years."
Just as Tang San was about to share the good news, he noticed an enormously massive Earth Bear.
"ROAR!"
A Earth Bear nearly six meters tall opened its abyss-like mouth and roared at Xiao Lin and the others.
The Earth Bear's massive body resembled a small mountain, its surface radiating yellow-brown light.
The moment it appeared, the surrounding gravity changed.
"This Earth Bear has fifty thousand years of cultivation. It's a powerful soul beast with both offense and defense. It's said that once this species reaches over a thousand years of cultivation, it awakens the ability to control gravity."
At this moment, Xiao Lin spoke, revealing the Earth Bear's cultivation level and abilities, his expression solemn.
A fifty-thousand-year Earth Bear was equivalent to a Soul Saint or even a Soul Douluo-level expert in today's Douluo world.
With its gravity-control abilities, even an ordinary Soul Douluo could easily suffer defeat.
Tang San turned to look at Tang Hao. Seeing that he had no intention of intervening, Tang San understood that Tang Hao intended to treat the Earth Bear as their test.
"An Earth Bear that can control gravity can also be used to improve land."
Xiao Lin said this at that moment.
Using gravity to move massive amounts of soil to the Ice and Fire Yin–Yang Eyes would work just as well.
However, at this point, Tang San couldn't help but roll his eyes at Xiao Lin—such a powerful soul beast, and he still wanted to raise the difficulty?
Xiao Wu blinked her adorable eyes, already hoping that Xiao Lin and Tang San would subdue it through virtue rather than force.
"No matter what, we have to let it know we're not easy targets. Don't hold back at the start."
Tang San said calmly, then released his five soul rings—one yellow, two purple, and two black.
"The Blue Silver Emperor appears—Blue Silver Entanglement!"
In an instant, countless Blue Silver Grasses surged up from the surrounding ground as if injected with stimulants, rapidly growing and rushing toward the Earth Bear.
Having awakened the Blue Silver Emperor martial soul and the Blue Silver Domain, Tang San changed the surrounding terrain in an instant.
The Blue Silver Grass across the land rose like wave after wave of the sea, wrapping around the Earth Bear and bundling it up like a giant zongzi.
"ROAR!"
Seeing mere ants dare to resist, the Earth Bear roared in even greater fury.
The thunderous roar echoed as if through the entire Sunset Forest, sending countless birds fleeing in an instant.
At the moment the Earth Bear roared, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass was torn apart by its brute strength.
Then the overwhelming gravity forced the Blue Silver Grass to bend low, allowing it to reach only the Earth Bear's feet.
Seeing that Tang San couldn't take down the Earth Bear quickly, Xiao Wu wanted to help and swiftly activated her Soft-Boned Rabbit martial soul possession.
But almost immediately, Xiao Lin pressed a hand down on her shoulder.
"The Earth Bear specializes in gravity and close-range combat. Xiao Wu, if you go over there, you'll just be a living target."
Letting naturally fragile Xiao Wu fight such a heavily armored tank would be nothing short of sending her to her death.
(End of Chapter)