A year later, deep within the Soul Beast Forest, a Datura Snake coiled lazily around the branch of an ancient tree.Its scarlet eyes gleamed coldly as it watched a Rock-Armored Boar below, happily munching on tender grass.
The five dark scales along the snake's body revealed its age—over five hundred years of cultivation.The boar, oblivious to the danger above, wiggled its plump rear end in satisfaction.
The moment it turned its head, exposing the soft skin of its neck—its only weakness—the Datura Snake struck like lightning.
Its two gleaming fangs sank deep into the boar's flesh.The creature bellowed in pain, slamming its massive body against the rocks.But as the deadly venom seeped through its veins, its struggles slowed… and finally ceased.
Just as the Datura Snake was about to feast, a small figure burst through the underbrush.In a flash, the figure's hand clamped down on the snake's seven-inch mark.
"Soul-Gathering Hand!"
A low, resonant hum filled the air.Dark light surged from Chu Tianxiu's palm, enveloping the serpent entirely.
This was a basic technique from the Soul Clan's secret art—the Nine Nether Soul-Devouring Technique.On Earth, Chu Tianxiu had known it as a terrifying ability from Battle Through the Heavens,one used to capture and devour the souls of powerful beings.
But here, on the Douluo Continent, he had made an incredible discovery—this same technique worked on soul beasts, allowing him to absorb and suppress their soul power directly.
A dark glow pulsed across the Datura Snake's scales, its hiss fading to a weak wheeze.After a quarter of an hour, its body went limp and fell still.
Chu Tianxiu exhaled deeply and withdrew his hand.A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"My soul power… it's increased significantly!"
Although only six years old, Chu Tianxiu already stood 1.3 meters tall.His body was lean, his muscles sharp and compact—like a young, predatory beast born from the depths of the forest.
For the past year, Chu Tianxiu had roamed the Soul Beast Forest,absorbing the essence of soul beasts to strengthen his body and spirit.
At first, he could only face creatures a few decades old.But as his cultivation deepened, the power within him grew.Now, after a year of relentless training, he could fight five-hundred-year-old soul beasts head-on—and emerge victorious.
His mastery of the Nine Nether Soul-Devouring Technique had finally broken through the first level.By infusing his soul power through touch, he could disrupt a beast's internal energy flow,forcing it to exhaust its stamina and fall helpless—like a fish on a chopping block, awaiting its fate.
'With this strength, I can finally hunt properly. My foundation is solid now.'
Just as Chu Tianxiu bent down to extract the serpent's gall,the faint crunch of footsteps echoed through the trees.
His eyes narrowed.
Moments later, a figure stepped out from the shadows—a man in black close-fitting clothes, his expression calm yet heavy with melancholy.His narrow eyes reflected both intelligence and sorrow.
'Yu Xiaogang…!'
Chu Tianxiu froze. Tang San was nowhere to be seen.
Yu Xiaogang had arrived at the Soul Beast Forest to investigate a strange phenomenon.For the past year, countless soul beasts around Notting City had been found paralyzed,their soul power inexplicably depleted.
At first, only weaker beasts—those a few decades old—had been affected.But six months ago, the number of afflicted beasts over a hundred years old began to rise.And in the last month alone, even beasts nearing five hundred years had fallen victim to the same fate.
As the most renowned theorist of soul beasts on the Douluo Continent,Yu Xiaogang was deeply intrigued.
Though his mutated martial soul prevented him from advancing beyond rank thirty,his unparalleled insight into martial souls and soul beasts had earned him the title of Master.
When the City Lord of Notting entrusted him with this investigation,Yu Xiaogang had spent countless nights poring over ancient texts—but found nothing.
So he came here himself.
And what he saw stunned him—a boy no older than six had just subdued a five-hundred-year-old Datura Snake with his bare hands.
Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted sharply.Even a Great Soul Master like him would struggle against such a beast.The venom of a Datura Snake was among the deadliest in the entire forest.
Yet this child—this frail-looking boy who hadn't even awakened his martial soul—had defeated it through sheer strength and technique alone.
'What kind of monster is this child…?'