Chapter 77: The Attack of the Azure Bull Python
"Young Master Xiao, it's getting late. How about resting at my camp for the night?" Xue Qinghe extended an earnest invitation to Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu nodded. Someone was offering him a free tent; why not accept? Xue Qinghe probably also understood that Xiao Yu's trip to the Star Dou Forest must be under the watch of a Titled Douluo, so there was no need to worry about her trying anything against him.
Xiao Yu and Ye Lingling followed Xue Qinghe to his camp, where they briefly met Princess Xue Ke. However, they didn't have much of a conversation, as Princess Xue Ke was a spoiled child who didn't grasp the nuances of forming alliances between powers. Their exchange ended quickly.
As night fell, Xiao Yu unceremoniously slipped into the tent Xue Qinghe had arranged for him. With the royal guards of the Heaven Dou Empire on watch, there was no need for him to keep vigil.
Inside the tent, Xiao Yu and Ye Lingling sat facing each other, circulating their soul power to enter a meditative state. Given their cultivation level, meditation could fully replace sleep.
Boom! Boom!
In the dead of night, a rumbling sound, like thunder on a clear day, jolted Xiao Yu and Ye Lingling awake simultaneously.
Ye Lingling asked with a worried expression, "Brother Xiao Yu, what's happening?"
Xiao Yu shook his head gravely, "I don't know, but it can't be anything good. Lingling, let's get outside!"
Ye Lingling nodded, and the two quickly exited the tent.
"This is..."
Ye Lingling's eyes widened as she took in the scene before her. Thousands of soul beasts had surrounded the camp in a disciplined formation, exuding a murderous aura like a well-trained army.
A beast tide!
That was Xiao Yu's first thought. But wait, wasn't the beast tide something that only happened during the events of Douluo II? The first beast tide had occurred when the Body Sect infiltrated the Star Dou Forest and successively hunted seven 100,000-year-old soul beasts, enraging Di Tian and other fierce beasts, leading to a year-long calamity that devastated countless lives. But this is only the first Douluo timeline!
At that moment, Xue Qinghe also awoke and rushed over with a group of guards. Seeing the scene before him, he couldn't help but gasp, "What's going on? Soul beasts can actually gather and attack like humans? And... there are dozens of 10,000-year-old soul beasts!"
"It seems like there's more than just 10,000-year-old soul beasts here," Xiao Yu said in a deep, solemn tone, his gaze piercing the distant darkness.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
Suddenly, the sky darkened and clouds churned as a massive creature, over a hundred meters long with the head of a bull and the body of a snake, slowly emerged from the shadows.
"A... a 100,000-year-old soul beast, the Azure Bull Python!"
As the Young Master of Spirit Hall, Xue Qinghe immediately recognized it.
The moment the Azure Bull Python appeared, its terrifying killing intent locked onto Xiao Yu.
In that instant, Xiao Yu understood. This beast tide was targeting him—it had come to avenge the Titan Giant Ape.
But how did it know that the Titan Giant Ape had died at his hands? Xiao Yu had deliberately waited until the Titan Giant Ape had moved far away before making his move, specifically to avoid the Azure Bull Python.
What Xiao Yu hadn't anticipated was that the fierce battle had not only attracted the attention of Soul Douluo Meng Shu but had also drawn in several 10,000-year-old soul beasts. Among them, unfortunately, was a spiritual-type 10,000-year-old soul beast—a Spirit Brain Demon.
This creature wasn't strong in combat, but it had a unique ability: it could record everything it saw and sensed, like a living video recorder.
The Azure Bull Python learned the truth about the Titan Giant Ape's death through the Spirit Brain Demon, which also memorized the appearances of Xiao Yu and his companions. Immediately, the Azure Bull Python mobilized all its connections within the Star Dou Forest, setting up a comprehensive surveillance on any humans entering the forest. The moment any of Xiao Yu's group was spotted, it was reported to the Azure Bull Python.
The only thing Xiao Yu could be thankful for was that the Azure Bull Python was neither Di Tian nor the Silver Dragon King. It didn't have significant influence among soul beasts, and many powerful ten-thousand-year soul beasts didn't take it or its brother seriously. Otherwise, today's situation would involve far more than just this group of soul beasts.
"Kill them all, leave no one alive!"
The Azure Bull Python spoke in human language, shouting at the group of humans in the camp. In the Azure Bull Python's mind, there was no distinction between different factions. Since these people were with Xiao Yu, who had killed the Titan Giant Ape, they all deserved to die.
The soul beasts under the Azure Bull Python's command immediately launched their attack. The roars of countless beasts filled the air as they charged, shaking the ground like an unstoppable flood.
"What are you all standing around for? Waiting to die?"
Xiao Yu roared in anger, activating his martial soul first. One yellow, two purple, and three black soul rings flickered around him. With the Hades Sword in hand, he stood in front of Ye Lingling, facing the horde of charging soul beasts.
Xiao Yu's shout snapped the palace guards brought by Xue Qinghe out of their daze. They quickly summoned their martial souls and unleashed their soul skills against the oncoming beasts.
"You've broken through to Soul Emperor!"
Xue Qinghe exclaimed in shock, seeing the six soul rings around Xiao Yu.
Compared to the overwhelming beast tide, it was Xiao Yu's breakthrough to Soul Emperor that shocked her more. This guy was three years younger than her, yet he was already on the same starting line.
"Is that really what you should be focusing on right now?"
Xiao Yu slashed with his sword, cutting a thousand-year-old soul beast in half, and shouted at Xue Qinghe, "Quickly check which side of the beast tide is weakest, find a direction to break out, or we'll be worn down by these soul beasts!"
Xue Qinghe finally snapped out of it, quickly surveying the situation around them. She pointed to a direction, "That way!"
"Good, Lingling, let's go!"
Without hesitation, Xiao Yu grabbed Ye Lingling's hand and charged in the direction Xue Qinghe had indicated. Xue Qinghe followed with Xue Ke in tow.
"Roar!"
At that moment, the Azure Bull Python moved, letting out a thunderous roar.
The Azure Bull Python's domain—Sluggish Domain—was activated.
Xiao Yu suddenly felt as if he was trapped in a cyan-colored space, his movements becoming extremely sluggish.
"Boy, pay for Er Ming's life!"
The Azure Bull Python moved its massive body, its huge claws reaching for Xiao Yu with the intent to crush him.
"Don't harm our young master!"
In the critical moment, two beams of golden light pierced through the Azure Bull Python's domain. Milo and Aiolia appeared, immediately activating their martial soul true bodies. Milo's fingertips glowed red, while lightning surrounded Aiolia as they charged directly at the Azure Bull Python.
As they rushed toward the Azure Bull Python, they shouted to Xiao Yu, "Young Master, run!"
Xiao Yu nodded. With Milo and Aiolia's strength, the Azure Bull Python wouldn't be able to stop them. If he stayed, he would only be a burden. As long as he fled, they could easily escape as well.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yu unleashed his martial soul's full power, his black wings flapping as he carved a bloody path through the weakest part of the soul beast horde with Ye Lingling.
Xue Qinghe and Xue Ke followed closely behind, escorted by a few palace guards. Due to the presence of Xue Ke and the royal guards, Xue Qinghe couldn't reveal her true strength and could only watch as Xiao Yu fought fiercely at the front, clearing a path.
(End of this chapter)
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