Chapter 43
: An Encounter with Bibi Dong, But a Missed Opportunity
Sometimes, when bad luck strikes, even drinking cold water can cause problems.
Fang Yuan, who was deep in the Starry Sky Forest at this moment, had a profound understanding of this sentence.
Just before, relying on the concealment and immobilization power of the Vast Ocean Universe Cover, he silently trapped a powerful ten-thousand-year-old soul beast, preparing to cleanly and efficiently complete the hunt and absorb the soul ring to enhance his strength.
But just then, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The earth trembled violently, towering ancient trees collapsed in large numbers, and terrifying fluctuations of soul power swept in all directions like a tsunami, even distorting and boiling the air.
Some Soul Masters, upon seeing such a strange phenomenon, might be unable to suppress their greed and curiosity, thinking it was the appearance of some rare and precious treasure or a battle of top-tier Soul Beasts, and couldn't help but rush forward to try their luck.
But the difference is between square and round.
He possesses the incredible trump card of a simulator; as long as he develops steadily, he will have plenty of opportunities to become stronger in the future. There's no need to gamble with his life.
So without the slightest hesitation, he ran at top speed towards the outer perimeter, wanting to get as far away from that place of trouble as possible.
People are not as good as the sky.
He had barely rushed a short distance when a suffocating pressure suddenly descended upon him.
Fang Yuan looked up and his heart stopped instantly.
Not far ahead, a purplish-black figure appeared, surrounded by a dangerous aura. It was none other than Bibi Dong, the Pope of the Spirit Hall.
She was dressed in jet-black armor, her brows and eyes exuding an undeniable domineering and indifferent aura. Her long, purplish-red hair was neatly tied up as she marched toward the core area.
Clearly, the earth-shattering commotion just now was caused by her.
A black-haired boy, alone deep within the forbidden area of the Star Dou Great Forest, suddenly came into Bibi Dong's sight.
Her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.
The core of the Star Dou Great Forest is extremely dangerous; ordinary Soul Masters wouldn't even dare to venture into the outer perimeter. It's truly strange that this boy, who looks to be only a teenager, would dare to venture into such a place alone.
However, she was in a hurry to hunt down the 100,000-year-old soul beast and had no time to investigate carefully. She just glanced at Fang Yuan and then turned to the senior steward behind her and ordered, "Take this child back."
"Yes, Your Holiness!"
The deacon immediately accepted the order.
At the same time, he also felt something was amiss. How could such a child suddenly appear deep within the Star Dou Great Forest?
Did they get separated from their elders, or is there another reason?
Fang Yuan's heart was in his throat. Fortunately, Bibi Dong's mind was focused on the 100,000-year-old soul beast and she did not immediately recognize his identity.
He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, his mind racing as he devised a plan to escape.
Before he could come up with a solution...
Bibi Dong's figure flashed and she hurriedly headed towards the core depths, leaving only one person from the Spirit Hall behind.
The steward was about to step forward, preparing to take Fang Yuan to a safe area to await his fate.
But as soon as he raised his hand and turned his head—
The black-haired boy who was just standing there vanished without a trace, as if he had evaporated into thin air.
Where are they?!
The deacon's expression changed drastically, and he froze on the spot, cold sweat soaking his back.
He messed up the order that His Holiness the Pope had just given him.
····························
Meanwhile, Fang Yuanji had already figured out the true purpose of Bibi Dong and her group's intrusion into the Star Dou Great Forest.
He was enveloped in the pale blue light of the Vast Ocean Universe Cover, his aura, soul power, and figure completely concealed, like a gentle breeze blending into the forest, silently moving through the woods.
As far as the eye could see, squads of Soul Saints and Soul Douluos dressed in the iconic attire of the Spirit Hall were rapidly assembling towards the core area of the forest in an orderly manner. Their steps were steady, clearly indicating that this was a premeditated and well-prepared operation.
Fang Yuan felt a pang of pain in his heart, and almost instinctively murmured in anguish, "My spirit ring..."
In the Star Dou Great Forest, apart from the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape, two top-tier 100,000-year-old soul beasts that guard the Lake of Life, there are indeed many other ferocious soul beasts that are 10,000 years, 100,000 years, or even more terrifying in age.
But Fang Yuan doesn't have the strength to hunt them down right now!
Moreover, he also holds Xiao Wu as a crucial bargaining chip. Given how much the Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape cherish and protect Xiao Wu, as long as he firmly controls her, he might be able to force Da Ming and Er Ming to offer their soul rings and soul bones to him based on this deep-rooted bond.
But as soon as this plan formed in my mind, I had a bad feeling.
First, Dugu Yan appeared at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well and consumed the immortal herb; now, Bibi Dong personally led the elites of the Spirit Hall straight to the core of the Star Dou to hunt down a 100,000-year-old soul beast... One thing after another, they have long since deviated from their original course.
Having awakened their simulated memories, they are all taking advantage of their precognitive abilities to actively seize opportunities.
Looking at myself now, my cultivation is still shallow and my foundation is insufficient, so I am completely unable to compete with them.
During the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, if I hadn't simulated it again and Dugu Bo hadn't had to leave, I wouldn't have been able to obtain the immortal herb so easily.
Is it...
Should we restart the simulation?
····························
Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest, Bibi Dong's soul power flowed around her, her aura as cold as ice.
Although she had temporarily suppressed the proud and arrogant Qian Renxue, she felt no relief whatsoever.
She knew her daughter too well. She was exceptionally talented, had extraordinary potential, and even had the inheritance of an angelic divine position. It was only a matter of time before she could catch up with or even surpass her.
With Qian Daoliu protecting her at all costs, and Qian Renxue being her own daughter, she ultimately couldn't bring herself to kill her.
Since I can't get rid of her, I can only make myself stronger, strong enough to pin her down.
That is why Bibi Dong launched this Soul Hunting Operation.
But a lingering doubt remained between Bibi Dong's brows.
The thin, frail figure she had caught a glimpse of while passing by had been lingering in her mind ever since.
At such a young age, all alone, he dared to venture deep into the perilous Star Dou Great Forest, without any attendants or guards, and without any sect markings... It was truly bizarre.
In a flash, several names that had been secretly investigated but whose whereabouts remained unknown suddenly flashed through her mind—
Square and round.
One of them was the same age as the figure from before.
But Fang Yuan, according to the intelligence, was clearly a useless person with a useless martial soul and no innate soul power. He couldn't even carry out the most basic soul master training. How could he possibly have ventured into the Star Dou Great Forest alone?
Is it a coincidence?