After hearing Zhao Wuji and Ning Rongrong's account, Tian Lin fell into deep thought. He knew that the day the meteor streaked across the sky was the day he was born. His father had told him that it was because of this strange phenomenon that he named his son "Tian Lin," implying a child of divine destiny, like a qilin descending from the heavens.
As for the powerful auras that suddenly erupted at that time, Tian Lin had his suspicions. Ferocious Beasts—they were the true rulers among the soul beasts of Douluo Continent.
Soul beasts like the Titan Giant Ape, the Sky Blue Bull Python, and the Demon Spirit Great White Shark were formidable, but compared to the Ferocious Beasts, they were likely far inferior.
At this time, however, most of the Ferocious Beasts should be gathered at the center of the Lake of Life, absorbing the soul power of the nearly million-year-old Iceworm. They wouldn't emerge for another ten thousand years, not until the Iceworm's escape triggered a chain of events.
Because of this, the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Blue Bull Python, for now, could only reign as emperors of the Star Dou Forest. However, their territory was merely the outskirts of the Lake of Life—they were nothing more than gatekeepers.
"What exactly happened that year? Why did the aura of those Ferocious Beasts suddenly appear?" Tian Lin pondered aloud, stroking his chin.
...
At the same time, deep within the Star Dou Forest, in a massive cave, a sealed, fat, worm-like creature suddenly awoke from its slumber.
"This aura… he's finally here in the Star Dou Forest again. I'm saved! But… I can't move right now. I must find a way to lure him over!"
The giant worm began to release its spiritual power outward, aiming it directly in the direction of Tian Lin and his group.
...
Walking through the forest, the group occasionally encountered soul beasts ranging from ten to a hundred years old. Dai Mubai wanted to kill them, but Tian Lin stopped him.
On the Douluo Continent, it was common for humans and soul beasts to hunt and kill one another. However, Tian Lin believed that unnecessary slaughter should be avoided unless it was for cultivation. Whether humans or soul beasts were wiped out entirely, it would not bode well for the continent's balance.
Suddenly, the rustling of leaves broke the silence of the forest. Tian Lin and Zhao Wuji, who had higher cultivation levels, heard the sound of an approaching creature almost simultaneously. Tang San, though a step behind, also noticed something unusual through his Purple Demon Eye. The three of them turned their gazes in the same direction.
Zhao Wuji shouted, "Prepare yourselves! Something is approaching quickly."
Hearing this, everyone immediately got into formation, ready to fight. Tian Lin stood in front of Ning Rongrong to protect her. Though he had guessed that it was the serpent from the original storyline, he remained cautious.
"Zhu Zhuqing, check what's coming!" Zhao Wuji ordered in a deep voice.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded silently, leaped up, and landed on a nearby tree. From her elevated vantage point, her cat-like vertical pupils scanned the direction of the sound.
Soon, Zhu Zhuqing spotted the creature. "It's a flying snake. It's not flying high, but it's extremely fast."
"A flying snake? Zhuqing, can you describe its appearance and estimate its length?" Tang San asked, suspecting what it might be but needing further confirmation.
Zhu Zhuqing focused her gaze. "The snake has a fleshy crest on its head. Its wings are blood-red, and its tail is fan-shaped. Its length is about six to eight meters."
"That's a thousand-year-old Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent, somewhere between 1,300 and 1,800 years old. Perfect! It's just right for us—Oscar, it's especially suitable for you!"
Tang San, being the disciple of the Grandmaster, showcased his extensive knowledge of soul beasts. While the Grandmaster wasn't skilled in many areas, his research on soul beasts was unparalleled, thanks to his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan background and his past relationship with the former Spirit Hall Saintess, Bibi Dong. With such rich resources, his expertise was undeniable.
Tang San's judgment was accurate. The Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent was known for its incredible speed. Among the three level-30 quasi-Soul Elders present, Tang San needed a soul ring with resilience and poison attributes, making the serpent unsuitable for him. Ning Rongrong already had a soul skill that increased speed, so she didn't need it either. Therefore, the serpent was most suitable for Oscar.
"The Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent isn't very aggressive, making it ideal for a food-type soul master. Let me help you with this, Oscar," Tian Lin said with a smile, stepping forward. He intended to do Oscar a favor.
Tian Lin hadn't given up on persuading Oscar to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. After all, Oscar had the potential to become the Food God. Tian Lin had a plan to convince him.
For the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Oscar's abilities would be a tremendous asset. Unlike Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling, whose support skills were suited for high-level soul master team battles, Oscar's talents were invaluable in large-scale wars involving low-level soul masters.
If Oscar were to break through to the Title Douluo level, his earlier soul skills could quickly provide sustenance for tens of thousands of soldiers. Not only could this sustenance stave off hunger, but it could also restore energy, heal injuries, detoxify, and even enhance mobility with effects like high-speed flight. Strategically, Oscar's value was on par with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, albeit in a different way.
In the future, wars on the continent wouldn't be limited to battles between high-level soul masters. Tian Lin was determined to strengthen the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan in every possible way to make it invincible.
"Thank you," Oscar said gratefully. Over the past few days, he had mostly let go of his feelings for Ning Rongrong, though he still felt some animosity toward Tian Lin. However, he hadn't expected Tian Lin to not only disregard this but also actively help him hunt for a soul ring.
Compared to Tian Lin, Oscar realized he was narrow-minded. No wonder Ning Rongrong's heart belonged solely to Tian Lin.
"Brother Tian Lin, what's your plan? Although the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent isn't very strong, it's incredibly fast. Its crest stores nutrients that sustain its flight, making it one of the hardest soul beasts to catch," Tang San asked, concerned about Tian Lin's solo plan. Tang San had a strategy involving teamwork, giving him a 90% chance of success in capturing the serpent.
However, Tian Lin had no intention of following Tang San's lead. This favor was one he wanted to give Oscar personally. "Don't worry, Tang San. Just watch. You've seen my swordsmanship at the Great Soul Arena before, haven't you? Now, let me show you another one of my skills."
With that, Tian Lin took several stones from his Hundred Treasures Pouch. These weren't ordinary stones—they were array stones, pre-infused with soul power. Using these stones, Tian Lin could set up a simple formation in a small area.
While such a formation wouldn't work on high-level soul masters, it was more than enough to deal with a thousand-year-old Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent.