Gurgle, gurgle...
The sound of fleshy tubes relentlessly extracting the energy within Chrysanthemum Douluo's body echoed through the chamber. The brilliant blue glow radiating from his body gradually dimmed.
Once the tubes had completely drained every ounce of energy—
Squelch!
Countless fibrous tendrils surged forth from the creep-covered floor, winding tightly around Chrysanthemum Douluo's body.
Even the stump of his severed arm was thoroughly wrapped in dense, sinewy threads of flesh.
Buzz!
Two thick, grotesque bio-tubes connected to his clavicles pulsed as they began injecting streams of a dark purple-black liquid into his body.
Chrysanthemum Douluo's deathly pale face immediately flushed with renewed color.
His chest began to rise and fall with growing intensity, and his heart thudded back to life with renewed vigor.
Creak... creak...
From the stump of his severed arm, tiny, wriggling bits of newly grown tissue began to sprout—slowly, painstakingly reconstructing the lost limb.
Simultaneously, an immense volume of purple-black Zerg biomass was implanted into the regenerating arm.
The creep slowly crept up from his limbs, spreading across his torso. Soon, Chrysanthemum Douluo's entire body was encased within a massive cocoon of dark purple flesh, suspended midair in the chamber.
A web of organic filaments held the cocoon aloft, swaying ever so slightly.
A new lifeform was being born.
Star Luo Empire – Imperial Palace
In the palace's training hall, Davis, seated in meditation, suddenly froze. A strange sensation passed through him, prompting him to open his eyes and rise. Without hesitation, he walked toward his private chambers.
The floor slid open, revealing a hidden passage. Davis leapt into the hole and made his way swiftly through a Zerg tunnel, heading toward the hive nestled deep within the palace's rear mountain.
Inside the hive, Lin Fan waited patiently, flanked by Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuyun.
Davis bowed deeply, his tone filled with reverence.
"Lord Overmind."
"Hm. How's the task I entrusted to you coming along?"
Davis responded with respectful certainty,
"It's been taken care of, my lord. My father, the King, is currently staying in the palace. However, I haven't found the right opportunity yet. The Heaven Dou Empire is causing trouble lately, and Father has been preoccupied with that."
"Oh?" Lin Fan's eyes flickered with intrigue. "What's going on with the Heaven Dou Empire?"
"The Heaven Dou Empire has been sending more troops to the border, deploying them along the frontier with Star Luo. There have even been multiple skirmishes recently."
Lin Fan frowned slightly. "Isn't the Heaven Dou royal family in decline? Their overall strength shouldn't compare to Star Luo's. Why are they bold enough to provoke war?"
Davis scratched his head and answered uncertainly,
"There's a rumor... Apparently, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast was discovered in Sunset Forest. Many believe the Heaven Dou Empire's mobilization has a lot to do with that."
"Wait!" Lin Fan's expression suddenly froze. A towering figure emerged in his mind.
It was him!
If Davis hadn't mentioned it, he might've completely forgotten about that old friend.
The Titan Giant Ape.
Back when he orchestrated the ambush that severely injured Chrysanthemum Douluo and others, the Titan Giant Ape had managed to escape the Star Dou Great Forest—fleeing toward the Sunset Forest.
So that's where the beast had gone all along.
Lin Fan shook his head with a slight smile and said to Davis,
"That explains everything. An old friend of mine ran off to Sunset Forest."
Then, as if struck by a thought, Lin Fan asked,
"Wait, doesn't the Heaven Dou Empire lack any Titled Douluo? Why would they even attempt to hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul beast? That's not something they can handle lightly."
Davis furrowed his brow and shook his head,
"My father had the same doubts. Still, the Empire doesn't want to miss the chance either. I've heard rumors that both empires will soon form a joint hunting team to kill the beast."
A glint of calculation flickered through Lin Fan's eyes as a plan began forming in his mind.
"Can you arrange for us to be part of the hunting party?" he asked.
Davis nodded.
"Yes, I can assign you a guard identity, my lord. I'll personally bring you with me."
"You're going too?"
"Yes. In fact, the royal family is dispatching three elite covert squads along with me. They're determined to ensure I return with the spoils."
Lin Fan immediately understood.
For Davis to personally risk himself on the front lines, the reward had to be something immensely valuable.
Given Davis's current strength, there was only one thing that could drastically increase it—
A soul bone.
A soul bone was the only way to create a qualitative leap in his power.
And a hundred-thousand-year soul beast guaranteed a soul bone drop—no matter the body part, its value was astronomical.
Each soul bone also contained a soul skill, comparable in power to that of a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
This made things clear: the Star Luo Empire and Heaven Dou Empire must have reached an agreement—the soul bone would go to Davis, while the soul ring would be given to Heaven Dou.
Lin Fan's curiosity deepened.
Who in Heaven Dou was so desperate to obtain that soul ring—so much so that they were willing to give up a soul bone and mobilize their military?
As far as public record showed, the Heaven Dou Empire had only one known Titled Douluo—Dugu Bo, the Poison Douluo.
But Dugu Bo had long since become a Titled Douluo, and he certainly wouldn't be lacking a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
Moreover, the Empire had no other known Titled Douluo...
"Heh... how interesting."
This unexpected development had completely disrupted Lin Fan's original plans.
But instead of being frustrated, Lin Fan's mind was already racing to devise a new strategy.
After all, this kind of world... is what makes things fun.
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect
"Mm..."
"Where... am I?"
A soft murmur escaped Tang San's lips as he slowly opened his eyes, confusion written across his face.
In his memory, he'd collapsed in the wilderness—so where was this place?
He slowly turned his head, scanning his surroundings.
It was a moderately-sized room.
The clean bedsheets and orderly furniture gave off a neat, refined atmosphere. From the design of the furnishings, it was clear the inhabitants weren't poor.
After all, in both Holy Soul Village and the Primary Soul Master Academy, Tang San had never seen items like these.
Pausing briefly, realization suddenly dawned on him.
"I was... rescued?"
"Hey, Insect Ancestor? Can you tell me who saved me?"
Tang San called out inwardly, but the Zerg Overmind—his Insect Ancestor—seemed to have vanished. No matter how much he tried, there was no response.
He sat silently, focusing on the heavy mental presence lingering in his body, and let out a long sigh.
He wasn't sure whether he was disappointed that the Insect Ancestor hadn't disappeared... or relieved that it hadn't completely abandoned him.
Either way, the Zerg will within him wasn't going to resurface anytime soon.
Tang San slowly got out of bed, walked over to the wooden door, and gently pushed it open.
****
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