'So this is the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger?'
Li Chang'an's gaze was cautious as he studied the beast. He hadn't expected to encounter one in the outer regions of the Star Dou Forest. But then again, this was practically a prize that fell right into his lap.
In truth, it was nothing but sheer luck. A spirit beast like the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger didn't dare venture into the core zone—otherwise, it would've been crushed long ago.
But the instant Li Chang'an appeared, the purity of his soul power and the strength of his bloodline made the beast's heart stir with greed. To it, he was like a wealthy forty-year-old woman who had gone thirsty for twenty years suddenly laying eyes on a vigorous twenty-year-old man—greed, desire, and hunger filled its mind.
It knew very clearly that devouring Li Chang'an would be even more rewarding than consuming a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast.
Although just standing in front of Li Chang'an gave it a faint sense of unease, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger had never lost to a human. Its cultivation had reached more than sixty-thousand years, and that gave it plenty of confidence.
Even so, it remained cautious as it advanced. Danger radiated from Li Chang'an's body, and the tiger couldn't ignore it.
But the temptation was too great. If it devoured his soul power, there was a real chance it could break through the hundred-thousand-year barrier. For a creature like this, cultivation wasn't bound by years—strength alone dictated advancement. At that level, even the resurrection of Da Ming and Er Ming couldn't stop it.
Of course, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger knew nothing of Gu Yuena's revival. If it did, it wouldn't be strutting around so carelessly.
Li Chang'an stared at the beast's disturbingly human eyes and knew its intelligence had reached a certain level. But would he be afraid of that?
Black… black… black… black-red… red… red… red—seven incomparably terrifying soul rings slowly rose behind him. Even the surrounding air seemed to grow heavy under the pressure of those rings.
His first three black soul rings had long since surpassed eighty-thousand years; they were so deep and viscous that they looked like solidified ink. The fourth ring still clung to the faintest trace of black, a sign it was about to reach the hundred-thousand-year level.
As for the crimson rings—his first already bore two golden lines, while his sixth and seventh carried three and six lines respectively. With such dazzling soul rings framing his body, Li Chang'an looked less like a man and more like a God.
That was the power of Soul Ring Fruit—eat more, and your rings would rise accordingly!
Then came the Pangu Axe, black as ink with faint white markings etched across its surface. The moment Li Chang'an grasped it, his aura surged skyward. Just the sight made the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's confidence waver.
'Can I… still win?'
But retreat was impossible. This human would never let it go, and besides—it had its own trump cards.
The enormous evil scythe on its back slowly lifted, swaying gently. Each swing distorted the air, leaving behind warped halos of light. Its body was pitch-black, yet the energy it released was gray—a sinister, unholy gray. As it stepped forward, plants on either side bent away of their own accord, as though clearing a path for its majesty.
One man. One tiger. They stood facing each other.
The beast halted thirty meters away. No roar escaped its maw—only an icy, terrifying calm gleamed within its blood-red eyes.
It's searching for an opening…
Li Chang'an's keen spiritual sense immediately grasped its intent.
'This thing… is it really just a beast? It feels more dangerous than facing a human Titled Douluo.'
But Li Chang'an had no weaknesses. With his Soul Core condensed, his very being had become part of the world itself. Flaws? Those no longer existed in him.
Five minutes crawled by before the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger finally moved.
Gone was the careful, deliberate pace—its body vanished in a blur. A sudden stench of blood filled the air, winds howled, and Li Chang'an's surroundings rippled violently. The beast had completely disappeared from sight.
'Wind attribute?!'
Li Chang'an's heart jolted. Without his formidable spiritual sense, he would've already lost track of it. His body flickered sideways three steps, Pangu Axe whipping backward in a violet arc.
But he struck empty air. The tiger had halted mid-pounce, its colossal frame defying gravity as it dropped to the ground and neatly dodged his axe.
The next instant, it accelerated again—straight toward the opening in Li Chang'an's stance. Its twin claws sliced forward, black as the abyss, without the faintest reflection of light. One claw aimed at the back of his skull, the other at his waist.
Its speed did not diminish its power. Even before contact, Li Chang'an felt the crushing weight behind those claws. If they landed, even with his body's resilience, he would be injured.
With a thought, Li Chang'an summoned the donghuang Bell, which instantly enveloped him in shimmering protection. At the same time, his eyes glinted with strange light.
The notorious skill resurfaced—
"Whoever You Stare at Will Shit Themselves."
"Bang!"
The tiger's claws slammed against the bell, unable to break through, but the sheer force still knocked Li Chang'an back several steps.
Yet the skill had already taken effect. A gurgling sound echoed, and the beast's expression shifted dramatically.
That feeling… that sudden relief… after being constipated for far too long, its stomach finally responded?
The problem was—the response was too strong. And it couldn't hold it back. But this was a battle!
If the tiger could speak, and if it knew this was Li Chang'an's ability, it would no doubt rage.
This was supposed to be a life-and-death battle—yet you play this kind of trick?!
Li Chang'an, seeing its face twist, wisely backed off a full hundred meters. He had no idea how big or ugly a tiger's excrement could be, and he wasn't about to find out up close.
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, seeing him retreat so far, actually felt a sliver of respect for this young man. And then…
Ten minutes later, the beast had completely emptied itself. Though weak from the ordeal, its powerful body still stood tall. It intended to fight again.
But then… the young man smiled.
'Not good!!'
Focused entirely on relieving itself, the tiger hadn't sensed what lay behind. At this very moment, atop a tree in its blind spot, stood a perfect duplicate of Li Chang'an—Pangu Axe in hand, soul rings blazing with power.
First, second, and fourth rings flared at once.
Li Chang'an had been preparing all this time—waiting for the beast to finish before delivering the final blow.
Phantom Clone.
Heavenly Cleave.
Thunder Moon Slash.
Phantom Speed.
Several great soul skills exploded together!
A violet axe-light tore the heavens, a crescent of lightning crackled downward, speed and sharpness fused into one devastating strike.