The Star Dou Forest was divided into three regions—its core, mixed, and outer zones—each teeming with spirit beasts whose strength rose the deeper one ventured.
With a Titled Douluo like Nightmare Douluo present, a mere ripple of his aura sent the outer-region beasts fleeing in panic. Their intellects were simple, but their instinct for danger far surpassed that of humans.
Only when they entered the mixed zone did certain spirit beasts dare remain, unwilling to abandon their territories even under that suffocating pressure.
The towering trees here were ancient and thick, their interwoven canopies blotting out all sunlight. The air was damp, heavy with the scent of moss and decay.
On a thick branch ahead crouched a massive black cat, its fur bristling like sharpened blades, eyes gleaming coldly in the dark. A guttural snarl rumbled from its throat, a clear warning to the intruders.
Though feline in form, its thousand-year cultivation had transformed it into something closer to a panther, its aura steep enough to make the air vibrate—a predator among predators.
"What a pity," murmured Nightmare Douluo, his withered lips curling faintly. "The years are still lacking—but it will do."
A bony hand extended from beneath his cloak. He didn't move otherwise, only a flicker of translucent shadow swept through the air. In the next instant, the black cat toppled from the branch with a dull thud, body limp but not lifeless.
"Take it."
Lin Xiao nodded silently and stepped forward. The beast still breathed faintly, but all resistance was gone.
He had long grown accustomed to this. He lifted it easily and placed it into the bulging sack on his back.
That sack had grown heavier throughout the day. In addition to the black cat, it already held two shadow crows and a ghost-faced owl—the last one with strength surpassing forty thousand years and wings wider than a carriage.
Such creatures could not be sealed into storage soul tools while alive, leaving Lin Xiao no choice but to carry them the old-fashioned way. Were he not a Spirit Master himself, just dragging that sack would have been exhausting.
Nightmare Douluo glanced at the overloaded bag, still dissatisfied. "Far from enough. A pity we haven't encountered anything truly powerful along the way."
He paused, scanning the darkening woods. "Forget it. It's getting late. We'll camp here for the night and venture deeper tomorrow."
"Teacher," Lin Xiao said evenly, setting the bag down. "All these are for the Spirit Ascension Ritual, right?"
"Correct," Nightmare Douluo replied, his tone calm. "These living offerings are for you. Guard them carefully—if any die before the ritual, the results will suffer."
Lin Xiao's gaze flickered. He didn't know what "results" his teacher meant, but he met that cold stare and nodded without pressing further.
He had noticed a change in Nightmare Douluo's attitude today—glances that lingered too long, a faint scrutiny in his tone. Perhaps the old man's suspicion had grown after discovering his broken seal. Or perhaps he was simply testing him.
Either way, Lin Xiao acted as always. After securing the beasts, he sat cross-legged and began to meditate.
Night fell quickly. A chill wind swept through the Star Dou Forest. Lin Xiao, hardened by cultivation, felt little discomfort.
Beside him, Nightmare Douluo suddenly lifted his head, eyes narrowing toward the forest's edge.
"What is it, Teacher?" Lin Xiao stood instantly.
The old man didn't answer. His gaze remained fixed in the direction of the outer forest, silent as stone.
Lin Xiao didn't interrupt. He knew his teacher was extending his spiritual sense—Nightmare Douluo was, after all, a spirit-type Douluo.
At last, the cloaked figure spoke. "I was just worrying about who'd help tend to our beasts. It seems someone has volunteered." He gave a rasping chuckle. "Wait here. I'll be back soon."
And before Lin Xiao could reply, the figure vanished.
He turned toward the same direction, but felt nothing. The gulf between his strength and a Titled Douluo's was far too great.
After a brief pause, he sat down again, eyes drifting to the bulging sack.
The preparations for this "Spirit Ascension Ritual" differed greatly from what he'd heard. According to the Sixth Servant's memories, her own ritual had resembled a ceremony of worship—an offering to the so-called Holy Emperor—with no mention of such living beasts.
Then these… are they sacrifices?
No. It couldn't be just that. These were all ten-thousand-year beasts, and kept alive no less. If every disciple undergoing the ritual required such tributes, the Church would have needed an impossible number of spirit beasts.
And the Holy Spirit Church had no known force devoted to capturing such creatures alive—it wasn't something ordinary Spirit Masters could manage.
He had thought he understood the ritual's purpose, but the reality grew murkier with each clue.
As for escaping… he had long abandoned that notion.
The Holy Spirit Church guarded its secrets with blood. No disciple who fled lived long. Lin Xiao himself had once been the hand that struck them down—hunting traitors whose trails were somehow always perfectly tracked.
There were watchers everywhere, hidden eyes within the Church he could never hope to detect.
And with Nightmare Douluo's gaze ever fixed upon him, escape was little more than a dream.
Just then, a faint rustle came from the nearby thicket.
Lin Xiao rose sharply, right hand lifting, left arm poised behind him, soul power surging through his meridians.
The Star Dou Forest was restless at night; even the faintest sound demanded vigilance.
"Easy there, young man—don't strike!"
A deep, gruff voice called from the shadows. Branches parted, revealing a burly middle-aged man who stepped out with a wide, almost sheepish grin.
Lin Xiao's brows furrowed immediately.
Even without using his spiritual sense, the man's approach carried a stench—thick, metallic, and clotted—like old, congealed blood.
Anyone who could walk the forest at night was no ordinary traveler.
And this one… reeked of death.
(End of Chapter)