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Douluo Dalu_ Legend of the Ancestral Dragon_chapter_0043
Chapter 43
Chapter 43: Core Region
2024-07-17 Author: Xianyu Wangyue
The Titan Giant Ape chuckled foolishly a few times, acting just like a younger brother in front of Xiao Wu.
Aotian knew that the two soul beasts, Da Ming and Er Ming, were both fond of Xiao Wu. However, Xiao Wu had already taken human form; if they didn't do the same, they would never have a chance.
Xiao Wu landed on Er Ming's shoulder and said, "Let's go back. Senior Aotian still has to take us into that mysterious area."
Er Ming roared excitedly a few times, looking eager to give it a try.
Most soul beasts are naturally battle-hungry, and the Titan Giant Ape was an even greater battle maniac. However, within the Star Dou Great Forest, besides the Azure Sky Bull Python, there were no other soul beasts that could fight it. And the Azure Sky Bull Python was the type that disliked fighting, which left the Titan Giant Ape quite frustrated. Now, learning that there were even more powerful soul beasts deeper within the forest, how could it not be excited?
"I can't beat Senior Aotian, but surely not all those soul beasts are that much stronger than me," Er Ming thought to himself.
Returning to the front of the Lakeside Thatched Hut, Xiao Wu's mother felt a pang of heartache when she saw the scars on Er Ming's body.
"Aunt Bao, it's alright. I have tough skin and thick flesh; I'll recover quickly," Er Ming said with a wide grin.
Aotian looked and saw that the wounds on Er Ming's body were slowly wriggling. Upon closer inspection, he could even see new flesh beginning to grow.
"This fellow's talent isn't bad," Aotian assessed in his mind.
"Aotian, didn't you say you were going to take us there?" Xiao Wu asked.
"Then let's go," Aotian said.
He sat on Long Ma's back and led the way toward the deeper core region of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Xiao Wu and her mother sat on Er Ming's shoulders, following behind Aotian.
Da Ming twisted its enormous body, bringing up the rear.
They had walked this path many times before. When they were young, Xiao Wu, Da Ming, and Er Ming were very curious about the illusion formation there and treated it as a playground. Although they rarely went there after growing up, they were still very familiar with this path.
After walking for half an hour, Aotian suddenly stopped.
"Any further, and we'll be within the illusion formation's range," Xiao Wu said.
A stone forest appeared before them. Various strangely shaped giant rocks stood tall on the ground, carving out wide paths that combined to resemble a labyrinth. However, the stone forest wasn't very deep, stretching less than a thousand meters. They could see the tall trees at the far end, but it was much wider from side to side.
Aotian nudged Long Ma's flanks, and Long Ma continued forward, entering the stone forest.
Xiao Wu hurriedly reminded him from behind, "Aotian, this stone forest already has the effect of an illusion formation!"
Aotian didn't look back, saying, "I know. Just follow me."
Xiao Wu was right; this stone forest indeed possessed a bewildering effect. However, in Aotian's eyes, this kind of formation was simply crude. It might fool inexperienced soul beasts and Spirit Masters, but it had no effect on him whatsoever. In his past on this planet, he had gone from weak to invincible over several thousand years. Later, he became so bored that he started researching various pill refining, artifact forging, and formations... until he could no longer endure the loneliness and fell into a deep sleep. His slumber was, in fact, a form of cultivation. Upon awakening, his power was immeasurably stronger than before.
"Let's hurry and catch up," Xiao Wu urged from behind.
Er Ming took huge strides and followed them in.
The paths within this stone forest were wide; even with Er Ming's enormous body, it could still fit.
Xiao Wu said, "When we were little, we couldn't even walk through this stone forest. We'd clearly be walking inward, but then we'd somehow end up back outside." She pointed at the towering trees at the end of the stone forest and said, "We'd clearly be looking at those trees and moving forward, but soon we'd realize that the scenery in all directions was the same."
"Aotian, look." Xiao Wu's finger pointed all around.
At this moment, the tall trees at the ends of all four directions—front, back, left, and right—had become completely identical.
Xiao Wu said, crestfallen, "We can't get in by walking like this. We'll probably be back where we started before long."
Aotian smiled but didn't speak.
Xiao Wu continued, "I know a way to get through this stone forest."
"Sister Xiao Wu once caught a flying soul beast and had it carry her across," Er Ming said. At that time, Da Ming and Er Ming were already enormous, and no flying soul beast could carry them, so only Xiao Wu could enter.
Xiao Wu said dejectedly, "But after passing this stone forest, I couldn't fly over the next forest. There was a strange power there, so even flying soul beasts couldn't take off. I walked into the forest on foot, but the situation there was the same as the stone forest; I kept walking and somehow ended up back outside." After speaking, she looked at Aotian and asked, "Aotian, can we really get inside?"
Aotian said, "Don't worry, just follow me."
"Senior Aotian is knowledgeable and experienced; this place certainly won't stump him," Xiao Wu's mother said.
In the eyes of Xiao Wu and the others, the scenery in all directions was identical. Aotian knew that this was merely an illusion created by the formation. To him, the illusion had no effect whatsoever. He was growing more and more interested. He hadn't expected formations to exist on the Douluo Continent; although crude in his eyes, they were already quite remarkable for this world.
...
In the innermost core region of the Star Dou Great Forest, the trees were much denser than elsewhere. The luxuriant foliage prevented sunlight from penetrating, casting the dense forest in gloom. But in the very center of this dense forest was an area devoid of trees, where a lake lay. The lake water was pure and crystal clear, revealing the bottom. As the water rippled, it emitted an aura of life that invigorated one's spirit upon inhaling it.
At this moment, several people of varying builds stood by the lake. Standing in the very center was a man in a black robe, appearing to be in his forties. His appearance was handsome and resolute, with a wisp of golden hair falling to one side of his face. On either side of him were men and women, their gazes all fixed on the lake before them.
"Beast God, how much longer must we stay here?" a massive, burly man asked, looking at the black-robed man in the center.
The man addressed as Beast God replied, "The Lord is too severely injured. It will take at least ten thousand years for him to awaken."
"Ten thousand years, and then another ten thousand years, heh. How many tens of thousands of years has it been? This old man is about to go crazy from being cooped up here!" The burly man's emotions were somewhat agitated.
The Beast God said, "Guarding the Lord is the meaning of our existence. Only the Lord can lead us soul beasts to reclaim that supreme glory. Xiong Jun, if you find it unbearable, I can spar with you."
"Fine, let's fight." A glint of savagery flashed in Xiong Jun's massive, dark golden pupils.
"Beast God, someone has entered," a woman in an emerald green long dress suddenly said.
The savage aura around Xiong Jun paused for a moment, then began to surge with frantic intensity.
"Excellent timing! They're just what this old man needs to cure his boredom and fill his stomach."
(end of chapter)
2024-07-17 Author: Xianyu Wangyue
The Titan Giant Ape chuckled foolishly a few times, acting just like a younger brother in front of Xiao Wu.
Aotian knew that the two soul beasts, Da Ming and Er Ming, were both fond of Xiao Wu. However, Xiao Wu had already taken human form; if they didn't do the same, they would never have a chance.
Xiao Wu landed on Er Ming's shoulder and said, "Let's go back. Senior Aotian still has to take us into that mysterious area."
Er Ming roared excitedly a few times, looking eager to give it a try.
Most soul beasts are naturally battle-hungry, and the Titan Giant Ape was an even greater battle maniac. However, within the Star Dou Great Forest, besides the Azure Sky Bull Python, there were no other soul beasts that could fight it. And the Azure Sky Bull Python was the type that disliked fighting, which left the Titan Giant Ape quite frustrated. Now, learning that there were even more powerful soul beasts deeper within the forest, how could it not be excited?
"I can't beat Senior Aotian, but surely not all those soul beasts are that much stronger than me," Er Ming thought to himself.
Returning to the front of the Lakeside Thatched Hut, Xiao Wu's mother felt a pang of heartache when she saw the scars on Er Ming's body.
"Aunt Bao, it's alright. I have tough skin and thick flesh; I'll recover quickly," Er Ming said with a wide grin.
Aotian looked and saw that the wounds on Er Ming's body were slowly wriggling. Upon closer inspection, he could even see new flesh beginning to grow.
"This fellow's talent isn't bad," Aotian assessed in his mind.
"Aotian, didn't you say you were going to take us there?" Xiao Wu asked.
"Then let's go," Aotian said.
He sat on Long Ma's back and led the way toward the deeper core region of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Xiao Wu and her mother sat on Er Ming's shoulders, following behind Aotian.
Da Ming twisted its enormous body, bringing up the rear.
They had walked this path many times before. When they were young, Xiao Wu, Da Ming, and Er Ming were very curious about the illusion formation there and treated it as a playground. Although they rarely went there after growing up, they were still very familiar with this path.
After walking for half an hour, Aotian suddenly stopped.
"Any further, and we'll be within the illusion formation's range," Xiao Wu said.
A stone forest appeared before them. Various strangely shaped giant rocks stood tall on the ground, carving out wide paths that combined to resemble a labyrinth. However, the stone forest wasn't very deep, stretching less than a thousand meters. They could see the tall trees at the far end, but it was much wider from side to side.
Aotian nudged Long Ma's flanks, and Long Ma continued forward, entering the stone forest.
Xiao Wu hurriedly reminded him from behind, "Aotian, this stone forest already has the effect of an illusion formation!"
Aotian didn't look back, saying, "I know. Just follow me."
Xiao Wu was right; this stone forest indeed possessed a bewildering effect. However, in Aotian's eyes, this kind of formation was simply crude. It might fool inexperienced soul beasts and Spirit Masters, but it had no effect on him whatsoever. In his past on this planet, he had gone from weak to invincible over several thousand years. Later, he became so bored that he started researching various pill refining, artifact forging, and formations... until he could no longer endure the loneliness and fell into a deep sleep. His slumber was, in fact, a form of cultivation. Upon awakening, his power was immeasurably stronger than before.
"Let's hurry and catch up," Xiao Wu urged from behind.
Er Ming took huge strides and followed them in.
The paths within this stone forest were wide; even with Er Ming's enormous body, it could still fit.
Xiao Wu said, "When we were little, we couldn't even walk through this stone forest. We'd clearly be walking inward, but then we'd somehow end up back outside." She pointed at the towering trees at the end of the stone forest and said, "We'd clearly be looking at those trees and moving forward, but soon we'd realize that the scenery in all directions was the same."
"Aotian, look." Xiao Wu's finger pointed all around.
At this moment, the tall trees at the ends of all four directions—front, back, left, and right—had become completely identical.
Xiao Wu said, crestfallen, "We can't get in by walking like this. We'll probably be back where we started before long."
Aotian smiled but didn't speak.
Xiao Wu continued, "I know a way to get through this stone forest."
"Sister Xiao Wu once caught a flying soul beast and had it carry her across," Er Ming said. At that time, Da Ming and Er Ming were already enormous, and no flying soul beast could carry them, so only Xiao Wu could enter.
Xiao Wu said dejectedly, "But after passing this stone forest, I couldn't fly over the next forest. There was a strange power there, so even flying soul beasts couldn't take off. I walked into the forest on foot, but the situation there was the same as the stone forest; I kept walking and somehow ended up back outside." After speaking, she looked at Aotian and asked, "Aotian, can we really get inside?"
Aotian said, "Don't worry, just follow me."
"Senior Aotian is knowledgeable and experienced; this place certainly won't stump him," Xiao Wu's mother said.
In the eyes of Xiao Wu and the others, the scenery in all directions was identical. Aotian knew that this was merely an illusion created by the formation. To him, the illusion had no effect whatsoever. He was growing more and more interested. He hadn't expected formations to exist on the Douluo Continent; although crude in his eyes, they were already quite remarkable for this world.
...
In the innermost core region of the Star Dou Great Forest, the trees were much denser than elsewhere. The luxuriant foliage prevented sunlight from penetrating, casting the dense forest in gloom. But in the very center of this dense forest was an area devoid of trees, where a lake lay. The lake water was pure and crystal clear, revealing the bottom. As the water rippled, it emitted an aura of life that invigorated one's spirit upon inhaling it.
At this moment, several people of varying builds stood by the lake. Standing in the very center was a man in a black robe, appearing to be in his forties. His appearance was handsome and resolute, with a wisp of golden hair falling to one side of his face. On either side of him were men and women, their gazes all fixed on the lake before them.
"Beast God, how much longer must we stay here?" a massive, burly man asked, looking at the black-robed man in the center.
The man addressed as Beast God replied, "The Lord is too severely injured. It will take at least ten thousand years for him to awaken."
"Ten thousand years, and then another ten thousand years, heh. How many tens of thousands of years has it been? This old man is about to go crazy from being cooped up here!" The burly man's emotions were somewhat agitated.
The Beast God said, "Guarding the Lord is the meaning of our existence. Only the Lord can lead us soul beasts to reclaim that supreme glory. Xiong Jun, if you find it unbearable, I can spar with you."
"Fine, let's fight." A glint of savagery flashed in Xiong Jun's massive, dark golden pupils.
"Beast God, someone has entered," a woman in an emerald green long dress suddenly said.
The savage aura around Xiong Jun paused for a moment, then began to surge with frantic intensity.
"Excellent timing! They're just what this old man needs to cure his boredom and fill his stomach."
(end of chapter)
