C4 Wind Baboon

The Star Dou Great Forest is the most perilous region in the Douluo Continent.

Teeming with life, this forest is home to the continent's most formidable creatures. Yet, where there is danger, there is also tremendous opportunity. Many Soul Masters venture into the forest seeking Soul Rings, Soul Bones, and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

The Star Dou Great Forest is segmented into four tiers: the core circle inhabited by the 100,000-year Soul Beasts, the inner circle of the 10,000-year Soul Beasts, the outer circle where Thousand-year Soul Beasts clash, and the periphery where wild beasts and 10-year Soul Beasts coexist.

Typically, Soul Masters hunt in the outer and inner circles for Soul Rings or Soul Bones. Few dare to tread into the forest's core or its outermost layer.

Indeed, to hunt a 100,000-year-old Soul Beast, the presence of two Doula Title holders is essential. Furthermore, these Doula Title warriors must be well-equipped with ample Soul Bones and Soul Techniques. Additionally, there's an unspoken pact among the 100,000-year Soul Beasts in the forest: when a Doula Title enters their domain, they set aside all past conflicts to unite against the human intruder.

On the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, a slender boy clutches a rusted dagger, concealed behind a lush ten-year Plant Type Soul Beast tea tree. He uses the tree's unique scent to mask his presence. Nearby, a two-meter-tall brown Soul Beast with dark red blood at the corners of its mouth prowls the area.

This creature is the ten-year Soul Beast Wind Baboon.

The boy in hiding is none other than Ye Cann!

The novice gift pack contains the Sword of Judgment, a formidable level seven Soul Tool. Its power is immense, but its usage demands are stringent. Only a Soul Master with the strength of a Soul King can wield it for a few minutes, and Ye Cann, as it stands, is far too weak.

Generally, a Soul Master of equal level can hunt a Soul Beast, unless the beast possesses an exceptionally high-grade bloodline.

Seizing the moment, Ye Cann exploits the Wind Baboon's vulnerability during its meal. In a swift motion, he lunges at the beast, his dagger glinting with a deadly chill.

The Wind Baboon's brown fur bristled suddenly, and a menacing light shone from its brown eyes. This Wind Baboon was the undisputed king among its kind. Were it not for the inherent limitations of the Wind Baboon bloodline, its innate abilities would have allowed it to ascend to the status of a hundred-year Soul Beast long ago.

In the outermost reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest, nearly all ten-year Soul Beasts fell under the leadership of this Wind Baboon. The Soul Beast it had recently slain was a Wind Hound, a common ten-year Soul Beast. Unlike Wind Baboons, Wind Hounds had a 1% chance of evolving into a hundred-year Soul Beast.

Leaping onto a tea tree branch, the Wind Baboon's slender arms grasped the wood tightly. Its piercing brown gaze locked onto Ye Cann. The presence of humans in this region was rare, as it was the Wind Baboons' domain. Strong Soul Masters typically scorned ten-year Soul Beasts, while the weaker ones dared not provoke the kings of the Soul Beasts that ruled the forest's outer edge.

After his attack failed, Ye Cann's face darkened with frustration. "Cursed creature, your instincts are incredibly keen!"

In the Wind Baboon's right palm, a ten-centimeter-long Wind Blade formed, the cyan edge bristling with over a hundred minuscule wind-attribute needles.

The Wind Baboon's natural talent, the Hundred Variations Wind Blade, was precisely what had crowned it the king of the Soul Beasts in the forest's outskirts.

The Wind Baboon regarded Ye Cann with a mocking glint in its eyes, as though he were nothing more than prey.

Soul Masters viewed Soul Beasts as precious resources. Upon their death, they yielded Soul Rings or Soul Bones that enhanced a Soul Master's combat prowess. The remains of a Soul Beast could also fortify a Soul Master's physical strength. Conversely, Soul Beasts saw Soul Masters as food or potent nourishment. The concentrated essence within a Doula Title could help a 99,999-year-old Soul Beast break the hundred-thousand-year barrier and even transform its bloodline.

There was a canine Soul Beast with Dragon Clan lineage that, after consuming a human Soul Douluo with a Scarlet Fire Dragon Martial Spirit, had its dragon bloodline ignited. It soared to the apex of the Soul Beast hierarchy, joining the most elite ranks of its world.

Sweat streamed down Ye Cann's forehead relentlessly. Should he stay cool under pressure? If not, the Wind Baboon's blow would surely rip him to shreds.

Despite having awakened the Icy Jade Emperor Scorpion Martial Spirit and the Ancient Saint Body, he hadn't mastered the enigmatic power they held.

"The Wind Baboon, a ten-year Soul Beast, typically grows longer arms as they age. This one seems to be pushing ninety years—just shy of becoming a hundred-year Soul Beast," Ye Cann mused analytically. "The system sure knows how to throw a curveball my way!"

Hunting down a ninety-year-old Wind Baboon with Ye Cann's current level of strength was practically a fool's errand.

As the Wind Blade came slicing through the air, Ye Cann executed a nimble forward roll, narrowly evading the attack. The Wind Blade hit the ground behind him, kicking up a billow of dust.

"This creature's offensive power is off the charts! Plus, its reflexes and agility outmatch mine. The forest isn't exactly the ideal battleground against it."

After sizing up the Wind Baboon's fighting prowess and the lay of the land, Ye Cann, to the Wind Baboon's astonishment, flipped it the bird.

He faintly recalled within his body's memory that Wind Baboons were Soul Beasts known for their quick tempers. Typically, a Soul Master need only raise their middle finger to provoke a Wind Baboon into a reckless assault.

Ye Cann and the Wind Baboon darted through the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. Drawing on his past life's experience, Ye Cann skillfully steered clear of other Soul Beasts' territories within the forest. The Wind Baboon alone was a formidable opponent; additional Soul Beasts would spell certain doom.

There it was!

An open space caught Ye Cann's eye—a perfect spot to limit the Wind Baboon's nimbleness.

He halted abruptly, drawing his dagger and charging at the Wind Baboon. To his surprise, the once ferocious beast knelt before him, its body shaking violently as if it had come face to face with its worst nightmare. Its grotesque features twisted in fear, and its brown fur lost all luster.