C6 Greed

"Hey there, kiddo, didn't your elders warn you not to venture into the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest until you've reached the rank of grand soul master? If it weren't for the unforeseen events within the forest altering our plans, you'd surely have been on the menu for that Soul Beast today. A millennium-old Netherworld Cat Soul Beast is no small threat—it's a third-tier Soul Beast in the Star Dou Great Forest!"

The middle-aged man's demeanor grew more solemn as he addressed the boy behind him, "San, I'm about to impart the first rule of hunting Soul Beasts for Soul Masters. This isn't like a friendly spar between Soul Masters. Soul Beasts and Soul Masters see each other as adversaries. As for Soul Bones, I'll explain those to you later. When your Soul Bone and Soul Ring outclass those of your enemy, that's when you must unleash your Soul Technique in full force, giving them no chance to counter. Conversely, if your enemy possesses more Soul Techniques than you, your first thought should be how to make a swift escape."

"Teacher, isn't that thousand-year-old Netherworld Cat Soul Beast on par with a Soul Ancestor warrior? Teacher, you've already used two of Luo Sanpao's skills on our way here. Now you're down to just one skill."

Yu Xiaogaang, Tang San!

He never imagined that on his very first day of crossing over, he'd encounter two of the mightiest figures in the Douluo Continent.

One was the son of the plane of Douluo Continent, destined to become one of the Divine Kings in the God Realm.

The other, a mastermind who laid the foundations of the Soul Master world's theories. Even those with the Doula Title had much to learn from him. His creation of the Douluo Continent's ten core theories had spared Tang San from countless difficulties.

"Unleash the earth-shattering Luo Sanpao!"

The esteemed master commanded the yellow canine martial spirit Luo Sanpao to engage in battle. Originally a disciple of the Blue Lightning Overlord Sect, he was meant to inherit the Blue Electric Overlord Dragon martial spirit. Yet, fate had him awaken the variant Beast Martial Spirit Luo Sanpao instead, causing his standing within the sect to decline day by day. Unable to endure the gossip of his fellow disciples, the master eventually chose to wander the Douluo Continent alone.

The yellow Soul Ring shimmered as Luo Sanpao leaped high from the Grand Soul Master's shoulder. Amidst a thunderous roar, Luo Sanpao unleashed a mighty super fart with a resounding blast.

Despite the Netherworld Cat's unmatched speed, it couldn't evade Luo Sanpao's assault. Luo Sanpao's Soul Technique hit the Netherworld Cat hard.

"Run!"

At the Grand Soul Master's bellow, Tang San and Ye Cann were yanked by the arm and dashed toward the northwest of the Star Dou Great Forest.

The creature was, after all, a millennium-old Soul Beast. Although struck by Luo Sanpao's Soul Technique, the Netherworld Cat was largely unfazed. Its four silver-white claws glinted with a chilling light, signaling its readiness to hunt. It was one of the apex predators in the outer ring of the Star Dou Great Forest and had never been mocked by a Human Soul Master in such a manner. It had merely entered the forest's outskirts to check for any Soul Beasts that had strayed from their territory. Encountering Ye Cann and the ninety-year-old Wind Baboon was mere happenstance. It had no desire to prey on the weak humans or the Wind Baboon, but the human's vile attack was something the Netherworld Cat could not abide.

Ye Cann, now out of harm's way thanks to the Grand Soul Master, breathed a sigh of relief. Following in Tang San's steps meant he was safe from mortal peril. Fate is an enigma, and Tang San's destiny as a member of the Douluo Continent was already extraordinary.

His father was a Doula Title, the Heaven Doula of the Douluo Continent, wielding a fearsome power that made even the ruling Martial Soul Hall tread carefully. Tang San's mother, a 100,000-year Soul Beast, had bequeathed him a Soul Bone that had seen him through many a crisis.

With the founding of the Tang Sect by Tang San, the four major sects under the Vast Heaven Sect pledged their allegiance, and several Soul Douluo warriors formed the Sect's elite combat force.

Tang San had emerged as a contender for the title of Sea God, embarking on a quest to hunt the Dark Devil Divine Tiger and secure a soul ring from a beast that had lived for a hundred thousand years!

"Host, please make your selection!"

"Option 1: Stay and face off against the Netherworld Cat! Reward: +3 Soul Points!"

"Option 2: Depart with Yu Xiaogaang and Tang San! Reward: The title of Tang San's lackey! Unlock the Follower System and earn the title of the Eighth Member of the Shrek Monsters!"

"A word of advice: choose wisely, as your decision will shape your future path!"

Ye Cann quickly weighed the implications of each choice. By choosing the first option, he would retain a significant degree of autonomy. However, opting for the second would mean aligning his fate with Tang San's, eventually becoming an envoy of the God Realm and ascending to godhood alongside the Shrek Seven Monsters.

"5!"

"4!"

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

"I choose option 1!"

Living in someone else's shadow was not in Ye Cann's nature, not even the shadow of Tang San from the Douluo Continent could compel him to submit.

Within Ye Cann, the bloodline of the Ancient Saint Body responded to his indomitable spirit, radiating a sacred light. Yu Xiaogaang and Tang San, sprinting ahead, sensed something extraordinary about Ye Cann.

Yu Xiaogaang glanced back at Ye Cann, who was aglow with a luminescent white light, and murmured, "Could he be the reincarnation of a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast? Living on the fringes of the Star Dou Great Forest, without elders to watch over him, capable of hunting a ninety-year-old Wind Baboon on his own, and now this mysterious light... There's an eighty percent chance he's the reincarnation of a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast."

Tang San, puzzled, inquired, "Teacher, how can a Soul Beast transform into a human?"

"San, when a Soul Beast overcomes the tribulation of a hundred thousand years, they're granted a unique chance to assume human form and live among us on the Douluo Continent," Yu Xiaogaang explained.

"If he truly is a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast, then he's a treasure for both of us. A Soul Ring and Soul Bone of that age are irresistible, even to a Doula Title holder."

A glint of greed flickered in Yu Xiaogaang's eyes. Had they come across a 100,000-year Soul Beast prior to its transformation, he might not have even allowed himself to entertain a sliver of covetous thought. But this was merely a newly reincarnated 100,000-year Soul Beast, its power equivalent to that of a Soul Warrior among Human Soul Masters.

"Teacher."