Chapter Nineteen: Subduing the Soul Devouring Beast

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Since Han Tianyue and the others couldn’t find Lei Cong, they had no choice but to set off, leaving Fire Thunder Mountain City and heading toward the Purple Bamboo Forest.

As for Lei Cong, after parting ways with Han Tianyue and the others outside the city lord’s mansion, he had no desire to return home. He wandered around Fire Thunder Mountain City for a while and finally decided to wait for them outside the city. But once outside, he felt uneasy staying there and simply headed toward the Purple Bamboo Forest.

In fact, that day when Feng Shang went out to play, Lei Cong had basically gleaned all of Han Tianyue’s whereabouts from Feng Shang’s mouth. Feng Shang was completely unaware—he was too innocent, believing that up until now he had been protected by Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, and Fang Zhe. Feng Shang’s strength was evident to all, so the combined might of Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, and Fang Zhe, who protected him, was certainly not weaker than Feng Shang’s. This was precisely why Lei Cong had resolved to follow Han Tianyue and the others.

Riding the Thunderwing Dragon, flying toward the Purple Bamboo Forest, Lei Cong said, “Lei Lei, this time we’re going to make a name for ourselves!”

The Thunderwing Dragon responded with a long cry to the sky.

Thus, Lei Cong made his way to the Purple Bamboo Forest. He had been there before and was not unfamiliar with it, but what surprised him was how much more secluded and silent the forest had become, as if everything had vanished. “I remember when I first came here, the bamboo monkeys were running all over the place. Now, not a single one is in sight. What on earth has happened to the Purple Bamboo Forest?”

The cause was actually the Soul Devouring Beast, a spiritual creature guarding the Purple Bamboo Forest. Its soul grew stronger by feeding on other souls, so every night it scattered its spirit across the land to hunt wandering ghosts and restless spirits. By chance, it encountered Han Tianyue, who, at sunrise, trapped the Soul Devouring Beast’s spirit in ice, causing it to lose its soul and go mad. This led to the beast being captured by villains. Later, thanks to a tear of the Spirit King given by Fang Zhe’s Elf King, the Soul Devouring Beast’s spirit was reassembled, and it returned to the Purple Bamboo Forest.

Lei Cong was unaware of all this, so he curiously ventured deeper into the forest.

Sensing an intruder, the Soul Devouring Beast immediately charged out of the Purple Bamboo Forest to confront Lei Cong.

A gigantic spiritual beast appeared before Lei Cong. He remained calm, preparing for battle.

Though the beast stood right in front of him, Lei Cong didn’t move, and neither did the beast.

“Thunder Chapter One: Heavenly Thunder Strike!” A bolt of heavenly lightning descended, striking the Soul Devouring Beast directly, but the beast instantly absorbed it without a trace.

Lei Cong’s complexion turned anxious. “What kind of creature is this? My attacks are useless against it!”

Refusing to admit defeat, Lei Cong shouted, “Thunder Chapter One, Earth Thunder Chapter One, Divine Thunder Chapter One—three thunders combined, Heaven-Earth-Divine Thunder Strike!” Instantly, three types of lightning attacked the beast from three directions.

The Soul Devouring Beast stood its ground, unmoved. Lei Cong’s eyes widened as the three lightning strikes vanished upon contact.

“What is going on?” His face pale, Lei Cong, who had been so confident, began to feel uneasy and unsettled.

While Lei Cong tangled with the Soul Devouring Beast, Han Tianyue, Mao Xuanzi, Fang Zhe, and Feng Shang were approaching the Purple Bamboo Forest. Sure enough, Boka and the others had already left.

“Up ahead is the Purple Bamboo Forest. I wonder how the Soul Devouring Beast is doing now, and what about the First Matriarch, the Ninth Matriarch, the Four Great Guardians, the Seven Tremor Flowers, the Ten Overlord Flowers, and all the people of the Daughter Kingdom?” Fang Zhe flew ahead, and when he mentioned the Daughter Kingdom, he thought of the woman in white, his expression briefly troubled but quickly recovered.

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“Let’s hope they’re all well!” Han Tianyue said, understanding Fang Zhe’s concern and offering reassurance.

Fang Zhe nodded and continued flying toward the Purple Bamboo Forest.

At that moment, the sound of a fight reached their ears.

“Who could be fighting the Soul Devouring Beast?” Since they had rescued the beast, Han Tianyue and the others cared deeply. Hearing the fight, they headed toward the source.

From afar, they saw the enormous figure of the Soul Devouring Beast and a winged dragon. They exclaimed, “Could it be Lei Cong?”

They hurried over and found it was indeed Lei Cong, panting heavily as he battled the Soul Devouring Beast. No matter whether it was him or the Thunderwing Dragon attacking, each strike became ineffective upon contact with the beast, which slowly advanced toward them. Lei Cong thought, “Could this be the end for me and Lei Lei today?”

Suddenly, Fang Zhe flew forward and called out to the beast, “Soul Devouring Beast!”

The beast immediately lowered its head upon seeing Fang Zhe.

Fang Zhe reached out and stroked the beast’s head. “Soul Devouring Beast, are you well lately?”

The beast, indeed a spiritual creature, nodded at Han Tianyue’s words but soon its expression changed as it looked toward the Daughter Kingdom’s direction.

Seeing the beast’s reaction, Fang Zhe asked anxiously, “Has something happened in the Daughter Kingdom?”

The beast nodded again.

Fang Zhe’s face grew even more worried. “Would the First Matriarch really return? What could be happening?”

“If that’s the case, then we must go see for ourselves!” Han Tianyue stepped forward.

Fang Zhe, Mao Xuanzi, and Feng Shang all nodded.

Lei Cong, watching the closeness between Fang Zhe and the Soul Devouring Beast, felt somewhat comforted despite his fear of the beast. He stepped forward and said, “You’ve finally arrived!”

Han Tianyue glanced back at Lei Cong, surprised that he had known their movements all along and thought, “He’s thoughtful after all.” Then he turned to Lei Cong, “Well, then come with us to the Daughter Kingdom and take a look!”

Lei Cong nodded, and the Thunderwing Dragon also nodded alongside him.

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Thus, the group set off toward the Daughter Kingdom.

Having been alone in the Purple Bamboo Forest for so long, the Soul Devouring Beast now wished to follow Fang Zhe, so it trailed behind them.

With such a colossal spirit beast at their rear, their presence instantly gained an imposing aura.

Noticing the beast following him, Fang Zhe stopped and looked at it. “Soul Devouring Beast, do you want to come with me?”

The beast nodded.

Fang Zhe thought for a moment and said, “If that’s the case, then follow me.”

The beast nodded again.

Now, among Han Tianyue’s group, Fang Zhe had the Soul Devouring Beast, Mao Xuanzi had his familiar little snake, Lei Cong had the Thunderwing Dragon, leaving only Han Tianyue and Feng Shang without companions. Feng Shang looked at their pets with a pang of envy, thinking quietly, “I want a pet like that too!”

However, what shocked them even more was the Daughter Kingdom, now reduced to ruins.

“How could this be?” Fang Zhe stood at the forefront, staring at the vast wasteland in amazement.

Lei Cong, seated atop the Thunderwing Dragon, gazed at the ruins and exclaimed, “There’s someone up ahead!”

They hurried over and found one of the Four Great Guardians, Guan Tian, lying in a pool of blood, life hanging by a thread.

“Quick, gather some Blood-Reducing Herbs to stop the bleeding!” Feng Shang was the quickest to respond, rushing into the Purple Bamboo Forest like a gust of wind to collect the herbs.

Fang Zhe took the herbs, chewed them, and applied the paste to Guan Tian’s wound, stopping the bleeding, but Guan Tian was still in critical condition.

“We must wake Guan Tian!” For now, Guan Tian was the only one they had found in the Daughter Kingdom.

[End of excerpt]