In the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest lay a beautiful lake with crystal-clear water, surrounded by towering ancient trees.
After the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python were captured by Ye Hao, this territory had changed hands.
Now, the area was occupied by three powerful soul beasts—three 90,000-year-old Thousand-Catties Ant Emperors, each nearing the 100,000-year threshold.
Each ant emperor measured about three meters in length, their bodies covered in dark golden chitin. Six thick, powerful legs supported their massive frames, while six eerie green eyes glowed ominously from their heads.
Before long, Ye Hao arrived.
Sure enough, his attention was immediately drawn to the three Thousand-Catties Ant Emperors lurking in the lake.
"Thank heavens, they're really here."
The Star Dou Great Forest was vast—the largest soul beast habitat on the Douluo Continent. Finding a specific soul beast here was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Fortunately, his trip hadn't been in vain.
The three ant emperors quickly noticed Ye Hao's arrival.
Almost instantly, one of them took flight, its intent clear—to kill the intruder.
All soul beasts possessed strong territorial instincts, and these three were no exception. Back when the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape ruled this land, they wouldn't have dared encroach.
In fact, the three ant emperors had once clashed fiercely with the two former rulers, only to be soundly defeated.
But times had changed.
With the bull python and giant ape captured by Ye Hao, the lake had naturally become their domain.
"Is this your idea of a welcome?"
Ye Hao frowned slightly as nine soul rings rose beneath his feet, the Death Spider Emperor manifesting behind him.
"Death Domain!"
Instantly, a purple-tinged domain expanded from Ye Hao, withering all plant life within its range into nothingness.
After obtaining his ninth spider soul ring, Ye Hao's Death Domain had grown even more potent—capable of effortlessly snuffing out life within its bounds.
The first charging ant emperor immediately plummeted from the sky, convulsing violently as its body rapidly decayed. Nothing could survive within Ye Hao's Death Domain.
The remaining two ant emperors erupted in fury, emerging from the lake with all six eyes locked murderously on Ye Hao.
Yet they hesitated to attack.
Their companion was already on death's door, its energy fading fast within the domain.
"Ah, I almost forgot about you two. Let's see how you fare against my Death Domain."
The domain expanded visibly, creeping toward the remaining ant emperors.
Instinctively, they turned to flee.
"Running? You think you can escape?"
"Death God's Heart - Abyssal Bind!"
Ye Hao hurled the Death God's Heart forward, sprinting alongside it.
The artifact immobilized one ant emperor completely, while Ye Hao engaged the other, his arms morphing into demonic scythes.
"Damn, they hit hard."
Ye Hao was forced back a step. The ant emperors possessed terrifying strength and battle instincts.
This exchange made him grateful he'd only engaged one at a time. If all three had attacked simultaneously, even he might have struggled.
"Sixth Soul Skill: Blood-Sucking Spider Thorns!"
His sixth soul ring—a dazzling red 100,000-year ring—flared to life, sending shivers down the ant emperors' carapaces.
Countless purple spikes materialized behind Ye Hao before raining down like a deadly storm.
The ant emperor trapped in the Death Domain was instantly skewered, collapsing with a final resentful screech as the domain corroded its body into nothingness.
Only a black ten-thousand-year soul ring remained floating above its remains.
With one down, it was time for the next.
Ye Hao dismissed the Death Spider Emperor's form, switching to his second martial soul—the Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor.
A dark green spiderweb pattern emerged on his forehead as an eerie emerald glow enveloped his body. Three pairs of crystalline spider legs sprouted from his back, while his arms transformed into razor-sharp lances. His lower body was encased in a shroud of viridian light.
His gaze locked onto the ant emperor still frozen by the Death God's Heart.
"First Soul Skill: Eternal Demise."
Another blood-red 100,000-year ring ignited as Ye Hao crossed his spider-lance arms, their edges gleaming with a sinister light.
Just then, the remaining free ant emperor lunged at him—only for Ye Hao to vanish, leaving its attack to slice through empty air.
The immobilized ant emperor was bisected cleanly.
Eternal Demise was an overpowering physical attack skill—one that ignored all defensive abilities.
No matter how tough the ant emperor's armor was, it meant nothing against this technique. Even the vaunted Invincible Golden Body could be pierced effortlessly—what hope did a mere ant have?
The second ant emperor fell lifeless, its own black ten-thousand-year soul ring materializing above it.
"Now, for you."
Ye Hao turned to the sole survivor.
With two of its kin dead, the last ant emperor had lost all its earlier bravado.
Yet, to Ye Hao's surprise, it attacked anyway.
The earth cracked as the ant emperor scanned frantically for its foe.
"Sky Azure Annihilation Thunder!"
A searing blue lightning bolt descended from the heavens, striking the ant emperor squarely.
"Recognize this move? It's the Sky Azure Bull Python's."
Ye Hao hovered midair using the Blue Silver Emperor's right leg bone, smirking down at his scorched opponent.
"Since we're being honest—I was the one who captured that bull python and giant ape. You three only got to claim this place because of me."
His words sent a seismic shock through the ant emperor. At their near-100,000-year cultivation, they understood human speech perfectly.
And right now, it understood one thing clearly—it was doomed.
"Enough games, it's time to send you on your way."
The second soul ring of the Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor lit up as Ye Hao extended his right hand and made a sudden grasping motion.
"Second Soul Skill: Soul-Devouring Demon Shatter!"
The remaining Thousand-Catties Ant Emperor became encased in red crystal, completely immobilized.
"Destroy."
With Ye Hao's command, the crystallized ant emperor exploded into fine powder, leaving only a black ten-thousand-year soul ring floating in its place.
With this, all three Thousand-Catties Ant Emperors had been completely annihilated.
Ye Hao descended from the air, using the Death God's Heart to conceal his own aura as he observed the three remaining soul rings.
Three ninety-thousand-year soul rings.
This presented Ye Hao with a dilemma.
Absorbing a single ninety-thousand-year soul ring that was approaching the hundred-thousand-year threshold would take considerable time. By the time he finished, the other two soul rings would have already dissipated.
Wouldn't that make all his previous efforts meaningless?
"I'll take the risk!"
Gritting his teeth, Ye Hao used his soul power to draw all three soul rings toward him simultaneously.
The phantom image of the Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor appeared behind Ye Hao as the three ninety-thousand-year soul rings positioned themselves above his existing two red and one black soul rings.
Absorbing three high-level soul rings at once was unprecedented in the history of soul masters.
Ye Hao's expression changed as he felt the tremendous power continuously emanating from the three ninety-thousand-year soul rings. The overwhelming pressure caused intense pain throughout his meridians.
Fortunately, Ye Hao had consumed the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, and his body had been transformed by the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
An ordinary person would have been completely crushed by the power of these three ninety-thousand-year soul rings.
As time passed minute by minute, the Asura mark between Ye Hao's eyebrows faintly flickered with red light.
The absorption process was extremely arduous, no less dangerous than walking the line between life and death.
The power of the three Thousand-Catties Ant Emperors was simply too tyrannical, forcing Ye Hao to exert every ounce of his strength.
At the same time, on Sea God Island...
At the Sea Dragon Sacred Pillar.
Sea Dragon Douluo was the strongest among all the Sacred Pillar guardians, with soul power reaching rank 95.
He was also the final opponent in Tang San's fifth Sea God trial.
With a difference of more than ten soul power levels between them, Tang San struggled to keep up, gradually falling into a disadvantageous position.
At this moment, Tang San was being beaten black and blue. The gap in soul power was simply too large, and Sea Dragon Douluo was thoroughly thrashing him.
"Blue Silver Entanglement!"
Tang San manipulated his Blue Silver Grass, summoning thick vines from all directions to completely surround Sea Dragon Douluo.
"Is this the only move you have?"
Sea Dragon Douluo waved his hand casually, releasing a powerful energy wave from his body that reduced all the surrounding Blue Silver Grass to dust, completely shattered.
"Dammit..."
Tang San gritted his teeth, his fists clenched tightly.
Sea Dragon Douluo hadn't even used any soul skills, relying solely on his formidable strength to push Tang San to his absolute limits.
"Slaughter Domain!"
A white, murderous aura spread outward from Tang San.
Seeing this, Sea Dragon Douluo shook his head helplessly: "Don't you know? Domains are basically useless against me. My Domain Breaker can nullify any domain in the world."
As he spoke, strange blue ripples spread outward from Sea Dragon Douluo's chest, instantly dispersing the white murderous aura surrounding them. The Slaughter Domain had been broken!
Just like that, effortlessly.
"What?!" Tang San couldn't help but be shocked, his heart pounding nervously to the point that his palms were sweating.
"You're far too weak. If this is all the strength you have, then I'm truly disappointed."
Sea Dragon Douluo planned to thoroughly teach Tang San a lesson before voluntarily admitting defeat, allowing Tang San to complete this fifth trial.
Of course, he also hoped Tang San would leave Sea God Island as soon as possible.
However, according to the Sea God's trials, Tang San could only leave after completing the first seven trials.
Now that the trials had reached the fifth one, the day Tang San would leave the island was drawing nearer.
"Seventh Soul Skill: Blue Silver True Body!"
Tang San transformed into a gigantic Blue Silver Grass, with countless thick vines emerging endlessly as he launched his attack against Sea Dragon Douluo.
At the Sea God Temple.
Bo Saixi watched the scene unfolding on the large water screen before her, which displayed the battle between Tang San and Sea Dragon Douluo.
"Good, the plan is proceeding in an orderly manner. Tang San's fifth trial is about to be completed, which means the sixth trial..."
Bo Saixi smiled slightly. The time had come.
In the previous battles, Tang San had been thoroughly beaten by five of the Sacred Pillar guardians without gaining recognition from any of them.
Originally, the sixth trial required enduring attacks from all the Sacred Pillar guardians for the time it takes one stick of incense to burn.
But now, Bo Saixi would personally take action instead.
Of course, Bo Saixi wouldn't go all out, nor would she kill Tang San.
To her, killing Tang San would only dirty her hands.
Beyond Sea God Island, she believed Ye Hao was already prepared, just waiting for Tang San to appear.
Far away on the Douluo Continent, thousands of miles from Sea God Island, in the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest...
Ye Hao's expression was calm as the three ninety-thousand-year soul rings gradually stabilized. The three black soul rings now contained faint red specks of light.
His head, arms, and leg bones emitted different glows, shining brightly and radiating heat.
After a long while, Ye Hao slowly opened his eyes, feeling that his strength had grown significantly compared to before.
"Rank 98 soul power."
Ye Hao spoke softly. After absorbing the three ninety-thousand-year soul rings, his soul power had now reached rank 98.
Six soul rings lit up beneath his feet: two red, one black, and three red!
That's right—during the absorption process of the three Thousand-Catties Ant Emperor brothers' soul rings, the three ninety-thousand-year rings had evolved, breaking through to the hundred-thousand-year level.
A blessing in disguise.
Ye Hao retrieved the Death God's Heart, and his figure reappeared in the area.
"Three soul rings successfully absorbed. Now I just need the seventh and eighth rings."
"It's time to set off. I wonder who will provide my next soul ring?"
Ye Hao left the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest and continued his journey to find suitable soul rings.
Meanwhile, back at the Sea Dragon Sacred Pillar on Sea God Island...
Tang San had been thoroughly beaten by Sea Dragon Douluo. Even after using his Martial Soul True Body, Tang San was still being forced into constant retreat.
"AHHHHH!!!"
Tang San screamed as Sea Dragon Douluo's punch sent him crashing out of his True Body form.
His clothes were in tatters, blood flowing freely, his entire appearance utterly wretched.
The difference in strength was simply too great.
With more than ten soul power levels separating them, it was like comparing heaven and earth.
"Dammit, I..."
Tang San struggled to stand up, but the intense pain wracking his body made it impossible to keep going.
"You've lasted quite long enough. I admit defeat."
Sea Dragon Douluo's words completely shocked Tang San.
Sea Dragon Douluo had conceded? How could this be?
He had been completely dominating the fight. Why?
Why would Sea Dragon Douluo admit defeat?
Considering the behavior of the previous five Sacred Pillar guardians, Tang San felt there must be something fishy going on.
"Sea God's fifth trial complete."
The golden trident mark between Tang San's eyebrows flashed as his fifth trial was completed.
"You may leave now."
Sea Dragon Douluo waved his hand dismissively, indicating that Tang San could go.
"Why? Why did you admit defeat? You clearly won, so why?!"
Tang San stared at Sea Dragon Douluo and demanded an answer.
"Why can't we admit defeat?" Sea Dragon Douluo glanced at Tang San and replied.