Volume One, Chapter One: The Great Starry Forest, The Hour of Soul Hunting

[Beep! Welcome, host, to Douluo Continent, Stage One: Soul Hunting Moment in the Star Dou Great Forest]

[Mission: Rescue Tang San and Xiao Wu]

[Ability: Specializes in instantly killing Title Douluos, but can only kill Title Douluos]

A system tone buzzed in Fang Yuan’s mind. He opened his eyes to a sea of green. Countless people stood on an open meadow, confronting a man and a woman beside Fang Yuan. They looked like tiny ants or bloodthirsty wolves, ready to pounce and tear Fang Yuan apart at any moment.

“I’ve transmigrated! And it’s Douluo Continent!” Fang Yuan exclaimed in wonder. The people before him were dressed in strange costumes, their eyes filled with ill intent. Beside him stood a man and a woman, tense like hunters stalking a rabbit. The woman’s figure was alluring, clad in shimmering silver garments that barely concealed her snow-white skin, her gaze longing. The man had striking blue hair, a tall and handsome figure, exuding the aura of a novel’s heroic protagonist.

“So these must be Tang San and Xiao Wu. Unexpectedly, I’ve transmigrated into the Soul Hunting Moment. Judging by the looks of it, those two beast tyrants from the Star Dou Great Forest haven’t arrived yet.”

If the system spoke truly, then Fang Yuan was currently in the Star Dou Great Forest. Even a corporate slave like him had stumbled into such an extraordinary event.

“Specializes in instantly killing Title Douluos? But only Title Douluos?” Fang Yuan glanced at the system panel, initially thrilled, but quickly his joy faded. The system’s message was clear: Fang Yuan couldn’t defeat anyone below the Title Douluo rank. In other words, if he was exposed, he was doomed!

The body he currently inhabited had no Martial Soul at all—it was just an ordinary person.

As for why he appeared during this standoff, Fang Yuan himself was unsure. If a massive brawl broke out, wouldn’t he be doomed?

There was no choice; Fang Yuan had to stay and face it head-on.

“Fang Yuan! When the fight starts, take Xiao Wu and run. Leave the people from the Spirit Hall to me,” Tang San turned his head to instruct. His handsome face struck Fang Yuan as overwhelmingly irritating. He had long despised Tang San, this hypocritical pseudo-gentleman who, for his own noble selfishness, aimed to annihilate the Spirit Hall, which had devoted itself to all soul masters. Such a man would sooner or later be slaughtered by Fang Yuan himself.

But for now, Fang Yuan had to endure.

“No, San Ge, Xiao Wu won’t leave!” Xiao Wu’s pink eyes shimmered with tears, a typical scene straight out of a triumphant novel.

“No, Xiao Wu…”

Fang Yuan said nothing; he merely searched for the locations of Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo.

“All right, kid, enough of the melodrama. I admire your ability. If you join the Spirit Hall and hand over that Soft-Boned Enchanting Rabbit yourself, I promise the Spirit Hall will treat you well. Of course, refusal isn’t an option, hee hee hee.”

A boy with a feminine appearance smiled slyly. He was Chrysanthemum Douluo, responsible for this soul hunting operation alongside Ghost Douluo.

---

“Yue Guan, stop delaying. Since this Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast has taken human form, I can savor a different flavor. After all, they all become soul rings in the end, heh heh heh.”

Ghost Douluo chuckled, his gaze repeatedly flickering over Xiao Wu. He longed to tear her clothes off immediately. Beneath his mask was a ferocious expression.

“Tang San! Surrender quickly. Join our Spirit Hall, and as the Holy Maiden, I guarantee you a lifetime of wealth and honor. Even promotion to Title Douluo won’t be a problem!” Hu Liuna pleaded anxiously, unwilling to see her restless beloved fall victim.

“Hmph! No matter what you say, I will live and die with Xiao Wu!” Tang San declared with righteous spirit. He wasn’t ready to die but was gambling on the Spirit Hall’s hesitation to kill him.

“That’s what you say? Then I’ll kill you first. Such a waste of talent.”

Chrysanthemum Douluo shook his head and chuckled softly. The strange chrysanthemum on his body instantly bloomed. With a zero-frame start, he unleashed his Ninth Soul Skill!

Brilliant and dazzling chrysanthemums filled the sky above the Star Dou Great Forest. Chrysanthemum Douluo intended to utterly crush Tang San.

The immense pressure made everyone present gasp for breath, trembling, nearly collapsing to their knees—except Fang Yuan, who stood firm, unshaken. He didn’t rush to act; he wanted to see if Tang San was truly that noble of a man, willing to die generously.

“My father is Haotian Douluo! How dare you!” Tang San shouted furiously. By status, he was on par with Chrysanthemum Douluo. Unexpectedly, this man showed no fear, not even of his father.

“Haotian Douluo? What of it? A maggot hiding in the shadows for years, all power but no substance, sooner or later he’ll be cut down by His Holiness the Emperor!”

Chrysanthemum Douluo’s light flared, threatening to engulf Tang San.

At that moment—

“Wait! A moment!”

At the brink of death, those words burst from Tang San’s lips. He clenched his teeth, eyes bloodshot, filled with the fear of death. Tang San was scared.

“Oh? Having second thoughts?” The Ninth Soul Skill that was about to strike suddenly dissipated. Chrysanthemum Douluo narrowed his eyes, intrigued.

“Yes!”

Panting heavily, Tang San immediately released Xiao Wu’s hand, distancing himself, and cast a pleading glance at Hu Liuna.

“Although I like Xiao Wu, I’ve thought it through. A human and a soul beast together is unnatural. Xiao Wu, you understand, right? Besides, my father Tang Hao, the illustrious Haotian Douluo, can’t even protect the woman he loves. He’s the coward of cowards, the useless of the useless!”

Tang San spoke bitterly, his gaze tinged with apology toward Xiao Wu. Beneath his passionate exterior lay a hypocritical mask.

---

“San Ge…” Xiao Wu was speechless. Tears trickled from her eyes. She had been ready to die alongside Tang San, but now saw his cowardice and selfishness. Nothing was more heartbreaking. She finally saw through his true face.

“Xiao Wu! Can’t you be more sensible? In this situation, you’re definitely going to die. Can’t you hope I survive? Can you stop being so selfish? Better to live miserably than die honorably.”

Tang San defended himself.

“Xiao Wu understands, San Ge, you’re right.”

Xiao Wu smiled faintly, a bitter smile at having wasted years of devotion. The just and righteous Tang San she knew was a facade.

At this moment, the ever-watchful Fang Yuan finally spoke:

“All right, all right, Tang San, stop pretending. If you want to surrender, just say so. Who are you trying to fool with all this fake sentiment? Your ability is limited, but you sure are good at manipulation.”

“Tang San! Who gave you the right to speak here!” Tang San retorted. To him, Fang Yuan was nothing more than a dog underfoot to be trampled at will. That was why he had brought him along. Now the dog dared to bite its master—he should be kneeling and grateful!

“You brat! Why do you always bring such dubious people around? Your servant is just an ordinary person without soul power. Bringing him to such an occasion disgraces us Title Douluos.”

Chrysanthemum Douluo said coldly. To him, mortals without soul power were mere ants. Losing millions of such lives meant nothing to a Title Douluo of his caliber.

“Mortals without soul power!” Ghost Douluo’s eyes gleamed. Honestly, he had never experienced this before and didn’t mind trying. After all, when the lights go out, who can tell the difference?

“Enough, Tang San. Since you want to join our Spirit Hall, you don’t need to argue with these mortals. It damages our image. As your senior, I’ll clear the way for you.”

Chrysanthemum Douluo said coldly, readying his First Soul Skill. A strange chrysanthemum shot straight for Fang Yuan’s life. But this move played right into Fang Yuan’s hands. A faint smile curled at his lips.

In an instant, the chrysanthemum about to touch Fang Yuan shattered into pieces, petals scattering.

The expected instant kill did not occur, startling everyone.

Did he miss?

“Oh? Lucky dog. Rarely do I make a mistake, and you got lucky. Then let me show you my Second Soul Skill.”

Chrysanthemum Douluo was sure he had missed. Everyone present agreed.

Yet Fang Yuan merely smiled calmly, his composed demeanor sending an ominous chill through the crowd.