Core Area

The Titan Giant Ape chuckled a few times, looking like a little brother in front of Xiao Wu.

Ao Tian knew that both Da Ming and Er Ming, the two spirit beasts, had a fondness for Xiao Wu.

However, Xiao Wu had already transformed, and unless they transformed as well, they would never have a chance.

Xiao Wu landed on Er Ming's shoulder and said, "Let's go back. Senior Ao Tian is going to take us to that mysterious place."

Er Ming roared excitedly a few times, eager to go.

Most spirit beasts were naturally inclined to battle, and the Titan Giant Ape was a battle-crazy beast. However, in the Star Dou Forest, apart from the Sky Azure Bull Python, there were no other spirit beasts left that could challenge it.

And the Sky Azure Bull Python was the type that didn't enjoy fighting, which made the Titan Giant Ape quite frustrated.

Now, knowing that there were even more powerful spirit beasts deeper in the forest, how could it not be excited?

'Senior Ao Tian, even though I can't beat them, but those spirit beasts can't all be much stronger than me, right?' Er Ming thought to himself.

Returning to the lakeside cottage, Xiao Wu's mother couldn't help but feel a bit sorry when she saw the wounds on Er Ming's body.

"Auntie, I'm fine. I have thick skin and will recover quickly," Er Ming said with a big grin.

Ao Tian observed that the wounds on Er Ming's body were slowly healing, and upon closer inspection, he could see new flesh and blood growing.

"This guy has good talent," Ao Tian thought to himself.

"Didn't you say you were going to take us there, Ao Tian?" Xiao Wu asked.

"Then let's go," Ao Tian said.

He sat on the back of the Dragon Horse and headed towards the core of the Star Dou Forest.

Xiao Wu and her daughter sat on Er Ming's shoulders, following behind Ao Tian.

Da Ming, with its massive body, brought up the rear.

They had walked this path many times before. When they were young, Xiao Wu and Da Ming and Er Ming were very curious about the labyrinth there and treated it as a playground.

Although they rarely visited it as they grew older, they were still very familiar with this path.

After walking for half an hour, Ao Tian suddenly stopped.

"Further ahead is the range of the labyrinth," Xiao Wu said.

In front of them, there was a rocky area, with various oddly shaped boulders standing on the ground, forming spacious pathways that combined to create a maze.

However, the vertical range of this rocky area was not large, less than a kilometer, and you could see the tall trees at the end. The horizontal range, on the other hand, was much longer.

Ao Tian urged the Dragon Horse forward, entering the rocky area.

Xiao Wu hurriedly reminded, "Ao Tian, this rocky area already has an illusion effect."

Ao Tian didn't turn back and said, "I know, just follow me."

Xiao Wu was right; this formation indeed had an illusion effect.

However, Ao Tian considered this kind of formation to be rather rudimentary. It might work on spirit beasts and spirit masters who lacked experience, but it had no effect on him at all.

He had spent thousands of years on this planet, going from weak to invincible. Later, he became so bored that he started studying alchemy, artifact crafting, formations... In the end, he couldn't bear the loneliness and fell into a deep sleep.

His slumber was actually a form of cultivation; when he woke up, his power had increased countless times from what it used to be.

"Hurry up, let's keep up," Xiao Wu urged from behind.

Er Ming took giant strides and followed.

The pathways inside the rocky area were spacious, and even though Er Ming had a massive body, there was still plenty of room.

Xiao Wu said, "When we were kids, we couldn't even pass through this rocky area. We were clearly heading in, but as we walked, we ended up coming out."

She pointed towards the towering trees at the end of the rocky area and said, "We were clearly moving forward while looking at those trees over there, but soon we would find that the surroundings in all directions were exactly the same."

"Ao Tian, look." Xiao Wu's hand pointed in all directions. At this point, the tall trees at the end of the four directions had become completely identical.

Xiao Wu sighed in frustration, "We can't go in like this; I estimate that we'll be back to the starting point in no time."

Ao Tian smiled but didn't say anything.

Xiao Wu continued, "I know a way to get through this rocky area."

"Back then, Xiao Wu caught a flying spirit beast and had it carry her over," Er Ming said.

At that time, both Da Ming and Er Ming had grown to massive sizes, and no flying spirit beast could carry them. Only Xiao Wu could enter.

Xiao Wu sighed in frustration, "But after passing this rocky area, we couldn't fly over the forest above it. There's a strange force there that prevents even flying spirit beasts from taking off. So, I had to walk into the forest, but the situation there was the same as in the rocky area, and I ended up coming out again."

After speaking, she looked at Ao Tian and asked, "Ao Tian, can we really succeed in getting inside?"

Ao Tian said, "Don't worry, just follow me."

"Senior Ao Tian has seen and experienced much; this place surely won't stump him," Xiao Wu's mother said.

To Xiao Wu and the others, it seemed like the scenes were the same in all directions, but Ao Tian knew that it was just an illusion created by the formation.

In his eyes, such illusions had no effect.

His interest grew stronger, and he hadn't expected to find formations on this Douluo Continent. Although he found them crude, they were still quite impressive on this continent.

...

In the core area of the Star Dou Forest, the trees were much denser than in other areas.

The lush branches and leaves blocked the sunlight from above, casting the dense forest in shadow.

However, in the very center of this dense forest was an open area with no trees—a lake.

The water in the lake was clear and transparent, radiating a breath of life, invigorating to anyone who sensed it.

At this moment, several people of varying appearances stood by the lakeside.

Standing at the center was a man wearing a black robe, looking to be in his forties with a handsome and resolute appearance. A strand of golden hair fell on one side of his face.

On both sides of him were men and women, all gazing at the lake in front of them.

"Beast God, how much longer do we have to stay here?" a burly man with an extremely strong physique asked the man in the black robe.

The man referred to as Beast God said, "Our Lord suffered severe injuries. To awaken, they will need at least ten thousand years."

"Ten thousand years, and then some! How many tens of thousands of years has it been? I'm about to fall ill from being cooped up here," the burly man's emotions grew heated.

The Beast God said, "Guarding our Lord is the meaning of our existence. Only our Lord can lead us, the spirit beasts, to reclaim our ultimate glory. Xiong Jun, if you can't bear it, I can accompany you in a battle."

"Let's fight," Xiong Jun's dark gold pupils flashed with a hint of violence.

"Beast God, someone has entered," a woman in a green dress suddenly spoke.

The violent aura emanating from Xiong Jun paused for a moment, then soared madly.

"Good, just in time to help me vent and fill my belly," he said with a sinister grin.