In Douluo, you master Wood Release and Samsara Eye at the beginning

The dense forest seemed endless, with towering trees stretching high into the sky, their thick canopies blotting out much of the sunlight. The ground was blanketed with a soft layer of fallen leaves and moss, giving the forest an ancient, almost mystical atmosphere.

In the heart of this vast woodland, there was a curious sight—a single, not particularly tall tree standing proudly in the center of a large open space. Strangely, no other plants taller than ten feet grew within dozens of feet around it, as if they feared getting too close.

Jun Yan stood at the edge of this open space, his sharp gaze fixed on the peculiar tree. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, his new and obedient puppet, lay quietly beside him, its fierce red eyes now filled with an eerie calm.

"Is this the place?" Jun Yan asked, his voice low but commanding.

The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, who had once been a proud and rebellious soul beast, now only nodded obediently, its previous defiance completely erased.

Jun Yan's eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he observed the tree. As a soul master with a martial soul connected to nature, Jun Yan had taken the time to study plant-type soul beasts, and he quickly recognized the species before him.

"This is a Dragon Blood Tree," he murmured to himself, a faint smile playing on his lips.

The Dragon Blood Tree was an exceptionally rare plant-type soul beast, one that few soul masters ever encountered, let alone dared to hunt. Its trunk was a glossy, transparent black, and when the bark was scratched or pierced, a red, sap-like liquid would flow out—hence the name. Legend had it that these trees only grew in places that had been bathed in the blood of dragons, making their existence all the more mysterious and powerful.

The crown of the Dragon Blood Tree wasn't particularly large, but its root system was immense and deeply entrenched. The surrounding land's nutrients were completely monopolized by the tree, explaining why so few other tall plants dared to grow nearby.

Jun Yan crossed his arms over his chest, his mind already calculating.

"A Dragon Blood Tree... and judging by its aura, this one has about 40,000 years of cultivation. Perfect. This will be my sixth soul ring," he thought, the anticipation of gaining such a powerful soul skill sparking in his eyes.

However, despite its value, Jun Yan knew this would not be easy.

Plant-type soul beasts were rarely aggressive, but their defense capabilities far exceeded those of animal-type soul beasts. Breaking through the Dragon Blood Tree's defenses would require considerable effort and strategy.

But, fortunately for Jun Yan... he wasn't planning to do this alone.

"Go," Jun Yan ordered, pointing at the Dragon Blood Tree. "Beat it half to death and bring it back to me."

The command was casual, almost dismissive, as though the Dragon Blood Tree was nothing more than a minor obstacle.

The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger blinked in confusion, its pride faintly flaring up.

"But it's just a ten-thousand-year soul beast, and I have to do it myself?" Jun Yan could sense the Tiger's thoughts, even though it couldn't speak yet due to its cultivation level.

"Go quickly," Jun Yan pressed impatiently.

Even though the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger clearly felt this task was beneath it, the compulsion of the Animal Realm Puppet was absolute. With a low, reluctant growl, the massive tiger rose to its feet and padded forward, its muscles rippling with lethal grace.

As the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger entered the root zone of the Dragon Blood Tree, the atmosphere seemed to shift. A heavy, twisted ripple of soul power filled the air, and grey energy poured from the Tiger's body, forming a massive, oppressive domain that expanded hundreds of meters around it.

This was the Evil God's Domain—an innate ability of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. The domain not only amplified the Tiger's strength but simultaneously weakened its opponent, making this an unfair fight from the very beginning.

Sensing the danger, the Dragon Blood Tree responded immediately. Its branches quivered violently, and thick roots that had been dormant underground suddenly erupted from the earth like a nest of giant, black pythons.

Though plant-type soul beasts were usually slow and passive, the Dragon Blood Tree clearly recognized the threat. It had no intention of waiting to be attacked.

A massive root shot into the air, high above the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, before slashing downward with terrifying speed. The force of the strike was enough to cut through solid rock, and the air seemed to scream as the root descended.

But the Tiger was faster.

With a slight flex of its hind legs and a gentle flap of the dark wings on its back, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger vanished from its spot, the root slamming into the ground with a deafening crash—just an afterimage left behind.

A whirlwind of wind energy swirled around the Tiger, revealing that it hadn't teleported, but rather used its mastery over wind and speed to move with unnatural agility.

Landing gracefully on the other side of the Dragon Blood Tree, the Tiger unleashed its first true attack. Dozens of black, foot-long blades of wind and evil energy materialized around its body, forming a storm of lethal projectiles that shot forward without mercy.

The Dragon Blood Tree waved its branches to shield itself, but the fusion of wind's cutting power and evil's corrosive force was too strong. With sickening hisses, the blades sliced through the branches, severing them cleanly and embedding deep into the trunk.

Bright red sap gushed out like blood, and the Dragon Blood Tree shuddered violently, its pain palpable.

Yet, it was far from finished.

The ground around the Dragon Blood Tree erupted again, roots lashing out with desperate fury, turning the battlefield into chaos. Massive pits formed where the roots slammed into the earth, and the air became thick with flying debris.

Still, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger remained calm. It moved elegantly, dodging with minimal effort, untouched by the violent assault.

Then, with a single beat of its wings, the Tiger summoned its most devastating skill—Dark Demon Evil Thunder.

A sphere of crackling black energy formed in an instant, charged with the destructive fusion of magic, evil, and wind attributes. The Dragon Blood Tree sensed the mortal danger and tried to retreat, but the Tiger's speed was unmatched.

The dark sphere shot forward, exploding against the tree with a deafening boom, shattering several roots and splattering red sap in all directions.

For a moment, Jun Yan thought the battle was over.

But then... something strange happened.

The Dragon Blood Tree's wounds began to close, the bark knitting together as though time itself was reversing. Its shattered roots slowly regrew, and the surrounding weeds and smaller plants withered and died.

Jun Yan narrowed his eyes, activating his Samsara Eye to inspect the phenomenon. A faint red light was emanating from the Dragon Blood Tree, draining the vitality of nearby plants to heal itself.

"A healing ability through life force absorption," Jun Yan realized with a cold smile. "Impressive, but ultimately futile."

"Finish this. Quickly," he ordered, his voice sharp.

The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger understood. It unleashed a final, relentless assault, tearing into the Dragon Blood Tree with claws wreathed in black light. Despite the tree's desperate defense, its strength was no match for the Tiger's fury.

After a brutal half-hour, the Dragon Blood Tree lay at death's door, its roots shattered, its trunk bleeding out the last of its vitality.

Jun Yan stepped forward, his expression calm and merciless.

With a swift, decisive movement, he ended the life of the Dragon Blood Tree.

The forest was silent. The battle was over. And Jun Yan's journey toward unimaginable power continued.