SoulLand:Ascending to Godhood through Science

Half a day had passed since the Soul-Battle Beasts' hunting team entered the Star Dou Forest.

According to the gathered intelligence, the Earthfire Dragon, whose age perfectly suited Ignis's requirements, was active in a canyon roughly ten kilometers ahead.

In theory, they had already entered the dragon's territory.

Eyewitness reports suggested this Earthfire Dragon was a solitary creature, typically resting in a natural cavern deep within the canyon. Occasionally, it ventured into the surrounding forest or grasslands to hunt for food.

From both a compatibility and safety perspective, it was an ideal target for Ignis.

You Chen used his Concealment Technique to monitor the team from the perimeter, silently observing their disciplined and efficient performance. He was quite pleased.

Throughout the journey, he refrained from interfering with the scouts' duties, sticking to the agreed-upon plan: he would only intervene if the team was at risk of encountering a soul beast with a cultivation of over 50,000 years.

So far, traveling over 100 kilometers deeper into the forest in half a day, the team remained within the outer regions. Encountering a 50,000-year beast in this area was as likely as winning second prize in a lottery.

Why not first prize? Because first prize is virtually unattainable.

The Star Dou Forest can be divided into several zones: the "outermost edge," the "outer ring," the "inner mixed zone," the "core zone," and the "Forbidden Zone of Lake of Life," a place so secret most spirit masters had never even heard of it.

Technically, the "Lake of Life Forbidden Zone" was the true core. The current "core zone" was merely the border between the inner mixed zone and the actual core. For simplicity, we will stick to the conventional terminology of "core zone" and "forbidden zone."

From the inner mixed zone onward, ten-thousand-year soul beasts were common.

Currently, the team was at the border between the outer ring and the inner mixed zone. Here, most soul beasts were still in the hundred- to thousand-year range, with ten-thousand-year beasts being rare.

This area would serve as an ideal hunting ground for the Soul-Battle Beasts for a long time, especially as more of them reached the quasi-Spirit Ancestor level of 40. The hunting of low-ten-thousand-year soul beasts would soon become a frequent necessity.

Thus far, there had been no situations warranting You Chen's intervention.

The team displayed remarkable discipline and teamwork.

From scouting and plotting paths to avoid unnecessary confrontations to the seamless coordination during unavoidable battles, their abilities impressed You Chen.

Control-type spirit masters disrupted and restrained at the critical moment, support-types provided timely boosts, defense-types shielded effectively, and agility and power-attack types delivered explosive and precise strikes.

Everything was executed with admirable harmony.

One detail that particularly pleased You Chen was their willingness to use Blackfire Crossbows when necessary, despite the limited supply of bolts and fuel. Unlike overly cautious players hoarding powerful items in games, they didn't hesitate to deploy their tools strategically.

While You Chen appreciated their current performance, this level of supervision and evaluation would be a one-time effort.

The development of Blackfire Weapons was just one aspect.

While the Blackfire Crossbow boasted the power to threaten Soul Emperors, this capability required coordinated team efforts to maximize the advantages of standardized mechanical weaponry.

Against vastly superior opponents, however, an operator with insufficient strength would struggle to land an effective hit. This was why only elite Soul Elders and above were included in this hunting team.

To fully unlock the potential of Blackfire Weapons, the users' cultivation levels were equally important.

This hunt, for example, would grant Ignis her fourth spirit ring—a ten-thousand-year ring. The enhancements would elevate her combat power to Soul King-level, allowing her to assist other Soul-Battle Beasts in their own fourth-ring hunts without relying on Blackfire Crossbows.

With both her own abilities and the Blackfire Weapons, the reliance on You Chen would diminish. If his strength remained stagnant, the combined power of the Soul-Battle Beasts could even pose a threat to him.

Even if their activities attracted stronger beasts from the inner mixed zone, the upgraded team could manage orderly retreats, even under pursuit by a 50,000-year beast and its retinue.

Positioned at the border of the inner mixed zone, the team could exit the forest within half a day.

If they still suffered significant casualties under such circumstances, it would simply prove them unworthy. Any losses would be acceptable.

This time, however, You Chen had no intention of being so harsh.

While the Earthfire Dragon wasn't as fearsome as creatures like the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear or the Titan Giant Ape—beasts whose ten-thousand-year forms rivaled low-bloodline one-hundred-thousand-year beasts—it was still on par with an ordinary 50,000-year beast, possessing Soul Sage-level combat power.

The Blackfire Crossbows, when striking accurately, could severely injure or even kill a Soul Emperor. Thus, they theoretically had the power to threaten a Soul Sage.

However, achieving this required flawless coordination, courage, and a bit of luck.

Even You Chen couldn't guarantee the hunt's success.

For this reason, he considered this hunt both a trial and a challenge for his team.

Should things take a dangerous turn, risking casualties, You Chen would intervene without hesitation.

While his true body remained vigilant against external threats, ensuring no other soul beasts disrupted the hunt, You Chen also prepared to send in a Starlight Avatar to assist.

Though a mere projection of spirit power, the Starlight Avatar possessed combat strength equivalent to an ordinary Soul King. If detonated, it could unleash a burst of power rivaling a Soul Emperor.

This level of support was no small boon.

Having tested and evaluated enough, You Chen ceased delaying. With a surge of spirit power, he summoned a Starlight Avatar identical to his own form.

"I've located the target," he announced. "I will draw it out. Everyone, prepare for action!"

The real You Chen and his Avatar spread their wings and took flight.

The Avatar surged a thousand meters ahead, and in its line of sight appeared a massive beast over five meters tall, like a moving mountain.

Its dark-red scales seemed to glow with molten heat, as if magma coursed beneath its surface. Its golden eyes were as large as basins, cold and piercing. Three black dragon horns spiraled upward from its head.

The Earthfire Dragon lacked wings, relying instead on its unparalleled physical strength and resilience.

At that moment, it had left its cavern in the canyon depths and was drinking from a stream.

"Hmm?"

The dragon's thick, muscular brow furrowed as a foreboding sensation pricked its instincts. Lifting its massive head, it scanned for the source of the disturbance.

Whoosh!

The air screamed.

A column of compressed air blades shot forth, converging with deadly precisio

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