Chapter 52: Hunting the Third Spirit Ring, Li Zhexian's Target! Whose General is This?!

After bidding farewell to Zhu Zhuqing, Li Zhexian devoted himself entirely to preparing for his third spirit ring.

Hearing that he was about to hunt for a spirit ring, Dugu Yan and Ye Lengleng naturally wished to go, and the four members of the Royal Dou Team were also filled with burning enthusiasm.

Yu Feng bluntly stated:
"Idol! Your first two rings were already of the thousand-year level. I must accompany you in hunting your third ring!"

Li Zhexian pondered for a moment and then agreed.
His target for this trip was significant.
Having more people would increase the certainty of successfully hunting the spirit beast.

"For a spirit master's third spirit ring, the limit is a thousand years."
"With the healing power of my wine spirit and the formidable physique tempered by the 'Molten Frost Spiritual Vein Body,' such a foundation should not be content with mediocrity."
"Naturally, I should pursue a spirit ring configuration that transcends the limits!"

Having made all necessary preparations, the group of seven set off toward the Star Luo Great Forest.

Meanwhile, at the Crown Prince's Residence:

"Li Zhexian has left Heaven Dou City?"
Holding a jade pot, Xue Qinghe watered the Morning Dawn Luminous Flower without even raising her head.

"Yes. He will reach the outskirts of the Star Luo Great Forest tomorrow morning."
Snake Spear hesitated for a moment before asking, "Since Your Highness is worried, why not let Pufferfish follow them in secret?"

Xue Qinghe lowered the jade pot, her fingertips brushing against the delicate petals.
"He doesn't like it."

With that, she walked toward the back courtyard of the residence.
Reaching a rugged artificial rockery, the rockery slid open silently, revealing a deep, downward-slanting tunnel.

Xue Qinghe walked down the steps step by step, her footsteps echoing in the silence. The inductive spirit-guiding lamps embedded in the walls lit up one by one, illuminating a horrifying scene at the end of the tunnel.

A battered body, covered in blood and flesh, was pierced through the shoulder blades by thick chains and firmly nailed to the cold stone wall.
Almost not a single patch of intact skin remained on this person.
Especially his right wrist, which had been brutally bent and twisted, the bone shards piercing through skin and flesh in a chilling sight.

Sensing someone's arrival, he raised his head with great difficulty.
"Kill... kill me..."
"Kill me... just like you killed Qin Ming..."

Xue Qinghe's expression remained calm.
Snake Spear stepped forward from behind.
Tilting a jade bowl in his hand, he splashed a viscous, emerald-green medicinal energy liquid over Zhao Wuji.

Amidst a soft, sizzling sound, the bloody wounds healed at a speed visible to the naked eye, and even his broken wrist was restored to its original state.

However, far from showing any joy, Zhao Wuji's eyes were filled with utter terror.
"If you have the guts, kill me! Just kill me!!"
He roared hoarsely, acting like a madman.

In response to him were two elderly eunuchs with gloomy expressions, holding instruments of torture. They skillfully closed in on him.

Soon, the chilling sounds of cracking bones and the most repressed, agonizing screams rang out in the stone chamber once again.

After a moment, Zhao Wuji was reduced to a bloody, shattering mess once more.
"Kill... kill me..."

Xue Qinghe's gaze remained indifferent.
"Shatter all the tendons and bones in his body, feed him 'Rot-Inducing Grass,' and send him back to Shrek."
"Before Li Zhexian slays him with his own hands, he is not allowed a single day of peace, nor is he allowed to recover."

Pufferfish and Snake Spear nodded.
Xue Qinghe turned and left.
Since Li Zhexian wanted to execute this villain with his own hands, she would reserve this opportunity for him.
When that day arrived, she would heal Zhao Wuji, allowing Li Zhexian's sword blade to drink the blood of his enemy.

After several days of hurried travel, the seven members of Li Zhexian's group finally reached the edge of the Star Luo Great Forest.

The vast, boundless mountain forest resembled a dormant primeval fierce beast. The dense canopy of towering ancient trees greedily devoured the sunlight, casting only mottled, shattered light and shadows upon the ground.

"Let's move!"
With a crisp command, Li Zhexian stepped first into the impenetrable shadows.
The other six closely followed, their figures quickly swallowed by the sea of trees.

Giant trees stood like ink-colored pillars, their intertwined branches forming a net overhead. Only a few scattered spots of light managed to leak through, making the surroundings appear even more profound and secluded.

Beneath their feet was an ankle-deep layer of humus; every step sank into the soft mud formed by the accumulated remains of millennia, and the damp, chilling scent of decay and moss pervaded everywhere.

In the distance of the forest, the dull, thunder-like roars of beasts echoed from time to time, shaking the tree canopy to rustle and tremble.

The seven held their breath, forming a defensive perimeter. Each responsible for a different field of vision, they cautiously advanced toward the middle section of the Star Luo Forest.

"Idol..."
Staring closely toward the southeast, Yu Feng couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Since we've already come to the Star Luo Forest, shouldn't you tell us your target for the third spirit ring?"

At these words, the others turned to look at Li Zhexian.
Li Zhexian pondered slightly.
"A Blood-Toothed Demonic Tiger. It's not bad."

"A Blood-Toothed Demonic Tiger?"
Everyone looked at each other, unfamiliar with this spirit beast.
Only Dugu Yan opened her beautiful eyes wide and blurted out, "A Blood-Toothed Demonic Tiger?!"
"Li Zhexian, you've set your sights on such a fierce beast?"

Ye Lengleng's azure eyes welled with curiosity.
"Yanyan, do you know this kind of spirit beast?"
Everyone's gaze focused on Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan took a deep breath and slowly explained:
"I heard my grandfather mention it..."
"The Blood-Toothed Demonic Tiger is a top-tier predator in the Star Luo Great Forest, second only to the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear. Their numbers are extremely scarce, and their tracks are hard to find."

She paused, throwing out an even more impactful example.
"Sword Doura Chen Xin's fourth spirit ring came from a Blood-Toothed Demonic Tiger."

There was no need to describe its strength further; the mere mention of "Chen Xin's fourth spirit ring" carried a weight heavier than mountains.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin, universally recognized as the number one Attack Douluo—his very name was a symbol of strength.

Dugu Yan added:
"Precisely because of Sword Douluo's illustrious reputation, spirit masters with weapon spirits all yearn to hunt a Blood-Toothed Demonic Tiger, hoping to acquire the exact same spirit skill as Chen Xin—'Murderous Intent Exposed.'"

She changed the subject and continued:
"However, the wonders of spirit skills vary from person to person. Even when hunting the exact same spirit beast, the resulting spirit skills are almost never completely identical."
"Furthermore, a Blood-Toothed Demonic Tiger is not so easily hunted; countless spirit masters have died miserably under its bloody teeth."

"Idol! Awesome!"
Yu Feng looked at Li Zhexian with eyes full of worship.
"Sword Douluo's fourth ring is a Blood-Toothed Demonic Tiger, and you're only at your third ring!"

Everyone looked at Li Zhexian with intense awe.

Ye Lengleng's heart stirred slightly.
This was the confidence her mother had in believing Li Zhexian could contend with Chen Xin in the future.

"Little Zhexian's Azure Lotus Sword is peerlessly sharp to begin with!"
Dugu Yan proudly lifted her chin, sharing in the glory.
"Even my grandfather personally said that the sharpness of Zhexian's sword surpasses even Chen Xin's youth!"

Faced with everyone's praise, Li Zhexian only shook his head and smiled faintly.

Just then, a small emerald-green snake lunged like an arrow.
But Li Zhexian's speed was even faster.
Bringing his fingers together like a sword, sword light burst forth, cutting the snake in half at the waist.

A sharp glint surged in his eyes.
A Blood-Toothed Demonic Tiger?
Actually, he wasn't entirely satisfied with it!
Hunting its spirit ring meant walking Chen Xin's path! Even if he reached the pinnacle, he would merely become a second Chen Xin!
He, Li Zhexian, had his own sword dao!

It was just that spirit beasts suitable for top-tier sword spirits were truly scarce.
For now, he could only provisionally set the Blood-Toothed Demonic Tiger as his target, and take things as they came afterward.

The seven traveled for more than an hour.
The morning dew evaporated, turning into a mist that drifted through the forest, making the visibility even hazier.

Just as they crossed a mountain col—
Swish—!
Swish—!
Swish—!

Deep in the forest ahead, a dozen sharp sounds of garments tearing through the wind suddenly rang out.

More than a dozen figures, as fast as phantoms, leaped gracefully among the trees, moving with extreme speed as they flashed past ahead.

What was most astonishing was that all of these people were dressed in azure robes, with long swords strapped to their backs, and black cloth strips tightly wrapped around their faces, completely covering their eyes!

Unable to see, they yet ran like lightning through the perilous Star Luo Forest, their movement techniques both ethereal and unrestrained.

Li Zhexian's pupils contracted slightly.
Whose subordinates were these... Bah! Which sect's disciples were they?!
How could their grand entrance exude such an imposing aura?!