Douluo Dalu: From Shinobi to Spirit Master

The visibility here had dropped significantly. The dense forest blocked most of the sunlight, leaving only a few patches of light from fluorescent plants casting a faint glow.

If nothing unusual had happened, he had completely left the edge and entered the outer circle.

Within a 100-meter radius, almost all soul beasts had been driven away by the pressure exerted by the Bear King and the Red King. Only the energy source remained, quietly hidden beneath the ground. If Su Chen didn't possess the Byakugan, which could see through and perceive the flow of energy, he might not have detected its existence.

From a perceptual standpoint, the area appeared empty.

"What is this?"

The young man, who had transformed into a wooden stake, furrowed his brow inwardly.

The energy present was unlike anything he had encountered. It was even greater than that of the Bear King and the Scarlet King combined!

Through the Byakugan, it appeared like a blazing sun.

But strangely, Su Chen didn't feel any threat from it.

"The energy index exceeds that of the Bear King and the Scarlet King. Yet, its combat power isn't even close to that of a thousand-year soul beast. What's going on?"

Su Chen's expression was puzzled.

These two completely contradictory characteristics—such immense energy and such low combat power—were concentrated in one being. This was enough to spark the curiosity of any scholar.

If it weren't for the current crisis, Su Chen would have definitely found a way to study it. Unfortunately, this wasn't the time for such endeavors.

The young man shook his head, ready to move on, but then his body suddenly froze.

No!

This creature had an ability to conceal itself that even the Bear King and the Scarlet King couldn't detect. A massive energy source, yet its combat power was weak.

Wasn't this tailor-made for his current situation?

Boom!

With a puff of smoke, Su Chen transformed from a wooden stake into a little rabbit, hopping toward the target.

His blood-red eyes burned with intensity.

"Strange... Why do I feel like I'm being watched?"

Deep underground, the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, rolling contentedly, suddenly shuddered.

Just now, it had felt a malicious gaze upon it.

But when it scanned with its mental power, it found nothing.

The only ones watching were the two massive beings at the edge of the area, and the nearest soul beasts had been scared off by a thousand meters.

As for a little rabbit, it had instinctively disregarded it.

"Huh, how could my flawless disguise have been discovered?"

Tianmeng Ice Silkworm sighed in relief, its round body still happily rolling.

It wasn't bragging when it said that in terms of mental power and concealment abilities, even the monsters from the Great Evil Land couldn't compare to it.

To find it?

Unless you had eyes that could see through everything!

Xiong Jun and Chi Wang haven't returned yet, right?

It continued to release mental power, checking the edge area. "You truly are worthy of being my savior, Tianmeng. You've lasted this long."

Despite the praise, Tianmeng didn't think its savior would survive. After all, no one could escape the siege of two powerful beasts.

It was just a matter of time.

"Brother, don't worry. I, Tianmeng, will avenge you!"

After mourning for the brother it had never met, Tianmeng rolled over comfortably and continued to enjoy the freedom it had.

But then, it noticed something odd.

With its mental power, it sensed a little rabbit directly above it.

The blood-red eyes seemed to be staring right at it.

Tianmeng's heart tightened, but then it laughed bitterly at itself.

"I must be too sensitive."

The 100,000-year-old beasts couldn't detect me—how could a mere rabbit, not even a soul beast, possibly find me?

"I envy it... If only I could be as carefree as that."

Tianmeng sighed and prepared to shift positions to continue resting. But then, it suddenly froze.

This was the Star dou Great Forest—the most dangerous gathering place for soul beasts on the continent.

Its current location should be on the outskirts, where thousand-year and ten-thousand-year soul beasts often roamed.

Then the question arose.

How did a little rabbit, not even a soul beast, end up in such a perilous area?

Gulp—

Tianmeng Ice Silkworm swallowed nervously, a cold sweat forming on its round forehead.

It carefully shifted its position, inch by inch.

But to its horror, the little rabbit's blood-red eyes followed its every move, even showing a strange smile on its face.

It could see me!!

Tianmeng felt a surge of panic. Its whole body turned cold, and its teeth involuntarily began to chatter.

In that moment, countless possibilities flashed through its mind.

For example, was it an agent sent by a ferocious beast, or the incarnation of some strange existence?

No matter what it was, there was no escaping now.

But just as Tianmeng Ice Silkworm pondered whether it could still survive by offering its loyalty, the little rabbit suddenly spoke.

"Don't be nervous, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm. Let me in first."

The voice was clear and bright, tinged with a hint of fatigue amidst the calmness.

Upon hearing this, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's heart, previously in a state of panic, suddenly calmed.

It truly didn't sense any hostility.

In that case, could it pretend it hadn't noticed?

"Also, don't pretend you didn't see me. I can sense your every movement."

Tianmeng Ice Silkworm collapsed in defeat, its round body trembling. The soil in front of it shifted, opening into a narrow downward passage.

The moment the little rabbit jumped in, the soil quickly closed up again, as though nothing had changed.

"What kind of creature are you? A soul beast? This is the first time a being can see through me."

As soon as the little rabbit landed, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm couldn't help but approach it, curiously eyeing this small creature.

The rabbit didn't answer, instead scanning the surroundings with its blood-red eyes. "Are you sure this place won't be noticed by others?"

"Of course!"

Tianmeng Ice Silkworm puffed up proudly. "As long as I want to hide, even a 100,000-year-old soul beast wouldn't be able to find me. By the way, why are you asking?"

"That's good."

Su Chen nodded, but couldn't hold back the intense dizziness that suddenly hit him. He stretched out his hand to cancel the transformation and collapsed onto the soil, exhausted.

His chakra reserves were drained to the limit. Had he waited one more second, the transformation would've been forcibly undone.

But now, it should be safe, right?

He glanced around the small underground hole and at the white silkworm shadow in front of him. His tense mind eased slightly, and he felt an overwhelming fatigue as though sleep could overtake him at any moment.

"Human… human!!"

Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was startled by this sudden change. Its round body scurried back, huddling in a corner, eyeing the silver-haired boy warily.

After a while, it noticed that the boy didn't move. Cautiously, it approached, poking him gently with its round tail and tentatively asked, "Hey, are you okay?"

The silver-haired boy kept his eyes closed, shaking his head slightly.

His sage body was rapidly recovering chakra. This process wouldn't take long.

As long as he could move independently, he could activate his practice method to accelerate the chakra recovery.

Sensing no immediate threat, Tianmeng Ice Silkworm became bolder, its eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Are you a human or a soul beast?"

"Are you an orc? No, human-beast?"

_<)?>

"I know! Half human, half beast!"

Su Chen's frustration grew as he heard one outlandish question after another. He waved his hand dismissively and said, "Quiet down for now. I'll explain when I've recovered."

If this continued, his species would be entirely mischaracterized.

"Oh."

Tianmeng Ice Silkworm nodded.

"Then, after you become a rabbit, do you eat grass?"

Su Chen: ...

If he weren't physically exhausted at the moment, he would've knocked on the little fat head to see if there was any sense in it.