Meanwhile, Lin Mu and his companions had entered the Star Dou Great Forest, heading directly toward its core area. Along the way, Lin Mu rarely made a move; as long as the Soul Beasts didn't attack him, he saw no reason to slaughter them indiscriminately.
Upon entering the core area, Lin Mu donned the Hurricane Armor. He had no choice; with three burdens in tow, he had to be extremely cautious. If any uncontrollable danger arose, he would immediately use the armor's speed to lead the three away, putting a thousand miles between them and the threat in an instant.
After another day of searching, the four finally found a lake area shrouded in a rich, pulsating life force. This was the habitat of the Emerald Swans.
Lin Mu's elaborate preparations were all for attaching Emerald Swan Soul Rings to Tang San and Ye Lingling. The top-tier life attributes contained within the Emerald Swan were a perfect match for both the Blue Silver Grass and the Nine-Heart Begonia. Although the Nine-Heart Begonia only possessed one Soul Skill, the higher the quality of the Soul Ring, the stronger the healing effect would become. For the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, gaining such a high-quality life-attribute Soul Skill would greatly enhance its quality, preparing it for the future awakening of the Blue Silver Emperor.
However, this was already the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest, and its danger level was far superior to that of the outer areas. If he didn't know that the Ferocious Beasts were currently supposed to be asleep, Lin Mu would never have dared to bring the three children here. Yet, even with the strongest beasts slumbering, there were still many powerful ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts guarding the vicinity of the Emerald Swans.
To Lin Mu, these guards were irrelevant. He transformed into an invisible hurricane, shuttling around the lake at such a speed that even the high-level Soul Beasts failed to notice his presence. Before long, Lin Mu locked onto two Emerald Swans: one that had just reached ten thousand years of cultivation and another that was approximately seven thousand years old.
In an instant, two arrows imbued with terrifying power pierced the air, accurately striking the two targets. While the wounds weren't fatal, the swans were severely injured and fell to the ground. The next moment, Lin Mu transformed back into a hurricane, sweeping the two Emerald Swans back to his group.
"Master, are these the Soul Beasts you chose for us?" Tang San's eyes gleamed with surprise as he looked at the two birds. He could clearly sense the immense vitality these two Soul Beasts possessed. Ye Lingling's eyes flickered; she felt these creatures might allow her Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul to advance even further.
Only Xiao Wu's eyes were dim, her mood sinking. She knew very well what Emerald Swans meant to the Soul Beast community. The death of a single Emerald Swan could lead to the death of thousands of other Soul Beasts who would no longer have access to their healing.
"Let's leave this place first," Lin Mu said, not wanting to linger. Aside from the proximity of the Ferocious Beasts' resting place, the surrounding ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts were already becoming alert. Since the two Emerald Swans were still breathing, Tang San and Ye Lingling could absorb their Soul Rings once they reached a safer distance.
Just as the four were about to leave, a powerful pressure saturated with life force suddenly descended, enveloping the entire area. Immediately afterward, a stunningly beautiful green figure appeared out of thin air. She possessed unparalleled beauty, with long, emerald-green hair cascading down her waist like a waterfall and eyes like the purest jade. A pair of emerald wings unfurled behind her. It was none other than Bi Ji, ranked fourth among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts.
Lin Mu's heart sank. If Bi Ji was awake, did that mean the other Ferocious Beasts had also awakened? Without a second thought, Lin Mu decisively channeled all his Soul Power, transforming into a hurricane that swept up the three students and the two captured swans. They vanished into a streak of green light that almost tore through space, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Just as the four vanished, a man in a black robe appeared beside Bi Ji.
"Bi Ji, what has made you so agitated?" Before the words were finished, Di Tian's golden eyes flickered. "Hmm? There is a human presence here. How dare they set foot in this place?"
Bi Ji's face was a mask of sorrow and anger. "Di Tian, two of my clansmen were seriously injured and kidnapped by that person."
Di Tian's gaze turned cold, a flash of icy killing intent appearing in his eyes. "Which direction did he escape?"
The Emerald Swan clan was crucial to the Star Dou Great Forest; every single member was vital for the survival of the forest's ecosystem. The abduction of two at once crossed his bottom line.
Bi Ji shook her head, a trace of shock remaining in her eyes. "He is too fast. Even if I chased him with all my might, I could not catch up. By the time you found him, he would likely be deep within human territory."
Di Tian fell silent. He did not want to trigger a full-scale war with humans at this moment. A moment later, he looked into the distance, his voice filled with boundless killing intent. "If this person dares to set foot here again, he will be killed on sight!"
Lin Mu led the group at breakneck speed, only stopping when they reached the outermost edge of the Star Dou Great Forest. As they fled, he had sensed an even more terrifying aura, obviously originating from Di Tian. This was why he had traveled over a thousand kilometers before finally stopping.
Looking at the two Emerald Swans on the ground, Lin Mu had a flash of inspiration. If he could convince them to Sacrifice themselves to Tang San and Ye Lingling, the effect would be even better, and there might even be a chance to obtain Soul Bones. They had already offended Di Tian and Bi Ji; it would be difficult to return to the core area again, so they needed to maximize the value of this trip.
"As long as you are willing to Sacrifice, I can guarantee your souls will remain intact. After they become gods, you will have a chance to be resurrected," Lin Mu stated. With their level of cultivation and intelligence, he knew they understood human language.
The ten-thousand-year Emerald Swan was severely injured, but its eyes were filled with pride. It let out a mournful cry and turned its head away, clearly preferring death to submission. Lin Mu did not force it, looking instead at the seven-thousand-year swan.
Compared to the older swan, this one was less resolute, its pupils filled with hesitation. It looked up at Ye Lingling, seemingly attracted by the pure life force emanating from her. After the Nine-Heart Begonia evolved, it had become a pure life-attribute Martial Soul, a perfect match for the Emerald Swan.
Ye Lingling gently stroked its feathers and promised, "My Martial Soul is the Nine-Heart Begonia, of the same origin as yours. If you are willing to Sacrifice yourself for me, and if I can truly become a god, I will definitely resurrect you."
This gesture made the swan feel a connection, and coupled with the promise of a future rebirth, it finally relented. It slowly lowered its head, indicating its willingness to perform the Sacrifice.