Douluo: Soul-Breaking spear

Chapter 106: Training in the Sunset Forest

Over the following period, Yang Potian stayed alone in the Sunset Forest, facing dangers far beyond his initial expectations. Ten-year spirit beasts were nearly everywhere, with hundred-year beasts also in abundant supply.

Almost daily, he encountered several thousand-year beasts, and occasionally, he would come across a ten-thousand-year beast every few days.

At his current strength as a Spirit King, Yang Potian could likely handle a ten-thousand-year spirit beast if he fought with all his might. However, the real danger in the Sunset Forest was the risk of injury. Even a small wound could attract numerous spirit beasts of all kinds.

Many spirit beasts had a heightened sensitivity to the scent of blood. After observing closely, Yang Potian noted that killing a thousand-year beast would attract four or five hundred-year beasts within ten minutes, and within an hour, two more thousand-year beasts would show up. Occasionally, even a ten-thousand-year beast would be drawn in.

His plan was to fight two thousand-year spirit beasts or five hundred-year spirit beasts each day. Only through regular combat could he continue to grow stronger.

As for ten-thousand-year beasts, he only fought them when he felt he had reached a bottleneck or was no longer progressing. He kept his distance from beasts above the thirty-thousand-year mark, as these were beyond a Spirit King's ability to handle alone. Even if he managed to win, he would likely be injured.

Nighttime posed an even greater threat, as his visibility decreased significantly. In contrast, many spirit beasts were perfectly adapted to the dark.

Bat-type spirit beasts were nocturnal, as were spider and panther-type beasts like the Nether Panther, all of which hunted at night. Snake-type spirit beasts, too, were especially tricky, often lying in wait among trees or bushes, ready to ambush at any moment.

During these months, Yang Potian encountered numerous life-threatening situations, the most dangerous being a pursuit by a fifty-thousand-year Man-Faced Demon Spider. This spider had spear-like legs and could crawl quickly over any terrain. Its webbing was particularly dangerous; once entangled, escape was nearly impossible.

For his training in the Sunset Forest, Yang Potian refrained from using spirit skills to conserve spirit power and hone his combat abilities.

Unknown to him, his family had secretly assigned someone to follow him since he left the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. This was the clan's Third Elder, Yang Wuju, a Spirit Douluo at level 83. Yang Wudi had instructed Yang Wuju to step in only if Yang Potian's life was in immediate danger.

Three months flew by. During this time, Yang Potian faced countless deadly situations, gaining extensive combat experience, particularly in battles against ten-thousand-year beasts. His spear techniques became sharper and more lethal, honed by the constant life-or-death encounters.

Physically, he had changed significantly over these three months. His body appeared leaner, likely due to the lack of restful sleep in the forest; even at night, he replaced sleep with meditation. His strength and speed had improved tremendously, and his youthful face now bore a mature, hardened look. His hair hung loosely, with stubble lining his jaw, and his gaze had sharpened, always alert like a predator's.

When Yang Potian returned to the soul-hunting town, his body reeked with the accumulated grime of three months without a proper bath. He hadn't dared to light a fire in the forest, surviving instead on dry rations and jerky.

After arriving at the town, he went straight to a hotel without considering the cost. He took a long, much-needed bath, cleaned himself thoroughly, trimmed his hair, shaved, and emerged looking young and refreshed once again.

This time, instead of returning home, Yang Potian headed straight to Heaven Dou City.

His first stop was the Power Clan, where he had several weapons crafted, including multiple Soul-Breaking Spears, a set of knee-guarding soft armor, swords, and even other tools like claws and hammers. The result looked like a small armory, with every piece crafted from premium metal he had either bought or acquired from auctions.

He also stocked up on essential provisions—vegetables, fruits, meats, grains, and even plenty of wine, enough to make the shopkeepers wonder if he was preparing for a long journey.

Additionally, he purchased a variety of clothing and shoes, gathering a comprehensive supply of necessities.

Once fully prepared, Yang Potian left Heaven Dou City, heading north to his actual training destination. His time in the Sunset Forest had merely been a warm-up.

His ultimate destination was the Slaughter City. He had researched extensively and knew that spirit skills were forbidden there. His time in the Sunset Forest, using minimal spirit power, had been to prepare himself for this environment.

Yang Potian had also studied various texts to locate the Slaughter City's entrance. It lay north of Heaven Dou City, in a hidden town that didn't even appear on maps.

His research suggested that the Slaughter City had some form of arrangement with the Spirit Hall, likely for resource exchanges. Otherwise, the Slaughter City's inhabitants wouldn't survive, as they relied on external sources for food and water, both of which were consumed in large quantities every day.

After half a month of searching, Yang Potian arrived at a desolate, eerie town.

The town was lifeless, filled with crumbling, dilapidated buildings, and a pervasive air of death. Although the sun shone overhead, an unnatural chill lingered in the air, as if the town itself was filled with death.

After searching around, Yang Potian eventually found the town's only functioning tavern.

Inside, about a dozen people filled the place, each of them looking rough and unsavory. The atmosphere was tense and buzzing with a sinister energy.

The people in the tavern looked anything but normal; their faces were twisted with malice, and each exuded a faint scent of blood. It was clear that every single one of them had taken lives, marking them as fugitives or killers.

Each of them had a noticeable aura of spirit power, indicating they were all spirit masters. However, their levels weren't particularly high, with the strongest among them only reaching that of a high-level Spirit King.

When they noticed Yang Potian entering the tavern, their expressions shifted to mild surprise. It was rare to see someone so young in such a place.

Ignoring their gazes, Yang Potian chose an empty table and sat down. A server dressed in black approached him and asked, "What would you like, young man?"

Yang Potian's expression remained cold as he replied, "Bring me a Bloody Mary."

The server's face changed slightly. "Are you sure?"

With a single icy glance from Yang Potian, the server fell silent, nodded, and went to fulfill his order. Shortly afterward, he returned with a murky glass of dark red liquid, emitting a pungent, bloody scent.

Yang Potian lifted the Bloody Mary to his nose and sniffed it carefully. "Human blood? Mixed with mandrake flower, poison dragon grass, twin-born flower, ghost leaf, heart-piercing lotus, heartbreak herb, and seven-fate flower…"

"Impressive. The recipe's well-balanced; it's a fitting concoction for a Bloody Mary."

The surrounding patrons were dumbfounded. It was likely the first time anyone had rattled off the Bloody Mary's recipe so accurately, and this young man seemed incredibly knowledgeable about pharmacology.

Yang Potian raised the Bloody Mary to his lips and drank it all in one go. He immediately felt a subtle shift within himself, his killing intent seemingly amplified, even causing a slight haze in his mind.

"Not bad—this Bloody Mary does its job. Too bad it's also poisonous."

For Yang Potian, who had undergone the Ice-Fire Body Refinement, the poison was trivial. He drank it mainly to analyze its effects and figure out how to counter it in the future.

The Po Clan was as skilled in poison as they were in medicine, and everyone in the clan was proficient in pharmacology and toxicology. Though Yang Potian hadn't personally practiced alchemy, he had extensive knowledge of medicinal and toxic substances.

Ignoring the strange looks he received from the others, Yang Potian summoned his Soul-Breaking Spear and, without warning, stabbed it through the nearest unprepared patron.

He then swung his spear towards the others.

In less than ten minutes, Yang Potian had slaughtered everyone in the tavern except for the server. Blood and body parts covered the floor, transforming the room into a nightmarish scene.

"Server, take me to the Slaughter City."

The server hadn't expected this seemingly ordinary young man to be such a merciless killer, wiping out everyone around him in an instant.

He realized that if he didn't comply, he'd likely be next.

With no other option, the server led Yang Potian to the back of the tavern. He moved a table aside, revealing a dark hole beneath it.

Just as Yang Potian was preparing to descend, a flash of spirit power filled the air, and a figure appeared—it was the Po Clan's Third Elder, Yang Wuju.

"Third Elder, what are you doing here? Have you been following me?"

Yang Wuju ignored his question. "Potian, what are you trying to do? Where does that tunnel lead?"

"It leads to the Slaughter City," Yang Potian replied calmly. "It's the entrance to the Slaughter City."

Yang Wuju's face instantly darkened. "Do you even know what the Slaughter City is? It's a living hell."

"Precisely. And that's why it's perfect for my training. Don't worry, Third Elder—I'll be back soon."

Before Yang Wuju could react, Yang Potian leaped into the dark hole, vanishing from sight and slipping entirely beyond the elder's spiritual perception.

Yang Wuju could only let out a deep sigh and then swiftly exited the tavern.

(End of Chapter)