Two days later, Zhao Qing arrived at Tian Dou City with fifty members of the Iron Guard.
They entered the city in an orderly manner and quietly settled into the newly prepared base. Everything was done low-key, without attracting attention. As planned, Zhao Qing became the public face of the branch, handling matters openly, while Wang Yan remained hidden in the shadows, observing and guiding when necessary.
After a few days of settling in and adjusting, the Tian Dou branch of the Iron Guard officially began operating. They first accepted small missions—escorts, investigations, and simple protection tasks. Though modest, these missions helped them understand the city's situation and slowly establish their presence.
Step by step, the Iron Guard began to take root in Tian Dou City.
A full year passed quietly.
During this time, the Iron Guard branch in Tian Dou City fully stabilized. Under Zhao Qing's open management, they completed a steady flow of missions and firmly established themselves in the city.
Throughout this year, Wang Yan remained in the shadows while continuing his cultivation. By the end of the year, his soul power finally broke through to rank seventy.
The seventh soul ring was now necessary.
During this same year, Wang Yan and Tang Yuehua met regularly. Almost every evening, they returned to the same quiet place outside the city—the flower-filled clearing with a single tree at its center, where he had first taken her from the academy. It became their shared space, unchanged despite the passing of time.
When Wang Yan reached his bottleneck, Zhao Qing sent messages to Lingyun City. Not long after, Liu Ming and Chen Yu arrived in Tian Dou City to assist him.
Early one morning, the four friends set out together.
Their destination was the Star Dou Forest.
The Star Dou Forest stretched endlessly before them.
Ancient trees rose high into the sky, their thick canopies blocking most of the light. The air was heavy and damp, carrying the faint scent of powerful soul beasts. This forest was one of the oldest and most dangerous places on the Douluo Continent—a land where strength ruled and the weak were quickly erased.
The four moved carefully as they went deeper.
Along the way, they encountered several soul beasts. Some were strong, others rare, but none truly suited Wang Yan's path as a sword master. He did not rush. A seventh soul ring was something that could not be chosen lightly.
After hours of searching, they unknowingly stepped into a denser region of the forest.
The surroundings grew unnaturally quiet.
A chill crept into the air, subtle but unmistakable. Even their breathing seemed louder than before. It felt as if an invisible gaze had locked onto them—cold, patient, and dangerous.
"This place…" Zhao Qing said quietly. "Something's wrong."
Before anyone could respond, the forest exploded into motion.
A massive shadow burst from the darkness.
A terrifying soul beast landed heavily before them—its body huge and muscular, covered in dark, hardened armor. A long, scorpion-like tail curved behind it, the stinger glinting with lethal cold light. Its eyes burned with savage intelligence.
A Scorpion-Tail Devil Tiger.
Just by its presence alone, the pressure was overwhelming. Its size, aura, and oppressive killing intent made one thing clear—this was no ordinary soul beast. Judging from its features and power, it had lived for over ninety thousand years.
A monster among monsters.
Wang Yan's eyes narrowed, but there was no fear in them.
"This is it," he said calmly.
The others understood immediately. A soul beast of this level was extremely dangerous—but for Wang Yan, it was also an opportunity far beyond normal limits. If he could obtain its soul ring, the power it would bring would be immense.
"I'll take it," Wang Yan said, his voice steady. "No matter what."
The four spread out instinctively, moving into familiar positions. Soul power surged, martial souls awakened, and the atmosphere instantly turned explosive.
The Scorpion-Tail Devil Tiger let out a deep, rumbling roar.
The battle began.
Without any delay, the four friends launched their assault the instant the Scorpion-Tail Devil Tiger revealed itself.
The forest exploded with motion.
Liu Ming was the first to advance, spear flashing as he drove forward with Piercing Thrust, followed immediately by Flowing Lance Spiral. The rotating spear force struck the tiger's hide head-on, producing a dull, heavy impact—but the beast barely shifted, its body absorbing the force with terrifying resilience.
Lightning crashed next.
Zhao Qing's Thunder Impact and Lightning Surge erupted together, electricity wrapping his body as he closed the distance. His strikes slammed into the tiger's flank, thunder roaring through the forest. Burn marks appeared—but they healed almost instantly.
Wind followed like a blade.
Chen Yu's Wind Fang Strike and Swift Gale Assault carved across the tiger's body in rapid succession, wind pressure cutting through fur and flesh. Yet even as blood spilled, the wounds slowed… then began closing.
That was when they realized it.
The scorpion-like tail slammed into the ground, glowing faintly as forest energy surged into the tiger's body. Its wounds visibly stabilized. Its breathing evened out. Fatigue did not touch it.
The tail was the source.
The plan changed instantly.
All attacks shifted.
Liu Ming adjusted his spear trajectory, abandoning broad penetration for repeated, focused strikes. Mountain-Piercing Drive detonated at the base of the tail, cracking bone and tearing muscle. The tiger roared in pain, its tail lashing violently.
Zhao Qing followed, lightning compressing instead of spreading. Thunder Chain Rend struck repeatedly along the same point, thunder drilling into the joint and disrupting the energy flow. The glow along the tail flickered.
Chen Yu circled wide, his wind sharpening to lethal thinness. Solar Wind Severance slashed again and again along the same line, peeling flesh away with merciless precision.
The devil tiger went berserk.
Its claws tore open the ground. Its body slammed forward with overwhelming force. Even under focused assault, its strength remained terrifying. A single swipe shattered trees, forcing the four to scatter.
Still, they did not stop.
They pressed.
Again.
And again.
Cracks spread along the tail's base. Blood poured freely now, no longer drawn back by the forest's vitality. The energy absorption faltered.
With a final coordinated strike—
The tail was severed.
The roar that followed was no longer dominant.
It was desperate.
The Scorpion-Tail Devil Tiger staggered, its aura destabilizing. Its regeneration collapsed completely. Wounds that once closed now widened. Blood soaked the forest floor.
They unleashed everything.
Liu Ming's Dragon-Core Annihilation Thrust pierced deep into the beast's shoulder, the compressed force detonating internally. Bone shattered. The tiger fell to one knee.
Zhao Qing raised his arm as Void Thunder Eradication descended from above, a single condensed thunder strike crashing into the tiger's back, lightning ripping through its body.
Chen Yu followed with Solar Wind Obliteration Slash, a devastating arc of wind and solar force tearing through the beast's flank and carving a massive wound that refused to close.
Then Wang Yan stepped forward.
His iron sword moved with absolute calm.
Rain of Swords descended, blade projections pinning the tiger in place. Continuous Edge followed, flowing slashes cutting into the same shattered areas without pause. Finally, his killing intent surged as Triple Overlapping Strike tore through the beast's core—three perfectly aligned slashes stacking power without mercy.
The devil tiger collapsed.
Its massive body crashed into the forest floor, struggling once—then going still.
Silence returned.
Above the corpse, a soul ring slowly rose.
It was black.
Not ordinary black—but deep, dense, and oppressive, as if it carried the weight of ancient years within it. The ring pulsed with terrifying energy, its aura spreading outward in heavy waves, distorting the air around it.
A soul ring born from a soul beast of over ninety thousand years—
Powerful.
Violent.
And now, waiting for its master.
End of chapter.