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"But how can we find the white tiger's lair if we gather together like this?" The third prince was a little anxious.
The fact that they quietly left the camp could not be concealed for too long. When Ge Long and the others found out that the prince and the princes were missing, they would definitely lead the imperial guards into the forest to look for them. If they did not gain anything before being caught, he would definitely be scolded when he returned!
But if he gained anything, his father would at most say a few words to him when he returned, and more often than not would just give him praise.
"Let's do this. We will form a team of two or three people, not too far apart, and report our location to each other every once in a while. This will not only ensure our safety, but also prevent us from getting lost." Xue Qinghe said.
"Yes, yes, that's best." Before the third prince could say anything, all the princes expressed their agreement.
"Okay." The third prince frowned, but did not object. However, he seemed to be in a bad mood.
This matter should have been his limelight, but now it has been snatched away by this good brother.
…
Soon, everyone formed small teams and searched for the white tiger's lair in the dense forest.
Ye Lingling had already obtained the soul ring during the day, but she was a pure healing soul master and did not have combat power, so she just followed Dugu Yan closely.
It just so happened that Xuan Ming was not yet a soul master, and with Xue Qinghe, they formed a team of four.
Time passed little by little, and everyone went deeper and deeper. Although they encountered many ten-year soul beasts along the way, they did not find the white tiger's nest.
"Are we going in the wrong direction?" Dugu Yan said.
"Also, did that white tiger really just give birth?"
"It can't be wrong." Ye Lingling said.
"That's what it looks like right after giving birth. However, the newborn tiger cubs don't have the protection and nursing of their mother..."
Ye Lingling looked a little unnatural and felt a little heavy.
"Lingling, don't worry. If I find the cubs, I will find a way to save them." Xue Qinghe said.
After all, Ye Lingling is only a six-year-old child, and he can understand the sympathy for such a young child.
"Yeah." Ye Lingling nodded, her face less sad, and she worked harder to find the nest.
"In the forest, tigers usually choose tree holes, rock caves, dense bushes or under fallen trees as their nests. These places can provide good concealment, making it difficult for them to be discovered by natural enemies when they are resting or feeding their cubs," said Xuan Ming.
"Especially nests for raising cubs, which are usually located in higher ground and not flooded."
"There are many traces of soul beasts' activities here, which makes it easy to hunt. The nest should be nearby."
Dugu Yan was stunned, "How do you know all this?"
"There is a forest near where I used to live. Sometimes, I would go in and try my luck." Xuan Ming said.
"The living habits of ordinary wild beasts and soul beasts should be similar."
"Try your luck..." Dugu Yan hesitated to speak.
She wanted to say that this was unsafe, but based on Xuan Ming's previous situation, he didn't seem to care about safety.
"Huh?" Xue Qinghe paused.
"What's wrong?" Dugu Yan asked puzzledly.
"I smell blood, be careful." Xue Qinghe frowned slightly and looked around vigilantly.
Xuan Ming sniffed it carefully and looked at the rock wall covered by bushes not far away, "Over there."
"Be careful."
Xue Qinghe walked in front, and Dugu Yan and the other two followed behind, slowly approaching the target.
Pushing aside the dry bushes, several people saw a tragic scene.
The small cave nest was full of blood. It seemed that the two newborn tiger cubs were discovered by some ferocious predator. Their tiny bodies were bitten off and they died tragically in the nest.
Ye Lingling's face turned pale and she almost fell to the ground.
"It seems that other soul beasts discovered them earlier than us." Xue Qinghe sighed.
"Everyone stop looking! We found it!"
At Xue Qinghe's call, other teams searching for the nest nearby quickly gathered together.
"this..."
Looking at the two little tigers that died tragically in the nest, everyone had different expressions, most of them expressing regret.
"What a wasted trip." Dirty Bals sat down on the ground.
"It seems that they didn't drive away all the soul beasts." The third prince was inexplicably happy, at least his eldest brother didn't get this litter of tiger cubs.
"Something's wrong." Xuan Ming looked around, as if he was looking for something.
"What's wrong?" Dugu Yan asked.
"If it was predation, these two tiger cubs should have been eaten, but they were just bitten to death." Xuan Ming said.
"In this case, it's most likely a male tiger who did it."
"Male tiger?" Dugu Yan was stunned.
"Why?"
"After giving birth, female tigers need to take care of their cubs, so they won't get pregnant again for a long time. In order to reproduce, some male tigers will bite their cubs to death after discovering them," Xuan Ming said.
"Also, they usually hide around the den and wait for the tigress to come back."
Everyone's face changed, but before they could make any move, a dark and sturdy figure rushed over from a distance.
"careful!"
In a panic, most people were just trying to escape, only Xue Qinghe and the third prince completed the spirit possession in the first place.
"First Soul Skill - Holy Shield!"
The yellow soul ring flashed, and a golden light shield appeared in front of the third prince. The sturdy black tiger that pounced on him hit it directly and was bounced away.
"Rebound?" Xuan Ming asked puzzledly.
"Brother Xuan Ming has good eyesight. He can see the effect of my soul skill at a glance." The third prince was very surprised.
His holy shield is not just a simple defense, but can bounce back attacks, no matter if it is an energy attack or a direct physical impact. In a sense, it can be said to be both offensive and defensive.
"Why are you running?" The third prince shouted softly, pulling back the people who were fleeing in panic.
"With so many of us, do we still need to be afraid of it?"
Everyone stood there in a daze, and really wanted to curse.
It's not like they've ever really fought soul beasts!
To obtain the spirit ring, they had to be beaten to a pulp by others and then put it directly in front of them, and all they had to do was poke it with a knife.
This black tiger is obviously very old, there is no way they can handle it!
"Zizizizi!"
The black tiger that was flung away quickly stood up, and black electric currents burst out like little snakes, swimming around its body.
The Third Prince, who was about to call on everyone to join in the action, froze in silence.
The black tiger's momentum has changed!
"Third brother, be careful!"
The black tiger, with electric current wrapped around its body, had its mobility almost doubled. In just a moment, it rushed forward again, and with huge inertia, it smashed the holy shield of the third prince with a single slap.
Bang!
The third prince was hit head-on and flew backwards heavily, hitting the bushes.
Seeing this, the princes, who were already in a panic, were completely frightened.
Just when everyone thought they were about to die here, a tall figure wearing imperial guard armor suddenly appeared before their eyes.
"General Ge Long?!"
The sharp-eyed Bals shouted out in surprise.
Ge Long ignored Bals. His yellow soul ring flashed, and the shadow of his Yazi martial soul appeared on his right arm, ready to kill the black tiger in front of him.
"Please spare its life." Xuan Ming said.
Ge Long was slightly stunned, and had already swung his fist, but it still deviated slightly and knocked the black tiger to the ground, leaving it dying and unable to move.
"This Thunder Tiger is at least eight hundred years old. You can't use it." Ge Long saw through Xuan Ming's thoughts.
"Let me try." Xuan Ming walked forward, summoned the blood spear, and stabbed it directly into the throat of the Thunder Tiger.
After a few breaths, a deep yellow soul ring slowly rose.
"Xuan Ming, you..."
Without waiting for Dugu Yan to say anything, Xuan Ming closed his eyes and followed the method Ye Lan had told him before. He used his mental power to lock onto the soul ring and then pulled it into his martial soul.
"Quiet!"
Xue Qinghe shouted in a low voice, accompanied by a faint spiritual power, forcing the princes who wanted to cry to calm down.
Ge Long's face showed a strange expression, "Grand Prince, you are very capable."
Xue Qinghe just smiled and said nothing.
Ge Long did not ask any more questions and turned to check on the condition of the third prince.
"Crown Prince, Xuan Ming..."
Dugu Yan looked worriedly at Xuan Ming who had already pulled the soul ring onto his body.
The first spirit ring can only last for about 400 years! In the past 800 years, few people dared to absorb even the second spirit ring!
"Don't worry, his body is different from that of ordinary people, and his willpower is also different from that of ordinary people. He should be fine." Xue Qinghe was also very worried.
Although Snake Spear Douluo said that Xuan Ming's limit is 800, absorbing this limit soul ring is very dangerous! It is a great test for both the body and the mind!
It was Xuan Ming's first time to absorb a soul ring. He had no experience at all and didn't know if he could withstand the impact.