With the tournament over, Tianlin's life returned to its usual routine: sword practice, body training, and studying talismans by day, soul cultivation at night. Half a year passed in a flash.
During this time, nothing major happened; all was calm.
The Emperor Battle team went back to the academy and graduated together, though Elder Meng Shenji was reluctant to let such talented students go.
But as their elder, he couldn't hold them back.
The wider world was the true stage for these geniuses.
Tianlin also attended several weddings: Qin Ming and Teacher Zhou Yan, Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan, the two Shi brothers and their wives, and Huanyin and Yu Feng.
Tianlin himself was still too young to marry, but Ning Fengzhi kept his promise and held an engagement ceremony for him and Ning Rongrong. Gu Ran was still pursuing Ye Lingling, with some success.
Tianlin often sighed at how fast time passed. Before he knew it, all the Emperor Battle members had found their places in life.
He felt like he'd forgotten something, but didn't bother to think about it. The Emperor Battle Team members were all geniuses—no way any of them would still be single, right?
Now, Tianlin had officially broken through to level sixty but hadn't rushed to get his soul ring. Instead, he was researching something.
Today, he finally succeeded.
In his room, a talisman glowed with golden light, radiating endless sword energy. This was the Shu Mountain single-target attack talisman: Demonic Flame Slash.
Its power depended on its creator's cultivation but could unleash several times the maker's maximum attack power. At Tianlin's current level, this talisman could kill ordinary Title Douluos.
"Demonic Flame Slash, finally complete!" Tianlin was overjoyed. With this, plus his plan from years ago, he was confident he could hunt the hundred-thousand-year soul ring alone.
His target was, of course, the Behemoth King, but it lurked deep in Star Dou Forest. Tianlin couldn't take Chen Xin with him; Chen Xin's cultivation and sword aura would draw attention from the fierce beasts. So this time, he had to hunt alone.
Now that Demonic Flame Slash was ready, it was time to hunt the Behemoth King.
Tianlin didn't say goodbye to Ning Fengzhi or Chen Xin or tell them the truth, knowing they'd never let him do something so dangerous alone.
But with the hunt approaching, Tianlin felt more urgency—he had to keep getting stronger to protect his family in the future.
At night, Tianlin quietly opened the door, used teleportation, and slipped out of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School with the new Demonic Flame Slash and two Teleportation Talismans, without alerting anyone.
In truth, Chen Xin and Gu Rong were watching him the whole time. With Chen Xin at level 98 and Gu Rong a Title Douluo skilled in space abilities, Tianlin couldn't hide from them.
"Old Sword, Xiao Tian is going for his sixth ring, right? He's being so careful, even avoiding us. His target must be serious. Are you really okay with him going alone?" Gu Rong asked.
Chen Xin calmly closed his eyes. "No problem. I know my disciple. He wouldn't take risks unless he was sure. I've taught him everything I can; what path he takes is up to him."
"And, if he's really in danger, he'll call for me."
Chen Xin looked at the Teleportation Talisman in his hand. He'd decided not to eat, sleep, or cultivate until Tianlin returned, keeping an eye on the talisman at all times.
Gu Rong rolled his eyes. This old sword sure is a stubborn tsundere!
After leaving the school, Tianlin didn't go straight to Star Dou Forest. Instead, he went to Gale Valley in Sunset Forest, where he'd gotten his third and fifth rings, to prepare some things.
After all, the Behemoth King's lair was guarded by the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear and was close to the Lake of Life. Even if Tianlin could outsmart it, killing it and absorbing its ring there would be impossible—and dangerous.
So, the real hunt would take place in Gale Valley.
"Perfect, preparations complete!" Tianlin inscribed a coordinate on the cliff edge. He sent a soul message: "Brother Skydream, now I'll help you get revenge. Before facing the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear, I'll take its little brother as interest."
"Haha, I've waited so long for this. Go ahead, Xiao Tian! With us together, we can't lose!" Skydream Ice Silkworm was eager, longing for this day.
A few days later, Tianlin and Skydream Ice Silkworm entered the depths of Star Dou Forest again.
With Skydream's ability to mask their presence, Tianlin easily found the previous cave.
But the Behemoth King and the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear weren't there. According to Skydream, they usually stayed at the Lake of Life's center, returning only every few days to eat.
They both loved eating gold, which was why they claimed this golden cave.
So, Tianlin had to be ready to wait for days.
He didn't stay in the cave, but hid in a nearby tree, remaining perfectly still through wind and rain, subsisting on qi-blood pills when hungry and dew when thirsty.
Deep in Star Dou Forest, with ten-thousand-year soul beasts everywhere, discovery meant death.
He waited for half a month. On the sixteenth night, Tianlin finally felt the ground tremble. Two huge figures approached the cave.
"They've finally come! You two aren't greedy at all—over half a month practicing at the Lake of Life before coming back to eat," Tianlin chuckled.
He jumped down from the tree and ran five kilometers from the cave.
With his level up and his Wind Demon Wolf right leg bone evolving into a hundred-thousand-year soul bone, his teleport distance had increased a hundredfold.
First, Tianlin needed to lure the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear away. Only then could he have a chance to hunt the Behemoth King.
The key to luring the bear was Skydream Ice Silkworm.