Chapter 1

The disc-shaped all-weather soul-guided reconnaissance aircraft glided over the sea, slowly advancing. In the distance, the white snowline was already visible.

"Director, we are about to reach the far north." A crisp voice sounded, and Nan Cheng, dressed in a white military uniform, reported to Lan Xiao, who was seated in the co-pilot's position.

They were a scientific expedition team from the Ancient Soul Beast Research Institute, a branch of the Douluo Federation's Science Research Institute. Since the Douluo Federation completed its first space journey about nine thousand years ago, humans have been continuously exploring space. Constant exploration and discovery have deepened human understanding of the vast universe.

With the increase in population and other issues, humans began to attempt interstellar migration. After thousands of years of relentless effort, they finally completed the first planetary migration over a thousand years ago. In the following thousand years, humans have completed the migration and development of seven planets.

After the near-catastrophic disaster brought by soul beasts ten thousand years ago, the then-chairman of the Douluo Federation, Mo Lan, known as the Mother of Peace, announced that humans and soul beasts would coexist peacefully. All acts of killing soul beasts were prohibited.

When the Federation was colonizing the third planet, they gifted this planet to the soul beasts, led by several soul beast kings, who migrated from the small plane of the Ten Thousand Beast Platform. The soul beasts finally had a home of their own.

Later, the seventh planet was also gifted to the soul beasts. With two planets of their own, the soul beasts have had ample time to rest and recover over the past ten thousand years, and the enmity between them and humans has been completely resolved. Humans are now collaborating with soul beasts in a new way. For tens of thousands of years, from the time when soul beasts dominated the entire Douluo planet and humans struggled to survive, to the invention of soul-guided devices that began to compress the living space of soul beasts, and then to the awakening of the soul beast kings ten thousand years ago leading the remaining soul beasts to retaliate against humans, now humans and soul beasts coexist peacefully. The changes in the times have finally allowed humans and soul beasts, who are closely related through the soul master profession, to enter a period of peaceful development.

The scientific expedition team led by Lan Xiao came to the far north to investigate whether any ice-type soul beasts or soul beast relics remained, to conduct research on ancient soul beasts.

The far north was once known as the last pristine land of the Douluo continent. The harsh environment here protected the remaining soul beasts from human harm. Later, they also migrated, but the soul beast world here was self-contained, and it took great effort to convince the majority of the soul beasts to accept the migration. However, some chose to stay or hide.

"Alright." Lan Xiao, with the rank of major, was handsome and thirty-one years old. He graduated from the National Science and Technology Institute of the Douluo Federation, specializing in soul beast research. All research institutions were granted military ranks and managed by the Federation.

As he responded, his gaze involuntarily fell on the graceful curves under Nan Cheng's military uniform. They were not only colleagues but also a couple. The beautiful Nan Cheng had just joined the institute and was quickly taken in by this director. They had a good relationship and were planning to get married after this expedition.

Nan Cheng glared at him and turned her head away, but her coquettish look made Lan Xiao smile.

"Once we enter the far north, immediately activate the life detector. Set the detection intensity to the level of ten-year-old soul beasts." Lan Xiao ordered.

"Yes." Nan Cheng, responsible for detection, responded professionally.

The far north has always been a cold and harsh place, with almost no plants able to survive here. In the past, when soul beasts were present, they were mainly cold-resistant large soul beasts, along with some special soul beasts like the Ice Green Scorpion and Snow Maiden.

Soon, the all-weather soul-guided reconnaissance aircraft entered the far north and flew inward. A soft white glow surrounded the aircraft, isolating the external cold.

From the center of the flat underside of the aircraft, a pale green light shone down, forming a green circle covering one square kilometer on the ground. Any life form with a strength exceeding the level of a ten-year-old soul beast would be detected within the circle. This was the latest life detector, with a precision capable of penetrating up to a hundred meters underground.

The reconnaissance aircraft scanned and advanced along the coastline. Although the life detector had a large detection range, the far north was vast, and it would take a considerable amount of time to scan even a part of it.

"Alright, since we're here, set the detection program and everyone take a break. I hope we find something this time." Lan Xiao stretched his body, looking somewhat lazy, with a faint smile on his lips.

Seeing his appearance, Nan Cheng pouted. This guy always seemed so nonchalant, yet he excelled at everything. In school, he didn't seem to put in much effort but became a top student. After graduation, he was easily accepted into the institute, while she, who was accepted at the same time, was still a lieutenant, and he had already been promoted twice. It's extremely difficult to get promoted in the military, and without war, it usually takes at least forty years to reach the rank of major. But this guy is only thirty-one.

Thinking about it, she felt really unfair. She worked much harder than him! Even when he pursued her, she seemed to have surrendered to his harmless smile without much resistance. Humph!

Just as she was thinking, a shadow blocked the light in front of her, and a large hand rubbed her head. The familiar voice sounded in her ear, "Alright, the instruments will alert us if they detect anything. Let's go eat."

If it were anyone else in such an important department, they would be cautious about being intimate with a colleague, but Lan Xiao had no such awareness. He openly showed affection to Nan Cheng, despite her many reminders. He always said, "I can't help it!"

"Okay." Nan Cheng stood up, then realized she had easily followed his suggestion again. Damn!

She raised her head to glare at him, but was met with Lan Xiao's charming smile. Her eyes widened as he took her hand and led her to the ship's dining area. His voice echoed in her ear, "I like your silly look."

Who is he calling silly? Who? Just as she was thinking about whether to react, a series of urgent "beeps" caught everyone's attention.

Nan Cheng almost instinctively rushed back to her position and quickly performed a series of operations. The screen in front of her quickly enlarged, showing a strong, expanding halo.

Lan Xiao followed closely behind, looking at the screen, his expression becoming serious.

"Attention all units, attention all units. A powerful life form may be present. Raise the reconnaissance aircraft to an altitude of three thousand meters, focus the life detector, and activate the protective shield to maximum strength. Prepare interception weapons." He issued a series of orders without hesitation, his lazy demeanor replaced by seriousness.

The expanding halo on the screen was red, and he knew what it meant. Only a soul beast of the ten-thousand-year level could release such powerful life energy.

"Use the reconnaissance satellite for detailed observation." Lan Xiao patted Nan Cheng's shoulder.

"Okay." Nan Cheng's hands moved swiftly on the control panel, and soon the satellite connected, locking onto the target with high-definition imagery.

Lan Xiao straightened up and turned to the main screen, where the image was rapidly enlarging.

At first, it was just a white expanse, but soon the snow became clear. Then, a valley surrounded by ice and snow came into view.

The valley looked more like a crack, which quickly enlarged under the high-definition satellite's detection, all the way to the depths of the valley. Next to a broken rock.

The massive life energy was emanating from there. When the satellite focused on that point, Lan Xiao and Nan Cheng clearly saw a faint golden glow under the snow.

"Zoom in more." Lan Xiao said in a deep voice.

The image enlarged further, and this time, it was clearer. The snow surface was not just golden but also silver, the two colors slowly alternating.

Nan Cheng turned to him and asked softly, "What is it?"

-----------------------------

Douluo 4 officially begins. Today is also the tenth anniversary of our Douluo series. Thank you for your support and love over the past ten years. Xiao Tang will strive to write a Douluo 4 that satisfies everyone. Ultimate Douluo is about to begin. I love you all. Please continue to love your Douluo. Two updates per day. This is the first update for today, and there will be another one in the evening.