Chapter 1

The all-weather soul-guided reconnaissance aircraft, shaped like a disc, 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 clear voice sounded. Nan Cheng, dressed in a white military uniform, reported to Lan Xiao, who was sitting in the co-pilot's seat.

They were a scientific expedition team from the Ancient Soul Beast Research Institute, a branch of the Douluo Federation's Science Research Institute in Tiandou. Since the Douluo Federation completed its first space journey about nine thousand years ago, humans began continuous exploration of 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 about 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 Speaker Mo Lan, hailed as the Mother of Peace of the Douluo Federation, 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, the soul beasts 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 Star and humans struggled to survive, to the invention of soul-guided devices by humans, which began to compress the living space of soul beasts, and then to the revenge of the awakened soul beast kings ten thousand years ago, leading the remaining soul beasts against humans. Now, humans and soul beasts coexist peacefully. The changes in the times have finally brought the closely related humans and soul beasts into a period of peaceful development.

The scientific expedition team led by Lan Xiao came to the far north to investigate, to see if there were any remaining ice-type soul beasts or soul beast relics, in order 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 allowed some remaining soul beasts to avoid harm from humans. 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.

"Good." Lan Xiao, with the rank of major on his shoulder, was handsome. He was thirty-one years old, a graduate of the National Science and Technology College 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 been in the institute for not long when she was taken in by this director. They had a good relationship and were planning to get married after this expedition.

Nan Cheng gave him a glare 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 a ten-year-old soul beast," Lan Xiao ordered.

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

The far north has always been a cold and harsh place, where almost no plants can survive. 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 Emerald 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 it from the harsh cold outside.

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 that of a ten-year-old soul beast would be detected within the circle. This was the latest life detector, with a precision that could penetrate 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 rest. I hope we can 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 was always like this, seeming to do everything carelessly, yet he did everything well. In school, he didn't seem to work hard but became a top student. After graduation, he was easily accepted into the institute, while she, who was admitted with him, was still a lieutenant, and he had already been promoted twice. It was extremely difficult to be promoted in the military; without war, it would take at least forty years to reach the rank of major. But this guy was only thirty-one.

Thinking about it, she felt really unfair. She was clearly more hardworking 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 instrument will automatically alarm if it detects anything. Come and have a meal with me."

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 words again. Damn!

Lifting her head to glare at him, she was met with Lan Xiao's charming smile. Her eyes widened as he took her hand and led her to the ship's dining room. 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, clearly showing a circle of intense light expanding outward.

Lan Xiao followed closely behind and came to her side, 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 ordered without hesitation, the lazy look on his face disappearing, replaced by a serious expression.

The expanding light 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 like butterflies on the control panel, quickly connecting the satellite. Under her guidance, the high-definition reconnaissance satellite locked onto the target.

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

At first, it was just a white expanse, but soon, the snow became clearly visible. Then, a valley surrounded by ice and snow appeared.

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

The massive life energy was emanating from here. When the satellite focused on this 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 not only glowed golden but also silver. The two colors alternated slowly.

Nan Cheng turned to look at him and whispered, "What is that?"

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

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, the show begins. I love you all. Please continue to love your Douluo. Two updates a day. This is the first update of today, and there will be another one in the evening.

Flip to the next page for Flip to the next page for AD end