The night passed uneventfully, and soon it was the next day.
After finishing breakfast, Old Scorpion and Dugu Feng followed behind the Shrek group and left the supply town as well.
However, Dugu Feng was in no hurry, maintaining a distance of several dozen miles between them.
Then came the deployment of the Emerald Dragon Snake.
With the Core Pearl inside its body, the Emerald Dragon Snake was the perfect scout.
Dugu Feng had it gradually close the distance to the Shrek team.
Within the Shrek team, Flender and Zhao Wuji took the front and rear positions respectively.
In the middle were Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the rest of the Shrek Seven Devils.
The Emerald Dragon Snake shrank to its smallest form, just five inches long, slithering close to the ground until it was only a few hundred meters away.
After breaking through the ten-thousand-year threshold, the Emerald Dragon Snake's Void ability had greatly improved.
Originally, its jade-like body was semi-transparent, but now it had become completely transparent, coupled with a snake's natural ability to conceal its presence.
This allowed it to evade detection by both Flender and Zhao Wuji.
It shadowed the Shrek team as they advanced through the Star Dou Great Forest, keeping Dugu Feng updated on Tang San's movements.
Around noon, a suitable Spirit Beast for Oscar appeared.
It was the Millennial Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent.
Following the serpent were Snake Woman Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran.
Naturally, a duel ensued, with Tang San defeating Meng Yiran.
This allowed Oscar to obtain his third Spirit Ring, granting him the flight skill.
Subsequent events unfolded without much change, and Tang San broke through to the thirtieth rank.
Among the Shrek Seven Devils, both Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing now needed Spirit Rings.
They continued their search.
A day and night passed without encountering anything suitable.
Dugu Feng knew the main event was about to unfold.
He ordered the Nine-Section Jadeite to keep a greater distance from the Shrek group.
While Flender and Zhao Wuji couldn't detect the Nine-Section Jadeite, the Titan Giant Ape might be able to.
Due to Xiao Wu's inability to control her aura, the Titan Giant Ape came searching.
Xiao Wu was taken away by the Titan Giant Ape.
And during Tang San's search for Xiao Wu, his greatest opportunity would appear.
All of this was naturally all too familiar to Dugu Feng.
After the Titan Giant Ape took Xiao Wu, Dugu Feng had the Emerald Dragon Snake gradually approach Tang San, following him closely.
"Old Scorpion, our target this time is Tang San. According to the information I obtained in Slaughter City, Tang Hao has given his son special training. For his third Spirit Ring, Tang San will definitely attempt to absorb one beyond his level. That means there's a high chance an External Soul Bone will appear. I'll have the Emerald Dragon Snake keep watch on Tang San. If an External Soul Bone appears, Old Scorpion, you'll make your move and capture Tang San!" Dugu Feng instructed.
For anything he couldn't explain, he naturally attributed it to information obtained in Slaughter City.
Old Scorpion blinked, somewhat shocked.
He wanted to say, are External Soul Bones really that easy to come by?
But seeing the absolute certainty on the young master's face, Old Scorpion could only keep his myriad questions to himself. The young master had never been wrong before—it was best to follow his lead.
Deep in the forest.
The Titan Giant Ape was sprinting at tremendous speed. Its massive body, over ten meters tall, moved through the forest like a towering building.
The width of its shoulders exceeded seven meters.
Yet, the Titan Giant Ape's movement wasn't the reckless charge one might imagine.
His massive frame did nothing to hinder his agility. Whenever obstacles appeared, he didn't even need to slow down—the mountain-like muscles in his legs twitched, propelling him leaps of over a hundred meters.
Perched on his shoulder, Xiao Wu sat primly.
"Er Ming, this is far enough. You acted brilliantly this time! Even I would've thought you were truly furious if I didn't know the truth!
Look how you scared Dean Flender and Teacher Zhao, hehe..."
Xiao Wu's lively eyes sparkled as she laughed.
The Titan Giant Ape's lantern-sized eyes flickered with light, revealing a cunning glint.
"Humans are sly, so we Spirit Beasts must be even slyer. The forest is full of schemes every moment—how could I not learn a thing or two!
By the way, Sister Xiao Wu, won't you go see Big Brother? He misses you too!"
The Titan Giant Ape looked quite pleased with himself.
"Tell Da Ming to come here. I'm pressed for time—I need to condense my third Spirit Ring first!"
With that, Xiao Wu leaped down from the Titan Giant Ape's body and sat cross-legged.
Her hands formed orchid gestures, right palm facing upward, as she uttered a series of sounds incomprehensible to humans.
As the sounds echoed, Xiao Wu's eyes turned golden, and a massive white jade rabbit phantom materialized behind her.
The phantom's color gradually shifted until it became a vivid crimson.
The radiant glow spread like flowing blood.
These lights slowly merged into Xiao Wu's body.
Two yellow rings appeared around her—her first and second Spirit Rings.
Then, a layer of purple light gradually emerged above the two rings.
The purple light coalesced into starlike points, finally forming a thousand-year purple Spirit Ring.
After the Spirit Ring took shape, Xiao Wu grew slightly taller, her curves becoming more defined and graceful.
"Sister Xiao Wu, how much longer until you reach Soul Saint? The longer you stay in the human world, the more dangerous it gets!"
The Titan Giant Ape beside her voiced his concern.
Xiao Wu slowly opened her eyes: "What's there to fear? It's not like I'm without backing. In the human world, it's not just about personal strength...
Tell me, in the years since I left, have any Soul Masters wielding the Clear Sky Hammer broken through to Titled Douluo in the Star Dou Great Forest?"
The Titan Giant Ape fell into deep thought before finally answering: "Four such Soul Masters have broken through. The most recent was last year..."
A red glint flashed through Xiao Wu's eyes: "Shouldn't it be five?
Four is still good. That means the Clear Sky Sect has at least six Titled Douluo. The backing I've found is strong enough to ensure my safe cultivation for some time!"
If Dugu Feng had heard Xiao Wu's words, it would have completely overturned his perception of her.
Was this really the same naive, love-struck Xiao Wu who ventured into the human world?
She actually knew about Tang San's connection to the Clear Sky Sect and its Titled Douluo.
And from her tone, she had actively sought out this powerful ally.
The Titan Giant Ape chuckled helplessly: "Sister Xiao Wu, this strategy of 'knowing there are tigers in the mountains yet deliberately heading there'—are you sure it'll work? Don't end up trapping yourself!"
"We've discussed this before—this is the way.
Given our understanding of the human world, there's a good chance of success.
I never expected to meet Tang San so soon after arriving in the human world."
Tang San possessed Innate Full Soul Power and wielded the Blue Silver Grass Soul Spirit. His master, Yu Xiaogang, was from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family. At that time, I had already deduced that Tang San's identity was extraordinary.
Later, he took me back to Holy Soul Village.
I learned his father's name was Tang Hao.
That was when I confirmed Tang San's identity—the son of Haotian Douluo and also the son of that empress from the Blue Silver Forest.
As long as I maintained a close relationship with Tang San, even if Tang Hao coveted my Spirit Rings and Soul Bones for him, he would still grant me a period of stable cultivation.
He would also help conceal me, preventing other factions from discovering my presence.
Wasn't this exactly what we had planned before venturing into the human world?
Otherwise, wandering freely across the continent, any random Soul Douluo could kill me!"