The wisdom flashing in Xiao Wu's eyes was astonishingly mismatched with her adorable appearance.
She was remarkably familiar with the various powers across the continent, even knowing about Tang Hao and A Yin's affairs. There wasn't a trace of naivety or ignorance about her.
At that moment, a faint rustling came from within the forest.
A massive Spirit Beast with the head of an ox and the body of a snake, its entire form pitch-black with bluish hues, appeared beside the Titan Giant Ape.
"Xiao Wu!"
It was Da Ming, his eyes brimming with excitement. Many years had passed since Xiao Wu left, and this was their first reunion.
"Da Ming, we've finally met again. Don't worry about me. I've been studying at Shrek Academy—you wouldn't believe it, but every student there has a notable background. There's the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, even a prince from the Star Luo Empire's royal family.
But unfortunately, I still haven't uncovered any information about breaking the shackles to allow Spirit Beasts to ascend to godhood. I haven't been able to help you all!" Xiao Wu sighed.
"Don't say that, Xiao Wu. The burden of the Spirit Beasts' fate shouldn't rest on your shoulders alone.
To be honest, neither of us brothers has your courage. We lack the resolve to transform into human form and cultivate anew. Xiao Wu, you must be careful in the human world," Da Ming said in a low voice.
Beside him, the Titan Giant Ape's bell-like eyes were filled with concern.
"Alright, enough worrying. How could I be your Xiao Wu-jie if I didn't have courage?
You two keep gathering information in the Star Dou Great Forest. Monitor every Soul Master who enters. We can't afford to miss any leads.
The two most powerful factions in the human world—the Clear Sky Sect and the Spirit Hall—are currently in turmoil. This is the perfect time to take advantage of the chaos.
Tang San has immense potential. He possesses Twin Soul Spirits and will undoubtedly reach the pinnacle of human Soul Masters.
Both he and the Grandmaster advocate against indiscriminate slaughter of Spirit Beasts. Tang San once said that a Soul Master would need, at most, nine Spirit Beasts in their lifetime.
And the number of Soul Masters across the entire continent isn't that large.
The real reason Spirit Beasts struggle to survive is the wanton slaughter by powerful Soul Masters.
Some Soul Masters can't resist attacking weaker Spirit Beasts when they enter the Star Dou Great Forest, and there are even wicked individuals who massacre them en masse for Soul Bones.
If Tang San becomes the strongest among humans, he'll surely be able to curb such behavior.
That's all for now.
I'm pressed for time—if I stay away too long, they'll grow suspicious."
Xiao Wu spoke rapidly without pause, then prepared to leave.
"Xiao Wu-jie, don't worry. We'll gather more information about human Soul Masters.
Hmm? That Tang San you mentioned just clashed with two powerful humans over a Man-faced Demon Spider Spirit Beast. One of them is a Soul Douluo. Should we step in and kill them?" the Titan Giant Ape suddenly interjected.
Xiao Wu froze, then said fiercely, "If they dare lay a hand on Tang San, then kill them!"
With that, she leaped onto the Titan Giant Ape's shoulder.
The Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Blue Bull Python immediately raced toward Tang San's location.
But moments later, the Titan Giant Ape sensed that Flender and Zhao Wuji had already resolved the conflict.
The solution, naturally, was to reveal their backing.
Flender revealed Tang San's identity to the Dragon Duke and Snake Lady. No matter how bold they were, they wouldn't dare provoke the Clear Sky Sect, which had been making waves recently.
After Tang San and Meng Yiran had their duel, the Dragon Duke and Snake Lady left.
"See, humans are different from us Spirit Beasts. Most of the time, humans judge based on who has the stronger backing—whose faction holds more power.
The Dragon Duke and Snake Lady are stronger than Flender and Zhao Wuji, but they wouldn't dare act out of fear for the Clear Sky Sect's might."
Xiao Wu, perched on the Titan Giant Ape's shoulder, wore an expression that said she had expected this all along.
The Titan Giant Ape narrowed its gentle eyes. "Little Wu, after spending a few years among humans, you've become quite the expert on them!"
The Sky Blue Bull Python snorted twice in agreement.
Xiao Wu smirked proudly.
A short while later, once the Dragon Duke and Snake Lady were far enough away, Xiao Wu signaled the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Blue Bull Python to stop.
She then darted through the dense forest to reunite with Tang San and the others.
Xiao Wu skipped cheerfully through the woods.
In the Star Dou Great Forest, the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Blue Bull Python ruled supreme—and as their "Big Sister Wu," she could strut around without a care.
As she walked, Xiao Wu suddenly seemed to remember something.
She mussed up her scorpion braid and tore the sleeves of her clothes, making herself look disheveled and battered before emerging from the forest.
"Xiao Wu, you're alive?!" Oscar exclaimed in shock.
Xiao Wu shot him an annoyed look. "Were you hoping I'd die? What's going on here? Oh no—what happened to Little San?!"
She smoothly shifted the topic, her gaze landing on Tang San, who was absorbing the Spirit Ring.
With a single glance, she recognized that this Man-faced Demon Spider was over two thousand years old—Tang San was absorbing a Spirit Ring far beyond his current limits.
"The cultivation of a Man-faced Demon Spider can be judged by the length of its legs. This one's legs exceed two meters, which means its cultivation surpasses two thousand years.
Every additional millennium brings noticeable changes to a thousand-year Spirit Beast!"
Xiao Wu grew tense. Tang San was a genius, but this was already a massive leap beyond his limits.
"By the way, Xiao Wu, how did you escape the Titan Giant Ape's grasp? Tell us what happened!"
Zhao Wuji pressed, while Flender adjusted his glasses, eyeing Xiao Wu suspiciously.
The whole situation felt too mysterious—how had Xiao Wu managed to return unharmed?
Xiao Wu had already prepared her story. She attributed everything to a sudden roar—the Sky Blue Bull Python—which startled the Titan Giant Ape.
Not only did it release her, but she also seized the chance to break through to the 30th rank, finding an unconscious Spirit Beast to absorb her third Spirit Ring.
"That actually worked?!" Ning Rongrong widened her eyes.
Zhu Zhuqing also wore a strange expression.
Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun all looked at Xiao Wu as if she had just stumbled upon dumb luck.
Though her explanation was riddled with holes, no one could possibly suspect her relationship with the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Blue Bull Python—nor could they challenge her story.
The group's attention soon returned to Tang San.
His condition was terrifying.
His clothes had disintegrated under the intense heat of the Spirit Ring's energy, and his exposed skin was covered in beads of blood.
This state persisted for a long while before the bleeding finally stopped.
Flender and Zhao Wuji exchanged glances, both sighing in relief.
If anything had happened to Tang San, the Haotian Douluo would have pounded them into dust.
This Spirit Ring absorption had been far too eventful.
Dragon Duke and Snake Lady, the Titan Giant Ape, Xiao Wu being captured, and Tang San once again absorbing a two-thousand-year Spirit Beast beyond his level.
Fortunately, Tang San finally succeeded.
Unbeknownst to them, on a giant tree not far away, a finger-length Little Snake watched with keen, lively eyes as Tang San absorbed the Spirit Ring.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, in the silent forest, Tang San's brows furrowed tightly as he let out a pained cry.
His body convulsed violently, his upper torso arching.
Eight fist-sized bulges appeared on his back.
The Eight Spider Lances had emerged.
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