"Xiao Wu…"
"So she's really… together with Li Zhexian…"
Tang San's face went pale, pain tightening his chest until his breath came ragged.
He had been studying noble etiquette under his aunt Tang Yuehua in the Moon Pavilion.
With his killing intent fading, his heart had grown calmer, allowing past memories to resurface.
Tang Yuehua had recently spoken to him:
"Xiao San, don't leave yourself with regrets. Having the right to love someone you truly like—
that's a rare kind of happiness."
Tang San had tossed and turned through the night.
In the end, he came to the Star Dou Forest.
He had made a difficult choice.
If…
If Xiao Wu were willing to explain—
He would let go of the past and forgive her.
But what he had just seen struck him like thunder to the soul.
"Li… Zhe… Xian!"
The three syllables burst from between his teeth, each laced with cold, bitter hatred.
Yet the next instant, his mind flashed with the rumors spreading through Heaven Dou Empire — the new tales of Sword Wine.
He had taken part in a battle of Titled Douluo…
and now stood among the strongest beings on the continent.
Tang San's fists tightened until his knuckles went white, nearly cracking under the strain.
...
The Underground Palace
The atmosphere was somewhat quiet.
Watching the white-robed youth on the Titan Giant Ape's shoulder on the energy light screen, laughing and talking as he gradually disappeared into the depths of the forest, the Divine Butterfly and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion turned around to face the pair of dark golden dragon eyes in the depths of the palace.
The two little ones did not speak, but their meaning was clear:
Didn't you say you were going to teach us a lesson?
What about now?
Di Tian fell briefly silent. The faintest trace of confusion flickered across his dark golden eyes.
This white-robed youth was… not like the humans he knew.
And just then—
A lazy, mocking voice rang out in the stillness of the palace:
"When have I ever been wrong~~?"
It was a direct imitation—of Di Tian's own tone earlier.
The words were dragged out, syrupy and theatrical—enough to make one's scales crawl.
The dark golden dragon eyes swiveled.
The Goddess Butterfly and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion also turned their gaze.
There, in the middle of the palace, surrounded by five peerless fierce beasts, the Ice Silk Worm wriggled its plump crystalline body. Its tiny beady eyes gleamed with mischief.
"Oh~~"
"Even mighty Di Tian can be wrong sometimes, huh?"
"Tsk tsk, that human boy's heart is pure—he's not even tempted by a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring!"
"And his Spiritual Power—so refined, so full! There's even a hint of sword intent. Damn, this makes Tian Meng drool!"
BOOM!
Before it could finish,
A titanic dragon claw—its scales black as obsidian, lined with veins of molten gold—emerged from the darkness.
Its sheer sharpness cut through the air like thunder.
It didn't even strike down completely—
The residual edge alone tore open a gaping wound across the Ice Silk Worm's middle.
Clear fluid mixed with surging heaven-and-earth essence sprayed forth like a geyser.
"Alright, alright! I surrender!"
"Di Tian, hey—come on! No need to get mad!"
"Fine, I was wrong! Tian Meng was wrong!"
Only when the Ice Silk Worm was nearly split in two, screaming in agony, did the monstrous claw finally retract.
The dark golden dragon eyes slowly closed.
A deep, rolling voice echoed through the palace like distant thunder:
"This child… is not bad."
Upon receiving Di Tian's acknowledgment, the Divine Butterfly lightly flapped its colorful wings, dancing around the Three-Eyed Golden Lion in a brilliant display of light. The Three-Eyed Golden Lion chirped happily, chasing the butterfly shadow and bounding about, radiating innocent charm.
She now agreed with the Divine Butterfly's words. This white-robed youth was indeed a truly kind being.
The Ice Silk Worm, now curled up and trembling, sensed Di Tian's aura calming at last. Two tiny antennae cautiously poked out from its head.
It whispered slyly:
"Hey, you two little ones~~"
"Come here, come here~~"
"Big Brother Tian Meng will play with you~~"
...
Beside the Lake of Life
"Tch, Great Sage Equal to Heaven? What a glorious name!"
The Titan Giant Ape yanked a giant tree from the earth.
A single swipe of its palm stripped away the branches, leaving a bare trunk—then with a thud it became a staff.
The ground trembled as the staff struck down.
It puffed up its chest, posing proudly, and rumbled:
"Zhexian, tell me, does it look alike?"
"The form is seventy, eighty percent there. The spirit… still needs work." Li Zhexian couldn't help but laugh.
He sat by the lake, his gentle gaze falling upon the girl lying on the lotus leaves.
Xiao Wu giggled, shooing away the Titan Giant Ape before it could pester further.
The four Titled Douluo had gone with the Azure Bull Python to the other side of the lake.
After Li Zhexian softly recounted the many humorous tales of his five-year promise with his friends, he finally rose from the lakeshore.
"Zhexian, when will the Spirit Hall arrive?"
The Azure Bull Python's low voice rolled like distant thunder.
Xiao Wu, the Titan Giant Ape, and the four Titled Douluo all turned to look at the white-robed youth walking toward them.
Li Zhexian's sword-like brows furrowed slightly.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan battle had ended with the Spirit Hall's defeat.
Their withdrawal from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's assault had been within his expectations.
But for a hunt—for Spirit Rings—no army was needed.
In the original story…
Bibi Dong herself had come, bringing Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo, along with a few elite Spirit Masters, to hunt Xiao Wu.
"Now that Bibi Dong knows I fought in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan battle, she will want me dead."
"And she won't abandon the chance for a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring."
After a brief silence, he said slowly:
"The Spirit Hall will come."
"And it will be soon."
...
Li Zhexian and the others remained within the Star Dou Forest.
Now that Xiao Wu and the two forest overlords knew the four Titled Douluo had come at Li Zhexian's request, they welcomed them warmly.
Around a massive wooden table,
Li Zhexian, the four Titled Douluo, Xiao Wu, the Titan Giant Ape, and the Azure Bull Python sat together.
In the center, a great cauldron bubbled.
Spirit herbs, rare mushrooms, and wild greens simmered together, releasing a fragrance that filled the air—earthy, fresh, and mouthwatering.
Truly, the bounty of the forest rivaled any delicacy of the human world.
Feng Bailong took a sip, eyes lighting up.
"Marvelous!"
"In my youth, I once wandered the open seas.
The freshness of mountain fare rivals the depth of the ocean's catch—each has its own splendor."
Chen Xin, Dugu Bo, and Yu Yuanzhen all smiled and nodded, then turned toward Li Zhexian.
"Zhexian, you're still young. The world beyond the continent—the vast ocean—is worth seeing one day."
Li Zhexian smiled lightly.
The recording Spirit Master could only bury his face in his bowl, devouring the stew with tears of joy.
To follow Sword Wine meant not just grand tales—
but feasts fit for immortals!
...
Several peaceful days passed.
No sign of the Spirit Hall.
Even Li Zhexian began to wonder.
Could it be…
that my interference has already changed the course of fate?
Will Bibi Dong truly not come to the Star Dou Forest this time?
Then, one morning—
The mists tore apart beneath the dawn.
A column of murderous aura advanced through the forest, trampling dew-drenched grass beneath armored feet.
At its center,
A magnificent Eight-View Dragon Horse carriage gleamed in golden splendor.
Eight thousand-year-old unicorned dragon horses pulled it, their hooves wreathed in flame.
Wherever they passed, towering trees splintered and brush turned to ash.
A gust of wind lifted the carriage's pale-purple curtain—
Revealing within—
Pope Bibi Dong, reclining gracefully upon her seat, one hand upon the Pope's scepter, the other supporting her flawless cheek, eyes half-closed in seeming repose.
Beside her stood Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, and the Saintess Hu Liena.
Behind them, seven Spirit Douluo formed the escort.
Ahead, twenty Spirit Saints cleared the path.
Such an entourage—its killing intent pierced the heavens.
Across the Star Dou Forest—
All beasts fell silent.