T/N : This is one of my fav chapters. It tackles one of my biggest pet peeve with the orignal!
The night passed quietly, and by the next morning, the forest mist still lingered.
After breakfast, Old Scorpion and Dugu Feng followed behind the Shrek party, though they kept a wide distance, nearly several dozen li apart.
Dugu Feng wasn't in a hurry. He released his Emerald Dragon Snake, the perfect spy carrying a Pearl within its body.
The serpent slithered silently, gradually closing the distance between them and the Shrek group.
Up ahead, Flender and Zhao Wuji walked at the front and rear, while Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the rest of the Shrek Seven Devils moved in the middle.
The Emerald Dragon Snake shrank its form until it was no longer than five inches, gliding low along the ground. Its body, once faintly translucent, now turned completely invisible after breaking through the ten-thousand-year barrier—its aura concealed even from Spirit Sage-level perception.
Neither Flender nor Zhao Wuji noticed anything.
And so, the serpent shadowed the Shrek group's every step through the Star Dou Great Forest, allowing Dugufeng to sense their movements at all times.
By noon, the prey they sought appeared—a thousand-year Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake.
Following it came the Snake Woman Chao Tianxiang and her granddaughter Meng Yiran.
A battle was inevitable. Tang San intervened, defeating Meng Yiran and allowing Oscar to absorb the soul ring, gaining the ability to fly.
After that, Tang San's cultivation reached Rank 30.
Both Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing now needed new spirit rings, and the group pressed deeper into the forest.
Another day and night passed. Still, no suitable soul beast appeared.
Dugu Feng's eyes gleamed. "The main event is about to begin."
He ordered the Emerald Dragon Snake to move farther away.
Though Flender and Zhao Wuji couldn't sense it, the Titan Giant Ape certainly could!
And indeed because Xiao Wu failed to fully suppress her aura, the Titan Giant Ape appeared.
In an instant, she was taken away.
And while Tang San searched for her, his greatest fortune would unfold.
Dugu Feng knew every detail.
As soon as Xiao Wu was taken, he commanded the Emerald Dragon Snake to shadow Tang San closely.
"Old Scorpion," Dugu Feng said calmly, "our target this time is Tang San.
According to the information I obtained from the City of Slaughter, Tang Hao has trained his son to the extreme. Tang San will definitely absorb a spirit ring beyond his limit for his third ring and when that happens, there's a high chance an external spirit bone will appear.
Once it manifests, my Emerald Dragon Snake will mark it and you strike and kidnap Tang San!"
Old Scorpion's eyes widened in disbelief.
External spirit bones? How could such a rare treasure appear so easily?
But seeing Dugu Feng's absolute confidence, he swallowed his doubts.
The young master had never been wrong.
In the depths of the forest—
The Titan Giant Ape's colossal frame thundered through the trees. Over ten meters tall, its shoulders wider than seven meters, every leap sent tremors across the earth.
Yet despite its size, its movement was astonishingly agile. Muscles like mountains flexed beneath its fur, propelling it over ravines in effortless bounds.
Upon its broad shoulder sat Xiao Wu, calm and poised.
"Er Ming, stop here," she said, her tone light, eyes dancing with mischief. "You acted well this time. If I hadn't known the plan, I'd have thought you really lost your temper! You scared Dean Flender and Teacher Zhao half to death—heehee!"
The Titan Giant Ape blinked its lantern-sized eyes, a sly gleam flashing within.
"Heh, humans are cunning. We soul beasts have to be even more cunning to survive. The forest is full of deceit so how could I not learn a few tricks? By the way, Xiao Wu-Sister, aren't you going to visit Big Brother? He's been missing you."
Xiao Wu shook her head with a faint smile, "Tell Da Ming to come here. I'm short on time. I need to condense my third spirit ring first."
Without hesitation, she leapt down from Er Ming's shoulder, landing softly on the mossy ground.
Cross-legged, she formed a hand seal, right palm facing upward. Her lips moved in a chant, uttering sounds no human could understand.
As she chanted, her eyes turned gold, and behind her appeared a giant Jade Rabbit phantom, its form glowing white.
Gradually, the white light deepened into crimson, like living blood spreading through the air.
The radiance poured into her body, while two yellow spirit rings—her first and second—floated beside her.
Above them, violet light began to shimmer, coalescing into a thousand-year purple ring.
When it stabilized, Xiao Wu's aura surged, her figure subtly maturing becoming taller, her curves more defined, her beauty more radiant.
"Xiao Wu Sister," Er Ming rumbled, "how long will it take before you reach the Spirit Sage level? Staying too long in the human world is dangerous."
Xiao Wu opened her eyes, a confident glint within, "What's there to fear? It's not about personal strength but it's about who stands behind you. Tell me, since I left, have any soul masters wielding a Clear Sky Hammer become Title Douluos?"
Er Ming frowned, thinking deeply. "Four… four have advanced. The last was just last year."
A spark flickered in Xiao Wu's gaze. "Four, not five? Hmm. Still, that's enough. It means the Clear Sky Clan has at least six Title Douluos. That backing is strong enough to keep me safe for a long while."
If Dugu Feng had heard her words, his entire understanding of Xiao Wu would've shattered!
Was this really the naive, lovestruck girl who followed Tang San around?
She knew Tang San's background, knew Tang Hao's identity, even the political weight of Clear Sky and she had chosen him as her protector!
Er Ming sighed helplessly, "Sister, this path of yours...knowingly walking into the tiger's den… are you sure about it?"
"We discussed this before I left, remember?" Xiao Wu's tone softened. "This is our best chance.
The human world runs on power and deception. As long as I play my role right, I'll be fine.
I didn't expect to meet Tang San so soon—but when I did, everything fit.
Born full of innate soul power, twin spirits, disciple of Yu Xiaogang of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—he was no ordinary human!
Later, he brought me back to Holy Spirit Village.
That's when I learned his father's name—Tang Hao!
At that moment, I was certain that he's the son of the Haotian Douluo… and of the Blue Silver Empress.
As long as I stay close to Tang San, even if Tang Hao one day wants to give my spirit ring and bone to his son, he'll protect me first.
He'll hide me from other factions, keep me safe long enough to grow stronger.
That was our plan before I ever stepped into the human world.
Otherwise, wandering aimlessly, a single Soul Douluo could kill me without effort."
Her words hung in the air—cold, sharp, and utterly rational.