A sharp, knowing light flickered in Xiao Wu's eyes. It was a wisdom utterly mismatched with her innocent and adorable face.
She was no naïve girl. She understood the powers of the continent better than most humans did and even the story between Tang Hao and Ah Yin was clear to her!
There was not a trace of ignorance in her words or bearing.
Just then, the forest stirred with a low rustling.
From between the ancient trees emerged a colossal beast. It was bull-headed, serpent-bodied, its scales gleaming black and green.
"Xiao Wu!"
It was Da Ming, the Sky Azure Bull Python. His massive eyes shone with deep emotion.
It had been so many years since Xiao Wu had left the forest. This was their first reunion since then.
"Da Ming," Xiao Wu smiled softly, "we finally meet again. Don't worry about me.
I've been studying at Shrek Academy. You wouldn't believe it , there every student there has a background.
The little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the prince of the Star Luo Empire...
But sadly, I haven't found any clues about breaking the limits and about helping soul beasts ascend to godhood. I can't help you yet."
Da Ming's deep voice rumbled through the forest, "Don't say that, Xiao Wu. The fate of the soul beasts isn't yours to bear alone. You've done more than we ever dared to. We didn't have your courage to take human form and begin anew. But Xiao Wu, in the human world, you must be careful."
Beside him, Er Ming, the Titan Giant Ape, watched with his massive bronze eyes, concern written across his face.
Xiao Wu waved her hand dismissively, grinning, "Alright, alright, don't worry. How could I be your Xiao Wu Big Sister if I didn't have courage?
Keep watching the forest. Track every soul master who enters. Any bit of information might matter.
The human world is in turmoil. Clear Sky Clan and Spirit Hall are at each other's throats. This is the best time to move unseen.
Tang San's potential is enormous. He's a twin-spirit user and he'll definitely reach the peak of the human world one day. He and his master both believe that soul beasts shouldn't be slaughtered wantonly. Tang San once said that a soul master only needs nine soul beasts in his life. There aren't that many soul masters across the continent.
What truly threatens our kind are those powerful, greedy humans who kill far beyond what they need. Some attack even weak beasts just because they can. Others kill for spirit bones senselessly, endlessly.
If Tang San becomes the strongest among humans, he can restrain such cruelty."
Her voice softened slightly, "I can't stay long. If I'm gone too long, they'll grow suspicious."
Da Ming nodded gravely. "Go, Xiao Wu. We'll keep gathering information about human soul masters."
"Wait," rumbled the Titan Giant Ape. "You said that Tang San fought two humans over a Man-Faced Demon Spider, one of them a Soul Douluo?
Should we kill them?"
Xiao Wu's eyes turned cold. "If they dare harm Tang San, kill them all."
With that, she leapt onto the Titan Giant Ape's shoulder.
The Titan Giant Ape and Azure Bull Python roared as they thundered toward Tang San's location.
But before long, Er Ming's sharp senses caught something. The conflict had already ended.
Resolved, of course, by showing their background.
Flender had revealed Tang San's identity to the Dragon Duke and Snake Lady. No matter how bold they were, they dared not offend the name of Clear Sky Clan, which was shaking the continent at this very moment.
After a brief exchange between Tang San and Meng Yiran, the couple left.
"See?" Xiao Wu smirked, sitting cross-legged on Er Ming's shoulder. "Humans are different from us. They care more about who stands behind them than who they really are.
That Dragon Duke and Snake Lady are stronger than Flender and Zhao Wuji, yet they didn't dare fight, all because they fear the Clear Sky Clan's power!"
Er Ming's eyes narrowed in amusement, "Xiao Wu-sis, after spending years among humans, you've really learned their ways."
Da Ming let out a deep, rumbling chuckle. "She even talks like one now."
Xiao Wu giggled proudly.
When the Dragon and Snake couple had left, she motioned for her brothers to stop.
"I'll go meet them myself."
The two beasts halted as Xiao Wu slipped away into the dense forest, hopping and twirling lightly between the trees.
Here, in the Star Dou Great Forest, she was untouchable, the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python ruled supreme, and she, their sister, walked freely.
As she walked, she paused suddenly.
With a sly smile, she tousled her braid until it looked messy, tore her sleeve, and scuffed her arm with dirt until she looked properly dishevelled.
Only then did she step out of the forest.
"Xiao Wu?! You're alive?!" Oscar blurted out, stunned.
Xiao Wu pouted, hands on hips, "What, you wanted me dead? What's going on…heavens, what happened to Tang San?!"
She smoothly diverted the topic and rushed toward Tang San.
Her gaze swept over him once and the corpse of the Man-Faced Demon Spider beside him, its legs over two meters long.
Her heart tightened, "That spider's cultivation… more than two thousand years. He's absorbing a spirit ring far beyond his limit!"
"Xiao Wu," Zhao Wuji asked cautiously, "how did you escape from the Titan Giant Ape? Tell us what happened."
Flender adjusted his glasses, eyes narrowing in suspicion. Xiao Wu's survival didn't make sense.
But Xiao Wu had already prepared her story.
She claimed that the Azure Bull Python's roar had startled the Titan Giant Ape, who released her in confusion. She then took the chance to break through to rank thirty, found an unconscious beast, and absorbed her third spirit ring.
"Just like that?" Ning Rongrong's eyes widened.
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze was unreadable.
Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun exchanged looks but all wearing the same expression: she must have gotten ridiculously lucky.
Her explanation was full of holes, but no one could imagine the truth that she was family to the kings of the forest.
Their focus returned to Tang San.
His entire body was trembling violently. His clothes had long burned away under the energy's heat, his bare skin covered in beads of blood.
The sight made even Zhao Wuji and Flender tense.
If something happened to Tang San, the Clear Sky Douluo himself would tear them apart.
After what felt like an eternity, the blood stopped flowing.
Both men exhaled in relief.
But then—
"Ah!"
A scream shattered the silence of the forest.
Tang San's body arched upward in agony, muscles convulsing, as eight bulging lumps formed on his back.
Moments later, they burst open—
and from within, eight black, gleaming limbs unfurled like blades.
The Eight Spider Lances had appeared.