The Azure Bull Python's imposing aura deflated, and it looked at Xiao Wu with a hint of helplessness, saying, "Sister Xiao Wu, don't be deceived by these despicable humans. He only wants our spirit rings and spirit bones."
"Uh..." Xiao Wu's face flushed slightly. With the air of a big sister, she put her hands on her hips and lectured, "I've already taken human form. I'm only twelve years old now, so don't call me Sister Xiao Wu anymore. It makes me feel old."
Ye Zhiqui glanced at Xiao Wu speechlessly. What kind of thought process was that? Was this really the time to be thinking about whether she sounded old? Shouldn't she be explaining to them that he wasn't that kind of person?
Even the Azure Bull Python's expression stiffened when it heard Xiao Wu's words, its pair of deep green eyes widening.
"No, no, no," the Azure Bull Python quickly shook its massive head and said, "There's an order to seniority. When I was just a little green snake, you, Sister Xiao Wu, and Auntie picked me up and raised me. Once an older sister, always an older sister. Daming will always be your younger brother."
"Awoo~ Awoo~ Awoo!" The Titan Giant Ape also nodded, letting out three loud roars in agreement.
Like the Azure Bull Python, it had been adopted by Xiao Wu's mother, growing up, cultivating, and maturing alongside Xiao Wu. In the hearts of both beasts, they considered Xiao Wu their older sister. However, Xiao Wu later chose to take human form, while they chose to continue cultivating in their beast forms.
Looking at these three clowns, Ye Zhiqui's face darkened. Seeing that Xiao Wu still wanted to say something, Ye Zhiqui immediately lost his patience. He was here for serious business! Not to listen to them argue about whether or not to be an older sister, which was such a ridiculous issue.
Ye Zhiqui quickly spoke before Xiao Wu could. "Daming, I came here for two reasons. First, to bring Xiao Wu to reunite with you all. Second, to hunt a 100,000-year-old spirit beast."
However, Ye Zhiqui had only spoken half his sentence when the Azure Bull Python let out an angry roar. "I told you humans are all despicable creatures, Sister Xiao Wu, and you didn't believe me. He himself admitted it!"
"..." Ye Zhiqui.
Can't you let me finish talking?!
Ye Zhiqui helplessly rubbed his forehead. It was truly exhausting to converse with simple-minded creatures like spirit beasts. Indeed, those who didn't take human form weren't as intelligent as humans.
Just like the Titan Giant Ape, although it could understand human speech and even speak a few words, it was only a few words. These few words were painstakingly taught to it by Xiao Wu's mother back then. The Titan Giant Ape declared that foreign languages were too difficult and it didn't want to learn.
The Azure Bull Python was a little better than it, but not by much.
One was a single-minded brute who only knew how to fight, and the other was a reclusive bull python who had holed up in the Lake of Life for tens of thousands of years. What human intricacies could you expect them to understand?
If that old immortal Ditian had come, perhaps he would have been a bit more composed.
Ye Zhiqui helplessly gave Xiao Wu a look. Xiao Wu stuck out her tongue apologetically, nodded understandingly, and then scolded the Azure Bull Python, "Daming, his name is Ye Zhiqui. He's helped me a lot in the human world. I've already recognized him as my older brother, just like our relationship!"
"Brother Qiu has no intention of being enemies with you all. He just wants to ask if you have any enemies that could threaten you. If so, we can work together to deal with them." Xiao Wu finished speaking in one breath. The Azure Bull Python didn't dare interrupt her, so this time, the Azure Bull Python understood.
"Sister Xiao Wu, no matter how good your relationship is with him, he's still human. As the emperor of the Star Dou Great Forest, how can I help humans kill our own kind? Even if the same kind is an enemy to be eliminated quickly, if I'm going to kill, I'll rely on my own strength." The Azure Bull Python voiced its displeasure. It had its own pride.
"Damn it!" Ye Zhiqui cursed under his breath. What a stubborn mule.
Fortunately, from the Azure Bull Python's words, Ye Zhiqui was still able to glean some useful information.
They should indeed have some enemies.
After all, a treasured land like the Lake of Life had been occupied by the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape for tens of thousands of years. What did other 100,000-year-old spirit beasts think?
It was inevitable that those spirit beasts would want to seize territory, but whether they were a match for the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape was hard to say.
Reasoning wouldn't work, so it seemed he could only try to trick them.
Ye Zhiqui sighed, pondered for a moment, and then an idea struck him.
His previously frustrated expression changed instantly, and a sincere look appeared on his face, which even made Xiao Wu stare in surprise.
Ye Zhiqui spoke, "Daming, I personally deeply admire your kingly demeanor. But have you ever considered, if you don't take me to hunt other 100,000-year-old spirit beasts, then I'll have no choice but to find some 60,000 or 70,000-year-old spirit beasts. After all, I can't just not have a spirit ring, can I? As the emperor of the Star Dou Great Forest, those 60,000 or 70,000-year-old spirit beasts are all your subjects. Don't you feel pain when your subjects die? Rather than your subjects dying, wouldn't it be better if your enemies died? That way, you and Erming can live here peacefully, without fear of your territory being snatched away. And I can occasionally bring Xiao Wu to visit you. Wouldn't that be good? You also don't want your Sister Xiao Wu to have to live in the outer forests in the future, do you?" Ye Zhiqui meticulously laid out the pros and cons for the Azure Bull Python, leaving it completely bewildered.
The Azure Bull Python exhaled two long streams of white air from its nostrils, its enormous head tilted slightly, and its large tail in the Lake of Life also curled up, scratching its head in a very spirited manner. It seemed to be deep in thought.
Xiao Wu looked at Ye Zhiqui with a strange expression. "Emmm," she had always thought her Brother Qiu could be that kind of arrogant jerk, or that kind of ruthless person who didn't talk much when things happened and just got straight to the point with a beating. But today, she seemed to have discovered another side of Brother Qiu. Was this Brother Qiu, the master of deception?
"Awoo~ Awoo!"
At this moment, the Titan Giant Ape suddenly roared twice, as if conveying some message to the Azure Bull Python.
The Azure Bull Python's green eyes steadied, its long dragon whiskers on its lower jaw twitched, and it spoke, "Human, I think what you said makes a lot of sense. For Sister Xiao Wu's sake, Erming and I can help you hunt a 100,000-year-old spirit ring. But you seem very weak? I can sense that your aura is probably only as strong as a tens of thousands of years old spirit beast. Are you sure you can absorb a 100,000-year-old spirit ring without exploding?"
"You don't need to worry about that." Ye Zhiqui replied almost without thinking, then activated his martial soul. Three spirit rings—purple, black, and red—instantly descended and circled around him.
When the Azure Bull Python saw the third red spirit ring on Ye Zhiqui, a look of shock appeared in its deep green eyes.
One must know that no spirit beast capable of growing to 100,000 years was easy to deal with, yet this human already possessed a 100,000-year spirit ring.
Moreover, it was a 100,000-year third spirit ring.
The Azure Bull Python was somewhat stunned. Had humans become so powerful now? If so, would there still be any living space for spirit beasts on this continent in the future?
And he had even agreed to help him hunt his own kind. Wasn't this indirectly weakening their own strength?
At this moment, the Azure Bull Python hesitated.