Just as his thoughts raced
, the trees ahead trembled, and an indescribable, terrifying pressure descended upon them.
Then, an immense figure, parting the layers of treetops, appeared at the end of their sight.
It was a behemoth covered in blue-black scales, sporting a massive bull's head. Its body resembled both a giant python and a dragon.
Just one glance at it made one feel dwarfed.
Azure Bull Python!
Lin Xiao's pupils suddenly constricted, instantly recognizing one of the true emperors of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Almost as soon as they saw it clearly,
the Azure Bull Python's massive body swung slightly, spanning the vast distance, appearing less than a hundred meters in front of them as if teleporting.
Its massive head lowered, its cold, vertical pupils glaring down at them.
Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat, but as his gaze settled on the Azure Bull Python's broad back, his expression softened.
Atop that enormous back stood two figures.
One was a familiar figure, a charming, adorable girl in a pink dress. Xiao Wu!
However, just as Lin Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, Dugu Bo, standing beside him, felt a sense of formidable danger.
The old poison creature's frown deepened, twisting into a nearly sibilant "川" shape.
The emerald green light emanating from him suddenly intensified, unleashing a terrifying surge of soul power without reservation.
The Jade Scaled Serpent King—his martial spirit's true form! He had already begun to unleash
the power of an equally massive, scaly, emerald green snake. The phantom instantly coalesced, coiling behind Dugu Bo, its cold, serpentine eyes fixed intently on the Azure Bull Python in front of him.
Dugu Bo's expression was utterly solemn. While
the two transformed hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beasts were nothing to worry about,
the Azure Bull Python itself evoked a sense of immense danger. Its aura was so overwhelming that even a Level 95 Titled Douluo found it incredibly daunting.
Seeing Dugu Bo unleashing his Spiritual Avatar, Lin Xiao, fearing a fight might break out, called out,
"Xiao Wu! Why are you here?"
Xiao Wu and her companions, along with the beast, locked eyes on Dugu Bo's massive Spiritual Avatar, their gazes filled with deep vigilance.
Only when Lin Xiao's voice reached her did Xiao Wu respond immediately,
"Brother Lin Xiao, I heard a spirit beast report seeing you, so I came looking for you."
She then turned her gaze to the menacing Dugu Bo.
"Who is this Titled Douluo beside you? Can you tell him we mean no harm?"
Dugu Bo's face froze in shock upon hearing this exchange.
He glared at Lin Xiao, incredulous,
"Little monster, you actually know a hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast? What's going on?"
Lin Xiao had no choice but to quickly recount his acquaintance with Xiao Wu and Tang San at Notting Academy, and the subsequent encounters.
Dugu Bo's astonishment gradually gave way to a complex expression.
"I can't believe the renowned Clear Sky Douluo has spent so many years hiding in a small village."
"And your experiences are truly bizarre. No wonder you're going after the Blue Lightning Tyrant Clan. That Yu Xiaogang is truly inhuman."
Confirming they weren't facing a mortal enemy, Dugu Bo's emerald green light slowly faded, and the shadow of the Green Scaled Snake King lurking behind him dissipated.
Almost instantly, the suffocating, terrifying pressure emanating from the mountainous mass of the Azure Bull Python suddenly receded, as if it had never been there.
However, neither Dugu Bo nor the Azure Bull Python completely relaxed.
Man and beast maintained their distance, their eyes etched with vigilance, each wary of any movement from the other.
Seeing no conflict, Xiao Wu pulled the little boy beside her and gracefully leaped off the Azure Bull Python's back.
She ran to Lin Xiao's side, her face brimming with joy at reunion, her eyes slightly red.
"Brother Lin Xiao, you've finally come to the Star Dou Great Forest!"
"After escaping danger, I've been waiting here for you. It's been almost three years."
Uh...
Lin Xiao felt a strange sense of embarrassment as he listened to her words.
It seemed the little rabbit hadn't forgotten him after all these years.
He coughed dryly, masking his discomfort, and then asked,
"How did you escape danger, and who is this person next to you?"
At this point, Xiao Wu's smile faded slightly, and she began to explain her past experiences to Lin Xiao.
"A few years ago, my spirit power broke through level 20, and I happened to persuade Tang San to come to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain spirit rings."
"Then, I saw an opportunity and sent a message to Da Ming and Er Ming to rescue me."
"I originally thought I could use this opportunity to kill Tang San, but his father was really hiding the whole time."
"That man was so powerful, even Da Ming and Er Ming combined, they escaped."
"And when Er Ming tried to protect me, he accidentally injured him and forced him to transform into a human to save his life."
At this point, she quickly turned and pulled the silent little boy to her side.
The boy looked about nine years old, but his build was incredibly sturdy, his muscles brimming with strength.
"Erming, this is the Brother Lin Xiao I told you about."
"If it weren't for him reminding me, I wouldn't have been able to come back to see you."
Erming heard Xiao Wu finally introduce herself.
Without hesitation, he knelt on one knee before Lin Xiao.
"Brother Lin Xiao, thank you so much for saving Sister Xiao Wu's life."
"From now on, if you have any requests, I, Erming, will be happy to help you."
Lin Xiao stared blankly at the abrupt scene before him, his mouth slightly open, at a loss for words.
Xiao Wu's break with Tang San was within his expectations.
But now even the Titan Ape had transformed—he hadn't anticipated this development at all.
This plot twist... was a bit too outrageous.
His thoughts raced, but for now, he could only reach out and help Erming up.
"Xiao Wu is also my friend. I didn't do anything, I just reminded her not to be so polite."
As he finished speaking, Xiao Wu, standing beside him, felt a wave of daze at the word "friend." She quickly interrupted,
"Brother Lin Xiao, can you take Er Ming and me away this time?"
"When we transform into spirit beasts, we must cultivate rapidly in the human world."
"I've been hiding in the forest for the past few years, and my cultivation has almost stagnated."
"If we don't improve quickly, Er Ming and I probably won't live many more years."
A look of determination crossed her fair face, and deep in her eyes was a gleam of undisguised hatred.
"Besides, we still have revenge for Tang San and my mother. I don't want to just sit there and wait for death."
Lin Xiao realized that their cultivation levels were indeed low. Xiao Wu was only level 25 at the age of twelve, significantly lower than in the original novel.
The Titan Ape, when it transformed, must have been born with full spirit power. But now, at almost nine years old, it only had level 17.
If this continued, they might only live to the average lifespan.
Don't dwell on the issue of combat power. This shows that Tang Hao escaped, not won. Just like when he saved Tang San in the Spirit Hall.
The Titan Ape was seriously injured while saving Xiao Wu. It is conceivable that Tang Hao was using Xiao Wu as bait. How could he not have seriously injured the Titan Ape with his full strength?
(End of this chapter)