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Xiao Wu's voice echoed over the Lake of Life, filled with endless grief and despair.
Tears streamed down her cheeks and fell into the water, sending ripples spreading across the lake's surface.
Suddenly, the calm lake surged violently, as though some enormous creature was awakening from its slumber.
Moments later, a colossal figure slowly rose from the depths of the water—the Sky Azure Bull Python, the "Da Ming" Xiao Wu had spoken of.
"Xiao Wu, what did you just say? Er Ming… he's dead?" The Sky Azure Bull Python's exhausted voice was low and heavy, laced with disbelief.
Xiao Wu could not form words through her sobs; she could only nod.
In her mind, the image of the Titan Giant Ape's towering body being reduced to a mangled heap of flesh played again and again.
That was her brother, her guardian, and now he was gone forever.
A flicker of anguish and fury flashed through the eyes of the Sky Azure Bull Python. Its massive body trembled slightly, stirring the Lake of Life into restless ripples.
It drew in a deep breath, its voice trembling with suppressed rage. "Who? Who killed Er Ming?"
Xiao Wu lifted her head, eyes burning with hatred and sorrow. "It was Lan Minghua. I don't know what trick he used, but he caught Er Ming off guard and killed him. Before I left the Lake of Life, Er Ming was already dead."
She laid the blame for the Titan Giant Ape's death entirely at Lan Minghua's feet, deliberately keeping Tang San's involvement unmentioned.
In her heart, she believed this had nothing to do with Tang San. Lan Minghua had coveted the Titan Giant Ape's soul bone, and that alone was why he struck.
But in truth, Xiao Wu already knew it was Tang San's repeated provocations of Lan Minghua—out of fear for her safety—that had led Lan Minghua to finally act, crushing the Titan Giant Ape with a single slap.
Still, blinded by love, she could never bring herself to fault Tang San.
Setting the truth aside, could Lan Minghua really be blameless?
Had he not entered Star Dou Forest, had he not possessed such overwhelming power, Er Ming would still be alive.
Hatred nearly spilled from Xiao Wu's eyes. Toward Lan Minghua, she felt only venomous loathing.
A cold gleam passed through the Sky Azure Bull Python's gaze, and the very air seemed to congeal.
Its low growl carried boundless killing intent. "Lan Minghua dares to do such a thing? He shall pay for it!"
Xiao Wu clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms. "Da Ming, we must avenge Er Ming! As long as Lan Minghua lives, he will remain a disaster to every soul beast!"
The Sky Azure Bull Python was silent for a while before its massive head lowered slowly, a bitter smile escaping its maw.
"Xiao Wu, earlier I used my very origin to mask the aura of your soul beast bloodline. To fully recover my strength, even in the best case, will take at least a year."
Drawing upon one's origin was devastating—whether for humans or soul beasts.
But for Xiao Wu's sake, he had chosen to do it anyway.
Xiao Wu's eyes turned sharp and frosted. "Da Ming, Lan Minghua killed Er Ming. We must strike back. If not, the next to fall may be you—or me."
The Sky Azure Bull Python nodded firmly, its voice deep. "Of course. But right now, I lack the strength to avenge Er Ming. At the earliest, a year from now, when my power has returned. If Lan Minghua dares enter the Star Dou Forest again, I will kill him. Even if I cannot defeat him, I will summon the ancient seniors slumbering within the forest to strike him down."
Although to the outside world he and the Titan Giant Ape were regarded as the forest's rulers, the two of them were merely figureheads.
The truly terrifying soul beasts lay in the deepest regions of the Star Dou Forest, still in slumber.
Hearing this, Xiao Wu's eyes lit with joy. This was the answer she had come seeking.
Now that she had taken human form and her power was weakened, she had no authority before those ancient slumbering seniors.
But Da Ming was different. His very presence at the Lake of Life proved the weight he carried in their regard.
"As long as Da Ming can persuade the ancient seniors, Lan Minghua will surely die. Not only will Er Ming be avenged, but this will also eliminate the obstacle standing in the way of Little San."
Xiao Wu was not foolish. From her daily observations, she could clearly see the deep hatred Tang San harbored for Lan Minghua—and even for Lan Minghua's disciples.
She didn't understand the root of Tang San's hatred, but in her eyes, the fault had to lie with Lan Minghua.
Satisfied with the answer she had sought, Xiao Wu resolved not to linger in the Star Dou Forest.
She needed to return to its outskirts and be waiting before Tang San and the others finished their spirit ring hunt.
So she quickly said, "Da Ming, I've made my decision. I will remain in the human world, hiding at Lan Minghua's side to monitor his movements. Thanks to your help, he should not have discovered my soul beast identity."
The Sky Azure Bull Python nodded slightly, though his voice carried a trace of worry. "Xiao Wu, you must be careful. If Lan Minghua had the power to kill Er Ming, then he is no ordinary Titled Douluo. His methods are ruthless, his strikes decisive. Stay vigilant if you must remain at his side."
He had absolute confidence in his origin power's concealment. No one should be able to see through Xiao Wu's disguise.
Besides, since he needed time to recover, Xiao Wu would paradoxically be safer near Lan Minghua.
Xiao Wu nodded heavily, her voice trembling with a hint of excitement. "I understand. Da Ming, spend this year restoring your strength. A year from now, we will kill Lan Minghua together."
The Sky Azure Bull Python fixed his gaze on Xiao Wu, falling silent as though he had realized something—but he said nothing.
Instead, he plucked a scale from his own body and placed it in Xiao Wu's hand.
"Xiao Wu, keep this scale. It is like the reverse scale of a dragon to me. Only use it when your life is in mortal danger. Once activated, it will unleash the Azure Sky Annihilation Thunder, equal to my full strength at my peak. Even a Titled Douluo will have to retreat before it. In that moment, you must flee."
Xiao Wu held the scale tightly, her eyes glistening with gratitude. She nodded softly. "I will, Da Ming. And you must take care of yourself as well. Lan Minghua has forces behind him. Over the next year, I will uncover everything and destroy them all in one strike."
The Sky Azure Bull Python gave a weary nod, its gigantic form sinking back into the lake. "Let them come. A year from now, I will show them that the Star Dou Forest is not theirs to trample upon at will!"
Xiao Wu watched until his form disappeared beneath the waters. She wiped away her tears, then turned and walked toward the forest's edge.
With the Bull Python's scale in her hand, no other soul beast in Star Dou dared block her way.
But truthfully, even without it, she was already well acquainted with navigating through the Star Dou Forest unhindered.
Before long, Xiao Wu returned to the outskirts of the forest—just as Tang San and his companions successfully hunted their rings and made their way back.
This time, however, they did not head directly for Shrek Academy, but instead toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Meanwhile, in the Frozen Forest, Oscar and the others had also completed the absorption of their fourth spirit rings, advancing to the level of Soul Sect.
While they cultivated, Lan Minghua had not been idle. He tracked down three ten-thousand-year Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworms, subdued them, and stored them within his Devouring Pouch.
It was then that a sudden gust of wind swept across his back, and a clear female voice rang out.
"Master, we have successfully absorbed our ten-thousand-year rings. We are now true Soul Sects of the fourth ring."
(End of Chapter)