"Plop~"
An inner courtyard disciple scooped up a greenfish, dropped it into a bamboo basket, and glanced at the heap inside—tails flicking, bubbles popping. Seeing the brimming basket of freshly netted greenfish, he nodded in satisfaction.
"That should be enough."
He called his companions over to carry it back.
Following the stream downstream, not far away a wisp of cooking smoke curled up.
The firewood crackled, roasting strings of greenfish. Huo Yuhao deftly sprinkled salt, flipped them, and, when done just right, handed them over to the academy students eagerly waiting at his side.
Xuan Zi already had grease running down his mouth.
Like a glutton, most of the earlier batches had gone into his belly. Only after he patted his stomach—full at last—did it become the other students' turn.
Yuhao's grilled fish might be nothing special on the whole continent's culinary scene, but this was the Star Dou Great Forest, a no-man's land. To taste something like this while hunting soul beasts in such harsh conditions was a delightful surprise…
Unlike the others enjoying their fish, Zhang Lexuan hovered uneasily. Even with the Ice Emperor by her side—meaning Su Wen likely wasn't in serious trouble—her eyelid still twitched furiously.
He'd said he'd be gone just a short while.
But Huo Yuhao had already returned early, and there was still no sign of him.
"Elder Xuan, could something have happened?"
Zhang Lexuan hesitated.
At that, Huo Yuhao's hand paused mid-serve with the fish. His Adam's apple bobbed; his expression turned slightly unnatural. Brother Skydream had noticed that secret-law space, which was why he'd urged Huo Yuhao to leave early. With massive spiritual power probing, they'd narrowly avoided danger. But according to Skydream, Su Wen's aura had disappeared… which most likely meant he'd entered that space.
A group of humans radiating killing intent, bearing down with such momentum—Su Wen's chances didn't look good.
He almost spoke. His grudge with Su Wen mostly stemmed from Zhou Yi, but with his temperament, even if Su Wen had to pay in the future, it would only be to go kowtow to Zhou Yi a few times—what, was he really going to kill him?
"Don't say a word!" Skydream snapped irritably within the sea of spirit.
"Want everyone to find out the secret about your soul rings?" Skydream's small eyes narrowed, a hint of warning in his tone. "I've long suspected that kid's got loads of secrets. We were just about to bewitch the Auspicious Beast into offering a sacrifice, and he suddenly popped up, ruining it at the last moment. That means he probably sensed my existence already…"
"If he dies in that space, that's ideal. Anyone who knows your secret will slumber forever in this forest. Only the dead keep secrets best."
"But, Brother Skydream, that's only your guess. What if he didn't see anything…" Huo Yuhao wavered.
"He's suspicious—so him dying is most reassuring." Skydream said lazily.
"Yuhao, you're too green. You've too many illusions about this world."
Walking the righteous path is just too slow.
You still need shortcuts.
Skydream sighed inwardly. Let him play the villain.
"Mm…"
The boy kept his head down, face shadowed and unreadable, quietly tending the fish.
"That kid Su Wen is sharp, and he left a pet here too." Xuan Zi glanced about suspiciously, licked his lips with lingering relish, and waved a hand casually.
"Alright…" Zhang Lexuan relented, returned to her seat, declined the grilled fish an inner courtyard disciple handed her, and kept gazing off into the distance.
"Bzzzz!!!"
The next instant—
A gray pillar of light shot into the sky.
Shattering sounds echoed around them. Shrek's group rose, scanning their surroundings, finding nothing amiss. Only Xuan Zi's eyes flickered; thick earthy-yellow soul power surged around him. After hastily instructing Zhang Lexuan with a few urgent words, he sped toward the gray pillar.
As a rank-98 Super Douluo, one of those closest to Limit Douluo, he naturally knew what this meant.
It meant that right under his nose, a group of brazen bastards had completed a spatial lockdown. He didn't know who they were to be that strong, but Su Wen… was very likely involved.
"Damn it! Faster, faster!"
Xuan Zi pushed his speed to the limit.
His eyes reddened.
If Su Wen really met misfortune…
Old Mu would literally tear him apart. The Shrek elders wouldn't spare him either. A boy whose future talent was plain to see, with an upper limit so high even he had to look up—if that boy died because of his leadership—
He'd be Shrek's true sinner…
…
"Auspicious Beast!"
The slow-to-react Di Tian finally caught on.
"Rooaar~"
A colossal black dragon surged up from the Star Dou Great Forest's core, blotting out the sky. An ancient dragon roar echoed through the forest. Countless soul beasts prostrated themselves, shivering. Even human hunting parties within the forest stared in terror at the sight and began withdrawing in panic.
In the distance—
Atop an ancient tree.
On its thick branches stood scattered figures in black robes.
"You're saying a boy, right before your eyes, safeguarded the Auspicious Beast—and even broke through the barrier formation?" Zhongli Wu stared at Wu Yun in disbelief. The barrier was a Holy Spirit Cult heirloom, fueled by human flesh and soul, fed to a demon god to drive the array.
But…
Wu Yun nodded helplessly.
"Right. The kid's only twelve or thirteen, but his methods are terrifyingly many. I tried more than once to bring him into the Holy Spirit Cult, but he was steadfast, so I decided to kill him. Yet his trump cards kept coming; he slipped from my grasp like a loach. In the end, he seemed to summon a soul possession and brute-forced the barrier open."
"Twelve or thirteen?!!"
Zhongli Wu's throat bobbed. He glanced at Yan Feng beside him—face pale, hair rimed with frost—and the shock in his eyes deepened.
About the same age as Yan Feng, yet he toyed with a rank-94 Titled Douluo, one of the elders, like a fool?
"His ability should be beast-taming, but he's got a several-thousand-year Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear under him…" Wu Yun sighed.
Zhongli Wu: "…"
"In that case, withdraw~"
With a long sigh to the sky, Zhongli Wu cast one last look at the forest and turned to leave.
He waved a hand, ready to depart with the unconscious Scarlet King and another captured hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
A figure blocked the path.
"Di Tian?!!"
Zhongli Wu's eyes narrowed, and he slowly spat out the name.
His hatred for that boy deepened a notch. If not for the brat breaking the barrier early and drawing Di Tian's attention, then… he would've had time to seize the Auspicious Beast.
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Advanced chapter here: p-atreon.com/Sajaboyzzz
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