Dragon Duke, You Have Courted Death!

"Is that true?"

Hearing such an outrageous story, Dragon Duke Meng Shu could not help but press for confirmation.

Zhao Wuji gave a wry smile. "How would this junior dare deceive you? If that weren't the case, this junior would have fled long ago. Why would I have stayed here?"

Meng Shu fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. Let this matter end here today. However, I will be taking this Man Faced Demon Spider with me. You have no objections, do you?"

As he spoke, Dragon Duke Meng Shu cast Zhao Wuji a brief glance.

Seeing this, Zhao Wuji hurriedly waved his hands. "None, none. This Man Faced Demon Spider was originally yours, Senior."

Meng Shu immediately swung his Dragon Head Staff. The staff rapidly extended, transforming into something like a rope as it wrapped around the unconscious Man Faced Demon Spider.

"Now that little girl Yiran should be satisfied."

Looking at the Man Faced Demon Spider beside him, Meng Shu finally revealed a satisfied smile.

Although the Man Faced Demon Spider was not among the absolute strongest spirit beasts, it was still exceptionally powerful. Its attributes were especially compatible with his granddaughter Meng Yiran's martial spirit, making it one of the best possible choices.

Before leaving, Meng Shu turned back to examine Tang San, his gaze filled with curiosity.

Would a child born between a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast and a human drop a Spirit Ring and Spirit Bone upon death?

But Meng Shu quickly shook his head. This was not the time to investigate that. He needed to reunite with his wife as soon as possible and give this Man Faced Demon Spider to Yiran.

Hopefully, Yiran and the others had not yet absorbed another Spirit Ring. No matter how good another Spirit Ring might be, it was unlikely to surpass this Man Faced Demon Spider.

The next moment, Meng Shu pushed off hard with both feet and swiftly departed, dragging the Man Faced Demon Spider with him.

Seeing this, Tang San could not help but let out a sigh of relief. It seemed Zhao Wuji had managed to persuade him. If the man had truly insisted on cutting off his arm, then even if Tang San used every hidden weapon he had, he likely would not have been able to stop him.

But in the next instant, for some reason, Tang San felt a faint ache in his heart as he watched the departing Man Faced Demon Spider, as though he had lost something that should have belonged to him.

It must be because of the Man Faced Demon Spider's Spirit Ring. Damn Dragon Duke—he wanted to make me cut off my arm, and he even stole the Spirit Ring that belonged to me. You have courted death!

Tang San silently made up his mind. The next time he encountered Dragon Duke, if his strength was sufficient, he would make the old man experience the humiliation he had suffered today!

Elsewhere, Meng Yiran had already finished absorbing the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's Spirit Ring and had become a level thirty-one Soul Elder.

"Congratulations on becoming a Soul Elder!"

After Meng Yiran broke through, Qing Mu smiled and congratulated her.

Qing Mu felt rather helpless inside. Originally, he had intended to leave while Meng Yiran was absorbing her Spirit Ring. Although his Wood Spirit Seed could conceal his cultivation from Snake Dowager Chao Tianxiang, it might not necessarily fool Dragon Duke Meng Shu, a Soul Douluo.

If he were discovered, the favorable situation he had just created would instantly be ruined.

After all, a ten-year-old level thirty-two Soul Elder was enough to make those two cast aside all dignity and reservations.

But Snake Dowager Chao Tianxiang seemed to have latched onto him. Claiming that the Soul Beast Forest was dangerous and wishing to prevent a repeat of what had just happened, she insisted on taking him to Exotic Beast Academy along the way.

Even though he used the excuse that he needed to train alone, she still refused to let him leave just like that.

Though Qing Mu was anxious inside, he remained calm on the surface. The more dangerous the situation, the more one had to remain composed.

Blind panic would not help the current situation. It would only affect one's ability to seize opportunities.

Having just broken through and gained an excellent spirit skill, Meng Yiran was naturally delighted. Thus, facing Qing Mu's congratulations, she replied with a smile, "You're not bad either. I believe that in a few years, you'll be able to break through to Soul Elder as well, little brother."

Uh... I'm already a Soul Elder.

Though he felt somewhat strange inside, Qing Mu still replied with a smile, "Then I'll borrow your good wishes."

"Alright. Since Yiran has successfully absorbed the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's Spirit Ring, we shall go meet your grandfather and then head to Exotic Beast Academy together."

At this moment, Snake Dowager Chao Tianxiang suddenly spoke, looking at Meng Yiran gently.

Under normal circumstances, she would have had Meng Yiran demonstrate the effects of her third Spirit Ring skill. But with Qing Mu present, it was somewhat inconvenient.

Although Qing Mu had said he was going to Exotic Beast Academy, he was not yet a student there. It was better to keep it hidden for now.

Afterward, under Snake Dowager Chao Tianxiang's lead, the group began heading toward the place they had originally agreed to meet Meng Shu.

After a long while, they finally arrived at a small river in the Star Dou Great Forest. This was their meeting place.

"Rest for a while. Now we only need to wait for your grandfather to arrive."

After reaching the meeting place, Snake Dowager Chao Tianxiang spoke to Meng Yiran.

Meng Yiran nodded, then slowly walked toward the river.

The journey had left both her body and hair disheveled, and her clothes were somewhat dusty. This was a good opportunity to tidy herself up.

Snake Dowager did not stop her.

This was the outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest. Moreover, when they had selected this meeting place, they had deliberately chosen somewhere safe. The surroundings mostly contained only Ten-Year Soul Beasts, while Hundred-Year Soul Beasts were extremely rare. Meng Yiran had not gone far, so there was no possibility of encountering any danger.

And that was indeed the case. Meng Yiran encountered no accidents until she had finished washing up. As for the spirit beasts in the water, they fled as soon as they sensed the aura emanating from her.

Rumble—

Suddenly, a tremendous roar came from the distance, instantly shattering the tranquility of the area.

"What was that?!"

Upon hearing the sound, Snake Dowager Chao Tianxiang immediately stood up and looked toward its source.

But looking was the worst thing she could have done—one glance nearly scared the soul out of her.

Because she had actually seen an incomparably gigantic Titan Giant Ape!

Titan Giant Apes were among the most powerful Soul Beasts, their Combat Power far surpassing that of other Soul Beasts. A ten-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape could even chase down and batter Soul Beasts several tens of thousands of years older than itself. Its strength was obvious.

Precisely because of this, Titan Giant Apes were exceedingly rare. Whether their numbers across the entire continent even exceeded ten was unknown.

And within the Star Dou Great Forest, there was only one Titan Giant Ape: the more than sixty-thousand-year-old Titan Giant Ape at the heart of the Star Dou Great Forest!

"How is that possible? How could a Soul Beast like a Titan Giant Ape appear in the outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest?"