Journey to the Star Dou Great Forest

Shrek Academy.

The deathly atmosphere was broken by Xiao Wu's tearful voice.

"I... I didn't mean to hide it from everyone..."

Seeing the tearful, fragile, and helpless girl before them, the shock and horror in everyone's hearts were gradually replaced by complicated emotions.

Especially for Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and the others who spent every day with her.

How could the lively, playful, and sometimes rather willful Xiao Wu possibly be associated with a vicious Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?

"Xiao Wu..."

Tang San's voice trembled slightly. His emotions at that moment were utterly tumultuous and indescribably complicated.

He was more shocked than anyone, and found it harder than anyone to accept.

The girl he treasured above all else, the girl he had sworn to protect with his life, was actually a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?

Yet after only a brief moment of stunned disbelief, the sight of Xiao Wu's pale, terrified face turned it into overwhelming heartache and an even firmer desire to protect her.

She was Xiao Wu. That was enough.

Whether she was human or Soul Beast, she was the one Tang San had chosen.

He suddenly stepped forward.

"Dean, Teacher Zhao! Everyone!"

Tang San's voice was resolute, carrying an unquestionable seriousness.

"Xiao Wu is my companion, a member of our Shrek Seven Devils. No matter who she is, that will never change!"

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down as he analyzed the deadly crisis before them.

"Spirit Hall... will never let this opportunity go. They have most likely already sent powerful experts, and they are on their way to Suotuo City."

"When that happens, not only will Xiao Wu be in danger to life, but the entire Shrek Academy may suffer a catastrophic disaster for sheltering her!"

He turned to Xiao Wu, his gaze heavy and his tone filled with indescribable pain and reluctance. "Xiao Wu, none of us care about your identity, but this place... you can't stay here any longer."

"You must leave immediately. Go as far away as possible and find somewhere safe to hide!"

Flender adjusted his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses filled with resolve. He heavily patted Zhao Wuji on the shoulder. "Little San is right. Xiao Wu, you must leave at once!"

"Zhao Wuji, make preparations. We..."

Before he could finish, a sudden change erupted!

An indescribable, terrifying pressure descended abruptly, like Mount Tai bearing down upon them.

A black figure appeared without warning in the center of the training field, like Gui Mei.

Right in front of Tang San and Xiao Wu.

The newcomer was shrouded in a tattered black robe, tall in stature, while a strong, pungent scent of alcohol diffused through the air.

"Who is it?!"

Flender's expression changed drastically. He instantly used Martial Soul Possession, as though facing a formidable enemy.

Anyone who could appear before them without a sound while giving off such a terrifying aura was undoubtedly one of the Top Experts.

Yet the black figure ignored them. He merely raised a hand slowly and lifted the hood covering his head.

Revealing a face covered in stubble, marked by the trials of time, yet still bearing the outlines of its former resoluteness.

The moment Tang San saw that face, he was struck as if by lightning. His body jolted, and his eyes filled with incredulous joy and excitement. "Dad?!"

The newcomer was none other than the Clear Sky Douluo who had vanished for years—Tang Hao.

The instant Yu Xiaogang saw Tang Hao's face, his pupils contracted sharply, and an incomparably complicated expression appeared on his face.

He took a deep breath and respectfully bowed. "His Excellency Clear Sky."

When Xiao Wu heard the words "His Excellency Clear Sky," her already pale face instantly turned deathly white.

She instinctively clutched Tang San's arm tightly, her eyes filled with utter terror.

A Titled Douluo!

Tang San's father was actually a Titled Douluo.

She had been living right under the eyes of a Titled Douluo all this time...

Had he... had he seen through her long ago?

Tang Hao seemed to see Xiao Wu's fear. There was no expression on his weathered face as he spoke casually in a hoarse, low voice.

"Little girl, don't be afraid. I am already a Titled Douluo; I have no need for your Soul Ring."

"As long as you sincerely treat Little San well, I will not harm you."

Those words were like a reassuring pill, loosening Xiao Wu's taut heartstrings slightly, though the fear still lingered.

Tang Hao stopped looking at her and turned his gaze toward Flender and Zhao Wuji, his tone carrying an unquestionable command.

"You cannot stay here any longer. Spirit Hall's people will arrive soon."

His gaze finally settled on Tang San and Xiao Wu. "You two, come with me."

"Dad, where are we going?"

Tang San hurriedly asked.

"The Core Area of the Star Dou Great Forest."

Tang Hao was concise. "Only there can her safety be guaranteed for the time being."

Hope flashed through Xiao Wu's eyes at those words—the longing to return home.

She looked at Tang San with reluctance. Countless words caught in her throat, eventually becoming only a tearful reminder. "Third Brother, you... you must take care of yourself!"

"Go!"

Tang Hao wasted no more time. With a wave of his large hand, a powerful surge of Soul Power swept Tang San and Xiao Wu up, and his figure flashed.

Like a black meteor, he shot into the sky and sped toward the Star Dou Great Forest, vanishing from everyone's sight in an instant.

On the Shrek Academy training field.

Only Flender, Zhao Wuji, Yu Xiaogang, Dai Mubai, and the others remained, looking at each other with lingering fear.

At the same time Tang Hao was taking Tang San and Xiao Wu toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

At the shores of the Lake of Life in the Core Area of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Two enormous beings were anxiously churning the lake water. Their terrifying aura made even the surrounding Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts lie prostrate on the ground, not daring to approach.

One of them was a Giant Ape with a mountain-like form, its entire body covered in rock-like muscles. It was one of the Forest Emperors, the Titan Giant Ape Er Ming.

It pounded its chest and let out a thunderous roar filled with anxiety. "Big Brother, the Sky Screen exposed Sister Xiao Wu's identity. Every human on the continent knows now!"

"Sister Xiao Wu is too dangerous in the Human World. We have to bring her back!"

Beside it, an enormous bull's head emerged from the lake, attached to a coiling python body.

It gave off an aura even deeper and more terrifying than the Titan Giant Ape's. It was Da Ming, the Sky Azure Bull Python.

Its lantern-like giant eyes were also filled with solemnity and worry. "Er Ming, calm down. Sister Xiao Wu's identity has been exposed. The powerful experts of the Human World, especially Spirit Hall, will never stand by and do nothing."

"If we rashly enter the Human World, we will be too conspicuous and may instead bring trouble to Sister Xiao Wu."

"But..."

Er Ming stamped his feet anxiously, making the ground tremble.

"But we can't just ignore this!"

Da Ming's voice suddenly became firm.

"Make preparations. We will go together. No matter what, we must ensure Sister Xiao Wu returns safely!"

"If any blind human dares to stand in our way..."

A cold killing intent flashed through its eyes.

The two Forest Emperors reached an agreement.

Their Massive Bodies began to move like two moving mountain ranges, leaving the Lake of Life and heading toward the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.