The Sky Azure Bull Python fell into immense shock and confusion.
Its simple worldview found it difficult to process such a complex time paradox.
After a long while.
The Sky Azure Bull Python slowly lowered its mountain-sized bull head, bringing it close to Lin Qing.
So close that Lin Qing could see every ancient pattern on its scales and feel the damp gale blown out with its breath.
Its enormous pupils stared directly into Lin Qing's eyes, as though trying to discern every trace of truth and falsehood within them.
"Human..."
The Sky Azure Bull Python's voice was no longer filled with rage, but carried profound gravity and disbelief.
"What you said... is inconceivable. But this scale truly came from me."
"You risked going this deep, surely not just to tell me such a bizarre story. What... do you seek?"
Seeing that the Sky Azure Bull Python had finally withdrawn its nearly murderous aura and was willing to speak calmly, Lin Qing's tightly wound heart finally relaxed by more than half.
The most dangerous hurdle had temporarily passed.
His expression turned serious as he said frankly, "As you can see, Da Ming, although I am a Soul Douluo, I do not have a single Soul Ring due to a certain opportunity."
The Sky Azure Bull Python's gaze instantly sharpened again, believing Lin Qing had set his sights on it or Er Ming.
Lin Qing quickly added, "Don't misunderstand! What I need is not your Soul Rings."
"On the contrary, I need to borrow your strength—more precisely, yours and Er Ming's—to quickly obtain suitable Soul Rings for myself."
He stressed his words, his gaze fixed on the Sky Azure Bull Python.
"The reason I need to become stronger is what I just mentioned: to protect Wu'er, as well as her mother, Xiao Wu."
He took a deep breath and dropped even more shocking information.
"Do you remember what I just said?"
"Xiao Wu is currently being watched by an extremely powerful Titled Douluo. His name is Tang Hao, and his title is 'Haotian.' He is one of the strongest Titled Douluo on the continent and possesses a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring."
"At this moment, Nuoding Academy, where Xiao Wu is staying, is under his surveillance. His goal is to wait for Xiao Wu to mature, then turn her into his son's Soul Ring and Soul Bone."
"What?!"
"Roar—!"
Before the Sky Azure Bull Python's enraged roar could fully erupt, it was instantly drowned out by another, even more savage roar brimming with destructive fury!
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
The ground shook violently!
It was as if a terrifying giant beast was charging toward them!
At the edge of the lakeshore, countless towering Ancient Trees that required several people to encircle were easily smashed apart and crushed like fragile stalks of straw.
An enormous black figure, even larger than the Sky Azure Bull Python and like a moving mountain, charged into the range of the Lake of Life amid boundless vicious aura.
It stood upright, over ten meters tall.
Its entire body was covered in heavy black fur, raised like rock, its knotted muscles seeming forged from steel and iron.
Its lantern-sized eyes burned with towering fury as they locked onto Lin Qing by the lakeside.
The Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, overlord of the forest, the Titan Giant Ape—Er Ming—had arrived!
It had just heard its elder brother's roar and Xiao Wu's name, then sensed the aura of an unfamiliar human Soul Douluo.
Thinking an enemy had attacked and Xiao Wu was in danger, it instantly became enraged and charged over to kill!
"ROAR!!!"
Er Ming clenched one massive palm into a fist and, carrying a terrifying force that seemed capable of crushing everything, prepared to smash it down upon Lin Qing!
Before the fist even arrived, the horrifying gale from the punch had already cracked the ground around Lin Qing and flattened the grass and trees!
"Er Ming! Stop!"
At the critical moment, the Sky Azure Bull Python's deep yet commanding voice rang out.
Its enormous python tail swept out, blocking the Titan Giant Ape from Lin Qing.
"Roar!"
The Titan Giant Ape's voice was like muffled thunder, filled with confusion and rage.
Its fist hung in the air, but its Killing Aura did not lessen in the slightest.
"He... is not an enemy for now."
The Sky Azure Bull Python's voice carried a trace of complexity.
"Lower your fist. Listen to him first."
Er Ming looked suspiciously at its elder brother, then glared at the tiny Lin Qing, two streams of scorching white vapor blasting from its nostrils.
In the end, it unwillingly lowered its fist.
But those enormous eyes still locked onto Lin Qing with hostility, as if ready to attack again at any moment.
The pressure eased slightly.
Lin Qing's back was already completely soaked.
Damn it, I almost got smashed into a meat patty!
Facing two enraged Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, the mental pressure was no joke.
The Sky Azure Bull Python looked back at Lin Qing, its enormous bull head lowering slightly.
"Human, I apologize on Er Ming's behalf for his rudeness."
"Please tell me where Big Sister Xiao Wu is right now."
"Roar!"
Upon hearing Xiao Wu's name, Er Ming beside it immediately let out an anxious low growl.
But Lin Qing shook his head, his expression exceptionally grave. "I know you want to save her, but I must advise you: you absolutely cannot go now."
"Roar?!"
Er Ming could not help growling, its voice full of indignation.
In its view, what did some human Titled Douluo matter? The two brothers could simply crush him.
"Because the complexity and strength of the Human World far exceed your imagination."
"You two may be able to easily fight three or five ordinary Titled Douluo."
"But the strongest human factions, such as Spirit Hall, possess more than ten Titled Douluo. Among them are even Peerless Douluo whose cultivation has reached Level 98, or even Level 99."
"A Level 99 Peerless Douluo possesses power that reaches the heavens and earth, already close to the realm of a God. Even if the two of you joined forces, you would be no match for one."
"Once you leave the Star Dou Great Forest and enter a human city, your powerful auras cannot possibly be completely concealed."
"By then, you may attract not just Tang Hao, but the hunting of Spirit Hall, and even all the peak human experts."
"For the sake of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings and Soul Bones, human experts will become utterly crazed. At that time, not only will you fail to save Xiao Wu, you yourselves will fall into a desperate situation and may even perish."
Lin Qing poured out one explosive piece of information after another, giving the two beasts no chance to digest it.
"..."
The shore of the Lake of Life sank into prolonged silence.
Only the faint sound of wind passing over the lake and the Titan Giant Ape's heavy breathing remained.
Er Ming simply could not understand the long string of words Lin Qing had rattled off.
But the Sky Azure Bull Python understood.
Shock, gravity, unwillingness, concern... all kinds of emotions flashed through the Sky Azure Bull Python's deep azure eyes.
It knew very well that humans were constantly developing.
But it had never imagined they had grown so powerful.
More than ten Titled Douluo?
A Level 99 Peerless Douluo?
Such strength was indeed enough to pose a fatal threat to them.
For the first time, it clearly realized just how dangerous and complicated the environment was that Big Sister Xiao Wu had faced when she chose to take human form and enter the Human World.
Even the usually impatient Titan Giant Ape, Er Ming, had quieted somewhat.
Though simple-minded and violent, it was not stupid.
It could sense its elder brother's grave emotions, so this matter was certainly not simple.
The Sky Azure Bull Python slowly raised its head and gazed in the direction of the Human World, its eyes seeming to pierce through layer after layer of forest.
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