Xiao Wu's Past

"Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?"

Liu Erlong frowned slightly, a thoughtful expression in her eyes, which finally turned into surprise.

"Gang, you mean...!"

Yu Xiaogang nodded, then said slowly, "Once a soul beast breaks through to a hundred thousand years, it enters a wondrous realm. Their lives are sublimated, but at the same time, they must face an important choice."

"Should they maintain their beast form and live a thousand years in a daze, or transform into a human and risk pursuing the Path to Godhood."

Hearing this, Liu Erlong completely understood Yu Xiaogang's meaning.

"You're saying Xiao Wu is a hundred-thousand-year soul beast who transformed into a human!"

"There's a high probability." Since Xiao Wu's identity hadn't been exposed yet, Yu Xiaogang didn't draw a definitive conclusion. He then added, "Transforming into a human, while offering the hope of godhood for a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, is an extremely difficult path."

"The cultivation of soul beasts is inherently slow, relying on the accumulation of vast amounts of time. Once they transform into humans, their hundred-thousand-year cultivation will vanish, ceasing to exist."

"They will then enter the initial stage of cultivation, the nascent period. For soul power below level sixty, their cultivation speed is extremely fast, and they don't need to obtain soul rings from external sources; they can form them through their own condensation."

"However, at this stage, although they have a rudimentary human form, they can still be detected by soul masters at the Soul Douluo level or above. But to improve their cultivation, they are forced to blend into crowds. Only when their soul power breaks through to level sixty and they reach the mature period can they completely become human. At that point, even Titled Douluo will be unable to detect their true identity as soul beasts."

"This path of cultivation is quite arduous. A single misstep can lead to eternal damnation. Soul beasts that choose this path must possess immense resilience and determination."

Combining Xiao Wu's experiences in obtaining soul rings, Liu Erlong couldn't help but affirm this guess. But then she frowned and said, "That shouldn't be right. Since Xiao Wu joined Shrek Academy, she should have encountered many soul masters at the Soul Douluo level along the way. Moreover, our academy's current consultant is the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo, and he hasn't detected anything unusual."

"The Soul Douluo and Titled Douluo we encountered before were in situations with many people present, and their attention wasn't focused on Xiao Wu. Although Dugu Bo joined the academy later, wasn't Xiao San also back then?" Yu Xiaogang said calmly.

Liu Erlong pondered this, recalling the events after Tang San returned to the academy. Her beautiful eyes suddenly lit up, and she said, "You mean the immortal medicine called Lovesick Heartbreak Red that Xiao San brought back helped Xiao Wu conceal her identity."

"That should be correct. Each of these immortal medicines Xiao San brought back has the ability to defy fate. For example, the Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma I consumed allowed my body to undergo a complete transformation, returning me to the age of twenty. And that Lovesick Heartbreak Red, with its highest quality among many immortal medicines, can conceal the identity of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, which is not surprising."

After speaking, Yu Xiaogang looked at Liu Erlong, his expression becoming serious. "Erlong, if Xiao Wu is indeed a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, what do you think we should do?"

Liu Erlong's expression was equally serious. "Xiao Wu is my daughter. I will protect her safety with my life."

"That's good." Yu Xiaogang met Liu Erlong's gaze, nodded, and then smiled, "However, we don't need to sacrifice our lives. As long as Xiao Wu keeps that Lovesick Heartbreak Red on her person at all times."

"Xiao Wu will be competing for the next few days. It would be best to find a cloth belt and tie the Lovesick Heartbreak Red to Xiao Wu, to prevent it from slipping off due to excessive movement."

"There will be several Titled Douluo overseeing the matches. If Xiao Wu's aura is truly exposed, it will be truly dangerous."

Liu Erlong's expression became visibly serious upon hearing this. "You're right. I need to hurry and buy Xiao Wu a cloth belt. Come with me quickly."

With that, she pulled Yu Xiaogang out of bed and they left the hotel, starting to look for clothing stores.

Since Yu Xiaogang had arrived half a month in advance, he had some understanding of the shop locations within the city. Thus, he led Liu Erlong out of Middle City and into the commercial district of Outer City.

The two eventually purchased an elastic cloth belt with an inner buckle from a shop specializing in outdoor combat attire, and then returned to the hotel with satisfaction.

The next day, the highly anticipated finals officially began.

To highlight the importance of this year's competition, the Martial Soul Hall had specially designated an area within the Inner City for the finals.

All facilities within the venue were newly constructed. To reinforce the combat platform, the Martial Soul Hall even incorporated numerous Soul Tools into its internal structure. Such a grand gesture was unparalleled on the continent, with only the Martial Soul Hall capable of such an undertaking.

Resting areas were allocated for each academy within the venue. The teachers and students of Shrek Academy were currently in their designated area, listening to Master explain the rules of the finals.

Shortly after, Flender completed the match draw and informed everyone of Shrek Academy's match information.

Due to Blazing Academy's forfeiture, Shrek Academy received a bye in the first round. They would officially take the stage in the second round against the Star Luo Royal Academy Team.

Before taking the stage, Liu Erlong pulled Xiao Wu into the locker room. She handed Xiao Wu the elastic band with an inner clasp that she had bought the previous day and watched as Xiao Wu secured the Lovesick Heartbreak Red to herself.

After Xiao Wu put on her outer clothes, Liu Erlong helped her smooth out the fabric, ensuring no trace was visible before letting Xiao Wu leave the locker room.

Watching Xiao Wu's retreating figure as she walked onto the stage, Liu Erlong linked arms with Yu Xiaogang, her eyes filled with tender maternal affection.

Yu Xiaogang also smiled, his long-held inner turmoil finally resolved at this moment.

The Shrek Seven Devils defeated the Star Luo Royal Academy Team without any suspense, marking the end of the first day's schedule.

On the second day of the competition, Yu Xiaogang, representing the academy, voluntarily withdrew from the morning's individual elimination matches. He openly refuted Pope Bibi Dong's questioning, which left the assembled crowd in shock.

Bibi Dong then effortlessly dismissed the matter by addressing him as "Elder Yu," further puzzling the onlookers and sparking their curiosity about Yu Xiaogang's identity.

Seeing this, Liu Erlong immediately reached out and pinched the soft flesh on Yu Xiaogang's waist, twisting it fiercely.

Yu Xiaogang endured the sharp pain in his waist without a sound, but his facial expression clearly stiffened, and his skin twitched occasionally.

Bibi Dong, seated at the head of the table, naturally noticed this. Liu Erlong also turned her gaze towards Bibi Dong.

The two women's eyes met across the air. As they were at the finals, Bibi Dong immediately averted her gaze, though a flicker of jealousy and anger flashed in her eyes.