The wind has stopped, the waves are calm.
The Lake of Life has regained its peace, but the atmosphere on the field is incredibly heavy.
Xiao Wu's body went limp, and she collapsed onto the bluestone as if all her strength had left her, her back completely soaked with cold sweat.
The brief period of confinement she had just endured was a desperate situation she had never experienced before.
The terrifying pressure of Titled Douluo crushing everything, the unsolvable confinement of the Bipolar Stillness Domain sealing off all things, and the meticulous capture plan of the Spirit Hall team—all these scenes were etched into my heart.
The feeling of helplessness—being completely locked up and unable to move, watching helplessly as the two great Soul Beast that had protected him for 100,000 years were forcibly sealed away, and being at the mercy of others—spread throughout his body and lingered for Jiujiu.
The lingering chill and malevolent aura in the forest slowly dissipated, and the terrifying oppressive atmosphere that had enveloped the entire core forest area completely faded away.
" Sister Xiao Wu, are you alright? It's all our fault, we couldn't protect you."
Da Ming's voice was low and hoarse, filled with self-reproach and regret.
As the forest king who has guarded the Xingdou for 100,000 years, he was powerless against the Martial Soul Fusion Skill of the Spirit Hall, and could only watch helplessly as the enemy approached Xiao Wu, almost forcibly abducting her.
Beside him, the Titan Giant Ape Er Ming slowly crouched down, his massive body taut with muscles as hard as mountain rocks, his thick claws clenching tightly, instantly cracking the bluestone on the ground.
Its crimson beast eyes were fixed on the direction of the dense forest where the Spirit Hall members had retreated. A low, suppressed roar of rage rose from its throat, and the earth and rock Soul Power around its body surged uncontrollably. Its anger was so intense that it almost overturned the entire forest.
" Er Ming, don't be angry."
Xiao Wu breathed slightly, calming the stagnant and turbulent blood and qi within her body.
She slowly shook her head, her clear pink eyes calm and serene, without the fear of surviving a disaster, without lingering trembling, only a clarity and composure that came from experiencing a desperate situation.
"It's not your fault," she said softly.
"I've been too dependent on you all, trapped in this comfort, unwilling to wake up."
"You just now exerted all your strength to break through the domain's restrictions and protected me."
If it were an ordinary Soul Beast, trapped in the Bipolar Stillness Domain, it wouldn't have time to unleash its power and break free.
Upon hearing Da Ming emperor swayed slightly, his tone growing increasingly solemn:
" Sister Xiao Wu, the Spirit Hall has been plotting this for a long time. Today's encirclement and capture failed, and they will definitely send even stronger forces to annihilate Xingdou. This place is no longer safe."
At this point, a resolute glint flashed in Da Ming's eyes, and he immediately offered his choice:
"We will set off immediately, taking you away from the Star Dou Great Forest to the Far North Ice Plains, to the deep sea, where we will remain hidden for ten thousand years."
There, the place was sparsely populated and beyond the reach of the Spirit Hall's influence. They lived in seclusion thereafter, free from further conflict.
This is the safest and most protective solution that the two great Soul Beast can offer her.
He abandoned his ancestral homeland of Xingdou, which he had guarded for generations, and his status as the king of the forest. He gave up everything, all for the sake of Xiao Wu's peaceful and carefree life.
Er Ming quickly echoed, nodding emphatically and growling that he was willing to abandon everything and accompany her to the ends of the earth.
Faced with the two Soul Beast ' all-out protection, Xiao Wu felt a slight warmth in her heart, but she still slowly shook her head, her resolute determination undiminished.
I'm not leaving.
"I'm not running away anymore."
Xiao Wu supported herself on the bluestone and slowly stood up. Her slender figure was thin and frail, but her back was straight, without the slightest hint of retreat or cowardice.
She looked up at her companion of ten thousand years, her tone calm yet clear:
"You may escape this time, but you can't escape forever."
"Today, the Spirit Hall mobilized two Titled Douluo and an elite squad to surround and capture him, yet they still failed at the last minute."
Next time they will mobilize even more titled powerhouses, and Bibi Dong may even personally come to Xingdou."
"You can protect me once, ten times, a hundred times, but the Spirit Hall's resources are vast and inexhaustible."
"As long as I hide in the Douluo I, you will fight against the Spirit Hall for me every day. This forest, your 100,000 years of cultivation, and the entire Xingdou clan will be completely destroyed because of me."
She had already seen through all the pros and cons.
She used to cherish this pure land, cherish the unconditional protection of the two great Soul Beast, and cherish the peaceful days without having to fight or grow.
As Chen Jieqi said, living in a constant-temperature fish tank may seem carefree and secure, but in reality, one's fate is entirely in the hands of others.
The meticulous protection she received for ten thousand years was never a haven of peace, but rather a gentle cage that trapped her and also burdened Da Ming Er Ming emperors.
"I used to depend on Tang San, depend on you all, live for others, and only know how to hide and wait for protection when trouble came."
Xiao Wu's fingers, hanging by her sides, slowly clenched. The last trace of childishness faded from her pink eyes, replaced by maturity and decisiveness.
" Chen Jieqi told me to first learn not to be afraid. Today, in this desperate situation, my physical body was locked in place by the oppressive force, but I was not afraid."
"I am not afraid of Titled Douluo, I am not afraid of the Spirit Hall, I am not afraid of Pope Bibi Dong."
"A life gained by depending on others is never true living."
The stability you risked your lives for is a shackle, a burden.
She raised her eyes to the western horizon, her gaze piercing through layers of forest, looking towards the magnificent and austere Spirit City a thousand miles away, towards the Pope's Palace where the Pope sat enthroned, ruling over the entire region.
"The feud arose because of me, and I will settle it with my own hands."
Da Ming was greatly shocked; his blue vertical pupils suddenly contracted, and his voice became urgent:
" Sister Xiao Wu! You absolutely mustn't! Spirit City is a dangerous place on the continent, the Pope's Palace is a den of dragons and tigers, Bibi Dong is ruthless and cunning. If you go there alone, it will be tantamount to walking into a trap!"
"I'm not going to my death."
Xiao Wu spoke softly, revealing the entire chess game she had seen through, her voice clear and resonant:
" Da Ming, you've all misunderstood. Bibi Dong never hated me; she was merely a prisoner controlled and corrupted by the resentment of the Rakshasa God."
" Tang San was swept away by the power of the Asura God, succumbed to darkness, and lost his true self."
Bibi Dong was bound by the Rakshasa God, unable to control her own destiny, and burdened with a deep-seated blood feud.
All living beings in this world, including us and everyone in the Spirit Hall, are merely pawns on the chessboard of gods, manipulated at will.
"I am hiding here, forever trapped in the game of chess, forever confined to shelter and fate."
Only by actively going to the Pope's Palace and confronting Bibi Dong can one break free from the shackles of divine control, settle all grudges, and sever the ties of destiny.
Upon hearing this, both Da Ming from the center of the lake and Er Ming beside him fell silent.
The two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast possessed extraordinary wisdom and instantly understood the girl's resolve. They understood that her decision was not made on a whim, but rather after a profound realization following a desperate situation, and after careful consideration.
All my pleas to stay were stuck in my throat, ultimately turning into helplessness and heartache.
They can lock up an entire forest, and they can contend with powerful titled warriors, but they cannot lock up a heart determined to break free from fate and live for itself.
I'm leaving.
Xiao Wu turned her head and looked at the shimmering Lake of Life, at this pure land that had nurtured and protected her for 100,000 years. A hint of reluctance flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination.
"Thank you for staying by my side all these years, protecting me and keeping me safe and sound."
"From now on, I will no longer be the little rabbit hiding behind you, needing to be protected."
I live for myself, choose my own path, and end my own destiny.
Er Ming let out a low growl, his enormous beast eyes dimmed with reluctance, and his massive body trembled slightly.
Da Ming gazed deeply at the girl for a long time, then let out a long, deep beastly roar, suppressing all his reluctance and finally giving in.
"If we encounter a life-or-death crisis, crush the Origin Token, and Er Ming and I will immediately rush to Spirit City."
Xiao Wu nodded slightly, without saying anything more.
She glanced back at the Lake of Life one last time, then back at the two guardians who had been by her side for ten thousand years. She turned and took a step, leaving the bluestone and stepping out of the core barrier of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Behind them lies their peaceful homeland of ten thousand years, a gentle and protective haven.
Before him lay the abyss of Spirit City, a place teeming with hidden dangers and lurking murderous intent.
The pink-clad girl traveled alone westward, her steps measured and unwavering.
Thousands of miles away, in the Pope's Palace the Spirit Hall.
Bibi Dong sat on the throne, her purple eyes slightly raised, a faint, indifferent smile curving her lips.
The prey has finally entered the game.