After several days of recuperation, some color had finally returned to Tang San's naturally dark complexion, and he could use the Eight Spider Lances on his back with ease.
Every day, he focused on circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill, gradually grinding down and refining that restless urge to devour, letting it flow along his meridians and merge into his Soul Power.
At first, he had to remain on guard at all times. The slightest lapse could see that greed drag him into the abyss. But as the days passed,
he gradually began to understand the Eight Spider Lances' nature. That desire wasn't entirely evil;
it was more like an instinct carved into the Spirit Bone by the Man Faced Demon Spider. As long as he guided it with the Mysterious Heaven Skill's balanced, peaceful energy, he could turn it into an aid for tempering his Soul Power.
By the evening of the fifth day, he could even sit quietly for half an hour beside Ma Hongjun's fiery Soul Power,
with the sweet fragrance of Oscar's food Soul Skill lingering beneath his nose, and remain completely composed, without the slightest restlessness.
Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang watched him grow calmer by the day, and the worry in his eyes finally faded.
"Very good, Xiao San. You've crossed the most dangerous threshold.
The instinct of your External Soul Bone is no longer a shackle. It's become your trump card."
Tang San nodded slightly.
He could clearly feel the Eight Spider Lances growing more and more attuned to his soul. The urge to devour that had once frightened him
had now become a latent force within him, waiting to erupt with astonishing sharpness when the time was right.
He just didn't know that, in a corner beyond his sight, Xiao Wu would quietly keep watch outside the window whenever he practiced.
The demonic red had long since faded from her lively eyes, but a trace of wariness remained.
As she watched Tang San's peaceful profile, her unease about the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger
finally eased. As long as Third Brother was all right, that was enough.
A few more days passed, and Tang San had fully stabilized his condition. The Shrek Seven Devils' team training had also returned to its proper course.
Night in Suotuo City was ablaze with noise.
The crowds outside the Great Soul Arena were thick. Cheers, Soul Power fluctuations, and the auras of Soul Masters mingled together in a clamor of excitement and agitation.
Tang San was leading Xiao Wu toward the Spirit Fighting Arena to take part in a team match when Xiao Wu suddenly stopped.
Her lively eyes first flashed with instinctive comfort, then with a hint of wariness that was difficult to notice.
Her nostrils twitched slightly, as if she had caught the scent of something incredibly soothing.
It was an aura... pristine beyond compare, warm as the morning sun, gentle yet utterly divine.
It held not a trace of killing intent or malice, like the purest light in the world, softly enveloping her.
It was like a lost little animal suddenly finding the warmest shelter.
"Huh..."
Xiao Wu gently slipped her hand from Tang San's and, almost against her will, looked toward the source of the aura.
Not far away, a slender figure stood quietly at the edge of the crowd.
The young man wore a simple white outfit. His bearing was gentle, and an almost imperceptible pale golden halo seemed to linger around him.
It was Chen Jieqi.
The trip to the Star Dou Great Forest had been called off before it even began.
The Heart of the Naaru's warning had told him it was too late.
The aura of the Eight Spider Lances had already completely merged with Tang San.
His gaze fell on Xiao Wu as she walked toward him, and understanding flickered in his eyes.
As expected of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Rabbit who had taken human form. She was remarkably sensitive to unusual auras around her.
No wonder she had stuck so close to Tang San from the moment she entered Nuoding Academy.
Tang San's cultivation had been decent enough to aid her practice, but more importantly,
an extremely rich, pure aura of the Blue Silver Emperor had surrounded him.
It was a top-tier Plant-type Martial Soul, rooted in his bloodline. Gentle yet immense, it was the most nourishing environment imaginable for Xiao Wu, who had only recently taken human form.
Others thought the two had simply hit it off as youngsters. Only Chen Jieqi knew that from the very beginning, her closeness had been marked by a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast's instinctive attraction to top-tier life energy.
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and almost instinctively, she hurried over to him.
"Xiao Wu?"
Tang San knitted his brows and immediately followed.
The Mysterious Heaven Skill began circulating silently. Tang San instantly sensed the exceptionally pure, almost divine fluctuations of Soul Power coming from Chen Jieqi.
They were nothing like those of an ordinary Soul Master.
What made him even more wary was Xiao Wu's reaction!
Xiao Wu had never been so forward with a stranger, much less approached one without any defenses.
But now she was standing right in front of Chen Jieqi, her little face tilted up, her eyes full of curiosity.
"You... feel so nice!"
The soothing aura coming toward her had suppressed the wariness a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast ought to have felt.
She even found herself wanting to move closer, and closer still.
Tang San's expression darkened. He stepped sideways and directly placed himself between Xiao Wu and Chen Jieqi, taking a ready stance.
"Who are you?"
His tone wasn't harsh, but his wariness was unmistakable.
The Purple Demon Eye scrutinized Chen Jieqi again and again. This man's Soul Power was unfathomably deep,
and Xiao Wu's closeness to him was far too strange.
Xiao Wu immediately took offense and gently pushed Tang San aside.
"Third Brother, what are you doing? He doesn't mean any harm!"
She genuinely felt safe in Chen Jieqi's presence,
as safe as... she felt beside Third Brother.
Tang San's brows drew together even more. He tried to keep his composure,
but a trace of red crept into his eyes, and his breathing grew heavier. The Mysterious Heaven Skill quickly forced it back down.
Chen Jieqi calmly sized up the two of them. He glanced at Tang San beside him and instantly caught the fleeting hostility in his eyes.
Just as expected—he was born with a taste for killing.
Xiao Wu had merely shown Chen Jieqi a little warmth,
not even enough to count as clear fondness, yet Tang San had already begun to feel wary and hostile toward him.
And all the while, he was forcing himself to appear calm, struggling to hide the murderous glint in his eyes.
Clearly, he was afraid Xiao Wu would see it and that it would ruin the gentle, harmless image he had always maintained.
Chen Jieqi gave nothing away. He simply smiled warmly, drawing in all the holy light around him.
Then he clasped his hands in a slight salute and spoke in a calm, steady voice.
"My name is Chen Jieqi. I'm passing through Suotuo City and thought I'd visit the Spirit Fighting Arena.
I didn't mean to intrude. My Martial Soul is simply unusual by nature; I meant no offense."
His manner was open, his gaze resolute, and he controlled his holy aura with ease. He neither showed off nor displayed any hostility.
Tang San fell silent for a moment, the Purple Demon Eye still scrutinizing him.
He could tell
that Chen Jieqi carried no killing intent and had an open, straightforward gaze. He didn't seem like someone with malicious intentions.
But somehow, that only made him seem... more complicated.
Xiao Wu, meanwhile, had completely let down her guard. She edged closer, her eyes even crinkling into slits.
"My name is Xiao Wu—Wu as in 'dance'!
Are you here to compete, too?
Want to join us?
You feel so warm and nice~"
Tang San: "..."
Just as the atmosphere turned awkward,
Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others called out from nearby.
They were clearly calling for Tang San and Xiao Wu to rejoin them and get ready for the team match.
Seizing the chance, Chen Jieqi gently patted the back of Xiao Wu's hand, his tone warm as he subtly put some distance between them.
He casually came up with an excuse.
"Xiao Wu, your friends are calling you.
Go on over.
Don't keep everyone waiting for the match."
He deliberately made himself seem open and considerate, leaving Xiao Wu with a gentle, harmless impression
while presenting himself to Tang San as someone with no ulterior motives, who was perfectly willing to step aside.
Xiao Wu was reluctant to leave. She hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she didn't linger.
She simply waved to him before turning and heading back to the Shrek group.
Tang San gave Chen Jieqi a long look but said nothing. He followed Xiao Wu.
As he turned, the Eight Spider Lances beneath his clothes gave the faintest tremor.
He assumed it was just the fabric rubbing against them and paid it no mind.
Chen Jieqi stood where he was, calmly watching the two of them leave.
He noticed the slight bulge beneath Tang San's clothes, where the fabric stretched over the shape on his back.
The corner of his mouth lifted in a faint smile that no one noticed.
The Eight Spider Lances... had taken hold.
That was good.