Xiao Wu: My Soul Ring Seems to Have Disappeared!

Xiao Wu was sitting on the shoulder of a massive figure, holding Luo Yan in her arms.

It was none other than the Titan Giant Ape, Er Ming, one of the two overlords of the Star Dou Great Forest.

The Titan Giant Ape was enormous, like a mountain, and his shoulders stood more than seven meters high.

He had the features of both an ape and a gorilla. His entire body was covered in pitch-black fur that shimmered faintly beneath the light of the stars and moon.

His lantern-sized eyes gleamed like yellow crystal, and his body was covered in muscles tougher than granite, bulging like little hills.

"Sister Xiao Wu, why doesn't this human have a human scent?"

As Er Ming walked, he asked Xiao Wu.

It was precisely because Luo Yan had no human scent that Er Ming hadn't felt any murderous intent toward him.

Still, seeing Xiao Wu holding Luo Yan in her arms made him a little jealous. He wished he could switch places with Luo Yan.

"Mm! Brother Luo Yan really isn't human. He's a Soul Beast from the Extreme North!"

Xiao Wu nodded slightly.

There was a trace of worry in her eyes as she looked at Luo Yan.

A week had passed since Luo Yan had fallen unconscious, and he still hadn't woken up.

Fortunately, his complexion had improved quite a bit with time.

"Is he also a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who's started cultivating again?" Er Ming asked in surprise.

He'd heard Da Ming talk about the Extreme North, but he hadn't expected Xiao Wu to encounter a Soul Beast from there on her trip—and one who had also cultivated for a hundred thousand years before taking human form.

"I don't think so!"

Xiao Wu shook her head.

Luo Yan had been able to change into his true form at will, so he clearly hadn't started cultivating again after reaching a hundred thousand years. After beginning that process, a Soul Beast would gradually shed its true form.

During that process, it couldn't return to its original form. Doing so would either hinder its cultivation or, in the worst case, interrupt the process entirely.

"If he didn't start over after reaching a hundred thousand years, then doesn't that mean he's like Di Tian and the others?!"

Er Ming looked at Luo Yan with even greater surprise.

He hadn't expected Luo Yan to be a Soul Beast like Di Tian and the others, capable of taking human form.

"Maybe. I'm not sure either." Xiao Wu shook her head again.

She really didn't know. After all, if Luo Yan possessed strength like Di Tian's, he shouldn't be in this condition.

Seeing that Er Ming was about to speak again, Xiao Wu patted his head. "All right, let's talk about it when we get back. We'll know once Brother Luo Yan wakes up!"

At the Titan Giant Ape's speed, they soon returned to the shore of the Lake of Life.

Though it was called the Lake of Life, it was actually just a lake fed by water flowing from the Lake of Life deep in the forest.

Once they arrived, Xiao Wu quickly climbed down from the Titan Giant Ape and carried Luo Yan into the little house she'd left months ago.

As though she hadn't been gone long, the house was still spotless.

Xiao Wu gently laid Luo Yan on the bed.

Looking at his now slightly rosy face, she murmured, "Brother Luo Yan, please wake up soon..."

After carefully covering him with a blanket, she finally left the house.

Outside, besides Er Ming, another Soul Beast stood—a creature even larger than the Titan Giant Ape.

He had the head of a bull and the body of a serpent, with a pair of azure-blue eyes and a green serpentine body.

He was Xiao Wu's other little brother, the Sky Azure Bull Python, Da Ming.

When Da Ming saw Xiao Wu come out of the house, he turned his gaze toward her and asked softly, "Sister Xiao Wu, why are you back so soon?"

Da Ming was trying to keep his voice down, but it was still loud.

"Something happened, and I almost didn't make it back. The human world really is dangerous!"

"Luckily, I was pretty fortunate..."

Xiao Wu told them everything that had happened along the way, including how Luo Yan had rescued her.

"Good thing Luo Yan was there. Otherwise, Sister Xiao Wu might not have made it back!"

Although Xiao Wu had returned safely, Da Ming had still been extremely anxious when he heard that a Super Douluo had targeted her.

Er Ming clenched both fists beside him.

After Xiao Wu finished telling her story, Da Ming told her what had happened in the Star Dou Great Forest during that time.

Aside from some humans coming to the forest to hunt for Soul Rings, nothing important had happened.

"Sister Xiao Wu, now that you're back, will you be going to the human world again?"

Da Ming looked at Xiao Wu expectantly.

The three of them had lived together for so many years, so naturally, they didn't want Xiao Wu to return to the dangerous human world—especially now that a Super Douluo had her in his sights.

If she ran into that Super Douluo again, she definitely wouldn't escape.

"I don't know yet. Let's see after Brother Luo Yan wakes up!"

"This trip wasn't without its rewards. Brother Luo Yan said he knows the murderer who killed my mother!"

"All I have to do now is wait until I'm strong enough!"

Xiao Wu considered it briefly but didn't give Da Ming a definite answer.

After all, she wanted to stay with Luo Yan not only because he'd rescued her, but also because he knew who had killed her mother.

"Sister Xiao Wu, you've found out who killed your mother? That's wonderful!"

Hearing that Xiao Wu had gotten what she wanted, Er Ming was genuinely happy for her.

Xiao Wu nodded.

After exchanging a few more words, Xiao Wu turned and went back into the house. She sat cross-legged on the other side of the bed, glanced at Luo Yan, then closed her eyes and began to cultivate.

But as soon as she drew a wisp of Soul Power into her body, she noticed something was wrong.

"Sister Xiao Wu, you mean your Soul Ring disappeared?!"

Da Ming looked at Xiao Wu, who had returned to them, his eyes filled with confusion.

Xiao Wu nodded slightly and said,

"Yes. I noticed it when I started cultivating just now. No matter how carefully I checked, I couldn't find the reason. It's as if the Soul Ring had never appeared at all!"

"Sister Xiao Wu, could it have something to do with that drop of blood essence Luo Yan gave you? When did you first notice this?"

Da Ming seemed to have thought of something, and his gaze wandered uncertainly.

He was only a Soul Beast. Even though he'd lived a long time, he couldn't be sure what had caused Xiao Wu's condition.

At his words, Xiao Wu fell into thought.

After a long pause, she came back to herself and said, "That's possible. I haven't cultivated since I woke up, so I only noticed just now!"

"Forget it. We'll probably know why once Luo Yan wakes up!"

Thinking of Luo Yan still lying in bed, Xiao Wu temporarily pushed the question out of her mind.

Da Ming said nothing more. He really didn't know why this was happening either.

In the mountains behind Holy Soul Village, a magnificent waterfall hung from a mountain peak.

Hidden behind the waterfall was a cave.

Inside, Tang Hao sat cross-legged in front of a special Blue Silver Grass.

This Blue Silver Grass was a remnant of the Blue Silver Emperor's body, left behind after the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast sacrificed herself.

If fate allowed, perhaps one day it could cultivate back to a hundred thousand years and take human form again.