Star Dou Great Forest. Xiao Wu spent dozens of minutes condensing her third Soul Ring, but Ning Rongrong was still nowhere to be seen.
"Daming, what if I just jump down and find that Silver Dragon King or whatever, and ask for Rongrong back? We're all Soul Beasts. She probably won't do anything to me, right?"
Sky Azure Bull Python was startled when he heard that.
"Sister Xiao Wu, you absolutely mustn't. His Excellency is easygoing, but there's no guarantee he won't fly into a rage."
Titan Giant Ape nodded from the side.
Xiao Wu eyed the two beasts suspiciously. Her instincts told her that something had happened between them and the Silver Dragon King.
"What did that His Excellency do to you?"
Hearing this, Titan Giant Ape let out a few aggrieved, resentful roars. Sky Azure Bull Python could only sigh and tell her the truth.
In short, during the period when the Silver Dragon King had awakened, the two of them had foolishly gotten into an argument with this "outsider who invaded the Lake of Life," and then been beaten into submission.
Xiao Wu was a little surprised. To beat Daming and Erming into submission—two forest overlords whom even Spirit Hall dared not provoke lightly—meant she must possess tremendous power.
After her surprise came delight.
The Soul Beast Realm had finally gained another powerhouse. And since she knew where this one was, didn't that mean she had another trump card?
Just as Xiao Wu was getting excited, ripples spread across the lake. A moment later, a blue-green figure was sent flying out of the water. Sky Azure Bull Python reacted swiftly and caught Ning Rongrong.
"Ow, ow, ow!"
Ning Rongrong clutched her head, gritting her teeth as she felt her back.
She had thought it was understandable to be thrown in roughly, but she hadn't expected to be thrown out, too.
It was hard to imagine that such a big shot lived in a palace.
"Rongrong! You're out!"
Xiao Wu rushed straight over to her. By rights, she shouldn't have revealed herself in front of a human, but Ning Rongrong was different.
First, Ning Rongrong had already discovered that something was different about her. Earlier, Rongrong had seen her on Sky Azure Bull Python's tail, so Xiao Wu knew she had been seen.
Second, Ning Rongrong had spent time with that Soul Beast Realm's Common Master, the Silver Dragon King, and had come out safe and sound. That meant, more or less, that Rongrong was on their side. Even if Xiao Wu told her the truth, nothing would go wrong—as long as Rongrong didn't tell the others.
And if all else failed, Xiao Wu was also a master at making up lies.
Hearing the familiar voice, Ning Rongrong opened her eyes, and Xiao Wu came into view.
Xiao Wu... Ah, her companion who had been trained by Titan Giant Ape. More than six hours had passed, yet Xiao Wu was still here. Then again, that made sense. She had training to do, too.
Ning Rongrong couldn't help remembering her own six hours of grueling training. Tears of sympathy welled in her eyes, as if to say, "I understand."
Xiao Wu was stunned when she saw Ning Rongrong crying. She nodded at her, only growing more confused. But in the end, she figured it out: Ning Rongrong already knew her identity, but wasn't going to expose her—and hoped Xiao Wu wouldn't expose her either.
Xiao Wu nodded and patted her chest, agreeing.
In Ning Rongrong's eyes, that happened to mean Xiao Wu understood what she was going through, too.
Ning Rongrong landed and embraced Xiao Wu.
After a long while, Ning Rongrong felt that the forest was a little too bright.
The Shrek group had set out in the morning, and it had been noon when they helped Oscar hunt a Soul Beast. Then she had been taken away for six hours of training. In theory, it should have been night by now.
But the sky showed no sign of darkening.
Through the leaves, she could just make out the sun still hanging overhead.
"Why is it so bright?"
She asked in confusion.
Xiao Wu let go and glanced at the sky. "It's only been half an hour since Oscar absorbed his Soul Ring. Why would you find it strange that it's still bright, Rongrong...?"
After a moment's thought, she answered her own question. "It must have been too dark underwater, right?"
Half an hour? Only half an hour had passed outside?
Ning Rongrong was surprised, but quickly accepted it.
"Let's head back now. Third Brother and the others must be worried sick."
Xiao Wu took Ning Rongrong's hand, her voice light and cheerful.
Ning Rongrong looked at the two beasts nearby, then at the Lake of Life. In the end, she decided not to dwell on it and jogged along with Xiao Wu.
Meanwhile, Tang San continued to struggle to absorb his Soul Ring. Fighting the Man Faced Demon Spider had nearly drained all his strength, and he had very few Hidden Weapons left. If he hadn't been trying to save Xiao Wu, he probably wouldn't even have had the strength to absorb the Soul Ring.
He had made it this far by sheer willpower.
But now, as strange protrusions gradually appeared on his back, even his willpower was about to give out.
"Teacher Zhao, what's that on Tang San's back?"
Dai Mubai pointed at Tang San's back and asked Zhao Wuji beside him.
"Looks to me like the Soul Ring's savage power is about to burst his body apart. Tang San, you have to be all right!"
The changes on Tang San's back were obvious. Anyone who wasn't blind could see them.
Everyone watched the change, their hearts in their throats.
Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu drew closer and closer. When they came within a certain distance, Ning Rongrong felt something stirring on her back.
She immediately thought of how the Holy God had controlled it to hunt the Man Faced Demon Spider. Besides the Soul Ring, she had obtained something else, something she had never used since then—the External Soul Bone known as the Eight Spider Lances!
At that moment, the Eight Spider Lances began to move, as if they had a will of their own.
Ning Rongrong's brows knit at once. Just as she was about to stop and inspect them, the Silver Dragon King's voice reached her ears.
"Don't worry about it. My essence blood is guiding the Soul Bone on your back as it grows. It can only benefit you."
Ning Rongrong looked around. She didn't see the puppet, but she didn't doubt the Silver Dragon King either.
If the Silver Dragon King said so, she wouldn't worry about it. She continued toward the figures in the distance.
The movement on her back grew more and more pronounced, as though releasing a wave of pressure.
How domineering.
Ning Rongrong thought.
At the same time, the movement on Tang San's back, not far away, subsided. The savage energy inside his Soul Ring seemed to have sensed something, gradually settling down.
Even his contorted face finally relaxed.
Tang San's aura grew stronger by the moment. He had successfully absorbed his third Soul Ring!
"Xiao Wu!"
As soon as he came to, Tang San stood up and called out.
His shout sent many birds scattering from the branches.
Once Tang San calmed down, he noticed two figures approaching in the distance. One of them was Xiao Wu.
His joy was written all over his face. Tang San hurried over, and the other Shrek members finally felt at ease. They followed his gaze and saw the two figures. Shock, delight, relief—every sort of expression appeared on their faces.
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong had returned. What a surprise.
Xiao Wu and Tang San embraced, while Ning Rongrong walked to the side. Looking at the companions gathering around her, she didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Good to have you back. Good to have you back!" Zhao Wuji said with a smile.
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