Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu's Return

In the Star Dou Great Forest, Xiao Wu spent several dozen minutes condensing her third soul ring, yet she still saw no sign of Ning Rongrong.

"Daming, what if I just jump down there and demand Rongrong back from that Silver Dragon King? We're all soul beasts, surely it wouldn't do anything to me, right?"

The Sky Azure Bull Python was startled by these words.

"Little Sister Xiao Wu, you absolutely must not. Although His Excellency is approachable, no one can guarantee that His Excellency won't lose control."

The Titan Giant Ape nodded from the side.

Xiao Wu looked at the two beasts suspiciously; her intuition told her that there was a story between them and the Silver Dragon King.

"What did that His Excellency do to you two?"

Hearing this, the Titan Giant Ape let out a few aggrieved and dissatisfied roars. The Sky Azure Bull Python, feeling helpless, revealed the truth.

Simply put, during the time the Silver Dragon King had just awakened, the two of them had acted like hot-headed fools and picked a fight with this "outsider who invaded the Lake of Life," only to be beaten into submission.

Xiao Wu was somewhat shocked. To be able to beat the two forest overlords—beings that even the Martial Soul Hall dared not easily provoke—into submission, that entity must possess immense power.

After the shock came joy.

The soul beast world finally had another powerhouse, and since she knew the other party's location, didn't that mean she had gained another trump card?

Just as Xiao Wu was feeling happy, ripples appeared on the lake's surface. A moment later, a cyan figure was ejected from the water, and the Sky Azure Bull Python was quick enough to catch Ning Rongrong.

Ouch, ouch, ouch.

At this moment, Ning Rongrong was rubbing her head, gritting her teeth, and clutching her back.

She had thought that being treated roughly upon entering was understandable, but she hadn't expected to be tossed out like trash upon leaving.

It was hard to imagine that this was the behavior of a big shot living in a palace.

"Rongrong! You're out!"

Xiao Wu rushed directly to Rongrong. Although, in theory, she shouldn't expose herself in front of humans, Ning Rongrong was different.

Firstly, the other party had discovered her secret; she naturally knew that Ning Rongrong had seen her on the Sky Azure Bull Python's tail earlier.

Secondly, Ning Rongrong had spent time with the Common Master of Soul Beasts, the Silver Dragon King, and had emerged safely. By all accounts, Ning Rongrong was on their side. Even if she told Ning Rongrong the truth, nothing would go wrong, provided Ning Rongrong didn't tell the others.

At worst, her ability to weave lies was top-tier.

Hearing a familiar voice, Ning Rongrong opened her eyes to see Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu... ah, that companion who received training from the Titan Giant Ape. She hadn't expected Xiao Wu to still be here after six hours, though it made sense; the other party had to train as well.

Thinking of her own six hours of grueling training, tears of "I understand you" sympathy welled up in her eyes.

Xiao Wu was stunned to see Ning Rongrong crying, and even more confused when she saw Ning Rongrong nod. But eventually, she figured it out: Ning Rongrong already knew her identity but didn't intend to expose her, and simultaneously hoped she wouldn't expose Ning Rongrong either.

Xiao Wu nodded and patted her chest, indicating her agreement.

In Ning Rongrong's eyes, this was exactly how Xiao Wu expressed that she understood her.

Ning Rongrong landed on the ground and embraced Xiao Wu.

After a long while, Ning Rongrong felt the forest was a bit too bright.

The Shrek group had set out in the morning, and the time they helped Oscar hunt his soul beast was at noon. Since she had been taken away for six hours of training, theoretically, it should be night by now.

Yet, the sky showed no signs of darkening.

Through the leaves, she could vaguely see the sun still hanging high above.

"Why is it still so bright?"

She asked, puzzled.

Xiao Wu let go, looked at the sky, and said, "It's only been half an hour since Oscar absorbed his soul ring. Why would you think it's strange that it's bright, Rongrong?"

After a moment of thought, she provided the answer herself: "It must be because it was too dark underwater, right?"

Half an hour? Only half an hour had passed outside?

Ning Rongrong was somewhat surprised, but she 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 tone light and cheerful.

Ning Rongrong glanced at the two beasts, then at the Lake of Life, and ultimately decided not to overthink it, trotting along with Xiao Wu.

Meanwhile, Tang San was still struggling to absorb his soul ring. His confrontation with the Man Faced Demon Spider had exhausted almost all his strength, and he had few hidden weapons left on his person. If it weren't for the sake of saving Xiao Wu, he likely wouldn't even have had the strength to absorb the soul ring.

He had managed to hold on until now entirely through sheer willpower.

But now, as strange protrusions gradually appeared on his back, his willpower was reaching its limit.

"Teacher Zhao, what is that on Tang San's back?"

Dai Mubai pointed at Tang San's back and asked Zhao Wuji, who was standing nearby.

"From what I can see, this is the sign that the ferocious power within the soul ring is about to burst his body apart. Tang San, you must be alright!"

The mutation on Tang San's back was quite obvious; anyone who wasn't blind could see it.

The group watched this strange transformation, their hearts trembling with fear.

As Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu drew closer to them, Ning Rongrong felt a strange movement on her back once they reached a certain distance.

She immediately recalled the scene where the Holy God had manipulated her to hunt the Man Faced Demon Spider; besides the spirit ring, she had obtained something else—something she had never used since that day—an External Soul Bone known as the "Eight Spider Lances"!

At this moment, the Eight Spider Lances were moving on their own, as if they possessed a consciousness of their own.

Ning Rongrong's brows furrowed instantly, and just as she intended to stop and examine it closely, the voice of the Silver Dragon King reached her ears.

"Pay it no mind. That is my essence blood guiding the growth of the soul bone on your back; it is entirely beneficial to you and holds no harm."

Ning Rongrong looked around, seeing no sign of the puppet, yet she did not doubt the Silver Dragon King.

Since the Silver Dragon King had said so, she naturally ceased her concerns and continued to rush toward the location of the figures not far away.

The movement on her back grew increasingly intense, as if it were radiating pressure outward.

How overbearing.

Ning Rongrong thought to herself.

At the same time, the movement on Tang San's back in the distance subsided, the ferocious energy within the spirit ring seemingly sensing something and gradually returning to calm.

His grim expression finally relaxed.

Tang San's aura gradually grew stronger; the third spirit ring had been successfully absorbed!

"Xiao Wu!"

The moment he regained consciousness, Tang San stood up and shouted.

The sound was so loud that many birds were startled from the branches and flew away.

When Tang San calmed his mind, he noticed two figures approaching in the distance, one of whom was indeed Xiao Wu.

Joy overflowed from his expression as Tang San ran toward them, and the rest of the Shrek members finally felt their hearts settle. Following Tang San's gaze, astonishment, surprise, and relief—a variety of expressions appeared on their faces.

Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong had returned; it was truly unexpected.

Xiao Wu and Tang San embraced, while Ning Rongrong walked to the side, looking at her gathering companions, momentarily at a loss for words.

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!" Zhao Wuji said with a smile.