"A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!"
Sword Douluo's breath caught. He had never imagined that just when he thought Soul Beasts had gone completely extinct, he would turn around and run into a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
In an instant, Sword Douluo's breathing grew hurried.
He immediately understood what it would mean for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to capture a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, now that Soul Beasts had gone extinct.
Clang~
Without the slightest hesitation, Sword Douluo instantly appeared before the people from Shrek.
Sword Douluo's sudden appearance startled everyone from Shrek.
"Grandpa Sword!"
Only Ning Rongrong, recognizing him, cheered and ran straight over.
"It's Sword Douluo!"
Seeing Ning Rongrong's reaction, the others immediately realized that the visitor was the legendary Sword Douluo.
"This junior is Flender, dean of Shrek Academy. Greetings, Senior Sword Douluo!"
Flender stepped forward first to pay his respects.
"Greetings, Senior Sword Douluo!"
The others from Shrek hurriedly followed suit. Even Tang San stepped forward respectfully.
"Xiao Wu, what's wrong?"
Only after they had finished their greetings did Tang San notice that Xiao Wu hadn't come forward. Her face was deathly pale, and her whole body was trembling.
"Brother..."
Xiao Wu's voice trembled badly, and she looked at Sword Douluo with terror in her eyes.
"Rongrong, you should know about the Soul Beasts, right?"
Sword Douluo set Xiao Wu aside for the moment and turned to Ning Rongrong.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect knew that Ning Rongrong had gone to the Star Dou Great Forest to help her companions hunt Soul Beasts.
"Yes, Grandpa Sword. All the Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest have disappeared!"
"Grandpa Sword, since even you came here, does that mean something happened elsewhere, too...?"
At the mention of the Soul Beasts, the smile vanished from Ning Rongrong's face. Seeing Sword Douluo here made her fear that her worries had come true.
Perhaps something had happened to the Soul Beasts in other places as well, not just those in the Star Dou Great Forest.
"That's right. Every Soul Beast on the Douluo Continent has disappeared!"
Seeing that Ning Rongrong had already guessed, Sword Douluo didn't hide the truth. He gave her head an approving pat.
"Ah... they really have all disappeared?"
Ning Rongrong's mouth fell open, her face turning pale.
"How could this happen?"
"So all the Soul Beasts on the entire Douluo Continent have disappeared..."
"That's impossible, isn't it?"
"I don't believe this is true. It can't be..."
"..."
Hearing Sword Douluo's words, Zhao Wuji and the Shrek Seven Devils, who had just returned, all understood what had happened. Their expressions changed drastically.
Perhaps they had already sensed something was wrong on their way back.
But hearing for themselves that all the Soul Beasts had disappeared still left them utterly shocked. They couldn't believe it, and didn't want to.
Oscar, in particular, was not only shocked but deeply indignant.
He was already level 30! He could absorb his third Soul Ring now!
And now he was being told that all the Soul Beasts had disappeared. How was he supposed to absorb his third Soul Ring?
Heavens, did you really have to toy with me like this?
Aside from Oscar, the others wore much the same expression, as if both their parents had just died.
They weren't ready to absorb Soul Rings yet, but when they did need them in the future, there wouldn't be any left!
Tang San was no better. His face was grim. He had grand plans for his future, and he had been counting on absorbing Soul Rings of ten thousand years or more with his Second Martial Soul!
But now he was being told all the Soul Beasts had disappeared.
Had all his efforts been for nothing?
If he'd known the Soul Beasts would disappear, he should have cultivated both Martial Souls at the same time!
Now that the Soul Beasts were gone, he might not be able to add even a single Soul Ring to his Clear Sky Hammer.
"Damn it! Why did those Soul Beasts disappear?"
Tang San clenched his fists, his heart full of unwillingness.
"Grandpa Sword, let's go back. Since all the Soul Beasts have disappeared, there's no reason for me to stay here any longer!"
"The Soul Master World is sure to be in chaos from now on. I can't cause trouble for the sect!"
Once Ning Rongrong had recovered from her shock, she spoke up to Sword Douluo.
"Good. I came here this time to take you home."
Sword Douluo patted Ning Rongrong's head again.
He was relieved to see how sensible she had become, but his heart ached for her, too. She must have endured plenty of hardship at Shrek Academy.
Otherwise, she couldn't have become so sensible in such a short time.
Then Sword Douluo looked toward Xiao Wu, who was trembling and hiding behind Tang San.
"Little girl, you have good talent. Now that Soul Beasts are extinct, there's no point in staying here. Why don't you come back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect with us?"
Sword Douluo didn't reveal Xiao Wu's true identity outright.
The fewer people who knew Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, the better. If he could keep her identity hidden, he would.
"I..."
At Sword Douluo's words, Xiao Wu's trembling suddenly stopped. The worry she had been carrying in her heart had finally died.
Sword Douluo had indeed noticed her.
Of course he had. He was a Titled Douluo, not blind. How could he possibly fail to notice her?
"Xiao Wu!"
Only then did Tang San see Xiao Wu's face. It was pale and bloodless, and despair filled her eyes.
"What did you do to Xiao Wu?"
Tang San quickly pulled Xiao Wu into his arms, then looked up and demanded an answer from Sword Douluo.
Even if the other man was a Titled Douluo, he couldn't stand by and watch Xiao Wu get bullied.
Sword Douluo's invitation seemed perfectly reasonable, but Tang San knew Xiao Wu was so afraid and despairing because of him.
"Kid, are you questioning me?"
Sword Douluo looked at Tang San, a flash of swordlight in his eyes. A powerful sword intent instantly pressed down on Tang San.
"Ugh—!"
Tang San's expression changed, but he gritted his teeth and endured it.
With the support of the Mysterious Heaven Skill, Tang San managed to withstand Sword Douluo's sword-intent pressure.
"Little girl, what is it? You don't want to come with me?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Sword Douluo's eyes. He ignored Tang San and continued speaking to Xiao Wu.
"I... I..."
Tears welled in Xiao Wu's eyes. "I... I'll go with you..."
"Xiao Wu, you can't go with him!"
Seeing that Xiao Wu was about to agree, Tang San erupted. He cut her off, then angrily shouted at Sword Douluo again. "Bastard, what did you do to Xiao Wu?"
"As long as I'm here, even if you're a Titled Douluo, you're not taking Xiao Wu away!"
Tang San stretched out both arms, shielding Xiao Wu tightly behind him.
The Sleeve Arrows on his body were ready to fire at any moment.
He didn't know why Xiao Wu had agreed to go with the other man, but he could see that she clearly didn't want to.
That could only mean Sword Douluo was forcing her.
"Brother..."
Seeing Tang San protect her so fiercely, Xiao Wu felt even more reluctant to leave him.
"Senior Sword Douluo, I don't know how you forced Xiao Wu to go with you, but she clearly doesn't want to. I hope you won't make things difficult for her!"
Flender stepped forward, making his position clear.
"What if I insist on taking her with me today?"
Sword Douluo said calmly.
"Then please give us a reason, Senior. Otherwise, Shrek Academy isn't to be trifled with," Flender said gravely.
"Grandpa Sword, why do we have to take Xiao Wu with us?"
"They're all my friends. Please don't make things difficult for them, okay?"
Ning Rongrong turned around, grabbed Sword Douluo's sleeve, and asked indignantly.
Seeing that Ning Rongrong was angry, Sword Douluo sighed inwardly. He bent down and quietly whispered something in her ear.
"What? Xiao Wu is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?"
After hearing the truth from Sword Douluo, Ning Rongrong's eyes widened, and she couldn't help exclaiming aloud.