The Battle at the Lake of Life, and the Conditions for Sparing Xiao Wu

Deep within the Core Zone of the Star Dou Great Forest, the Lake of Life, once a place of breathtaking beauty, had been reduced to utter ruin.

The vegetation around the shore had been completely destroyed, and enormous craters covered the ground. The air was thick with the stench of blood.

Golden Crocodile Douluo stood in midair. Across from him, both the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python had been injured.

Several savage wounds marred the Titan Giant Ape's mountain-like body, blood pouring from them. They were clearly the marks left by the Golden Crocodile Claw.

Deep cracks had also appeared in the Sky Azure Bull Python's scales, exposing torn flesh. Even one of its horns had been forcibly broken off.

Golden Crocodile Douluo, on the other hand, remained as calm as ever, with scarcely any visible injuries.

Just then, Su Mo and the others appeared in the distance.

Sensing their arrival, both sides tacitly stopped fighting.

The Sky Azure Bull Python looked toward Su Mo's group, and its pupils suddenly contracted.

Xiao Wu was tightly gripped in Gui Mei's hand, covered in wounds. Her four rabbit legs hung limply, her long ears drooped, and her eyes were hollow and vacant. The entire rabbit looked as though her soul had left her body.

Clearly, Xiao Wu was still immersed in the grief of losing her mother.

"Damn humans! Release Sister Xiao Wu at once!" The Sky Azure Bull Python was instantly consumed by rage.

At the same time, the Titan Giant Ape saw Xiao Wu's miserable state as well.

Its eyes nearly split apart in fury, its roar filled with heartbreak and rage.

The two colossal beasts both moved to rush over and save Xiao Wu.

But Golden Crocodile Douluo would never let them have their way. With a flash, he blocked their path.

The Titan Giant Ape had been overwhelmed by fury. Roaring, it threw a punch at Golden Crocodile Douluo.

Golden Crocodile Douluo snorted coldly and charged forward. With a single clash, he sent the Titan Giant Ape flying.

The Titan Giant Ape's enormous body crashed heavily into the distant ground, smashing out a deep crater. Dust billowed into the air as shattered stones flew everywhere.

"You two beasts think you can get past me?" Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice was indifferent and arrogant.

Seeing this, the Sky Azure Bull Python swung its massive body, trying to circle around from the side.

But Golden Crocodile Douluo shifted and blocked its path again, forcing it back with one strike. "I said it already. No one is getting through."

At that moment, Su Mo spoke from afar. "If you want this rabbit to live, stop fighting."

His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached the ears of the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python.

The Titan Giant Ape climbed up from the ground, its enormous eyes fixed viciously on Su Mo's group as though it wanted to devour them alive. But for Xiao Wu's sake, it did not dare act recklessly again.

The Sky Azure Bull Python swiftly steadied itself and asked in a deep voice, "Humans, what will it take for you to release Sister Xiao Wu? And what have you done to Aunt Rou?"

Xiao Wu had been captured, yet her mother, Ah Rou, was nowhere to be seen.

Furthermore, during the earlier battle, an incomparably powerful energy fluctuation had erupted in the distance.

It was no stranger to that fluctuation. It was the phenomenon that only appeared when a Soul Beast sacrificed itself.

And with only Xiao Wu present now, the ominous feeling in the Sky Azure Bull Python's heart grew stronger and stronger.

"That transformed Soul Beast is already dead," Su Mo said calmly.

"What... Aunt Rou..." The Sky Azure Bull Python was immediately overwhelmed by grief.

Its massive body trembled without end, its eyes filled with rage, pain, and self-blame.

At the same time, upon hearing Su Mo's words, the Titan Giant Ape let out an even crazier roar, as though it were grieving.

"You two, calm yourselves." Su Mo's lips curved faintly. "I can give this rabbit a chance to live, but there is one condition."

"What condition?" the Sky Azure Bull Python asked anxiously.

With Golden Crocodile Douluo here, they could not save Sister Xiao Wu, nor could they avenge Aunt Rou.

If there was a chance for Sister Xiao Wu to live, it was willing to accept any condition, even death.

If Xiao Wu's mother had not saved it and Er Ming back then, they would have died long ago.

Xiao Wu's mother had raised them. Ah Rou had saved their lives, and for Xiao Wu's sake, it was willing to do anything.

Besides, both it and Er Ming had always loved Sister Xiao Wu.

So no matter the condition, it would choose to let the Sister Xiao Wu it loved survive.

"It's simple. I need the Titan Giant Ape to sacrifice itself to the person beside me." Su Mo raised a hand and pointed at Yue Guan.

Yue Guan's eyes immediately lit up, and his breathing grew noticeably faster.

But Su Mo's next words left everyone present too stunned to speak.

After a brief pause, he continued, "And you, Sky Azure Bull Python, will sacrifice yourself to me."

He was only level forty-seven now, still far from the level required to absorb a fifth Spirit Ring.

But a Soul Beast's sacrifice was different from hunting a Soul Beast to obtain a Spirit Ring.

A sacrifice meant that a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast willingly offered everything to a Spirit Master. The Spirit Master did not need to have reached the corresponding level.

Therefore, as long as the Sky Azure Bull Python was willing to sacrifice itself, he could completely absorb a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring right now.

He was merely testing his luck with those words.

He was gambling on the two Soul Beasts' feelings for Xiao Wu, gambling that they would die for her.

If the two Soul Beasts refused, he would still release Xiao Wu, since he had already promised Ah Rou.

But if they agreed, then today's gains would be tremendous.

The instant his words fell, everyone abruptly looked at him, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Even Golden Crocodile Douluo, who had always been steady and composed, showed a trace of surprise in his eyes.

Would two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts really willingly sacrifice themselves for a Soft Bone Charm Rabbit?

How was that possible?

Those were Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, beings who had cultivated for tens of thousands of years. Every one of them possessed wisdom no less than that of humans.

How could they give up their lives for another Soul Beast?

But if they truly agreed, would that not mean Su Mo was about to become a Soul King with a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring?

Everyone could not help drawing in a sharp breath.

Such a young Soul King, with such heaven-defying Spirit Ring configuration—there had never been anyone like him before, nor would there ever be another.

Their gazes naturally fell upon the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python, wanting to know what choice they would make.

Yue Guan in particular held his breath. After all, this concerned his ninth Spirit Ring.

If he could obtain a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone, his strength would soar by leaps and bounds.

The Sky Azure Bull Python did not answer immediately. Instead, it looked at the Titan Giant Ape. "Er Ming..."

It was willing to sacrifice itself for Sister Xiao Wu, but it could not decide for Er Ming.

The Titan Giant Ape naturally understood Da Ming's meaning. It roared twice, indicating its agreement.

The Sky Azure Bull Python nodded its enormous bull head and looked at Su Mo. "If I agree to you, will you truly release Sister Xiao Wu?"

"Of course," Su Mo replied calmly.

"I want you to swear it upon your Martial Soul." The Sky Azure Bull Python was still somewhat uneasy.

Su Mo chuckled. "Have you forgotten your current situation? Do you even have the right to negotiate?"