Er Ming beat his Dark Gold Bone Wings, his massive body slowly rising into the air. Without looking back, he disappeared into the spatial rift.
The edges of the rift slowly drew together, closing the passage between Star Dou Forest and Spirit City once more.
The sky returned to calm, as if the Ten Thousand Beast Torrent that had blotted out the heavens had never appeared.
Golden Crocodile Douluo retracted his Golden Crocodile King Avatar, and the nine Soul Rings beneath his feet slowly faded away.
He stood in the middle of the wrecked plaza, gazing silently in the direction where the spatial rift had vanished for a long while.
Then he turned around. His aged face showed no emotion.
"What year does the Star Dou Forest Soul Beast Archive list for the Titan Giant Ape?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan froze for a moment, then cautiously approached. "Reporting to Lord Golden Crocodile, the archive lists the Titan Giant Ape as a... Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast."
"Hundred thousand years?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo looked down at the bloodstains that the recoil had carved across both his arms, then at his tail, which had snapped off several of its spikes and still throbbed with pain. Suddenly, he laughed in anger.
"What a fine Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast! Do several hundred thousand years count as a hundred thousand?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo's mouth twitched. How was he supposed to answer that?
He was a victim too!
Golden Crocodile Douluo turned and shot a cold glance toward the Worship Hall.
"Have the Intelligence Department's administrators report to the Logistics Department tomorrow. From now on, a new group will compile the intelligence on Star Dou Forest!"
The spatial rift finally closed.
Tang San's knees slammed onto the shattered flagstones. Facing the place where the rift had disappeared, he wore a look of heart-wrenching anguish.
"No—!"
"Don't go!"
Tears gushed from his eyes. His body crumpled, his forehead pressed to the ground as his shoulders shook violently.
The Soul Masters who had yet to leave the distant spectator stands were all moved.
A few female Soul Masters even reddened their eyes and pulled out handkerchiefs to gently dab at their tears.
"Poor child..." an older Soul Master sighed. "What a terrible blow he must have suffered."
Grandmaster stood at the front of the Shrek Academy group. Watching Tang San like this, he let out a deep sigh. A rare tenderness and sympathy appeared on his usually stern face.
"What a loyal and devoted child."
"Xiao San, get up." Flender went over to Tang San and, together with Grandmaster, helped him to his feet.
"Xiao Wu..." Flender gritted his teeth. "She's a Soul Beast who took human form. Returning to Star Dou Forest is the best place for her."
"Only there can she keep growing stronger. Once you become a peerless powerhouse too, you'll have a chance to be together again!"
Tang San squeezed his eyes shut, feeling as if someone had stabbed him in the heart.
If Xiao Wu kept getting stronger, growing stronger and stronger until even Titled Douluo couldn't do anything to her...
How was he supposed to get her Soul Ring then?
It was a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, after all. He wished Xiao Wu would fall into dire straits right now!
But with everyone watching, he still had to keep up the act.
A tear slid from the corner of Tang San's eye. "I just feel awful thinking that I won't see Xiao Wu again. Dean, you don't need to worry about me."
Just then, a soft snicker rang out at the most inappropriate moment.
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan lifted a delicate finger and smoothed a stray lock of hair from his forehead. His feminine face was full of undisguised mockery.
He stood at the edge of the high platform, looking down at Tang San, who was surrounded by the others. His red lips parted.
"Are you sure he's loyal and devoted?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo's voice was soft but cutting. It wasn't loud, yet everyone present could hear him clearly.
"I think he's gone mad with longing for a Soul Ring."
The instant the words fell, a fierce killing intent erupted.
Tang Hao's eyelids snapped open.
His body was still battered. The three deep claw marks across his chest exposed the bone and continued to seep blood. He was barely able to stand.
Yet the moment Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke, a bone-chilling murderous aura burst from him, suffocating everyone around.
The Clear Sky Hammer hummed in his grasp.
Chrysanthemum Douluo felt a chill shoot from his tailbone straight to the crown of his head.
In that instant, he remembered something that had happened many years ago.
More precisely, it was an incident the entire Spirit Hall had remembered ever since.
Back then, Spirit Hall had hunted the Blue Silver Emperor—who was also Tang Hao's wife.
There had been more than one Titled Douluo present, yet the man before him had smashed every one of them into serious injuries with a single blow.
Pope Qian Xunji had even fallen right there.
He, Chrysanthemum Douluo, had been there too. He had taken a hit from the Clear Sky Hammer...
Chrysanthemum Douluo's delicate finger shot up to cover his mouth. He shrank back half a step and tucked half his body behind Ghost Douluo, leaving only his eyes exposed as he warily watched Tang Hao.
Tang Hao stared coldly at Chrysanthemum Douluo.
The veins stood out on the back of his hammer-wielding hand, but he never struck.
Golden Crocodile Douluo had already retracted his Martial Soul Avatar, but he remained on the high platform, his deep green eyes fixed coldly on Tang Hao.
Dozens of yards lay between Tang Hao and Golden Crocodile Douluo, but both knew that if Tang Hao dared to move, Golden Crocodile Douluo would intercept him before the Clear Sky Hammer could fall.
In Tang Hao's current state, drenched in blood and on the verge of collapse, he had no chance of defeating the Level 98 Golden Crocodile Douluo head-on.
Tang Hao drew a deep breath and forced down the murderous intent churning in his chest.
He put away the Clear Sky Hammer, bent down, and scooped up Tang San, who was kneeling on the ground and sobbing as if on the verge of fainting. He hoisted him over his shoulder.
Tang San sobbed against Tang Hao's shoulder, tears and snot smeared across his face. He certainly looked overcome with grief.
Tang Hao glanced back at Bibi Dong, then at Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo. In the end, he said nothing. Carrying Tang San, he turned and left.
No matter what, they had protected Xiao Wu this time.
Next, he would teach Tang San how to be a real man!
After Tang Hao's figure disappeared beyond the walls of Spirit City, another person rose to his feet.
Ning Fengzhi.
He had remained seated in the spectator stands the entire time, his back straight as a pine.
Even when the beasts had surged against the city, even when Golden Crocodile Douluo and the Titan Giant Ape had fought with earth-shattering force, he had not lost his composure in the slightest.
Handsome and refined, his bearing calm and composed.
Now he stood, smoothed the nonexistent wrinkles from his sleeves, and cupped his hands toward Bibi Dong on the high platform.
"Your Holiness, I have imposed on you for quite some time today. I'll take my leave."
Bibi Dong gave a slight nod but did not ask him to stay.
That was the way of a world where strength reigned supreme.
Though the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was affiliated with Spirit Hall, it was still the second-largest sect in the world. Ning Fengzhi himself deserved the Pope's basic respect.
"Rongrong, let's go."
Ning Fengzhi beckoned to Ning Rongrong.
But Ning Rongrong didn't move. Instead, she turned to look at Oscar, who stood among the Shrek group.
"Dad, take Oscar with us too! He's my friend!"
Ning Fengzhi didn't look at her. He merely repeated, calmly, "Let's go."
Oscar's expression shifted.
He gritted his teeth, then hurried forward a few steps. Stopping ten paces from Ning Fengzhi, he bowed deeply.
"Sect Master Ning! I... I'd like to ask you to take me with you! I want to be with Rongrong!"
His face flushed red as he spoke, but his gaze was more earnest than ever.
Ning Fengzhi stopped walking.
He turned to look at Oscar.
The boy's eyes were clear and passionate.
Ning Fengzhi had met countless people. He could tell that the feeling was genuine.
He watched him for a while, but in the end, he looked away, turning his gaze toward the direction where Tang San and Tang Hao had disappeared.
Ning Fengzhi gently shook his head.
"Better not."
Just like Chrysanthemum Douluo and Bibi Dong, he had sensed that something was off.
In other words...
He didn't dare trust Tang San's friend!
Before you continue