The Shrek Crowd's Greed! Daming and Erming: My Lord, Young Master, Please Save Sister Xiao Wu!

When the Sky Screen revealed that Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

Deep down, Zhao Wuji felt the uncontrollable greed that was instinctive to a Soul Master flash through him.

What Soul Master could resist the temptation of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone?

But he wasn't Tang Hao, and Shrek Academy wasn't a den of iniquity. Flender would never allow him to do something like that (though, in truth, that wasn't the case).

Besides, Xiao Wu was currently a student at Shrek, one of the "Little Monsters" he'd been about to test just moments ago.

Of course, most importantly...

Xiao Wu was Tang Hao's "prey."

Who knew whether Tang Hao was secretly keeping an eye on Xiao Wu right now?

If Zhao Wuji tried to make a move on Xiao Wu now, he'd have to worry about the information leaking out.

Even if he killed Xiao Wu later and obtained her Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bone, the entire continent would hunt him down.

Zhao Wuji had once been hunted by Spirit Hall.

At the time, Spirit Hall hadn't taken him seriously.

Otherwise, Zhao Wuji wouldn't have been able to escape.

But as a result, he'd been forced to live under an assumed name.

That was the only reason Spirit Hall hadn't pursued the matter.

If word got out that he'd obtained a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bone, the entire Douluo Continent would hunt him down!

Zhao Wuji wasn't a fool. He knew that even if he wanted to make a move on Xiao Wu, he'd have to wait for a better opportunity.

Forcefully suppressing that flicker of greed in his heart, Zhao Wuji spoke in a gruff voice, breaking the somewhat stifling silence:

"Ahem! Dai Mubai!"

"Teacher Zhao."

Dai Mubai stepped forward at his call, his expression complicated as his gaze shifted between Tang San and Xiao Wu.

A flicker of greed passed through his eyes as well.

At that point, they had only just met.

There was no friendship between them.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone!

Dai Mubai didn't expect Xiao Wu to sacrifice herself for him.

Even if he killed her, he couldn't absorb her Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring, but just one Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bone would be more than enough!

Absorbing a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bone...

would not only grant him two incredibly powerful Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bone skills, but also greatly improve his constitution and increase his Soul Power.

That would be enough to let him catch up to his older brother, Dai Weisi!

Then he wouldn't have to waste his days in Suotuo City, drinking himself into oblivion and chasing women.

"Show them the way. Arrange for the three girls to settle into the academy's girls' dormitory and get some rest."

Zhao Wuji waved his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"This test can't continue today. That's enough for now!

If anything comes up, we'll talk about it tomorrow!"

"Yes."

Dai Mubai nodded. He glanced at Tang San, who looked as if his soul had left his body, then at Xiao Wu, whose back looked so forlorn as Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong supported her.

With a quiet sigh, he turned and led the way.

"Come with me."

Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong supported Xiao Wu as they followed Dai Mubai slowly toward the academy's dormitory area.

Tang San stood rooted to the spot, watching Xiao Wu's figure gradually disappear into the distance. He wanted to run after her, but his feet felt nailed to the ground, too heavy to lift.

His father's plot had been exposed, Xiao Wu had grown distant and despairing, and his companions' gazes were complicated and hard to read...

All of it tangled together, leaving him feeling lost and pained, as if the world were spinning around him.

Star Dou Great Forest, Core Circle, Life Lake.

The lake reflected the golden light of the Sky Screen, which had just faded away. Ripples shimmered across the water, yet could not dispel the heavy, oppressive atmosphere in the air.

A group of Ferocious Beasts stood solemnly by the lakeshore, led by Beast God Di Tian.

Their gazes were complicated as they looked toward the two figures standing side by side at the water's edge.

Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena and the young master, Gu Yuan.

A little farther away, the enormous Sky Azure Bull Python, Daming, and the Titan Giant Ape, Erming, were prostrate on the ground.

Their massive bodies, enough to strike fear into any Soul Master beyond the forest, trembled slightly. Their huge beastly eyes brimmed with a panic and terror they had never felt before.

They had seen the Sky Screen's contents clearly. They had heard every word!

Sister Xiao Wu, whom they admired so deeply and had tried with all their might to protect...

From the moment she entered the human world, she'd fallen into the schemes of powerful humans!

That Clear Sky Douluo named Tang Hao had actually treated her as a "supplement" reserved for his son!

At the thought that Sister Xiao Wu might now be in danger, secretly watched by that terrifying Titled Douluo and liable to meet with disaster at any moment...

Daming and Erming felt as if their hearts were being cut to pieces. Boundless terror swallowed them whole.

Instinctively, they looked toward Life Lake, toward the two beings who now ruled over the fate of Star Dou Great Forest.

The dignity of their Lord Gu Yuena was overwhelming, and they didn't dare disturb her lightly.

As for the newly arrived young master, Gu Yuan, although his aura inspired instinctive awe, he didn't seem impossible to approach.

Their instinct to survive and their concern for Xiao Wu overwhelmed everything else.

The two enormous Soul Beasts exchanged a glance, and saw resolve in each other's eyes.

They cautiously shifted their bodies, humbly lowering their massive heads until they nearly touched the ground, and slowly approached the lakeshore.

They stopped a hundred meters from Gu Yuena and Gu Yuan, not daring to advance another inch.

"My Lord... Young Master..."

The Sky Azure Bull Python Daming summoned his courage. His deep, resonant voice trembled with barely concealed fear and pleading, breaking the silence.

He raised his enormous bull's head. His usually imposing serpent eyes were now filled with tears and entreaty.

"Please... please, have mercy and save Sister Xiao Wu!"

The Titan Giant Ape Erming immediately beat his broad arms against his chest, producing a dull thud.

He couldn't speak human language. All he could do was let out a plaintive "wuwu." Tears poured from his huge eyes like streams, splashing onto the grass by the lakeshore.

His anguished, humble plea stood in stark contrast to his usual fierce image.

Daming continued to beg, his voice choked with sobs:

"That human named Tang Hao is terrifying!

He's been plotting against Sister Xiao Wu for six years!

Sister Xiao Wu is in the human world now, just like... just like she's in a wolf's den!

We... we're too weak to leave the forest lightly, and we're no match for that Tang Hao either...

Only you and the young master have the power to bring Sister Xiao Wu back safely!"

"Please, my Lord, Young Master, for the sake of our shared Soul Beast bloodline, save Sister Xiao Wu!

We're willing to pay any price, even... even to guard the outer reaches of Life Lake for the rest of our lives, without complaint!"

They humbled themselves as much as they could. Their voices were sorrowful, filled with the despair of those with nowhere left to turn.

Once the overlords of Star Dou Great Forest, they were now willing to cast aside every shred of dignity for the safety of a companion, begging for that faint glimmer of hope.

Gu Yuena listened quietly, stars shifting in her purple eyes. Her expression revealed nothing.

She felt little for the transformed Soft Bone Rabbit. She had long since grown used to the law of the jungle among Soul Beasts.

But Daming and Erming's loyalty and grief moved her slightly.

More importantly, Tang Hao's actions were undoubtedly a provocation against Star Dou Great Forest and the Soul Beast Clan.