Don't blame me for being ruthless. Every man for himself, and the devil take the hindmost!
"Third Soul Skill, Dragon Flame Breath!"
Meng Shu sprang to his feet, raising the dragon-headed staff in his hand. A blazing breath of dragonfire shot straight toward Lan Yu and the others.
Damn it! Lan Yu cursed inwardly.
"Second Soul Skill, Roaming Dragon Qi Wall!"
A translucent, arcing wall of dragon-patterned qi appeared in front of the three of them. The Dragon Flame Breath collided with it and exploded, scattering across the ground and bursting into flames.
Seeing the Titan Giant Ape distracted by the blaze roaring across the ground and turning to look at Lan Yu and the others, Meng Shu couldn't help feeling delighted.
He grabbed Meng Yiran, who hadn't yet reacted, scooped up the unconscious Chao Tianxiang, and fled for his life toward the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest without looking back.
Lan Yu saw Er Ming about to chase after them and hurriedly called, "Don't chase them, Er Ming!"
Those few moments were enough for Meng Shu to escape the Star Dou Great Forest. Even if Er Ming caught up, it would be no use.
The most important thing now was to take Xiao Wu back to the Lake of Life in the Star Dou Great Forest. As for Meng Shu, Lan Yu would deal with him himself. Once he mastered Yama's Invitation, he'd make Meng Shu his first target.
What kind of trash did he think he was, calling himself Dragon Duke?!
"Brother, Shan, I have to go back now."
Xiao Wu emerged slowly from behind Lan Yu and looked back at the two of them, a wry smile on her lips. She was about to walk toward Er Ming's outstretched palm when she suddenly stopped.
Before Lan Yu could react, she rushed back and wrapped both arms around his neck. Rising onto her toes, she kissed him on the cheek.
Then, under Tang Shan's stunned gaze, she smiled tenderly and leaped into Er Ming's palm, landing steadily. She looked at Lan Yu and said softly, "You'd better not forget me, okay~"
"What was that for?!"
Tang Shan hurried to Lan Yu's side, looking aggrieved, tears welling in her eyes. She pulled a handkerchief from her clothes and vigorously wiped the spot Xiao Wu had just kissed.
"Let's go, Er Ming." Xiao Wu looked away, suppressing the feelings in her eyes, and spoke softly.
Er Ming knew nothing about matters of the heart. He only knew that Sister Xiao Wu was upset because of Lan Yu, so he immediately snorted at Lan Yu and turned to leave.
"Wait! Xiao Wu."
Er Ming paused and turned around. Lan Yu and Tang Shan were hurrying over.
"Well, I just accidentally broke through to level thirty. Could you do me a favor...?" Lan Yu scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.
He couldn't help it. Leveling up was as easy as drinking water, unlike some fellow with Innate Full Soul Power of level twenty, who skipped training to go play some kind of undercover game at someone else's place!
A trace of joy had just risen in Xiao Wu's heart. She'd thought Lan Yu was trying to get her to stay, but the moment she heard his words, her expression turned cold.
"Xiao Wu, what's wrong?" Lan Yu stared at her suddenly ashen face, utterly confused.
"Honestly, Brother, you're hopeless~" Tang Shan sighed, looking exasperated.
"Lan Yu! You absolute jerk!"
A cold, sharp shout rang through the entire Star Dou Great Forest.
Star Dou Great Forest, Lake of Life
As the Titan Giant Ape's heavy footsteps approached, the lake churned, and a giant turtle, green from head to tail, slowly emerged from the water.
When he glanced at Er Ming's palm, his expression suddenly froze.
"Er Ming, why did you bring two humans here?!" The Jade Green Dragon Turtle's voice carried a trace of anger.
"Grandpa Turtle, I asked Er Ming to bring them."
Er Ming lowered his palm to the ground, and Xiao Wu stepped down.
"Xiao Wu, you're a transformed Soul Beast, but they're Soul Masters!" The Jade Green Dragon Turtle sighed and urged her, "Soul Masters and Soul Beasts are like fire and water!"
"No, Grandpa Turtle. Lan Yu and Shan are different." Xiao Wu shook her head, then added, "Besides, I've taken a godmother."
"You've taken a godmother?"
"Mm."
"Her husband is also a transformed Soul Beast."
Those words left the Jade Green Dragon Turtle and the Titan Giant Ape frozen in shock.
"What?! Who is he?"
"A Hundred-Thousand-Year Transformed Soul Beast, the Clear Sky Divine Dragon."
The Jade Green Dragon Turtle was silent for a long while before finally sighing. He turned to Lan Yu and Tang Shan and said, "Come here, children."
Lan Yu stepped forward, with Tang Shan close behind him. Her curious eyes were fixed on the Jade Green Dragon Turtle's head.
"Hmm... You do carry the aura of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. How strange—one of you has it, and the other doesn't?"
"Never mind. Perhaps I'm getting old, and my senses are failing." The Jade Green Dragon Turtle shook his head, deciding he must be getting senile.
"Brother, haven't you reached level thirty? What age Soul Beast are you planning to absorb?"
"Seven thousand years. A Purple Scale Qi Flood Dragon."
"What?! Do you even know how rare Purple Scale Qi Flood Dragons are?" Er Ming exclaimed.
Are you ever going to let this go? The First Soul Ring was a Purple Scale Qi Flood Dragon, and now he wanted one for his Third Soul Ring too? Was he going to keep plucking from the same tree?
"Uh..." Xiao Wu looked troubled, too. Purple Scale Qi Flood Dragons really were rare, but when her gaze met Lan Yu's, her little face suddenly flushed. She immediately said, "Er Ming, go catch one."
"What?"
"Xiao Wu, even if they're the offspring of transformed Soul Beasts, they're still human. Do you really intend to let him hunt a Soul Beast here?" The Jade Green Dragon Turtle couldn't help trying to dissuade her.
"Grandpa Turtle, Brother isn't like other Soul Masters."
The Jade Green Dragon Turtle was at a loss for words. In the end, he couldn't change her mind and nodded in agreement.
Before long, Er Ming returned, dragging a half-dead Purple Scale Qi Flood Dragon.
Lan Yu stepped forward and ended its life with a swipe of his claw.
A deep purple Soul Ring slowly appeared.
He then sat cross-legged and began absorbing it.
Half an hour later, Lan Yu slowly opened his eyes and stood. Three purple Soul Rings revolved around him, and the last one bore fine black streaks.
Is this Purple Gold Dragon Power? A Soul Skill that boosts my abilities.
Lan Yu wondered silently. He glanced up at the sky and said softly, "Xiao Wu, this time, we really have to say goodbye."
"Mm."
As he spoke, Lan Yu stepped forward and hugged Xiao Wu, promising in a low voice by her ear, "I'll come for you someday."
"Okay." Xiao Wu answered muffledly, resting obediently in his arms.
"Er Ming, take them out." Xiao Wu gently pushed herself out of his embrace and turned her face away, her voice tinged with reluctance.
Only when the footsteps behind her had gradually faded did she suddenly turn around to look.
"Poor child." The Jade Green Dragon Turtle sighed softly and sank slowly to the bottom of the Lake of Life.
Three days later, outside Heaven Dou Royal Academy
Lan Yu stepped down from the carriage with Tang Shan. The girl gazed at the academy built along the mountainside, eyes wide with astonishment. "Brother, is this Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
"Of course." Lan Yu ruffled her hair with a smile, took the girl's soft, pale hand, and led her toward the academy gates halfway up the mountain.
Sorry, Xiao Wu~
Brother belongs to me alone now~
"Stop! Unauthorized visitors are not allowed in!" Two young gate guards in academy uniforms stepped in their way.
"We're here to enroll."
"Do you have recommendation letters?" one of the guards asked, stepping forward.
"Shan, show them your Soul Rings."
As soon as Lan Yu finished speaking, Tang Shan instantly activated Martial Soul Possession. One yellow and one purple Soul Ring rose into view, stunning the two guards on the spot.
"A thousand-year Second Soul Ring, and a genius with Innate Full Soul Power. Does she still need a recommendation letter to enroll?" Lan Yu smiled faintly.
"Of course not. Please, come right in." One of the young men came to his senses and hurriedly ushered them inside, speaking respectfully. "I'll take you to meet our teacher."
Just then, the other guard quickly grabbed him and leaned in to whisper, "That young man hasn't even shown his Soul Rings so we can assess his talent. Isn't letting him in like this against the rules?"
"Are you an idiot?"
"That girl has a thousand-year Second Soul Ring and Innate Full Soul Power. She's a monster! Look at how close they are. Even if that young man has no talent—or no Soul Power at all—we still have to welcome him in respectfully!"