The Hope of the Whole Village

"Cut it out. If you don't want to tell me, forget it. My name is Xiao Wu—the Wu from dancing."

"Xiao Wu? Your name sounds really nice." Lu Chen scratched the back of his head, putting on a foolishly innocent look.

"Hmph! Of course it does!"

"Then what's your surname?"

"I... I don't even know you. Why should I tell you?"

Xiao Wu froze. Only after Lu Chen asked did she suddenly realize that she didn't even know her own surname. Her mother had always called her Xiao Wu. Where had this strange kid come from? She should hurry up and take him out of the Star Dou Forest.

"Hey, I'm your lifesaver."

"Who... who asked you to save me? Mind your own business. Stop talking nonsense. This is the Star Dou Forest—we need to leave now."

Though she said that, Lu Chen noticed that Xiao Wu was clearly hesitating. Their current location was still relatively close to the depths of the Star Dou Forest, and they still had quite a long way to go before reaching its border.

They would definitely encounter plenty of powerful soul beasts along that stretch. With Xiao Wu's current strength, encountering any soul beast would be extremely dangerous.

And Er Ming had been knocked unconscious by his Mind Gem. He probably would not wake up anytime soon.

But she could not take him back to Er Ming's side either. That would expose her secret.

"Leave this place? Do you know the way?" Lu Chen looked up at the sky and saw that the previously clear heavens had suddenly become blanketed by dark clouds. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, and the entire Star Dou Forest darkened in an instant.

Somewhere beyond Lu Chen's sight, an enormous soul beast with the head of an ox and the body of a serpent was watching Lu Chen and Xiao Wu from nearby.

The Sky Azure Bull Python's arrival had not escaped Lu Chen's senses. Xiao Wu had likely noticed as well, so in order to keep her identity from being exposed, she would definitely make a move soon.

Lu Chen did not want to reveal his overly powerful strength too early either. When facing Er Ming earlier, he had already acted far too extraordinarily.

So Lu Chen decided to stop playing for the day and see how Xiao Wu would act next.

As Xiao Wu looked at the cloud-covered sky, a familiar voice sounded in her mind. "Sister Xiao Wu, what happened? What's wrong with Er Ming?"

"Great, Da Ming! You finally came. I'll tell you about this later. Find a way to knock out this strange kid beside me."

"A human? Why would a human child appear here?"

"I find it strange too. Er Ming's pressure had no effect on him at all." Xiao Wu glanced at him.

"Impossible! How could a mere human child withstand the pressure of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? Could he have some kind of powerful Soul Tool on him?"

"Maybe. All right, this isn't the time to talk about that. I've already wasted too much time. If I'm any later, I'll miss the registration time for the academy. Just knock this strange kid out."

"All right. Although I'm not a spirit-type soul beast, I still know some basic ways to use spiritual power. Dealing with a child will be more than easy enough."

As he spoke, the Sky Azure Bull Python launched a spiritual attack at Lu Chen.

"Huh? It looks like it's going to rain. The clothes at home haven't been brought in yet..."

Before Lu Chen could finish speaking, he sensed the Sky Azure Bull Python launching a spiritual attack against him. However, Lu Chen possessed the Mind Gem, so this slight spiritual shock had no effect on him whatsoever.

Still, Lu Chen pretended to faint. He had played enough for today, and it would not be good if anyone noticed he had been gone for too long.

Besides, in a few days, he would be setting off with Tang San for Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy. Then he could properly have some fun with this Hundred-Thousand-Year old rabbit.

Seeing Lu Chen collapse to the ground, Xiao Wu visibly let out a sigh of relief. If Da Ming had not arrived, she truly would not have known what to do. With her current strength, she simply could not leave the Star Dou Forest. It was not as though she could return to Er Ming's side right in front of him.

"In such a dangerous place, he was actually worried about whether the clothes at home had been brought in. He really is a strange kid." Looking at the unconscious Lu Chen, Xiao Wu dragged him toward Er Ming while recounting everything that had happened to Da Ming.

"Sister Xiao Wu, this human child is probably not so simple. If you aren't going to kill him, it would be best not to have too much to do with him."

"Don't worry, Da Ming. Once we take him out of the Star Dou Forest, I'll set off for Nuoding City. You and Er Ming should hurry back too."

Outside the Star Dou Forest, only after the Titan Giant Ape, the Sky Azure Bull Python, and Xiao Wu had all left did Lu Chen, who had been lying in the grass, get back to his feet.

"Xiao Wu? She really is adorable, though she's quite pitiful. Her father was eaten by soul beasts from the Land of Great Evil, and her mother was killed by Bibi Dong while covering her escape." Lu Chen muttered as he looked in the direction Xiao Wu had left. "But we'll meet again soon."

"I've already tested the Power, Time, Space, Mind, and Reality Gems. Only the Soul Gem remains. Once I've tested it, it'll be about time to return to Holy Soul Village."

"Should I take a trip to that so-called Land of Great Evil? I remember there are plenty of powerful soul beasts in the core area."

"The Lake of Life in the core area has the Silver Dragon King sleeping there, with Di Tian, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, guarding her side. There are also soul beast rulers such as Bi Ji, the Myriad Demon King, the Dark Golden Dreadclaw Bear, Scarlet King, the Hell Demonic Dragon King, and Demon Spirit, as well as many unknown Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts. There's even the Emperor Auspicious Beast Three-Eyed Golden Lion."

"Forget it. Acting so arrogantly on the first day after obtaining the Infinite Gems doesn't seem too wise."

After thinking it over, Lu Chen ultimately gave up on the idea. It was not that he feared them, but the Silver Dragon King's identity involved far too much. It would be troublesome if he attracted the attention of the God Realm. Before he had mastered the abilities of the Infinite Gems, it was better to keep as low a profile as possible.

After turning back to look at the Star Dou Forest one last time, Lu Chen activated the Space Gem and left.

Holy Soul Village

Using the Space Gem's ability, Lu Chen appeared precisely in his room.

"Hm? It smells so good. It seems to be coming from the kitchen."

When he arrived in the kitchen, Lu Chen saw Old Jack bustling about alone. At that moment, he had just taken some freshly prepared food out of the pot.

"Oh? Little Chen, you're back! I was just about to look for you. Today is a good day, so I made your favorite bandit duck, little thief chicken, rogue fish, and hooligan meat."

"Grandpa Jack, can we finish all this?"

"If you can't finish it, take it with you and eat it on the road. In a few days, you'll be leaving for Nuoding City. If you want to eat it again, you'll have to wait until next year.

Once you get to the academy, make sure to study hard. Do you know how many people dream of becoming Soul Masters? This time, our Holy Soul Village has finally held its head high among all the nearby villages, Little Chen! You're the hope of the whole village!"