Mutated Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast

The Sky Azure Bull Python was completely dumbfounded. Its mind was spinning so hard it was about to smoke, yet it still could not understand what it had said wrong.

Or what it had done to upset the giant dragon before it.

It did not understand.

Just as it trembled in fear, Ning Yao stepped forward and patted its enormous bovine head.

"Don't be afraid. As long as you behave yourself, I mean you no harm this time."

Ning Yao smiled and glanced back at Withered Wood.

He said nothing, merely gave it a look.

The giant dragon's dark green pupils narrowed, and it immediately understood Ning Yao's meaning.

Before the Sky Azure Bull Python and Xiao Wu, it swung its massive body. With a twist, it plunged heavily from the sky into the water and swiftly vanished beneath the lake.

Even as foolish as the Sky Azure Bull Python and Xiao Wu were, they understood what Withered Wood intended to do.

Xiao Wu wanted to speak, but could not bring herself to open her mouth.

As for the Sky Azure Bull Python, it simply did not dare say anything.

It even hoped that Ning Yao might be able to heal the Titan Giant Ape this time.

Thus, under the gazes of one human and one beast, the lake surface soon began to churn violently.

The Sky Azure Bull Python obediently moved out of the water.

It quietly stopped beside Ning Yao, lowering its head as much as possible near him.

As for Xiao Wu, it had firmly restrained her atop its head with powerful Soul Power. She could neither speak nor move.

It was truly afraid that Xiao Wu might upset Ning Yao in a moment of displeasure. If that happened, they would truly be finished.

"Boom—"

The churning lake surface exploded with a deafening roar, and a hundred-meter shadow shot out of the water.

It was the giant dragon Withered Wood had transformed into.

It showed no restraint now. Its eyes gleamed as it unleashed its power without reservation.

The more the Sky Azure Bull Python watched, the more alarmed it became. It kept wondering how great its odds of victory would be if it faced this unknown giant dragon.

But after pondering for a long while, it realized it had no chance at all.

A creature that could suppress it to this extent with its mere aura... it should have been considering how long it could last against it instead.

"Senior..."

Unable to sense what was happening beneath the water due to Withered Wood's presence, the Sky Azure Bull Python looked to Ning Yao as if asking for help.

Its younger brother Er Ming had yet to emerge. Unable to determine what had happened to him, it could not help but panic.

But then it saw Ning Yao shake his head.

Before the Sky Azure Bull Python could understand what was happening, it suddenly noticed the giant dragon staring fixedly at the water's surface.

The next second, an equally formidable aura rose from the depths of the lake.

The Sky Azure Bull Python was instantly startled.

Though this aura was not as powerful as the giant dragon Withered Wood had become, it was one it knew incomparably well.

"Er Ming!"

Raising its bovine head and widening its enormous eyes, the Sky Azure Bull Python stared at the lake in shock.

As the aura drew nearer, the lake that had only just calmed down was split apart once more, setting off wave after wave.

The Sky Azure Bull Python was utterly bewildered.

When the several-dozen-meter-high spray fell, a figure appeared before them, opposite Withered Wood.

It was another giant beast.

Its entire body was green, with patches of green leaves growing haphazardly all over it.

Countless tiny flesh tumors swayed continuously along both of its arms.

It looked exactly like a monster.

The Titan Giant Ape's appearance shook Xiao Wu to the core as she remained restrained atop the Sky Azure Bull Python's head.

Th-this was Er Ming?

Though she could not speak, she no longer wanted to admit that this was her younger brother, Er Ming, the Titan Giant Ape.

Previously, she had only heard Da Ming mention it. She had never realized what the Titan Giant Ape had become.

Now that she saw it with her own eyes, she understood why Da Ming had always hesitated to explain it in detail.

The Sky Azure Bull Python, Da Ming, was equally shocked.

He clearly remembered that Er Ming had not looked like this just a few days ago...

And he definitely had not been this powerful.

Looking into the Titan Giant Ape's dark green eyes, he felt only unfamiliarity.

Yet before he could say anything,

the Titan Giant Ape, which Withered Wood had just unsealed and released, raised its leaf-wrapped hands and leaped like a god of war, smashing down heavily toward Withered Wood.

The Sky Azure Bull Python's expression froze. It wanted to intervene, but it was already too late.

Yet at that critical moment, Withered Wood moved.

The massive dragon body surged through the air, its huge tail meeting the Titan Giant Ape's fists.

"Rumble!!"

In an instant, the Titan Giant Ape was sent flying by the overwhelming force. It crashed onto the shore with a boom, crushing swathes of trees.

The Sky Azure Bull Python, which had been about to intervene, immediately realized how foolish it had been. Withered Wood was so powerful—how could it possibly need his help?

But immediately afterward, anxiety welled up within him.

He carefully looked toward Ning Yao, watching his expression.

"Senior?"

After all, although nothing had happened, the Titan Giant Ape had attacked first just now, and it had clearly struck with the intent to kill.

Would this anger the senior and the giant dragon...

"Senior, ever since that incident, my younger brother has often become uncontrollable. I fear that is the case now as well..."

Only after seeing that Ning Yao showed little reaction did the Sky Azure Bull Python dare continue.

In truth, while he was shocked by the Titan Giant Ape's current strength, he was not excessively so.

He had known about it already. He simply had not expected the Titan Giant Ape to grow stronger again in only a few days.

This should have been a good thing.

But every time the Titan Giant Ape grew stronger, it would go berserk. That was why he had sealed it beneath the lake to suppress it.

Previously, he could still stop it himself, but as time passed, he had gradually become unable to do so.

Thus, with the Titan Giant Ape's consent, he had sealed it away.

The current scene also confirmed his suspicions from another angle.

His younger brother had already surpassed him.

The Sky Azure Bull Python could not help but feel conflicted.

He looked sorrowfully at Ning Yao, hoping with all his heart that Ning Yao would show mercy and help them.

But upon hearing his words, Ning Yao did not seem particularly worried.

Ning Yao slowly nodded.

"I know."

"But you should also know that growing stronger comes at a price."

As he spoke, he glanced back at the Sky Azure Bull Python.

The Sky Azure Bull Python immediately fell silent. He truly wanted to say that they could forgo this power.

As long as Ning Yao asked, he would devote everything he had to fulfilling any request Ning Yao made.

But before he could speak, he heard a loud crash.

He hurriedly turned his head and discovered that the Titan Giant Ape had climbed back up from the ground and charged at Withered Wood once more.

"Er Ming!!"

(39°C fever. I'll post one chapter first; if there isn't another later, it will have to wait until tomorrow...)