The Dragon Duke's Change of Face, Two Awakenings, and the Temptation of External Soul Bones

After the Titan Giant Ape wreaked havoc through the outer region and mixed zone, every Soul Beast clan in the Star Dou Forest had grown wary.

No one knew what madness had seized that monkey again, making it start tormenting Soul Beasts.

One clan after another silently retreated, huddling within their nests.

The Dragon Duke and Snake Granny, Zhao Wuji, and the Shrek Seven Monsters quickly found Qian Ni and the others.

What they saw left the newcomers stunned, but they quickly reacted. Zhao Wuji shielded the Shrek Seven Monsters behind him and confronted the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny.

"Careful! Mubai, go check on Tang San."

Beside the dense bushes, Tang San and Meng Yiran sat cross-legged with their eyes shut. A trembling purple Soul Ring hovered around each of them. Their Soul Power surged and calmed in alternating waves.

They were absorbing Soul Rings!

And judging from the two identical Man Faced Demon Spider corpses on the ground, they were even absorbing the same kind of Soul Ring!

But what confused the Dragon Duke, Snake Granny, and Zhao Wuji was why the two Man Faced Demon Spider corpses had such similar injuries.

The only difference was that they mirrored each other!

Nearby, Qian Ni still looked utterly relaxed. He sat in the sedan chair with one leg crossed over the other, holding a Whale Bone Spear as though lost in thought.

There wasn't the slightest fluctuation of Soul Power around Qian Ni, yet he gave off an incomparably terrifying feeling. A casual glance from him made Meng Shu shudder, while Zhao Wuji felt his heart pound.

Qian Ni made no movement. Only an obscure ripple flashed through the air, and the smooth spearhead of the Whale Bone Spear transformed into a jagged wolf-toothed mace covered in bone spikes.

A moment later, barbs grew from those spikes as well...

All that could be said was... his enemies would have quite the treat in the future.

Zhao Wuji felt a chill creep down his back.

Damn it, did this brat say he wanted to play some kind of messed-up game...

No! I can't give him the chance after we get back! I've got to find a way to bluff my way out of it!

Xiao Wu nervously stood guard beside Tang San, watching over him. When Dai Mubai approached, she helplessly glanced at Qian Ni and stammered without managing to say anything.

How was she supposed to explain this? That Qian Ni had used some divine artifact again and turned one thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider into three, giving everyone a Soul Ring?

Never mind whether anyone would believe her—if she said it outright, would Qian Ni kill her to keep her quiet?

After spending this time with him, Xiao Wu had gained some understanding of Qian Ni's way of doing things. The defining trait was that he was impossible to predict.

Even Da Ming and Er Ming, two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, had suffered at his hands. Xiao Wu still had no idea what was happening at Star Lake, so she truly didn't dare take the gamble.

Still, they said that when someone important was in trouble, the people close to them would feel it. Xiao Wu didn't feel much of anything right now, so Da Ming and Er Ming probably weren't in mortal danger.

Of course, that was assuming the monkey and snake were actually important to Xiao Wu.

Seeing that Xiao Wu couldn't squeeze out a word, Zhao Wuji gave Zhu Zhuqing a look. She immediately understood and walked over to Qian Ni.

"Master."

Zhu Zhuqing lifted the edge of her apron and curtsied.

Before she could speak, Qian Ni casually answered.

"It's fine now. I taught the monkey a lesson, and the rabbit's been snatched back!

"Xiao Meng and Tang San both got suitable Soul Rings. Everyone's happy.

"Have Old Zhao pack up and get ready to leave.

"As for you two!"

Qian Ni lightly tapped his forehead with the Whale Bone Spear in his hand and gave a sinister grin.

"You're the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny, right? Your granddaughter's in my hands. If you don't want her getting torn apart, then you'd better..."

Before he could finish, the Dragon Duke jogged over, a flattering smile on his face.

"Little Brother Qian Ni is right. This old man was at fault earlier, so please accept my apology!"

He brought Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang over and clasped his hands toward Qian Ni.

All his previous anger and hostility had vanished without a trace. There wasn't a hint of a Soul Douluo's pride left on him.

"As for Yiran..." Dragon Duke Meng Shu took out a bag of Gold Soul Coins and offered it over. Then, as if afraid Qian Ni would release her after taking the money, he hurriedly added.

"Little Brother Qian Ni, thank you for taking the trouble to find Yiran a Soul Ring. This old man knows these Gold Soul Coins are far from enough to express my apology.

"It is Yiran's blessing to be able to remain by your side. If you don't mind, you may keep her as a serving girl.

"This old man will return to the clan with my wife at once and discuss how we can compensate you.

"One day, we will surely visit you in person and offer our apologies!"

After rattling off a pile of words, he abandoned Meng Yiran again, then stiffly disappeared into the forest with Chao Tianxiang.

From the moment they appeared until now, the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny hadn't even looked at Zhao Wuji. From Meng Yiran's condition, they swiftly judged the situation and made what they believed was the most suitable choice.

Yiran, it isn't that Grandpa and Grandma don't want you. This is your opportunity!

Perhaps the Meng Family will have to rely on you in the future!

While Qian Ni stared speechlessly, Zhao Wuji looked utterly baffled.

"The Dragon Duke and Snake Granny? Why did they just leave?"

He felt like he had only come along to make up the numbers. He hadn't been useful at all.

A moment later, Tang San and Meng Yiran successfully absorbed their Soul Rings.

As if he had known this would happen, Qian Ni tossed an outer robe over Meng Yiran. Then came two muffled pops.

Eight pitch-black, razor-sharp spider limbs stabbed out from each of their backs, stretching and retracting as they danced through the air.

Eight Spider Lances x2!

Meng Yiran had the clothing Qian Ni gave her, but Tang San wasn't so lucky.

The sight made them look like two spider demons who had failed to fully take human form.

Seeing Meng Yiran awaken, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong hurried over to help secure her clothing.

"Teacher Zhao!" Tang San opened his eyes and saw Zhao Wuji. Relief immediately washed over him.

"Everything's fine now, Teacher Zhao. Xiao Wu is safe, and I absorbed my third Soul Ring. This was the most suitable Man Faced Demon Spider among the Soul Rings Teacher had prepared for me.

"Thanks to Qian Ni, I wouldn't even have known how to get Xiao Wu back otherwise!"

Zhao Wuji pulled a face and snarled.

"Fine? You're fine now, but you'll be in trouble soon enough!

"Acting on your own! Leaving the group! Do you know where this is? This is the Star Dou Forest!

"Damn it, I'll deal with you when we get back to the academy..."

Zhao Wuji was halfway through venting his anger when Qian Ni's figure suddenly entered the corner of his eye.

A twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor with four Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings!

Zhao Wuji forcibly swallowed the final "all" that hadn't yet left his mouth!

After all, Tang San wasn't the only one who had acted without permission, disobeyed orders, and left the group. There was also Lord Qian.

Zhao Wuji smacked his lips twice and said fiercely.

"You little brats never give anyone peace of mind!

"Back to the academy! Get out of this damned place already!"

Two days later, Shrek Academy.

As soon as the group returned, they went their separate ways.

Tang San had just planned to return to his dormitory when Zhao Wuji called out to him.

"Tang San, come to the headmaster's office early tomorrow morning."

He patted Tang San on the shoulder and left first.

Tang San's heart tightened.

Is this punishment because I left the group to save Xiao Wu?

Whatever. Any punishment is fine as long as Xiao Wu is safe.

He comforted himself, took a few steps forward, and caught up with Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others.

Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong had remained quiet throughout the journey back. Now, she stood in place and stared at Tang San's retreating back for a while before snapping out of it at Zhu Zhuqing's call and hurrying after her.

Shrek Academy had departed with nine people, but returned with ten. Unfortunately, Xiao Wu still lived alone in the girls' dormitory.

The Universal Capsule villa descended once again.

Inside the living room, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Meng Yiran stood obediently in the middle.

Qian Ni sprawled across the sofa while two Aliens stood behind him, one on each side like bodyguards.

"Xiao Meng!"

Qian Ni called her name as though taking attendance.

"Yes!" Meng Yiran's eyes lit up, and she puffed out her chest.

She had probably finished talking herself into it and adapted to Qian Ni's style of doing things.

"Show your new equipment to your coworkers! Make them jealous!"

Qian Ni spoke while chewing on a piece of Ninety-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber.

"Okay."

Meng Yiran responded. As her Soul Power circulated, eight purple spider legs abruptly stabbed out from her back.

Back in the Star Dou Forest, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong hadn't been able to see clearly. But upon examining them now, they discovered just how extraordinary those eight spider legs were.

"Master, this is...?"

Zhu Zhuqing was still confused when inspiration flashed through Ning Rongrong's mind, and a term immediately slipped from her lips.

"External... Soul Bone!"

She stared at Meng Yiran in disbelief!

As the young mistress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Ning Fengzhi's only daughter, her knowledge naturally surpassed that of an overlooked youngest daughter like Zhu Zhuqing.

Qian Ni smiled and pointed at Ning Rongrong.

"Correct, sharp eyes! It's an External Soul Bone!"

"Wait! That's not right!" Ning Rongrong cried out again. She remembered that Tang San also had eight similar spider legs!

"If this is an External Soul Bone, then Tang San's..."

External Soul Bones were incredibly rare. How could two appear in a row, and be exactly the same type at that?!

"His is one too. Same model—Eight Spider Lances!"

Qian Ni grabbed the sheath of Lightning Pellet and knocked it against the sofa armrest.

A crippled Man Faced Demon Spider appeared before them.

"Want one? There's another here."

Qian Ni looked at the two girls and spoke in a devil's voice, tempting them.