Leaving Star Luo for Dou Spirit, Storming the Pagoda to Save His Parents

Adult Tang Wulin, hidden within Shrek's dense forest, stood quietly for a moment before completely casting aside that fleeting connection in the Star Luo Empire. The lingering sensation of a light kiss on his cheek and the faint chill of the Silver Dragon-Shaped Jade Pendant in his arms were merely trivial episodes in the mortal world. They were far less important than the core purpose of his journey—rescuing his parents, Tang Ziran and Lang Yue, who were trapped in the Spirit Pagoda of the Dou Spirit Empire.

This was the concern he could never let go of after returning across time. He had failed to protect his parents in his youth, but after enduring the years and becoming the Dragon Emperor Douluo, he would never again allow them to languish in captivity. The Spirit Pagoda had secretly detained them, intending to use them to threaten him. Today, he would settle that debt once and for all.

He did not linger a moment longer. Golden Dragon Emperor soul power erupted from his body without the slightest restraint, and vast dragon might instantly swept through the entire forest. Yet he controlled its force with precision, disturbing the nearby Shrek Inner Court not in the least. His plain robes billowed with soul power as he transformed into a brilliant golden streak that tore through the sky and sped toward the Dou Spirit Empire. He moved so swiftly that he split the heavens, sending faint ripples through space. In less than half an incense stick's time, he had arrived above the capital of the Dou Spirit Empire.

As one of Douluo Continent's foremost powers, the Spirit Pagoda's headquarters in the Dou Spirit Empire towered into the clouds. Constructed entirely of deep-sea meteoric iron and high-grade soul tools, it stood ninety-nine stories tall, piercing the heavens. Layer upon layer of defensive soul-tool barriers surrounded the tower, while no fewer than a thousand soul masters guarded it. Defenses were arranged at every level, from Soul Venerables to Title Douluos, and it was said to be impregnable. At this moment, the tower continued operating as usual, with no one realizing that catastrophe had already descended.

Adult Tang Wulin hovered above the capital, his golden eyes as cold as ice. Golden dragon patterns climbed over his arms, while the Nine-Colored Dragon Emperor Soul Ring slowly rose around him. Its pressure, transcending even the level of gods, blanketed the entire Dou Spirit capital like Mount Tai bearing down from above. The citizens in the streets and the soul masters throughout the city were all suppressed by that supreme dragon might from their bloodlines. Their bodies stiffened, unable to move, and even breathing became difficult. The bustling city fell deathly silent in an instant. Only the Spirit Pagoda's defensive soul tools emitted piercing hums as they operated desperately in resistance.

"Insolence! Who dares cause trouble in the Dou Spirit Empire and trespass upon Spirit Pagoda territory?!"

An enraged roar exploded from the top floor of the Spirit Pagoda. The master of the Dou Spirit Spirit Pagoda flew out, all nine of his black-red soul rings blazing. He was a level ninety-eight assault-type Title Douluo. Dozens of Spirit Pagoda higher-ups and elders followed behind him, the weakest among them Soul Douluos. Their soul skills were poised to strike, yet before that Dragon Emperor pressure, every one of them was pale-faced, their legs trembling uncontrollably. They could barely even condense their soul skills completely.

Adult Tang Wulin lowered his gaze upon them, and the dragon might around him rose another level. Golden soul power took the tangible form of dragons spiraling around him. His voice was bone-chillingly cold as it echoed through the entire Spirit Pagoda. "Enough nonsense. Hand over Tang Ziran and Lang Yue immediately. Otherwise, I will tear down this Spirit Pagoda today and leave neither chicken nor dog alive."

He called out his parents' names, one word at a time, with such resolve and fury that even heaven and earth seemed to change color. Under the crushing force of his dragon might, spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread across the tower's defensive soul-tool barrier. The outer defensive array cores exploded on the spot, and the soul master legions stationed outside the tower had no chance to resist before they were all knocked unconscious by the pressure.

The Spirit Pagoda master's expression changed drastically, cold sweat instantly soaking his robes. He had never imagined that this peerless powerhouse who had appeared out of nowhere had come for that ordinary couple imprisoned in secret. Tang Ziran and Lang Yue were merely ordinary soul-tool researchers. The Spirit Pagoda had detained them only because of their blood relation to Tang Wulin, intending to use them as leverage against him in the future. The matter had been extremely secretive, yet this man had somehow learned of it. Worse still, his strength was far beyond imagination, completely beyond the master's ability to oppose.

"Y-you... who exactly are you? Those two are grave criminals of my Spirit Pagoda. How can we hand them over so casually?!" The tower master barked sternly, though he was putting on a fierce front to hide his weakness. Inwardly, he was panicking beyond measure as he secretly gave the order to bring Tang Ziran and Lang Yue out from the secret chamber at the base of the tower at once.

"Courting death."

Adult Tang Wulin snorted and could not be bothered to say another word. He lightly clenched his right hand, gathering golden dragon soul power into an enormous dragon claw dozens of meters wide. Carrying an earth-shattering force, it savagely struck at the Spirit Pagoda's defensive barrier. With a thunderous boom, the supposedly unbreakable soul-tool barrier shattered instantly. The dragon claw did not lose any momentum as it slammed directly into the pagoda itself. Dozens of floors collapsed at once, and shattered stone and soul-tool fragments rained through the air. Cries of agony rose from the Spirit Pagoda members as they fled in panic.

His figure flashed, and he instantly passed through the tower's ruins, heading straight for the secret chamber at its base. Whether they were Soul Douluos or Title Douluos, every soul master who tried to stop him was utterly helpless before his Dragon Emperor pressure. In mere moments, he reached the chamber door. The door was forged from ten-thousand-year mystic iron, but he shattered it with a casual punch. The iron gate twisted into scrap and crashed to the ground.

Inside the secret chamber, two haggard yet gentle figures sat on stone stools. They were Tang Ziran and Lang Yue. They had not been subjected to torture, though their faces were somewhat pale and their eyes held traces of unease. When they looked up at the deafening sound, they saw Adult Tang Wulin, surrounded by golden light and possessing overwhelming presence. His features were identical to those of their son, Tang Wulin, and an immediate sense of blood-bound closeness surged into their hearts.

The instant Adult Tang Wulin saw his parents, all the coldness and sharpness in his eyes vanished, leaving only deep heartache and tenderness. He hurried forward and gently supported Tang Ziran and Lang Yue, moving so carefully as though afraid of breaking them. His voice softened beyond measure, completely stripped of its earlier thunderous force. "Dad, Mom, your son came too late. I let you suffer."

"Child... are you my Wulin?" Lang Yue's eyes instantly reddened. Her hand trembled as she reached up to stroke his cheek, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. "It's really you. You finally came. Your father and I missed you so much."

Tang Ziran's eyes reddened as well. He patted Tang Wulin's arm, his voice choked with emotion. "It's good that you're back. It's good that you're back."

"It's me, Dad, Mom. I'm taking you home." Adult Tang Wulin spoke in a low voice. Golden soul power transformed into a gentle barrier around him, protecting his parents securely within it. Then he turned toward the Spirit Pagoda master and his group, who had rushed over with pale faces, and his gaze turned cold once more. "I will spare your lives today. But if you dare commit evil again, if you dare set your sights on my family again, I will erase the entire Spirit Pagoda from Douluo Continent."

With that, he ignored the terror on their faces. Taking Tang Ziran and Lang Yue with him, golden light burst from his body as he instantly rose into the air. He blasted through the Spirit Pagoda's ruins and flew toward a secluded valley far from the capital. This assault on the Dou Spirit Spirit Pagoda had been swift, decisive, and thunderous. In only a quarter of an hour, he had leveled the Spirit Pagoda branch, successfully rescued his parents, and accomplished the most crucial objective of this journey.

At the same time, the joint training for the exchange tournament at Shrek Inner Court was in full swing.

Young Tang Wulin led the Seven Monsters, and their formation work became ever more polished. Gold Dragon soul power charged at the front, golden radiance enveloping his body, each attack steady and powerful. Xu Xiaoyan's Starwheel Ice Staff controlled the field with precision, spreading icy-blue starlight to bind every simulated opponent, her coordination with Tang Wulin flawless. Gu Yue wielded elemental power at will as wind, fire, water, and earth intertwined to reinforce the team's defenses. Xie Xie's twin martial souls darted about with incredible speed, while Xu Lizhi's food-type soul skills provided supplies at any time. Every one of the companions gave their all. Sweat soaked their clothes, yet their eyes remained firm as they made their final preparations for tomorrow's competition.

Na'er sat on a stone stool to the side, her chin resting in her hands as she watched her spirited brother on the field with eyes full of admiration. From time to time, she cheered him on, looking obedient and adorable.

Tang Wulin had no idea that his future self had already removed his greatest concern by rescuing his parents from danger. He focused only on the cultivation before him and his companions. Sunlight fell upon the young people, revealing their passion and vitality. The warmth between brother and sister and the bonds among companions continued peacefully beneath Shrek's warm sun, wholly unaware that the earth-shaking rescue far away had already cleared every lingering worry from the road ahead of him.

Meanwhile, Adult Tang Wulin arrived in the secluded valley with his parents. Seeing them safe and sound, their faces filled with relief, the great weight that had hung over his heart for so long finally fell away. He set up concealment and defensive formations there, ensuring that his parents would be absolutely safe and beyond anyone's disturbance. Once they had settled down to rest, he planned to return quietly to Shrek and continue protecting his younger days. Now that his parents were safe and his connection with Star Luo had ended, he had no remaining attachments. He could devote himself wholeheartedly to protecting his younger self and those pure-hearted companions.