The Girl by Star Lake

Chu Lan fled through the forest with Dugu Yan, branches constantly whipping against their clothes.

Even though the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger had been held back by Dugu Bo, they had no intention of slowing down.

They raced through the woods, crossing one stretch of forest after another, until a lake appeared ahead.

Chu Lan pushed aside the dense bushes, and a vast, crystal-clear expanse of water suddenly came into view.

Rippling light danced with the wind, while the golden remnants of the setting sun scattered across the lake's surface.

A girl in a pale pink and white dress sat quietly atop a blue stone by the shore.

Only her slender back was visible.

The waterlight reflected off her clothes, hazy and gentle. Just that single silhouette made the two of them freeze, their steps halting instinctively.

Chu Lan stared blankly for two seconds before a guess instantly formed in his heart.

In the entire Star Dou Great Forest, there was only one such spiritually vibrant lake—and one such girl. The answer was already obvious—

The girl was Xiao Wu!

The lake was Star Lake!

The dwelling place of the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape!

The disturbance caused by the two intruders entering Star Lake naturally alerted the girl by the shore.

Xiao Wu turned around and met Chu Lan and Dugu Yan's gazes from afar.

Chu Lan said nothing. He grabbed the still-dazed Dugu Yan with one hand and slowly backed away, lowering his voice as he said, "This place is probably the dwelling of those two terrifying Soul Beasts."

Dugu Yan shuddered at his words, her face filled with shock. "How do you know?"

Xiao Wu stood quietly on the blue stone, watching the two retreat. She neither approached nor spoke.

Just as Chu Lan silently led Dugu Yan backward, Dugu Bo, who had followed their trail, suddenly encountered a change as well.

Dugu Bo tracked the traces left behind by Chu Lan and Dugu Yan as they fled.

A disturbance came from one side.

When he looked up, he saw two unimaginably massive beastly figures moving through the nearby forest, heading straight ahead.

The instant he saw those enormous bodies clearly, Dugu Bo was stunned senseless.

He instantly recognized the two Soul Beasts. They were the two top-tier Soul Beasts he had glimpsed from afar earlier!

And the trail left behind by Chu Lan and Dugu Yan lay directly ahead of them.

Worried for his granddaughter's safety, Dugu Bo could only grit his teeth and press forward, even though he knew the danger.

But in the end, his presence did not escape the senses of the two super Soul Beasts.

"Buzz!!"

An overwhelming pressure instantly locked onto Dugu Bo. The Sky Azure Bull Python raised its colossal body, standing over fifty meters tall, its enormous bull head blocking Dugu Bo's path.

The Titan Giant Ape's mountain-like body stood beside it. The two Soul Beasts flanked him from either side, completely sealing off Dugu Bo's way forward.

This is bad! Dugu Bo thought.

"Human, why have you infiltrated this place?" The Sky Azure Bull Python spoke human words, its enormous eyes fixed fiercely upon Dugu Bo.

Right now...

Star Lake was not only their home. Xiao Wu, who had lost all her strength, was there as well!

The Sky Azure Bull Python even suspected that Dugu Bo had come to capture Xiao Wu!

Back then, Xiao Wu's mother had been killed precisely because they had not been there!

This time, they would never allow history to repeat itself!

That was why, even when the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger had come to cause trouble, they had not gone too far.

Hearing a Soul Beast speak human language with his own ears, Dugu Bo was so shocked that he could not speak. He swallowed hard and stared dumbly at the Sky Azure Bull Python.

When had he ever seen such a scene in his life!?

At that moment.

Dugu Bo spotted Chu Lan and Dugu Yan approaching from not far away and hurriedly shouted, "Go! Run!"

Chu Lan and Dugu Yan looked over.

The moment they saw the towering forms of the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape with their own eyes, both were deeply shaken.

Dugu Yan had previously wanted to see a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in person. Now that she had truly encountered the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape at such close range, her heart began pounding with anxiety.

She did not know how old the two Soul Beasts before her were, but the pressure they gave off was enough for her to judge their approximate age!

The aura of either Soul Beast far surpassed Dugu Bo's. They were absolutely Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts!

Seeing them with her own eyes had fulfilled one of her wishes, but in a situation this dangerous, she would rather not have had that wish fulfilled.

The moment the two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts saw Chu Lan and Dugu Yan coming from the direction of Star Lake, they launched their attack on Dugu Bo without another word.

"Human, you dare trespass into this king's territory!"

Dark green light erupted around Dugu Bo, and his seventh Soul Ring flared brilliantly.

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's true form soared into the air.

The enormous Serpent Emperor churned up poisonous mist that filled the sky as it fiercely charged at the two giant beasts.

"Go!"

"Chu Lan, I'm leaving my granddaughter to you from now on!"

Dugu Bo roared, his expression savage.

Chu Lan grabbed Dugu Yan and hurried toward Star Lake. Now, only Xiao Wu could save Dugu Bo.

"Grandpa!!"

Dugu Yan cried out anxiously, her voice carrying a trace of tears as her eyes reddened.

The disparity in strength was right before them. From the very beginning, the battle had been completely one-sided.

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor was repeatedly suppressed by the two giant beasts, restrained at every turn and forced back step by step.

At that critical moment, a clear feminine shout rang through the forest!

"Stop!"

Hearing that familiar voice, the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape halted their attacks almost simultaneously.

Dugu Bo gained a moment to catch his breath and instinctively looked toward the voice. Chu Lan and Dugu Yan looked over as well.

What they saw was Xiao Wu by the lakeshore.

The two super Soul Beasts ignored Dugu Bo no longer. Their figures flashed, and they arrived at Xiao Wu's side.

One on each side, like guardian divine beasts.

Xiao Wu met Chu Lan's eyes with a complicated expression, then turned to Dugu Bo, whose poisonous mist had yet to fully disperse. Her voice was cold.

"Leave this place. You are not allowed to set foot here again!"

At this point, how could Dugu Bo fail to see through Xiao Wu's true identity? He was both shocked and delighted, yet also deeply fearful.

Even though he now knew who the girl was, someone capable of commanding two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts made him abandon the thought that had just arisen in his mind.

Dugu Bo did not dare say more. He immediately called out in a low voice, "Yan'er, Chu Lan, we're leaving!"

Chu Lan looked toward Xiao Wu in the distance and nodded.

Xiao Wu gave a slight nod, her expression complicated as she sighed inwardly. Consider this repaying what I owe you...

"Chu Lan, hurry up!" Dugu Yan tugged on his sleeve.

"Alright!"

Chu Lan glanced at the two super Soul Beasts and did not linger. He turned and left with Dugu Yan.

After reuniting with Dugu Bo, the two did not remain for even a moment longer, swiftly retreating from the area.

"Sister Xiao Wu, do you know those humans?"

The Sky Azure Bull Python's gaze fell upon Chu Lan's departing back. It had clearly seen the exchange between Chu Lan and Xiao Wu.

"Back then..."

Xiao Wu took a deep breath and murmured, "He discovered my identity. He told me that a Titled Douluo was living nearby and advised me to leave."

The Sky Azure Bull Python narrowed its eyes slightly and asked in a low voice, "That human boy?"

Xiao Wu nodded faintly. "If you encounter him again in the future, don't attack him. He... is a friend."

The two super Soul Beasts nodded together.