Xiao Wu, Da Ming, and Er Ming!

The moment the words fell.

Rumble—!

The earth shook violently, as if a magnitude-ten earthquake had struck.

The dense forest ahead was brutally flattened as a black giant ape, as massive as a mountain, slowly emerged.

Its entire body was knotted with muscles like granite, radiating a suffocating primordial aura.

At the same time, a massive bull's head slowly rose from the lake beside the giant ape.

Two enormous horns grew from its head, while its body was as long and slender as an azure dragon's.

These two beasts were none other than Star Dou's two great gatekeepers—the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python!

However, what caught Wukong's attention most was the figure sitting on the Titan Giant Ape's shoulder.

It was a little pink rabbit.

The heroine of the original story—Xiao Wu!

Seeing these three familiar beasts, Wukong finally relaxed somewhat.

Still, his gaze shifted slightly as he thought to himself, Why isn't Xiao Wu's mother here? Judging by the timeline, Bibi Dong shouldn't have reached the Title Douluo rank yet. Could it be that she has already undergone Transformation and gone to the human world to cultivate?

According to the rules of Douluo Continent, after a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast underwent Transformation, it had to absorb the aura of human society in order to cultivate quickly.

If it remained hidden away in the forest, its cultivation would only stagnate.

Xiao Wu's aura was currently extremely powerful, just one step away from the hundred-thousand-year threshold.

Once she broke through, her mother would presumably return to teach her how to undergo Transformation.

Then, she would die at the hands of Bibi Dong, who had come to hunt Soul Beasts.

Just as Wukong's thoughts raced.

The Death Spider Emperor, which had been watching from the outskirts, saw the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python appear and did not dare make a sound. In the blink of an eye, it vanished into the depths of the forest, terrified of being caught in the crossfire by those two overlords.

The three beasts paid no attention to the Death Spider Emperor's departure. Instead, they curiously looked at this unlucky fellow who had wandered into the forbidden ground.

Xiao Wu asked curiously, "Eh, another monkey? Er Ming, is he one of your relatives?"

The Titan Giant Ape scratched his head and replied in a deep, booming voice, "Sister Xiao Wu, I'm a mighty Titan Giant Ape—huge in size and strong enough to uproot mountains and rivers. This little monkey is all skinny and shriveled. How does he have even a trace of my clan's majesty?"

Even so, since they were both primate Soul Beasts and Wukong had been driven here by other Soul Beasts, Er Ming did not immediately attack him.

"Little Monkey, your cultivation isn't bad, but I've never seen you before. You're not a monkey from Star Dou, are you?"

Wukong put away the Ice-Fire Twin Dragon Staff, dusted himself off, and cupped his hands. Getting straight to the point, he said, "I am Sun Wukong. I am indeed not a Soul Beast of Star Dou, but have traveled here from Sunset Forest. I intruded today because I have an important matter to discuss and wish to request an audience with the Master!"

The moment those words were spoken, the previously relaxed atmosphere instantly froze.

"The Master? What Master?"

"Do we have a beast like that here?"

Xiao Wu tilted her head, her face full of confusion.

The Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python ignored Xiao Wu.

Instead, they simultaneously unleashed their pressure upon Wukong.

Boom!

A tangible pressure crashed down upon Wukong.

The surrounding air instantly solidified, and even the wind stopped moving.

"Little Monkey, with your cultivation, you are not qualified to know of the Master's existence."

"Speak! Where did you hear that title? What exactly have you come here for?"

The Sky Azure Bull Python said in a low voice, "If you utter even half a lie, we will make both your body and soul perish today!"

Facing the combined pressure of two top-tier Soul Beasts, Wukong found it difficult even to breathe.

Yet he did not panic. Instead, he clenched his teeth and straightened his back sharply.

"Don't get worked up, you two! Since Old Sun dared to come here, I naturally have proof!"

As Wukong spoke, he poured Soul Power into the Ice-Fire Twin Dragon Staff, causing it to reveal its might.

Buzz!

Red and blue light suddenly flared.

A soul-shaking dragon's roar burst from the Ice-Fire Twin Dragon Staff.

Immediately afterward.

An incomparably pure, ancient, and supreme dragon's might that stood above all beasts swept across the area, forcefully driving back Da Ming and Er Ming's pressure by several yards.

"This is the token!"

"As long as you present this item to the Master, the Master will know Old Sun's origins upon seeing the staff and will certainly grant me an audience!"

Wukong held the Twin Dragon Staff horizontally in both hands, openly meeting the two beasts' gazes.

The Sky Azure Bull Python stared at the long staff. As it sensed the aura emanating from it, its pupils suddenly contracted into narrow slits.

It opened its enormous jaws and drew in a breath. An invisible force of Soul Power pulled the Ice-Fire Twin Dragon Staff over, where it slowly floated before it.

After sensing the dragon's might emanating from the staff at close range,

the Sky Azure Bull Python was already certain that Wukong had not lied.

It turned to the Titan Giant Ape and said, "Er Ming, the dragon's might contained within this weapon is extraordinarily pure. Its rank is even more ancient and powerful than the aura I felt from that great lord back then!"

The Titan Giant Ape's body shuddered violently at those words.

Naturally, it knew who Da Ming meant by "that great lord."

It was the Beast God who now commanded the Ferocious Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest—the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, Di Tian!

For this monkey to possess a Dragon Clan token even more ancient in rank than Lord Di Tian's, his identity was surely anything but ordinary!

At that thought, the Titan Giant Ape immediately withdrew its pressure, and an honest-looking smile somehow appeared on its formerly fierce face.

"Well, well, so you're one of our own brothers! What a flood in the Dragon King's temple—one family failing to recognize another!"

"Forgive this old brother for being blind just now and failing to recognize one of our own. Please, come in! Come in!"

Seeing this, Wukong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He cupped his hands with a smile and said, "You're too polite, Brother. You were only doing your duty; Old Sun understands."

Having been ignored for so long, Xiao Wu was utterly confused and immediately grew unhappy.

She stood up in a huff, planted her rabbit paws on her hips, and loudly demanded, "Hey! Er Ming! You still haven't answered me! Who exactly is this 'Master'? And who is the 'great lord' Da Ming mentioned? Are you hiding something from me?"

The Sky Azure Bull Python looked at Xiao Wu's pouty expression, affection and helplessness flashing through its eyes.

"Sister Xiao Wu, it isn't that we meant to hide it from you, but... this matter is far too important. We really cannot say."

Da Ming sighed and lowered his voice. "Before that great lord entered seclusion, he repeatedly ordered us brothers to guard the Lake of Life to the death. No Soul Beast or human was allowed to approach, and we were especially forbidden from revealing even the slightest secret about the bottom of the lake, particularly matters concerning the Master. Without that great lord's permission, if we talked too much, we would face severe punishment."

Upon hearing that, Xiao Wu became even angrier. She stomped her little feet on Er Ming's shoulder. "You two! Am I some outsider? I'm your Sister Xiao Wu! I don't care. Today, I have to know what's hidden beneath the lake! If you don't tell me, I'll never speak to you again!"

Seeing Xiao Wu throw such a tantrum, the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape exchanged a glance, both feeling a headache coming on.

On one side was Lord Di Tian's absolute order, and on the other was their beloved Sister Xiao Wu. They were caught between a rock and a hard place.

Da Ming hesitated for a moment before finally giving in. "All right, all right, Sister Xiao Wu, don't be angry. How about this? In a moment, I'll take this... Brother Wukong's token to the bottom of the lake and request an audience with that great lord. If that great lord permits you to learn these secrets, then when I return, I'll tell you everything exactly as it is without concealing anything. How does that sound?"

Seeing Da Ming relent, Xiao Wu finally snorted and sat back down, lifting her chin proudly. "That's more like it! Then hurry up and come back. I'll wait here for your news. If you dare lie to me, you two will regret it!"

"Wouldn't dare. Wouldn't dare."

The Sky Azure Bull Python smiled bitterly and looked at Wukong. "Little brother, please wait here for a moment. I'll be back soon."

Wukong chuckled. "No problem. Sorry to trouble you, Brother."