Journey to the Core Area

Before everyone could gather, the moment the Titan Giant Ape stood up, the atmosphere became incredibly awkward.

"You are Sister Xiao Wu's friends, which makes you my friends."

Er Ming was like a small mountain. Just standing there gave off an overwhelming sense of pressure. A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast truly was terrifying!

"Although I already knew how powerful the Titan Giant Ape was, seeing him from this close still makes my heart pound!"

"So this is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast! I can't believe someone would actually dare covet his soul ring and soul bone!"

"But why does this Er Ming seem a little dim-witted?"

"No helping it! The Titan Giant Ape was never known as a soul beast with great intelligence! The Sky Azure Bull Python beside him looks like the smart one!"

"If Xiao Wu can make him call her big sister, doesn't that explain enough?"

The comments had truly seen something extraordinary. Probably ninety percent of people would never see a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in their entire lives. Of course, Xiao Wu didn't count...

"Xiao Wu, you..."

Even though they had already learned the truth from the comments, Zhu Zhuqing and the others still tacitly began acting along.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to hide it from you... I'm actually a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast too!"

Xiao Wu admitted her identity mainly for Gu Zhi to hear. For the conversation ahead, she chose to be completely honest.

"Whether you're human or a soul beast, we're still friends!"

Zhu Zhuqing was the first to state her position. She did not have many friends to begin with, and she did not want to lose either Xiao Wu or Ning Rongrong.

"So that's how it is... Fine, I'll forgive you this time!"

Ning Rongrong stepped forward and hugged Xiao Wu, whispering something in her ear along the way.

Meng Yiran and Liu Erlong edged closer to Gu Zhi. Logically speaking, they should not have been present for an occasion like this, which made things awkward.

Gu Zhi did not know how to react either. He had known Xiao Wu's identity long ago, but this was their first meeting. Xiao Wu had immediately exposed her own secret, so what expression was he supposed to make?

"Gu Zhi, why are you chickening out? You could hold this secret over her for the rest of her life!"

"The person above is so bad! I love it!"

"Xiao Wu! You wouldn't want others to know your true identity, would you? Hehehe!"

"Damn! Good thing it wasn't you perverts who got transported here! Otherwise, Xiao Wu would've been played to ruin!"

"I can't take it anymore! No matter whether it's black or white, you people have to turn it yellow, don't you?!"

The comments seemed furious at Gu Zhi for failing to live up to expectations, constantly blaming him for missing such a good opportunity. Meng Yiran and Liu Erlong stared at Gu Zhi with strange expressions, leaving him utterly bewildered.

"Ahem! Now that everything has been resolved perfectly, shouldn't we consider leaving?"

Originally, Gu Zhi had wanted Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing to reunite while he took the chance to see whether he could obtain the Gold Chest beneath the Sky Azure Bull Python. However, both the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python had been watching him the entire time, giving him no opportunity at all.

"You are Young Master Gu Zhi, right? Zhuqing mentioned you to me... Could we speak somewhere private? There are some matters we would like to discuss with you."

Xiao Wu had finally waited for Gu Zhi to speak. If he had not taken the initiative first, she really would not have known how to start a conversation with him.

"Me?"

Gu Zhi felt that this scene was strangely familiar. Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong had been like this at first, then Meng Yiran had been the same, and now Xiao Wu was acting this way too. Why were they all different from the original story?

"Sorry, I told Xiao Wu about what you've done... Xiao Wu probably means no harm. I hope you can hear her out..."

Seeing the suspicion in Gu Zhi's eyes deepen, Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly spoke up to cover for Xiao Wu.

Gu Zhi raised an eyebrow, still somewhat doubtful. But he also wanted to hear why Xiao Wu had sought him out, so after a brief silence, he agreed.

"What's going on? Why is Xiao Wu looking for Gu Zhi? Shouldn't she be more worried about Tang San's safety?"

"I remember the original story said that after she condensed her third soul ring, she immediately went to find Tang San! Why does it seem like she deliberately waited to meet Gu Zhi now?"

"Just keep watching! The plot has long since gone completely off the rails compared to the original!"

The comments were equally confused and could only choose to keep watching.

Gu Zhi and Xiao Wu walked over to the two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts. They were mainly facing the Sky Azure Bull Python, while the Gold Chest was only a few steps away from Gu Zhi.

"Hello, human. Welcome to our world."

The Sky Azure Bull Python spoke human language. His tone was not lofty at all, but instead rather polite.

"You're too courteous. What did you wish to discuss with me?"

Gu Zhi carefully studied the Sky Azure Bull Python. A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast truly was extraordinary. If this guy were taken outside, how many people would be shocked speechless?

"Humans and soul beasts have accumulated grievances for a long time. Especially as soul masters have grown stronger, the future of soul beasts has become increasingly precarious. I believe there are wise people among humans who can see this as well..."

The Sky Azure Bull Python began explaining at length. His core point was simple: once soul beasts went extinct, soul masters would inevitably decline as well.

"You want me to resolve this conflict?"

Gu Zhi's eyes widened. He was merely a passerby, yet a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was entrusting him with something this major?

"No way! Do you really take me, Gu Zhi, for a wish-granting machine? Have Xiao Wu go ask Tang Buddha instead!"

"Don't make Tang Buddha laugh! If Tang San had ever considered this issue, he wouldn't have been criticized so badly!"

"No! Even Huo Yuhao couldn't solve this problem, and you expect Gu Zhi and Tang San to solve it?"

"I'd believe it if Huo Yuhao and Tang San couldn't solve it! But if Gu Zhi can't solve it, how could he call himself the strongest god?"

"I agree! Gu Zhi simply has no reason to solve this problem! He can definitely do it!"

The comments seemed to have more faith in Gu Zhi than Gu Zhi himself did. Naturally, they believed in the future him, who would become the strongest god.

"There is a prophecy in the soul beast world. Its general meaning is that the one who tied the knot must untie it. At its root, the conflict between humans and soul beasts was caused by human development, so humans must be the main force in resolving it!"

After reading the comments, Xiao Wu suddenly caught on and understood how to steer the matter toward Gu Zhi.

"Then you have come to the wrong person. I don't have that ability."

Gu Zhi was not about to accept it. He only needed to complete his mission peacefully and then ascend to the God Realm. Why should he exhaust himself solving such a century-old problem?

"Young Master Gu, you misunderstand. We are not asking you to help resolve this problem. You may not believe it, but Sister Xiao Wu became human precisely to seek a way to solve this matter. However, as Young Master Gu knows, Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts are extremely tempting to humans, so we merely wish to ask Young Master Gu to look after Sister Xiao Wu."

The Sky Azure Bull Python knew that Gu Zhi would definitely not take on such an enormous matter, so their true goal was merely to establish contact between Xiao Wu and Gu Zhi.

"Now that makes sense! Good heavens! Xiao Wu was actually so ambitious! In the original story, Tang San really held her back!"

"No way! Xiao Wu was so love-brained in the original story! You really couldn't tell she entered the human world with a mission!"

"Why do I feel like they're setting Gu Zhi up? If Xiao Wu was really so noble, how could Tang San have turned her into such a love-brain?"

"I don't care! It's all Tang San's fault! I petition to beat Tang San to death!"

The comments actually believed the nonsense from Xiao Wu and the other two, and they all began fuming with righteous indignation. It was a good thing Gu Zhi could not see the comments, or he would have had to question their brains...