Preparing to Return

"It looks like you gained quite a lot this time!"

Aside from Liu Erlong, neither Gu Zhi nor the Sky Azure Bull Python brothers knew just how much Zhu Zhuqing and the other two had gained. Still, the excitement in their beautiful eyes was impossible to hide. This journey had definitely been worthwhile for them.

"Alright, we've said enough goodbyes. Let's leave it at that."

"Xiao Wu, once you return to human society, make sure to take good care of yourself. This will always be your home and your support!"

Their parting was already understood without words. Everyone watched as Xiao Wu made her final farewells to the Sky Azure Bull Python brothers. Hearing them say this, Xiao Wu felt a trace of warmth in her heart.

"The next time we meet, perhaps something will be different..."

Xiao Wu waved goodbye to the two Sky Azure Bull Pythons. When she had left last time, she had been nervous and uneasy, but this parting no longer seemed like something frightening...

"Damn it! Why can't I find any trace of Xiao Wu?! Xiao Wu! Where are you?!"

Tang San and the others, who were still wandering around the middle region, were finally beginning to break down. Oscar and Ma Hongjun especially had spent every day on edge while also enduring Tang San's pressure.

"Third Brother! Let's rest for a while!"

"Yeah! If this keeps up, forget finding Xiao Wu—we'll all be in danger too!"

Oscar had repeatedly made Flying Sausages, and now he did not have a single drop of Soul Power left. He still had to keep up with the group through mountains and rivers. Even a donkey would not be this exhausted!

Ma Hongjun was in even worse shape. Not only did he have to conduct high-intensity aerial scouting, he also had to look after Oscar. Give him a pillow now, and he could sleep until the sky went dark!

"Little Third, I know you're anxious, but without being in good condition, we won't be able to deal with that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast either."

As the captain, Dai Mubai had already been considerate enough of Tang San's feelings. But seeing Oscar and the others like this, he could not keep favoring one side.

"Xiao Wu's life and death are still unknown! How can you expect me not to be anxious?!"

Tang San could not restrain his anger. Xiao Wu's safety was more important than anything else in his heart!

"Third Brother! I'm back!"

Just as Shrek was about to erupt into internal conflict, Xiao Wu suddenly appeared ahead of them. Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong followed behind her, though Gu Zhi and the other two were nowhere to be seen.

"You escaped? On your own?"

Forget Oscar and the others—even Flender, Grandmaster, and Zhao Wuji were stunned in succession. It was hard to believe that three Soul Masters with only three Soul Rings had escaped from a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

"Xiao Wu! You really came back!"

Tang San hurried forward, wanting to pull Xiao Wu tightly into his arms. Yet Xiao Wu quietly took half a step back, keeping some distance between herself and Tang San.

"I'm sorry, Third Brother! I made you suffer!"

Though Xiao Wu was still moved by Tang San's actions, whenever she thought of the scrolling comments mentioning that she and the Da Ming and Er Ming brothers would all be sacrificed, her body instinctively began to reject Tang San.

"As long as you're safe, that's all that matters!"

Tang San smiled brightly, but in the next moment, he collapsed forward. Ever since Xiao Wu had been taken away, his mind had been stretched taut. After repeated fierce battles and long journeys, his body had long since reached its limit.

"Little Third!"

Grandmaster was heartbroken. He hurriedly took Tang San from Xiao Wu's arms and brought him aside to rest.

"Finally, we can rest!"

Oscar and Ma Hongjun also collapsed to the ground from exhaustion. Only Dai Mubai was still in relatively normal condition, and he could even sneak glances at Zhu Zhuqing from time to time.

Ning Rongrong took in everyone's reactions and went to sit quietly on the other side with Zhu Zhuqing. They had already discussed it with Gu Zhi. Everyone would return separately, then meet up later at the Great Soul Arena.

"Dai Mubai is still looking at you! Aren't you going to give him some response?"

With a completely different mindset from Oscar and the others, Ning Rongrong showed off her little witch side, teasing Zhu Zhuqing whenever she had the chance.

"Disgusting!"

Zhu Zhuqing was not calling Ning Rongrong disgusting. She was saying that Dai Mubai's peeping was disgusting.

"Er Long... didn't she return with you?"

Before they could finish gossiping about Dai Mubai, Flender came wandering over to them again. Naturally, he had come because Liu Erlong had gone to find Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong to ask about the situation. Three people had left together, so why had only two returned?

"Senior Liu said she still had matters to handle. After sending us back, she left first."

Ning Rongrong looked at Flender teasingly. From the scrolling comments, she had long known that this scheming dean had unusual feelings for Liu Erlong.

"She... went to find that Gu Zhi fellow, didn't she?!"

Flender had already guessed as much, but he did not dare believe it. Even if Liu Erlong had let go of her feelings for Grandmaster, she could not possibly take a liking to some brat like Gu Zhi.

Ning Rongrong raised her brows but said nothing more. Oscar and the other two had been watching this side for a while, and seeing Ning Rongrong's expression, their faces were full of gossip-hungry curiosity.

"I told you long ago! That beauty and that guy named Gu Zhi have something going on!"

"Of course! Could these eyes of ours be wrong? The moment I saw them appear together, I said it! They definitely..."

Ma Hongjun made a lewd gesture at Oscar, and the two immediately chuckled.

"Impossible! You dead fatty, what nonsense are you spouting?!"

Flender was indeed an eight-ring powerhouse. Even though Oscar and the others had spoken quietly, he still heard them. It infuriated him, and hearing Ma Hongjun gossip about the woman of his dreams made him completely lose it!

"Oh, oh, oh! You can't accept it already? This Flender is the kind of guy with lust in his heart but no courage to act on it!"

"We just got back and someone's already breaking down! Shrek is still the same bunch of clowns as always!"

"Everyone, sing with me! True love blooms like plum blossoms! Cold ice and snow cannot conceal it!"

"At the coldest moment! It blooms upon the branches! Watching spring walk toward you and me!"

"Snowflakes drift! The north wind howls! Heaven and earth! A vast! Expanse!"

"No! No! No! Qiu Ya! My Qiu Ya!"

The suddenly appearing scrolling comments made Ning Rongrong burst out laughing. Oscar and Ma Hongjun looked at Flender, whose eyes had lost their light after breaking down, then looked at Ning Rongrong and asked:

"What are you laughing at?"

Ning Rongrong hurriedly restrained her smile and said seriously, "I suddenly remembered something happy!"

The two pressed, "What happy thing?"

Ning Rongrong glanced at Flender and said, "I just reached level thirty!"

This time, Zhu Zhuqing could not hold back her laughter either...

Oscar and Ma Hongjun looked at Zhu Zhuqing again and asked in confusion, "Zhu Zhuqing, what are you laughing at?"

Zhu Zhuqing forcibly suppressed her smile. "I reached level thirty too!"

Oscar and Ma Hongjun were greatly shocked. "Did both of you use the method of enlightenment?"

Ning Rongrong laughed wildly. "Yes, yes, yes!"

Zhu Zhuqing regained control of her expression. "No! I had already reached level thirty before! And I also obtained my third Soul Ring!"

Oscar and Ma Hongjun broke down too...