Tang San, Are You the Bull Demon King Reincarnated?

Flender stood before the group and nodded to Ye Lin. "Since you know what you're doing, follow your own path."

"Five thousand years or five thousand five hundred, if Xiaogang said it, he must have his reasons."

"That's why he's the Grandmaster and we're not."

"I'll help you look."

Ye Lin nodded. "Thank you, Dean."

Dai Mubai and the others each cast Tang San a glance, their expressions tinged with disdain.

And here I thought you knew everything. Turns out you were just talking out of your ass?

You can't assume what you learned in your last life still applies in this one.

Did you really think the Grandmaster in this life would be the same as before?

Half an hour passed in quiet anticipation.

The purple glow around Oscar gradually faded away.

He slowly opened his eyes, feeling a new power flow through his meridians.

He stood and rolled his shoulders, unable to hide his excitement.

Looking up at the others, he broke into a grin.

"It worked! The Grandmaster was right. My third spirit skill grants flight! It lets someone fly at the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's incredible speed for one minute!"

The group erupted in astonishment.

Dai Mubai clapped him on the shoulder. "Not bad, Little Ao. You're the first support-type spirit master at our academy who can make people fly."

Ma Hongjun crowded in too. "A minute of high-speed flight? That'll be great for escaping."

Shao Xin smiled. Oscar was his disciple, after all.

Oscar usually followed his guidance.

Seeing Oscar grow stronger made him genuinely happy.

The group's faith in Yu Xiaogang's judgment grew, and they gained a new appreciation for the quality of Oscar's Martial Soul.

A different Martial Soul would have gained a speed boost at most from absorbing the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's Spirit Ring.

A support skill that granted flight, though? Not everyone could obtain one.

Flender glanced at the sky. "All right, Oscar has his Spirit Ring. Now it's Ye Lin's turn. We'll head deeper and look for a suitable strength-type spirit beast."

At his call, the group re-formed their formation and pressed deeper into Star Dou Forest.

But the next two days did not go smoothly.

There was no shortage of spirit beasts deep in Star Dou Forest, nor were strength-types particularly rare, yet they could not find a suitable one.

Either it was too young, or its attributes were wrong.

Over two days, the group searched several stretches of forest without finding a target that satisfied everyone.

As dusk fell on the second day, Flender finally raised a hand for them to stop.

He pointed to an ancient tree with an enormous crown. "We'll rest here tonight and keep looking tomorrow."

"We've reached an area where spirit beasts over five thousand years old roam. Finding one should be much easier now."

The others acknowledged him and spread out to find places to sit.

Soon a campfire was burning, its orange light carving out a warm patch of safety beneath the canopy.

Ye Lin leaned against Xiao Wu, his head lowered and his eyes closed as he rested.

Tang San sat on the other side of the fire.

He kept his gaze down as thoughts surged through his mind like a tide.

Xiao Wu's little brother, Er Ming the Titan Giant Ape, should come for her soon and take her away.

That'll be my chance to leave the group and seek out the opportunity meant for me.

Last time, when Xiao Wu was taken, I thought she was going to die. It scared the soul right out of me.

And that stupid bear Zhao Wuji used his Martial Soul Avatar against the Titan Giant Ape, only to get swatted away. What a pathetic sight.

I know how it turns out this time, but I still need to put on a convincing show. I have to cry my heart out so Xiao Wu sees how deeply I feel for her.

He added one last thought. She's my wife, after all. Xiao Wu, I can't live without you.

The area around the fire went quiet for several breaths.

Xiao Wu's ears twitched.

She answered calmly in her mind, Tang San, who said I was your wife?

Stop flattering yourself.

If you weren't still useful for passing information to Brother Lin, I'd have slammed you to death with my Eight-Stage Throw long ago.

And now you want to put on a show about how devoted you are to me?

You're just after my hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring and spirit bone!

The others were thinking much the same thing.

Well, well. The Titan Giant Ape is Xiao Wu's little brother?

I don't know why a spirit beast that powerful would be her little brother, but everyone has secrets.

When it comes to family connections, none of us can compete with Xiao Wu.

Tang San's got some fucking nerve, though.

Since when was Xiao Wu your wife?

You fooled her in your last life, but she's clearly wised up this time. You think she'll fall for it again?

And you even want to put on an act.

Of course. It takes someone that calculating to pull something like this.

Dai Mubai sat a little farther from the fire, leaning against a tree as he drank some water.

When that inner voice reached his ears, he paused mid-sip.

He added another curse of his own in his mind.

You're after my fiancée and Xiao Wu, and you've got your eye on Ning Rongrong too. What the fuck, are you the Bull Demon King reincarnated?

Zhao Wuji had a few more choice words of his own.

Fuck you, Tang San. You fooled Xiao Wu completely in the last life. Whatever happened, I was trying to save her. And you call me a stupid bear?

Fine. Just fine!

Flender cursed inwardly too. Tang San, look at your sorry ass. You still think you're going off to find some great opportunity?

I'm telling you now: I don't care who gets it, as long as it isn't you!

I'll keep my eyes on you the whole time. Let's see how you slip away.

A quarter of an hour passed.

Then, in the brief stillness, someone suddenly raised his head.

Zhao Wuji stared straight into the depths of the forest.

Flender rose a moment later. He said nothing, but his body had already tensed.

The presence approached with startling speed.

The ground began to tremble, faintly at first, then more strongly, until even the ashes in the campfire started to dance.

The shaking grew heavier. Something was closing in, each step sending a dull thud through the earth.

The darkness between the trees stirred.

A massive head rose above the canopy. Moonlight traced a silhouette as vast as a mountain.

Black fur stirred in the night breeze. Two eyes, like moons suspended in the dark sky, gazed calmly down at them.

Er Ming the Titan Giant Ape stood there like a mountain risen from the heart of the forest. His gaze passed over the group and settled on Xiao Wu.