One Year, Fifty-Sixth Level

Yu Xiaogang's brow furrowed sharply. "What happened?"

Flender fell silent for a moment, slowly recounting the events. "We were at the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest, and our luck was absolute garbage. We ran into the Forest King, the Titan Giant Ape, which had no business appearing out on the periphery."

"The Titan Giant Ape?!" Yu Xiaogang's pupils violently contracted.

As a master of Martial Soul Theory, he knew all too well the terror that name represented. As one of the two kings of the Star Dou Great Forest, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, its combat power was enough to rival a peak Titled Douluo.

How could a behemoth of that level leave the core hinterland and run to the outer perimeter of the forest?

Yu Xiaogang's voice instantly tightened. "Is everyone all right? What about Tang San? How is he?"

Flender's expression was heavy as he slowly shook his head. "Everyone is alive, but Xiao Wu was snatched away by the Titan Giant Ape."

"What!" Yu Xiaogang shook all over. "Xiao Wu was snatched?!"

Flender nodded. "The Titan Giant Ape appeared without the slightest warning, its strength crushing all of us. We were utterly powerless to stop it. It directly abducted Little Xiao... abducted Xiao Wu, turned, and retreated deep into the forest. We didn't dare pursue them deep inside-that's the core zone, and going in there is a one-way ticket to death. Tang San was heavily injured and is still recuperating now. His emotional state is very unstable."

Yu Xiaogang only felt a buzzing in his head.

Xiao Wu was missing, and Tang San was heavily injured.

Originally, his heart had been entirely preoccupied with Tang San acquiring his soul ring, but after hearing this account, a massive boulder instantly pressed down upon his chest. The shock brought by Ye Han earlier was suddenly overshadowed by this life-and-death crisis.

"Xiao Wu's martial soul is a Soft Bone Rabbit," Yu Xiaogang quickly sorted through his thoughts, analyzing in a low voice. "Could there be some kind of special connection between the Titan Giant Ape and the Soft Bone Rabbit? It didn't deal a fatal blow on the spot and merely took Xiao Wu away, which indicates it won't harm her for the time being."

"That's also our only comfort." Flender sighed. "But the Star Dou core zone is fraught with peril. Even if the Titan Giant Ape's original intention isn't to harm her, remaining there is still extremely dangerous. Tang San is single-mindedly determined to charge into the forest to rescue people, and Zhao Wuji and I held him back for a long time before barely managing to steady him."

Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists, his gaze solemn and fixed.

"Take me to see Tang San."

"Xiao Wu... was seized by the Titan Giant Ape." Flender's voice was deep. "We tried to pursue them, but that fellow's speed was far too fast, vanishing into the depths of the dense forest in the blink of an eye."

"Xiao Wu and Tang San are like true siblings. This matter has dealt Tang San a devastating blow."

After listening to Flender's words, Yu Xiaogang's expression grew increasingly solemn. He said no more, turned around, and walked straight toward Tang San's dormitory at a brisk pace.

Yu Xiaogang pushed the door open and entered, instantly catching sight of a decadent Tang San.

The youth sat on the edge of the bed, his clothes disheveled and his hair a tangled mess. An aura of dead silence enshrouded his entire body.

What caused Yu Xiaogang's heart to truly shake were Tang San's eyes. Those pupils that were usually nimble and steady were now dim and hollow. This was the first time Yu Xiaogang had ever seen Tang San look like this.

He walked up before Tang San and softly called out, "Little San."

Tang San slowly raised his head to look at Yu Xiaogang, his gaze empty.

"Teacher..." His voice was hoarse and dry, as if he hadn't spoken in a long time.

A tight sensation gripped Yu Xiaogang's heart. He sat down beside him on the edge of the bed, fell silent for a moment, and slowly began, "Flender told me everything about Xiao Wu."

Tang San's body trembled slightly.

"I must bring her back," Tang San ground out, teeth clenched. "No matter what the price."

Just as his voice fell, he slumped and shook his head again, as if negating himself.

"Teacher, you don't understand... That's the Titan Giant Ape, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. I'm too weak. I can't protect her at all..."

Reaching the end, a choked sob spilled from his throat.

Looking at the dejected Tang San, a thought suddenly arose in the depths of Yu Xiaogang's mind.

He wanted to tell Tang San that his father was the Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao-a peak Titled Douluo of the continent. As long as Tang Hao took action, there was still hope of rescuing Xiao Wu.

Yet the words hovered on his lips, and he hesitated once more.

Back then, when Tang Hao entrusted Tang San to him, he had specifically admonished him not to reveal Tang San's background prematurely.

Now, was this truly the appropriate time?

Yu Xiaogang fell into a prolonged silence.

Meanwhile, amidst the shadows outside Shrek Academy, a figure stood quietly.

Tang Hao's brow was furrowed, his expression complex. He had been aware of the entire matter regarding Xiao Wu being abducted by the Titan Giant Ape.

From the moment Tang San stepped foot into the Star Dou Great Forest, he had been following along in secret.

The moment the Titan Giant Ape appeared, he could have stepped in, yet he ultimately chose to remain hidden.

The reason was simple: although the Titan Giant Ape's movements had been rough when it took Xiao Wu away, it had deliberately avoided all vital points, showing no intent to kill. Tang Hao could almost deduce with certainty that a very deep origin existed between Xiao Wu and the Titan Giant Ape.

He was also one of the few people in the world who knew Xiao Wu's true identity-a hundred-thousand-year soul beast who had chosen human form to retrain.

He buried this secret deep within his heart, never telling a soul.

Watching Tang San fall into complete despair because of Xiao Wu's disappearance, Tang Hao felt hesitation churn within his heart.

Should he tell Tang San Xiao Wu's true identity, letting him know that Xiao Wu's life was currently out of danger so he could pull himself together?

Yet Tang San and Xiao Wu were currently merely sworn siblings; the layer of window paper between the two had not yet been pierced.

Tang Hao could not predict whether Tang San would accept the truth calmly once he learned it, or completely collapse and sink into despair due to the divide between human and beast.

Spirit City, the Papal Palace.

Bibi Dong's fingertips gently caressed two faintly glowing soul bones.

The age of both soul bones had just crossed into the ten-thousand-year realm, originating from a rare Draconic Soul Beast.

If Yu Xiaogang were able to absorb them, it would be enough to alleviate the stubborn ailment of Luo Sanpao's malignant martial soul mutation, and even give Luo Sanpao a chance to complete a benign evolution.

Thinking of this, the corners of Bibi Dong's lips curved into an extremely faint smile.

Yet in the next instant, the smile dissipated.

Not long ago, the spies dispatched to Nuoding City had transmitted back news: Yu Xiaogang had already left Notting Academy, resigning from the guest elder position he had held for over a decade, and his whereabouts were unknown.

The moment she received that news, Bibi Dong froze in place.

Soul bones, theoretical materials, all kinds of resources that aided martial soul evolution-she had prepared everything properly for Yu Xiaogang, yet the person who should have accepted all of this had vanished.

Bibi Dong closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to suppress the churning agitation in the depths of her heart.

Time flowed on, and the white colt sped past the crevice.

In the blink of an eye, a year hurried by.

Heaven Dou City, Dugu Manor.

Inside the secret chamber, Ye Han's breathing was long and steady, yet the soul power within his body stirred up a clear tremor.

This state persisted for roughly half an hour.

The next moment, a blazing fire roared into the sky, dyeing the entire secret chamber a brilliant red.

Dugu Bo, who was drinking tea in the courtyard, sensed the change, raised his eyes toward the secret chamber's direction, and captured that familiar aura of soul power.

He set down his teacup, admiration welling in his eyes. "Another breakthrough. The fifty-sixth level?"

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling also emerged from their respective rooms, gazing toward the secret chamber with a hint of envy in their eyes.

At the Soul King stage, improving three levels of soul power in a year-this speed could already be called terrifying.

And this was the result of Ye Han intentionally slowing down his cultivation pace under Dugu Bo's repeated exhortations.

The two elders had constantly kept in mind that Ye Han's cultivation improvement was far too fierce.

From awakening his martial soul at age six to breaking through as a Soul King at age twelve, he had traversed the cultivation path that took ordinary people twenty or thirty years in a mere six years.

While such speed was undeniably astonishing, there was no guarantee it wouldn't leave behind hidden troubles of an unstable foundation.

Therefore, over this past year, they had continuously urged Ye Han to slow down his soul power growth and place his primary focus on polishing his foundation.

Now, it appeared the results were remarkable.

Inside the secret chamber, Ye Han slowly opened his eyes, feeling the surging, robust soul power within his body, and revealed a satisfied expression.

The fifty-sixth level.

The progress was slightly faster than he had anticipated.

Ye Han stepped out of the secret chamber, and Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling were already waiting in the courtyard.

"You broke through?" Dugu Bo looked him up and down.

"Mn, the fifty-sixth level." Ye Han nodded lightly.

Dugu Bo patted his shoulder with satisfaction. "Very good. Your foundation is solid and steady."

Nearby, the expressions of Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling carried a trace of frustration.

In theory, the two of them had cultivation bases one ring lower than Ye Han's, so their cultivation speed should naturally have been faster.

Yet the reality was that even with all their bitter, unreserved cultivation, they merely matched Ye Han, who had deliberately slowed his pace.