A Bet with the Sky Azure Bull Python

"Xiao... Wu..."

The Titan Giant Ape grew anxious. He had not expected that after leaving the Star Dou Great Forest for only two years, Xiao Wu would actually believe a human's lies. Humans and Soul Beasts were bound by a relationship of killing and being killed!

"Second Brother."

From deep within the forest came another heavy voice.

Following the sound, they saw an enormous figure with the head of a bull and the body of a snake emerge. It was none other than one of the Two Emperors of the Star Dou Great Forest—the Sky Azure Bull Python!

At the sight of the newcomer, Cheng Xiao's pupils inevitably contracted. The Sky Azure Bull Python looked even more imposing than the Titan Giant Ape. If the Titan Giant Ape's intimidation came from its sheer size, then the Sky Azure Bull Python's was pure oppressive pressure.

Looking at that bull's head, more than four meters in diameter, and its pair of huge eyes shining like lanterns, then at its blackish-blue body and enormous snake form several times thicker than a water vat, Cheng Xiao quietly swallowed.

"Sister Xiao Wu, why do you trust this human so much?" The Sky Azure Bull Python ignored Cheng Xiao, whom Xiao Wu shielded behind her, and asked, "There is no Soul Beast aura on him at all. Everything he said is nothing but lies meant to deceive you. He is not a transformed Soul Beast!"

As the final word fell, the Sky Azure Bull Python's eyes filled with killing intent. A human Soul Master who had not even reached the third ring dared to deceive their Sister Xiao Wu and had even discovered her identity. This human could not be allowed to live.

Feeling the Sky Azure Bull Python's killing intent, Cheng Xiao's body trembled slightly. Then, dark purple light glimmered from the depths of his eyes. He raised his head to face the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast whose eyes brimmed with murderous intent and said calmly, "Though I am not a human transformed from a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, I do not need to hunt Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings. In a sense, we are not enemies, are we?"

"Ridiculous! How can you prove that you possess such an ability?" The Sky Azure Bull Python scoffed at Cheng Xiao's words. "Since ancient times, the relationship between Soul Masters and Soul Beasts has been as incompatible as fire and water. If things were truly as you said, how could the relationship between Soul Beasts and human Soul Masters have reached this point?"

The Sky Azure Bull Python's voice was thick with mockery. As a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, it did not believe Cheng Xiao's crude lies. If Soul Masters truly could increase their strength without Soul Beast Soul Rings, why would the Soul Beasts of the Star Dou Great Forest be hunted so often?

After hearing the Sky Azure Bull Python's words, Xiao Wu, who stood protectively before Cheng Xiao, turned back with a complicated expression. Looking at Cheng Xiao's ever-calm face, she did not know why, but she felt like trusting him.

Over the past two years, Xiao Wu could not claim to know Cheng Xiao particularly well. Yet whenever they slept in the same bed, she always took up two-thirds of it, leaving Cheng Xiao with only the remaining third.

Every time she woke up, Xiao Wu felt terribly embarrassed, but Cheng Xiao had never blamed her. Usually, he would just pat her head, then take her to breakfast at the cafeteria and to class. That was more or less how she had spent the past two years.

Though she had found it terribly boring at first, after studying alongside Cheng Xiao for so long, she had gradually come to enjoy that feeling. She was even more punctual than Cheng Xiao whenever they went to class.

Of course, she did not like attending class. What she liked was going to class with Cheng Xiao—the feeling of the two of them staying together no matter what they did. Deep down, she had accepted Cheng Xiao and trusted him.

"Da Ming, Er Ming." Taking a deep breath, Xiao Wu looked at her two younger brothers, whose eyes were filled with killing intent, and said seriously, "I believe Cheng Xiao. Even if he is not a transformed Soul Beast, even if he is only a human, I am willing to trust him."

At those words, the killing intent in the Sky Azure Bull Python's eyes intensified. Its lantern-like eyes fixed on Cheng Xiao as it said in an uncertain tone, "Human, I do not know what you said or did to Sister Xiao Wu, but if you dare bully her or expose her identity, then even if you flee to the ends of the earth, I will kill you!"

As its words fell, the Sky Azure Bull Python let out a low roar. The ground immediately trembled, and Soul Beasts from throughout the Star Dou Great Forest gathered together. They bowed slightly toward the forest's Two Emperors to show their submission.

Seeing this, Cheng Xiao grinned and cupped his hands. "Since Senior Sky Azure Bull Python distrusts me so deeply, my second Soul Ring has yet to be formed. Why not let me form it before the two seniors? Then you two should no longer regard me as an enemy, correct?"

The Sky Azure Bull Python gave a cold snort. "Human, do not think you can deceive us with some method we do not understand. Soul Masters require Soul Beast Soul Rings to advance in rank. That cannot be changed."

"But there are always exceptions, aren't there?" Cheng Xiao said with a smile. "Senior Sky Azure Bull Python, I understand your hatred for humans. But Xiao Wu and I have known each other for more than two years. If I wanted her Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, would I have brought her to the Star Dou Great Forest?"

"On the contrary, not only do I have no need for her Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, I also do not need to hunt Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings. But as you have guessed, such a thing is simply too shocking."

"My situation is now the same as Xiao Wu's. I am clearly human, yet I do not need to hunt Soul Beasts for Soul Rings in order to advance. If human Soul Masters learned of this, do you think I would still be standing safely before you?"

Cheng Xiao's words rendered not only the Sky Azure Bull Python speechless, but also the Titan Giant Ape, Xiao Wu, and even the Soul Beasts that had come to pay respects to the forest's emperors. All of them wore stunned expressions.

Once a Soul Beast's cultivation exceeded ten thousand years, it would develop intelligence. Therefore, they could understand some of Cheng Xiao's words and grasp their meaning even more clearly.

If what this human said was true, then how was his position within the Soul Master world any different from that of Soul Beasts transformed into humans?

Xiao Wu looked at Cheng Xiao's composed expression, and her beautiful eyes curved into lovely crescents. Now, she was completely convinced that Cheng Xiao was telling the truth.

"Fine, I will believe you once. Did you not say that you have yet to form your second Soul Ring?" The Sky Azure Bull Python's voice rumbled like muffled thunder. "Then form it before all of us Soul Beasts. If you succeed, not only will we refrain from interfering in matters between you and Sister Xiao Wu, but whenever you encounter trouble, come to the Star Dou Great Forest. Er Ming and I will do everything in our power to help you. How about it?"

"Big Brother!" The Titan Giant Ape stared at the Sky Azure Bull Python in shock. It had not expected its big brother to make such a promise. If this human truly succeeded, would it not have to become his little brother?

The Sky Azure Bull Python ignored the Titan Giant Ape. Its gaze remained fixed on Cheng Xiao. It wanted to see exactly how a human who had not transformed from a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast could possibly form a Soul Ring.