They tried several more places-plains, forests, hills... anywhere birds were likely to roost.
They used up more than ten Pokéblocks.
"Bro, how about we try just one last time? If it doesn't work, let's forget it. I suddenly realized I don't miss Da Ming and Er Ming that much."
Xiao Wu's eyes reddened as she watched the Pokéblocks go to waste.
Why should those pathetic soul beasts, which barely even had any intelligence, get to eat something so good?!
Those should have been mine!!
Boohoo... it's all Da Ming and Er Ming's fault!
"Sigh... all right."
Chen Yang was at his wits' end too. The forest was so big, so why couldn't they find even a single bird...?
Still, the results weren't all bad. At least he had gained a few levels.
He finally tossed a Pokéblock onto a patch of flat ground, and the two began waiting in silence.
After an unknown amount of time, a faint sound drifted down from the sky.
"Caw-caw-caw-"
"That's a bird calling! One's finally here!"
Chen Yang looked up excitedly.
A giant bird, snow-white from head to toe, folded its wings and plunged toward the ground.
The giant bird flapped its wings and landed steadily on the grass. Sniffing the sweet scent, it cocked its head and stared fixedly at the Pokéblock on the ground.
"Caw!!!"
Its long beak scooped the Pokéblock into its mouth, and it swallowed it.
Then, as though it had gotten completely drunk, the bird flopped down and fell asleep.
"Bro, this is a three-hundred-year-old Slowpoke. Its habit is sleeping anytime, anywhere, and it's not very alert, so they usually don't live past a hundred years. This one's just ridiculously lucky."
"..."
The corner of Chen Yang's mouth twitched. He really was getting a glimpse of the diversity of species.
It might have been stupid, but having one was better than having none. At least it was a bird.
Neither of them bothered to conceal their movements. They walked straight over.
Xiao Wu reached out and patted the Slowpoke's face.
"Stupid bird, get up!"
"Caw? Caw, caw, caw!!!"
The Slowpoke tilted its head and glanced at Xiao Wu with its bean-sized eyes.
It took a full five seconds to react before it began struggling to flee.
Xiao Wu punched it on the head, then spoke with a positively nuclear smile.
"Go to the core region and call the Titan Giant Ape over, right now! If you dare disobey, I'll pluck every feather off you!"
As she spoke, Xiao Wu grabbed a handful of the soft, fluffy white feathers on the big bird's chest and yanked hard.
"Caw, caw, caw!!"
The snow-white bird squawked repeatedly in pain, flapped its enormous wings, and hurriedly flew off into the depths of the forest.
Watching the bird disappear into the distance, Xiao Wu curled her lips into a smile. "Done. Now we just wait here for Er Ming to come right to our door."
"Uh... aren't you worried that stupid bird won't come back?"
"Don't worry, Bro. Slowpokes are famous for being both stupid and cowardly. It wouldn't dare disobey."
Chen Yang helplessly spread his hands.
Fine. The entire Star Dou Great Forest is your home. Whatever you say goes.
They found a large tree, climbed onto a branch, and quietly waited for the Titan Giant Ape to appear.
Time passed little by little. Xiao Wu grew so sleepy that she kept yawning, her eyelids almost sticking together.
Just then, the ground beneath them suddenly trembled, each successive tremor more violent than the last.
Boom! Boom!
The entire grove shook along with it, and loose stones kept turning up out of the soil.
Xiao Wu instantly snapped awake and sat bolt upright. "He's here! It must be Er Ming!"
Chen Yang focused his gaze on the depths of the dense forest, where an enormous figure was approaching step by step.
"ROAR!!!!"
An earth-shaking roar suddenly exploded, sweeping across the entire Star Dou Great Forest.
The trees shuddered, and flocks of birds scattered in every direction.
A hulking figure like a small mountain pushed aside the densely packed trees and came running out in great strides. It was Er Ming, the Titan Giant Ape.
Er Ming's huge, bell-sized eyes swept back and forth. He soon spotted Xiao Wu on the branch and immediately grew excited.
"Sister Xiao Wu!!"
The Titan Giant Ape lowered his mountain-sized body slightly and slowly extended a massive, broad hand. His thick, flat palm hovered steadily in midair.
At the sight, Xiao Wu's eyes curved into a smile. She took Chen Yang's hand and leaped lightly, landing in Er Ming's broad palm.
"Sister Xiao Wu, why has your aura disappeared?"
Er Ming brought his enormous head a little closer, his huge eyes full of confusion as he carefully sensed Xiao Wu's aura.
The pure aura of origin that had once belonged to a hundred-thousand-year soft bone rabbit was completely gone.
"Because Bro helped me get rid of it. Pretty amazing, right?"
Xiao Wu lifted her little face proudly and turned toward Chen Yang beside her, her eyes brimming with pride and trust.
Then she lightly patted the Titan Giant Ape's thick palm and spoke seriously.
"By the way, Er Ming, take us to see Da Ming first. We have something very important to discuss with you two."
Hearing this, Er Ming stopped dwelling on the strange change in her aura. He nodded slightly, his deep rumble exceedingly gentle. "Okay! Whatever Sister Xiao Wu says!"
With that, the Titan Giant Ape slowly rose, his enormous body stirring gusts of wind as he carefully cradled the two people in his palm.
With steady, heavy strides, he slowly headed toward the core region in the deepest part of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Watching all the different soul beasts flee at full speed below, Chen Yang was filled with emotion. As expected of the overlord of Star Dou during Douluo I, that intimidating presence really was no joke.
Xiao Wu noticed his expression and smiled sweetly. "Bro, don't be afraid. With Er Ming here, no one in the entire Star Dou Great Forest would dare come near us. We'll see Da Ming soon."
"Mm."
Chen Yang gently stroked Xiao Wu's head.
They arrived at the Lake of Life in the core region of the Star Dou Forest.
An enormous bull's head slowly emerged from the lake.
Da Ming's gaze first settled on Xiao Wu, then swept toward Chen Yang beside her.
"Sister Xiao Wu, who is this human?"
"Da Ming, this is the older brother I found in the human world. Thanks to him, my soul beast aura has been eliminated, so I don't have to fear Titled Douluos or Soul Douluos anymore.
"And I've even reached level twenty-four as a Soul Grandmaster. Look."
As she spoke, two yellow Soul Rings lit up around Xiao Wu.
The Sky Azure Bull Python was naturally delighted too, and his attitude toward Chen Yang softened considerably.
"Thank you, human."
"It's nothing. She's my little sister. Protecting her is what I should do."
Chen Yang waved a hand and spoke casually, then turned to the matter at hand.
"We came here this time because we want to take either you or Er Ming with us. My Martial Soul, the Master Ball, can hold you inside it.
"That way, you can stay by our side and protect Xiao Wu better. At the same time, you can keep improving your cultivation without worrying about the threat of heavenly tribulations."
The Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape both froze, their enormous bodies stiffening slightly.
Er Ming shook his massive head, his deep, muffled voice filled with disbelief.
"Really? If I go with you, I won't have to fear heavenly tribulations anymore? And I can stay by Sister Xiao Wu's side all the time? Then I want to go."
Da Ming's gaze was deep as he silently studied Chen Yang, his tone utterly solemn. "Human, do you know what kind of price and risk taking in a hundred-thousand-year soul beast entails?"
Before you continue