In the blink of an eye, it was the next morning.
After a sleepless night, Tang San and his teacher, Yu Xiaogang, got up, still shaken.
Over these five-plus years of cultivation.
Tang San's soul power had also broken through to level 27.
Although it was not as dazzling as the level 29 he had reached in the original timeline.
For a twelve-year-old boy, it was already a decent achievement.
As for Tang San's second soul ring, it had come from a seven-hundred-year-old Ghost Vine.
And he had obtained his Second Soul Skill-Parasitism.
Aside from that, over these years, he had also secretly honed his hidden weapons and movement techniques.
His Mysterious Heaven Skill had long since broken through to the third stage, and his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon had grown increasingly refined.
Although everything seemed to be flourishing.
Only he himself knew.
For these five years, he had never swallowed that bitter breath lodged in his heart.
"Xiao San, it's time for us to leave."
During breakfast, Yu Xiaogang suddenly spoke.
"Teacher, where are we going?"
Tang San raised his head and asked.
"Suotuo City. Shrek Academy."
Yu Xiaogang paused, then uttered those words.
As he spoke the final few words, a little of the light from days past rekindled in his eyes.
"All right."
Tang San fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
And so, that morning.
Teacher and student hired a battered carriage and left the city.
Meanwhile.
In Spirit City.
Yao Xuan was also preparing to set out.
Only, this time, he was not taking Hu Liena.
"Brother Xuan, why aren't you taking me?"
Hu Liena tugged at his sleeve, her eyes red.
"You're the Holy Maiden."
"The Holy Maiden should remain in Spirit City and preside over it."
"Running around everywhere with me would draw too much attention."
Yao Xuan reached out and pinched her cheek.
"All right, I understand..."
Hu Liena pouted, still feeling very aggrieved.
But she also knew that Yao Xuan was telling the truth.
"Brother Xuan, then... come back soon."
As she spoke, she sniffled, rose onto her toes, and kissed his cheek.
Seeing this, Qian Renxue's gaze shifted slightly beside them.
"My dear husband, I want one too."
She stepped forward and likewise rose onto her toes, planting a kiss on Yao Xuan's other cheek.
Xiao Wu refused to be left behind either.
"Brother Xuan, Brother Xuan, me too!"
With a loud smack, she kissed Yao Xuan right on the forehead.
The three girls looked at one another.
In an instant, an indescribable hint of gunpowder filled the air.
Gu Yuena stood at the very back, watching without moving.
She simply waited until everyone had finished kissing him before slowly stepping forward.
She did not rise onto her toes and compete like the others.
She merely raised her hand, straightened Yao Xuan's collar, which had been disheveled amid the kisses, and then lightly brushed his lips with hers.
After all, she was the First Wife, her position long since established.
And she had long since had Yao Xuan's body.
"Let's go."
As his words fell, Yao Xuan waved his hand, and the four of them vanished from the spot.
However, they were not heading to Suotuo City.
Instead, they returned to the Star Dou Great Forest, which was also where his true body slumbered.
"Husband, why have you come here?"
Looking at their surroundings, Gu Yuena asked in some surprise.
"To add another new member to our big family."
Yao Xuan's gaze fell upon the deepest reaches of the forest.
"Found her."
As Yao Xuan's words fell, he raised his hand and grasped.
From a distant patch of woods, a figure was plucked through the air toward him.
It was a small beast, golden all over, somewhat resembling a lion, and exceedingly noble.
She was none other than the one and only Auspicious Beast in the Star Dou Great Forest, the future Wang Qiu'er.
"From now on, stay by my side."
Yao Xuan looked at her, then raised his hand and lightly pointed at her.
The next moment.
A wisp of nine-colored light entered the little beast's body.
At once, the Auspicious Beast's body abruptly stiffened.
Then layers of soft light spread around her.
Within the light, that small beast's body unfurled little by little.
In the blink of an eye, a human figure stepped out of the radiance.
It was a young girl.
Her long pink-and-blue hair cascaded like a waterfall down to her waist.
Her face was exquisitely beautiful beyond compare.
But what made it hardest to look away was her figure.
Where she should have curved outward, she did so to perfection.
Where she should have tapered inward, she did so cleanly and sharply.
Her waist was slender, her legs long, and her curves beautifully proportioned.
Paired with her long pink-and-blue hair, she looked as though she had stepped straight out of a painting.
"From today onward, your name is Wang Qiu'er."
Yao Xuan looked her over and spoke calmly.
"Wang Qiu'er... thank you for bestowing a name upon me, my lord!"
The girl repeated her name, raised her head, and looked at Yao Xuan.
Her eyes sparkled.
Within them was an exceedingly pure, almost innate attachment.
It was a closeness born of her bloodline.
She was an Auspicious Beast, a sovereign of the Soul Beast Clan, her bloodline originating from the Dragon God.
And Yao Xuan was the oldest, most primordial Ancestral Dragon in this world.
In her eyes, Yao Xuan was like...
The closest, most handsome being.
"From now on, just call me Brother Xuan. These are your Sister Na'er, Sister Xiao Wu, and Sister Xue'er."
Yao Xuan introduced them.
"Yes, Brother Xuan! Qiu'er greets her sisters~"
Wang Qiu'er lowered her head, her voice soft.
Several days later.
On the main road outside Suotuo City.
A carriage traveled at an unhurried pace.
Seated inside were, naturally, Yao Xuan and his companions.
But at that moment, Yao Xuan suddenly raised his brows slightly.
He had sensed a rather unusual presence not far ahead.
There was a cold, sinister quality to that presence that made one deeply uncomfortable.
"Interesting."
He lifted the carriage curtain and looked ahead.
Farther down the main road.
A slender figure was fleeing blindly in panic.
It was a young girl.
She had black hair, a slender, willowy figure, long legs, and snow-white, silky skin, looking youthful and lovely.
However, at that moment, she was pressing one hand to her wounded shoulder, her face pale, clearly injured.
"Oh... is that Zhu Zhuqing?"
Looking at the girl in the distance.
Yao Xuan recognized her at a glance.
And at that very moment, several Wolf Bandits were still pursuing her relentlessly from behind.
They had clearly set their sights on Zhu Zhuqing.
"Hehehe, stop running! Come back and be our bandit bride!"
"Obey us now, and you'll suffer less later."
A sinister laugh came from behind her.
No, I can't let them capture me!
Zhu Zhuqing gritted her teeth and quickened her pace a little more.
But her injuries were simply too severe, and she grew slower and slower.
"Not bad. Just the chance to forge a friendly bond!"
Looking at Zhu Zhuqing in peril, Yao Xuan smiled.
The next moment, his figure flashed, and he appeared before Zhu Zhuqing.
Before you continue