As a woman herself, what she detested most were Ma Hongjun's frivolous and filthy words; Liu Erlong's actions had undoubtedly vented their frustrations for them.
Liu Erlong's expression softened slightly after being praised by Xiao Wu, and she patted the girl's head. "If you encounter people like that in the future, don't be polite. Strength is the best logic."
Having said that, she quickened her pace and entered the hotel.
After checking into their rooms, everyone went to their respective rooms to rest.
The next morning.
Xu Yuan and his group packed their belongings and gathered at the hotel entrance.
Liu Erlong had changed into a suit of tight-fitting clothes suitable for movement, her long hair tied into a high ponytail.
"Is everyone ready?" Liu Erlong's gaze swept over the group.
Xu Yuan and the others nodded, indicating they were prepared.
"Let's go!"
The streets gradually became lively as early-rising pedestrians began to bustle to and fro. The sounds of hawking and conversation rose and fell, filled with the breath of daily life.
However, Xu Yuan and his group had no mind to pay attention to these things. Their focus was concentrated on the road ahead and the precautions regarding the Star Dou Great Forest that Liu Erlong explained from time to time.
The moment they stepped into the Star Dou Great Forest, the clamor was shut out, leaving only the fragmented sunlight filtering through the branches and the faint roars of beasts in the distance.
The air suddenly became humid, permeated with the scent of rotting leaves mixed with soil. The fallen leaves beneath their feet were thick enough to submerge their ankles, making a soft rustling sound as they stepped on them.
"Everyone, stay alert." Liu Erlong's voice dropped a few notches as her sharp gaze swept the surroundings. "From here on, every step could lead to danger."
Xu Yuan and the other seven nodded in understanding, looking around warily.
Xu Yuan released his Blue Silver Emperor, sensing the surrounding situation through it.
This method was something God King Tang San had taught him just last night.
"Twenty-seven meters to the southeast, there's a nest of ten-year-old Thorny Snakes hidden under the bushes; their aura is very weak," Xu Yuan said with his eyes closed, his voice steady. "Fifty meters to the northwest, there's a hundred-year-old Wind Eagle on an old oak tree preening its feathers; it has no hostility for now."
Listening to Xu Yuan's report, Liu Erlong nodded slightly, thinking to herself that Xu Yuan's talent was truly excellent to have developed ordinary Blue Silver Grass to such an extent.
Liu Erlong walked at the very front, her purple eyes flickering with light. Relying on her years of experience traveling through Spirit Beast forests, she constantly avoided areas that might harbor hidden dangers.
"There's a swamp fifty meters ahead," Liu Erlong suddenly stopped and pointed to a seemingly flat patch of grass to her front-left. "It's all silt under the turf. It'll be a problem if you fall in. Let's go around it."
The group followed her lead and turned to the right. The fallen leaves beneath their feet gradually became sparse, replaced by moss-covered rocks... Time passed quickly, and it was soon noon.
Throughout the morning, Xu Yuan and his group had fought various Spirit Beasts.
The vast majority of Spirit Beasts were let go by Xu Yuan and the others, but those that intended to kill them were all dealt with.
Xu Yuan and his group found a spot to rest and eat lunch.
"Hmm?"
At that moment, Xu Yuan sensed a Spirit Beast flying toward them.
It was a snake-type Spirit Beast. It had a bright red fleshy crest on its head that was larger than its head itself. Its body length was between six to eight meters, and its tail was fan-shaped.
Xu Yuan noticed that this Spirit Beast had pale red wings. Recalling his knowledge, he identified it.
It was a Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent.
This Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent was a thousand-year Spirit Beast.
However, why was this Spirit Beast flying straight toward them?
Thinking of this, Xu Yuan controlled the surrounding Blue Silver Grass, intending to intercept the Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent.
The Blue Silver Grass acted like agile green silk ribbons, extending rapidly following Xu Yuan's will, weaving into a dense net in mid-air and swooping down toward the diving Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent.
This thousand-year Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent clearly hadn't expected to be intercepted. Its crimson fleshy crest suddenly reared up, its fan-shaped tail thrashed violently behind it, and its pale red wings suddenly accelerated as it tried to break through the Blue Silver Grass's obstruction.
But the Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent failed to break through; it was wrapped tightly by the Blue Silver Grass. Its snake body twisted violently, and its crimson fleshy crest swelled even more vividly with anger as its sharp hissing echoed through the forest.
Its scales constantly rubbed against the Blue Silver Grass, making a piercing rustling sound. Its pale red wings flapped in vain, only causing the Binding vines to tighten further.
Hearing the commotion, the others looked toward the source of the sound and saw the Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent.
Tai Long looked at the Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent and said with some surprise, "It's actually a Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent."
He knew that the Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent was a very rare Spirit Beast, and many Spirit Masters with snake-type Spirits liked this kind of beast.
Jiang Zhu, Huang Yuan, and Jing Ling also curiously sized up the Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing glanced at it and continued eating their lunch; the two of them were not interested.
Xu Yuan approached the Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent and noticed that it had injuries on its body.
"Wait, don't let it go."
Just as Xu Yuan was about to release the Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent, a young girl's voice rang out.
Looking in the direction of the voice, Xu Yuan saw a sixteen-year-old girl and an old woman approaching.
The girl had a pair of large brown eyes and an extremely well-proportioned figure that had developed just right. Dressed in tight-fitting clothes that outlined the attractive curves of her chest, her slender waist twisted with a rhythm unique to snakes.
Her face carried a snake-like charming elegance; she could be called a peerless beauty.
Xu Yuan looked at the girl and asked, "Who are you?"
The girl introduced herself, "Hello, I am Meng Yiran. The Spirit Beast you caught is my target. Thank you for helping us catch it."
Xu Yuan waved his hand and said, "It was no trouble at all. Since it's yours, then you may kill this Spirit Beast."
Hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Meng Yiran's eyes, as if she hadn't expected Xu Yuan to be so straightforward.
The old woman was also somewhat surprised. She glanced at Liu Erlong and recognized her.
"Thank you, young friend. I am Chao Tianxiang. If you have any trouble in the future, you can come to me." Chao Tianxiang thanked Xu Yuan.
Xu Yuan waved his hand and then introduced himself.
Meng Yiran took out a dagger and killed the Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent with one strike.
A purple spirit ring drifted out from the Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent's body, floating in mid-air.
Meng Yiran sat on the ground and began absorbing this thousand-year spirit ring.
Chao Tianxiang stood guard by Meng Yiran's side to prevent anyone from disturbing her.
If someone were to disturb Meng Yiran, she would be heavily injured at best, or die on the spot at worst.
Xu Yuan returned to his spot and continued eating his dry rations.
He couldn't help but recall the plot from the Douluo Continent novel.
He remembered that in the novel, the Shrek Academy group had caught the Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent and shamelessly wanted to seize it for themselves.
Later, knowing Chao Tianxiang's identity, they didn't dare to seize it outright and used a competition to obtain the Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent.
Xu Yuan was curious in his heart; he wondered what Spirit Beast Oscar would get now that there was no Phoenix-tailed Cock-crested Serpent
God King Tang San noticed that after Meng Yiran absorbed the spirit ring, some Luck and Origin suddenly flew from a distance and entered Xu Yuan's body.
"As expected, Oscar has it too," God King Tang San muttered to himself.
Having successfully absorbed the spirit ring, Meng Yiran stood up from the ground and walked over to Xu Yuan.
"Xu Yuan, thank you," Meng Yiran said to him in gratitude.
Xu Yuan stood up, waved his hand, and said, "It was just a small favor, no need to be so polite."
Meng Yiran looked at Xu Yuan's calm expression, a hint of mischief flashing in her eyes.
Suddenly taking a step forward, before anyone could react, she stood on her tiptoes and quickly planted a soft kiss on Xu Yuan's cheek.
The sensation was like a feather brushing past, carrying the faint fragrance of a young girl's hair, gone in an instant.
Xu Yuan froze, subconsciously raising a hand to touch the spot where he had been kissed, his eyes filled with bewilderment.
But Meng Yiran looked as if she had completed an important task, a bright smile blossoming on her face: "This is my thanks."
With that, she waved at Xu Yuan.
Meng Yiran turned and walked quickly to Chao Tianxiang's side, taking her arm. "Grandma, let's go."
Chao Tianxiang glanced at Xu Yuan, a meaningful look flashing in her cloudy eyes. Without saying more, she led Meng Yiran into the dense forest, their figures soon swallowed by the thick foliage.
The woods fell silent instantly, leaving only the rustling of the wind through the leaves.
Xiao Wu was the first to break the silence. She clenched her fists tightly, her cheeks, which had been smiling, puffing up instantly like an annoyed little rabbit.
She stared fixedly at the spot on Xu Yuan's face that had been kissed, her eyes turning slightly red.
Xiao Wu's voice was full of uncontrollable grievance and displeasure: "Xu Yuan! How... how could she do that!"
There was a strong hint of jealousy in her voice that even she hadn't noticed.
Zhu Zhuqing stood to the side, an imperceptible ripple passing through her cold eyes.
She watched the direction Meng Yiran had disappeared in, then stole a glance at Xu Yuan's slightly embarrassed expression.
She didn't express her emotions as directly as Xiao Wu, but a strange sense of envy rose in her heart—envy for Meng Yiran's straightforward courage.
Tai Long and the other three pretended they hadn't seen anything, looking in other directions.
Liu Erlong watched all this with a smile, thinking that Xu Yuan was quite popular with women.
But on second thought, it was normal.
Xu Yuan's talent was excellent, his strength was great, and he was exceptionally good-looking.
If she were Xu Yuan's age, she would like him too.
After this thought popped up, Liu Erlong quickly shook it off.
She was Xu Yuan's teacher; how could she have such strange thoughts about him?
Xu Yuan looked at Xiao Wu. Seeing her turn away huffily, he quickly explained, "Xiao Wu, don't overthink it. I didn't expect her to do that either."
But Xiao Wu turned her head even further away, her shoulders twitching slightly, clearly still sulking.
Seeing this, Xu Yuan quickly tried to coax Xiao Wu.
Having watched everything, God King Tang San nodded slightly and said, "Not bad, he has my style from back then."
He was very surprised by Yu Xiaogang's Luck in love; it was truly ridiculous.
Just for helping Meng Yiran catch a Spirit Beast, she had kissed Xu Yuan without hesitation.
Back then, he had only been kissed by Meng Yiran after sparring with her.
However, all of this was thanks to him.
After coaxing her for a while, Xiao Wu was finally appeased by Xu Yuan.
After a short noon break, Liu Erlong led Xu Yuan and the others deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest.
Along the way, Xu Yuan and the others encountered many Spirit Beasts, which they drove away one by one.
Nightfall was like a heavy black cloth, slowly covering the Star Dou Great Forest.
Xu Yuan's group set up a temporary camp under a huge ancient tree. Tai Long and Huang Yuan gathered dry branches and started a campfire.
Jiang Zhu took out the dry rations and water skins she carried and distributed them to everyone, while Jing Ling scattered some droppings of thousand-year Spirit Beasts around the area.
Xiao Wu sat by the campfire, holding her rations but with little appetite, stealing glances at Xu Yuan from time to time.
Meng Yiran's kiss from earlier was like a small thorn pricking her heart, making her wonder if Brother Xu Yuan would think Meng Yiran was better than her.
Xu Yuan was helping Zhu Zhuqing tend to a scratch on the back of her hand from the day's battle, gently wiping it with a clean cloth dipped in water.
Zhu Zhuqing's skin was very fair, making the small wound particularly prominent in the firelight.
"Bear with it, it might sting a bit," Xu Yuan said softly, applying some detoxification medicine to Zhu Zhuqing's wound.
When the wound was touched, Zhu Zhuqing instinctively flinched but didn't pull her hand back.
The moment the detoxification medicine touched the wound, Zhu Zhuqing still couldn't help but gasp.
The medicine brought a hint of coolness, but it couldn't mask the stinging of the wound itself. She endured it without making a sound, her eyelashes only trembling slightly.
Xu Yuan watched closely, his movements becoming even lighter as he carefully wrapped it with a cloth strip, leaving the knot slightly loose: "This way it won't be too tight and hurt."
"It's nothing," Xu Yuan said, withdrawing his hand and putting the medicine bottle back into his storage spirit tool.
As he turned around, he happened to meet Xiao Wu's gaze. Like a thief caught red-handed, Xiao Wu hurriedly looked down, pretending to gnaw on her rations, her cheeks turning red.
Amused, Xu Yuan walked over and sat beside her, pulling an oil-paper package from his backpack.
He opened the package, which contained several pieces of Carrot cake he had specifically bought before they set out.
Xu Yuan really couldn't understand why Xiao Wu liked this stuff so much.
"Here, for you," Xu Yuan handed the Carrot cake over.
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, but she still said stubbornly, "Who wants to eat your food?"
Despite her words, her hand reached out honestly, picking up a piece and putting it in her mouth.
"Still angry?" Xu Yuan asked softly.
Xiao Wu's cheeks were puffed out as she said indistinctly, "No."
Seeing this, Xu Yuan patted Xiao Wu's head and said, "I promise you, I'll never let something like this happen in front of you again."
Xiao Wu's hair was ruffled, but she didn't pull away. She hadn't swallowed the Carrot cake yet and gave a muffled "mm-hmm," her eyes secretly turning red.
Actually, she had stopped being angry long ago; she just didn't like anyone else being intimate with the person most important to her.
Seeing Xiao Wu like this, Xu Yuan picked up another piece of Carrot cake and held it to her lips: "Have another piece?"
Xiao Wu instinctively opened her mouth and took the Carrot cake, her cheeks bulging.
Stealing a glance at Xu Yuan, she saw him looking down at her with eyes full of tenderness, and her cheeks couldn't help but redden further.
Xiao Wu quickly lowered her head, pretending to chew intently, but her ears were perked up, listening for his movements.
"Everyone, get behind me."
At that moment, Liu Erlong suddenly stood up, her Martial Soul Possession active as she spoke to everyone.
Seeing Liu Erlong's reaction, Xu Yuan's group looked in the direction she was facing.
"It's here
God King Tang San sensed the newcomer and thought silently to himself.
The other party arriving early was also due to him; the next part of the plan could proceed smoothly.
In the direction Liu Erlong was watching, two tall trees suddenly parted slowly to the sides, and a massive figure walked out from there silently.
Upon seeing this big fellow, everyone's breathing seemed to stop, and they finally understood what Liu Erlong was nervous about.
It was an existence like a mountain; its pitch-black fur shimmered with a faint luster under the weak light of the stars and moon. Although it was on all fours, its shoulder height definitely exceeded seven meters.
Xu Yuan recognized the other party at a glance; it was the Titan Giant Ape.
The appearance of the Titan Giant Ape seemed to make the entire forest fall into a state of stagnation.
With every step it took, the ground trembled slightly. Beneath the thick black fur, its muscles bulged, harboring power capable of destroying heaven and earth.
Those lantern-sized eyes scanned the camp with the pressure belonging to a top-tier Spirit Beast, making the air feel thick and viscous.
"Er Ming..." Xiao Wu subconsciously murmured.
She really hadn't expected Er Ming to appear at this time; he was clearly coming for her.
Before everyone could snap out of it, Er Ming reached out a giant hand, grabbed Xiao Wu, and then ran off with her.
Seeing this, everyone was stunned once again.
The first time was because of the Titan Giant Ape's appearance.
The second time was because the Titan Giant Ape snatched Xiao Wu away.
"Xiao Wu!"
Xu Yuan snapped back to his senses and hurriedly rushed toward the Titan Giant Ape.
Hearing Xu Yuan's words, the others snapped out of it one after another, intending to follow.
"Don't go, all of you stay here," Liu Erlong suddenly said to Zhu Zhuqing and the others.
Liu Erlong's voice carried an unquestionable authority. She stared intently at the direction the Titan Giant Ape had disappeared, her spirit power circulating wildly within her body, and the air around her distorted due to her scorching aura.
"The Titan Giant Ape is the overlord of the forest, and its speed is ridiculously fast. You'll only be a burden if you follow!"
"But Teacher, Xiao Wu is..." Zhu Zhuqing said anxiously.
Her hand was already pressed against the dagger at her waist, her eyes full of worry.
"It's too dangerous for Xu Yuan to go alone!" Jiang Zhu also couldn't help but speak up, ready to follow at any moment.
Liu Erlong turned her head sharply, her gaze as sharp as a blade: "I said, stay here!"
She took a deep breath, her tone softening slightly. "Although the Titan Giant Ape is powerful, its movement when grabbing Xiao Wu just now was very gentle, as if it didn't intend to kill. Xu Yuan's Blue Silver Grass can track the Titan Giant Ape, so it's most appropriate for me to go with him. You stay here and protect yourselves, that's an order!"
Tai Long clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white: "But..."
"No buts!" Liu Erlong interrupted him, looked at Xu Yuan who had already rushed out over ten meters, and chased after him in a flash. "Watch the camp and wait for us to return!"
The two figures soon disappeared into the depths of the dense forest, leaving only the sound of hurried footsteps and the light rustle of Blue Silver Grass brushing against leaves.
Zhu Zhuqing watched the direction they vanished, gritted her teeth, and finally suppressed the urge to chase after them.
She knew Liu Erlong was right; with their strength, blindly following would only hold them back.
"We'll guard the camp well; we can't let anything happen while they're gone."
...Xu Yuan pursued the Titan Giant Ape closely, feeling somewhat nervous.
Flames rose around Liu Erlong's body, dragon scales covered half her face, and her speed was not inferior at all.
Suddenly, the bushes on both sides shook violently, and seven or eight thick vines abruptly shot out, coiling toward the two like giant pythons.
Their thorny branches intertwined in the air, instantly weaving an airtight net.
"Second Spirit Skill: Fire Dragon Breath!"
Liu Erlong shouted angrily, and a surging blaze erupted from her mouth. The crimson Fire Dragon Breath was like a roaring torrent of lava, slamming hard into the vines.
The thorns on the vines were instantly charred by the high temperature, and the tough stems made a crackling burning sound. In just a few breaths, the airtight vine net was burned until it was brittle and broken, turning into a sky full of sparks as it fell.
Xu Yuan sensed for a moment and discovered the Spirit Beast hiding in the shadows.
"Three meters into the bushes on the left, a Thousand-Year Thorny Vine Spirit Beast!"
Hearing this, Liu Erlong tapped her toes hard on the ground, her body shooting toward the bushes on the left like an arrow from a bow.
Her right hand, covered in dragon scales, was clenched into a fist, and scorching spirit power condensed on her knuckles, creating a ripple of distorted air.
"Bang!"
The fist accurately smashed into the seemingly ordinary cluster of bushes, and a muffled sound followed by the crisp sound of wood splintering was heard.
That thousand-year Spirit Beast was killed on the spot by Liu Erlong's punch.
The moment Liu Erlong punched and killed the Thousand-Year Thorny Vine Spirit Beast, an ear-splitting roar suddenly came from the dense forest on the right.
A white shadow shot out like a bolt of lightning, its massive body carrying a gust of wind that tore through the air, pouncing straight toward the back of Liu Erlong's heart.
It was a giant ape that was snow-white all over, standing five meters tall with knotted muscles and exposed fangs—it was a Ten-Thousand-Year White Ape.
It had clearly been lying in wait for a long time, choosing the moment when Liu Erlong's old strength had just been spent and her new strength had yet to arise to launch a sneak attack. Its sharp claws shimmered with a cold light, carrying a lethal aura.
Xu Yuan was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected a giant ape to launch a sneak attack at all, and he felt a bit puzzled.
He hadn't discovered this giant ape before; how did this giant ape get here?
Thinking it over, Xu Yuan felt there was only one possibility: it must have been due to his own negligence.
"Teacher, watch out!" Xu Yuan's pupils constricted.
First Spirit Skill: Life Entanglement! He activated it without hesitation.
The Ten-Thousand-Year White Ape's movements were locked by the Blue Silver Emperor. It roared in anger, its claws tearing frantically, and it took some time before it managed to rip through the Blue Silver Emperor vines.
By the time Liu Erlong sensed the wind at her back, it was too late to fully dodge.
She turned around abruptly and took a blow from the white ape's claw head-on. The sharp pain made her groan, but her body used the force to shoot forward several meters.
Liu Erlong gave the Ten-Thousand-Year White Ape no chance to catch its breath, pouncing toward it with the momentum of a thunderbolt.
Her crimson dragon claws tore through the air, colliding with the white ape's swinging claws, producing a piercing sound of clashing metal.
Although the white ape had ten thousand years of cultivation, its body was constantly pushed back under Liu Erlong's furious assault. Its snow-white fur was charred by the flames, and several deep wounds that reached the bone soon appeared on its body.
"Roar—!"
The Ten-Thousand-Year White Ape was beaten into a steady retreat. A hint of madness flashed in its eyes, and it suddenly opened its giant maw.
A cloud of thick white mist suddenly sprayed out, carrying a bone-chilling coldness that instantly enveloped Liu Erlong's entire body.
Liu Erlong subconsciously held her breath, yet a small amount of the mist still entered. The mist felt slightly cool as it entered her mouth, but it turned into a scorching warm current in her throat, rapidly spreading through her Bloodline to her limbs and bones.
In just a moment, she felt her whole body become unbearably hot, her spirit power circulation became somewhat chaotic, and a hint of dizziness even appeared before her eyes.
"Despicable!" Liu Erlong gritted her teeth and forced herself to endure.
Knowing there was something wrong with the mist, she still refused to retreat even half a step.
She spotted the flaw when the white ape's strength had been spent and slapped it hard on the chest.
"Bang!"
With a loud bang, the Ten-Thousand-Year White Ape's sternum collapsed