Beside the Lake of Life, Tang San slowly awakened.
He immediately cried out, "Xiao Wu! Where is my Xiao Wu?!"
The Azure Bull Python emerged from the lake, looming over him. "Tang San, stop looking. Sister Xiao Wu is gone."
"What? Impossible! I don't believe it—how could Xiao Wu die?" Tang San refused to accept it. After finally seeing Xiao Wu again, was this truly their last meeting—a final farewell?
"It's the truth. After you fainted, Sister Xiao Wu was captured by those people. She was strong-willed and refused to become someone's soul ring, so she chose to self-destruct. She wanted me to tell you she's sorry, that you'll see each other in the next life, and hopes you'll live well."
The Azure Bull Python chose to lie to Tang San. It didn't mention Tian Lin's group, nor that Xiao Wu was still alive; it blamed Spirit Hall entirely. First, it didn't want Tang San and Xiao Wu entangled any longer—following Tang San would only endanger Xiao Wu, given the enemies he'd made.
Second, it was for Xiao Wu's sake—it didn't want Tang San to throw his life away. Of both groups that had appeared, Tian Lin's side was clearly more terrifying; among eleven people, nearly all had the potential to become Title Douluos, and the strongest youth, merely a Soul Sage, even made the Azure Bull Python feel threatened.
That youth's combat strength was close to the two divine beasts. His mentality was superb. Facing two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts and two enemy Title Douluos, he'd handled everything with ease—even slaying a Title Douluo.
Such wisdom, strength, and temperament were far beyond Tang San's.
So, ignorance was protection.
Tang San looked up, eyes bloodshot. "Why didn't you save Xiao Wu? Aren't you and the Titan Giant Ape her friends? Aren't you kings and emperors? You're all useless—you couldn't even protect Xiao Wu!"
The Azure Bull Python fell silent. It had been ages since anyone dared curse at it—other than the lords at the center of the Lake of Life, it was the strongest in the Star Dou Forest. Anyone else would have died for such disrespect.
But this time, it accepted the insult—because it was true. If it and Er Ming had Di Tian's strength, even two Title Douluos' fusion skill would have been meaningless—Di Tian could have killed them instantly.
"Tang San, you're right. I'm useless—I couldn't even protect Sister Xiao Wu. If you don't want to end up like me, work hard and get stronger. Only then can you protect those you care about," the Azure Bull Python said, turning and slowly sinking back into the lake.
It had said all it could. Tang San's path was his own now. It had saved his life, and so had Er Ming—they'd done right by Xiao Wu.
From now on, they'd care about nothing else, focusing only on helping Xiao Wu recover and regain her intelligence.
"Damn it!!!" Tang San punched the ground in frustration, venting his grief.
He wailed by the Lake of Life for a long time before standing and heading toward the outer forest, fists clenched, face twisted with rage. With each step, the Blue Silver Grass on his right hand darkened.
As anger and hatred filled Tang San's heart, the Dark Blue Silver Grass returned. This time, it wasn't from evil influence, but from his own emotions, mutating his Martial Soul.
Though not as powerful as the Blue Silver Emperor, the Dark Blue Silver Grass was now on par with the Blue Silver King—a high-ranking Martial Soul.
"Spirit Hall!" Tang San hissed coldly. "First my mother, now Xiao Wu. Your evil knows no bounds. One day, I'll destroy you all. And Jun Tian Lin, if you hadn't wounded my father, he could've fought by my side and Xiao Wu would still be alive. Just wait—once I'm strong enough, none of you will survive!"
…
Meanwhile, the Emperor Battle team were still protecting Oslo. Fortunately, since Xiao Wu had sacrificed herself, and Oslo had four soul bones—including a skull—his physical and mental strength far surpassed a typical Soul Emperor. Otherwise, even with Tian Lin's Holy Spirit Domain, he might not have survived the shock of absorbing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and bone.
Tian Lin stood at the cave entrance, pondering. "Luckily, Di Tian didn't show up—otherwise, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly. I guess, to him, Xiao Wu means little."
"Tang Hao forced things too far, which provoked Di Tian. In the future, as long as I'm careful, acting here shouldn't be a problem."
Tian Lin remembered that Bibi Dong would one day target the Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape. Cutting in ahead was so effective, he found it addictive.
"Wonderful!" Suddenly, an excited roar came from inside the cave. It was Oslo—his surging soul power now far surpassed the original second and third ranked members of Emperor Battle Team, Yu Tianheng and Gu Ran. His two yellow, two purple, one black, and one red ring configuration made others envious.
"Success! Congratulations, Oslo—I didn't expect you would become the second in our team to get a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and bone," Yu Tianheng said, punching Oslo's chest in envy. If he'd known the reward for dying once was so great, he'd have tried it himself.
"Hehe, it's all thanks to everyone's help. Don't worry, from now on I'll do my best for all of you," Oslo said gratefully.
Tian Lin had helped him the most, but he owed the others as well—and would never forget it.
"By the way, Oslo, what level are you now?" Ye Lingling asked. "By my calculations, you're at least level 68, maybe even 69."
"Let me check." Oslo tried to sense his soul power—and was stunned. "I think… I'm at level 70!"
"What?!" The others were shocked. Yu Feng couldn't believe it. "You must be kidding. Even with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and bone, you shouldn't jump from Soul Emperor straight to Soul Sage!"
"No, don't forget. Oslo didn't just absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and bone. When he was revived, he also absorbed four high-tier ten-thousand-year soul bones, and to help him fuse, Xiao Tian gave him a lot of soul power. It just didn't show until now, since he had no new ring," Ye Lingling analyzed.
"Senior sister is right," Tian Lin stepped forward. "I calculated the same—about level 69. But now, he's hit level 70. I think it's because of the spirit bone he got from the hundred-thousand-year beast."
"A hundred-thousand-year beast always yields a soul bone—a part different from the ring. Oslo was missing his torso and right leg bones, so it had to be one of those. But torso bones are much rarer than right leg bones, so we assumed it was a right leg bone."
"But it turns out Oslo hit the jackpot—he got the best of the six major bones, the torso. That's why his increase was so great!"