...
Bibi Dong didn't delay. After summoning the Moon Pass Ghosts, she took Xuan Hao and left Wuhun City. She didn't intend to use the power of the Elders' Hall.
Although she has been on the papacy for nearly six years, most of the old men in the Elders' Hall are still observing.
Although Qian Daoliu, that old codger in the Hall of Offerings, doesn't manage affairs, his group of old guys, led by Golden Crocodile Douluo, are all waiting to see her make a fool of herself, and even looking for an opportunity to get a share of the spoils.
If word gets out and Golden Crocodile Douluo, that peak level 98 Douluo, interferes and forcibly intervenes under the pretext of "strengthening the foundation of the Spirit Hall," then it's uncertain whether these two spirit rings and spirit bones will ultimately fall into her hands.
Only Yue Guan and Gui Mei, these two Title Douluos who were ostracized by Qian Daoliu because of Qian Xunji's death and could only cling to her leg, are the only left and right arms she can completely trust now.
...
Starry Sky Forest.
Four figures streaked across the sky like shooting stars.
Guided by the moon, they went straight past the outer perimeter and deep into the heart of the mixed zone, finally landing beside that tranquil pool.
"Your Majesty, this is the place."
Yue Guan pointed to the traces on the ground that had been dealt with but still showed some clues, "The aura ended here."
Without a word, Bibi Dong's body surged with a ghostly green light, and six terrifying black ten-thousand-year soul rings slowly rose up.
"Third Soul Skill, Summoning the Demon Spider!"
In an instant, a sinister and terrifying aura spread out from her center.
The ground seemed to have turned into a death swamp, shimmering with layers of dark green light.
"Hiss—"
A chilling screech of friction rang out, and one after another, venomous spiders, half a meter in diameter and entirely dark green, crawled out from the ground.
They were so dense that they instantly covered the ground within a radius of 100 meters.
This is Bibi Dong's Soul-Devouring Spider Queen's domain-type soul skill.
Although its attack power is average, it is a divine weapon in terms of reconnaissance and search.
These demonic spiders, formed from death energy, possess a radar-like ability to lock onto life force and specific scents.
"Go, find them for me!"
With a thought, Bibi Dong sent countless demonic spiders scattering in all directions like a green tide, burrowing into bushes, climbing treetops, and even diving underground.
Only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn has passed.
Bibi Dong's previously indifferent expression suddenly changed. "Found it."
She suddenly looked southwest.
"They didn't continue deeper into the core area; instead, they're moving towards the outer perimeter?
Are they trying to do the opposite, playing a game of hide-and-seek?"
"This is truly divine intervention!"
Bibi Dong's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "Yue Guan, Gui Mei! You two flank them from both sides and cut off their retreat back to the core area!
Even if it means alerting those two forest kings, you must keep them pinned down on the outskirts!"
"Yes, sir!"
Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged a glance, their figures instantly transforming into two streaks of light, one gold and one black, disappearing into the depths of the dense forest.
Just as Bibi Dong was about to move, she felt her sleeve being tugged.
She lowered her head and looked at Xuan Hao, who remained silent.
"elder sister..."
Xuan Hao tilted his head back and asked, "Could... I go first?"
"What do you want to do?" Bibi Dong frowned.
"I want to…go and say a few words to her first." Xuan Hao bit his lip.
"After all, she saved my life. I want to…talk to her. If we can avoid a fight, could we…"
"Naive." Bibi Dong coldly interrupted him. "Soul beasts and soul masters are inherently locked in a life-or-death struggle. She's a 100,000-year-old soul beast, every part of her is a treasure.
Do you think I'd let her go?
Or do you think she'd obediently surrender?"
"But..." Xuan Hao gripped her sleeve tightly, refusing to let go, "It's just a few words! I'll leave after I finish! Please, sister!"
Bibi Dong felt inexplicably irritated when she saw him on the verge of tears, but in the end she couldn't bring herself to harden her heart.
In any case, the situation is now settled.
The three Title Douluos have laid a trap, and the two transformed soul beasts are like turtles in a jar.
Even if Xuan Hao goes to warn them, what difference would it make if they run a few hundred meters ahead?
Faced with absolute power, this distance is nothing more than a blink of an eye.
Moreover, with the fusion skill of Yue Guan and Gui Mei's martial souls, she wasn't afraid of the other party resorting to hostage-taking tactics.
"Half an incense stick's time," Bibi Dong said calmly. "I'll only give you half an incense stick's time. Once you're done talking, get back here and don't get in my way."
"Thank you, sister!"
Xuan Hao released his grip without hesitation and turned to run wildly in the direction that Bibi Dong's demonic spider had sensed.
...
Deep in the jungle.
Holding Xiao Wu, Arou carefully used the terrain for cover as she stealthily made her way towards the edge of the forest.
Although the core area is safe, if they are trapped inside by Title Douluos, Da Ming and Er Ming will face an attack from several Title Douluos, which is too dangerous.
So she decided to do the opposite, taking advantage of the humans' belief that she would hide deep within the forest, to sneak back into the mixed zone, escape the forest, and blend into the human world.
Once you enter the vast sea of people, that aura will be completely masked.
Suddenly, the bushes in front of us rustled.
Arou's expression changed drastically, and she instantly assumed a defensive stance, her soul power surging, ready to fight to the death at any moment.
"Don't do anything! It's me!"
A familiar yet childlike voice rang out.
Immediately afterwards, the silver-haired boy who had been rescued by her at the lakeside and then resolutely left emerged panting from the bushes.
"It's you?!"
Arou looked at Xuan Hao, who was blocking her way, her eyes filled with astonishment.
"Why are you back? Aren't you...?"
"You can't escape now," Xuan Hao quickly explained, looking at the wary mother and daughter in front of him.
"If you go any further, you'll reach the Pope of the Spirit Hall, and two Title Douluo elders have already taken a detour and blocked your way back to the core area.
Moreover, those two elders possess a Spirit Fusion Technique called the Bipolar Stillness Domain.
Once they use it, even a Spirit Beast of the Titan Giant Ape level can be frozen in place, let alone you."
"Therefore, using me as a hostage is not an option."
Arou's face turned pale.
"Then what do you mean by coming here now?"
"I can't save either of you," Xuan Hao said.
"But you saved me. Now, I have a way, if done properly... to save at least one person."
Arou's pupils constricted sharply.
"What do we do?"
Xuan Hao didn't waste any words, nor did he have time to explain.
He suddenly took a step back, his whole body bursting with golden light—a completely unrestrained outburst!
"hold head high--!!"
With a resounding dragon roar, brilliant golden light instantly illuminated the dim forest.
Two spirit rings rose from beneath Xuan Hao's feet, especially the second, deep purple thousand-year spirit ring, which now burst forth with dazzling light.
Xuan Hao took a deep breath and unleashed the most provocative roar he could muster at the time, directed at the desolate area where ancient soul beasts gathered!
"Roar!!!"
The terrifying roar, mixed with a highly provocative dragon's might, instantly spread to a radius of several miles.
Ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts have a very strong sense of territory, especially in this area, where many large, temperamental creatures reside.
Suddenly provoked by an arrogant and ignorant aura, these already ferocious ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts instantly erupted into chaos.
"roar--!"
"Awooo—!"
In an instant, roars echoed from the surrounding dense forest.
The earth began to tremble, and more than a dozen powerful auras soared into the sky. Even when faced with the pressure of a Title Douluo, these ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts would briefly go berserk after being provoked.
Chaos descended instantly.
"you..."
Looking at the restless forest around her, Arou instantly understood Xuanhao's intention.
Creating chaos to fish in troubled waters!
In this chaotic situation, Xiao Wu, whose breath was faint and deliberately concealed, was the only one who might escape alive!
"Xiao Wu, listen to what your mother has to say."
Arou suddenly turned around, tears welling in her eyes, and shoved the dazed Xiaowu towards a dense thicket of bushes—a hidden passage leading to the inner circle.
"Hold your breath, use the method your mother taught you, and completely conceal your presence.
Hide in that tree hollow over there! No matter what happens outside, no matter what sounds you hear, absolutely do not come out! And do not look back!"
"Mom! I don't—"
"obedient!!"
Arou suddenly shoved Xiaowu, and a gentle surge of soul power sent Xiaowu directly into a hidden tree hole dozens of meters away.
Then, with a flick of her finger, several thick pieces of bark and vines instantly sealed the entrance to the hole.
After doing all this, the tenderness in Arou's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a resolute determination as if she were facing death.
She turned around abruptly, unleashing her full soul power, even deliberately pushing the primal aura of the 100,000-year-old soul beast to its limit!
He then grabbed Xuan Hao by the throat and lifted him up in front of him.
"Excuse me!"
Arou, carrying Xuanhao, didn't run towards the core area or the outer area.
Instead, she headed towards the side, towards the direction where the group of alarmed ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts were most concentrated, which was also a direction slightly farther from Bibi Dong, and rushed at full speed!
"Human! You want my spirit ring?
Then come and take it!!"
Arou let out a long, mournful howl that echoed throughout the entire forest.
With Arou holding him under her arm, Xuanhao felt the whistling wind in his ears and the resolute desolation in his heart, his emotions a mix of feelings.
He did not resist, but simply closed his eyes.
That's all he can do.
The rest...
Let's see which side this damned fate is on.
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