Lin Fan thought for a moment before speaking.
With you, plus Yue Guan, Gui Mei, Ling Yuan, and Mo Xiong, that should be enough.
Bibi Dong frowned.
"With you included, that's only six people. What's the reasoning for such a small team?"
It wasn't that she doubted his strength—she simply felt uneasy. Six people to hunt a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast felt too few.
"It's enough—more than enough. Honestly, just the two of us could handle it," Lin Fan replied casually.
"But bringing them along ensures no soul beast escapes. Yue Guan and Gui Mei's Two Polar Static Domains can freeze enemies in place, Mo Xiong Douluo's raw strength is unmatched, and Ling Yuan Douluo can scout from the air. That way, hunting will be easier.
"Besides, if you take all your titled Douluo, who will guard Spirit Hall? You have to leave some behind."
Lin Fan's reasoning was sound. While he was confident that he and Bibi Dong could take down the Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape alone, he couldn't risk what happened in the original timeline, where Bibi Dong nearly had them, only for them to escape at the last moment.
With this hunt being the last major task before heading to the City of Slaughter, failure now was unacceptable. He had been planning this since the moment he received the system—more than two years of preparation.
"Alright, since you've decided, we'll do it your way. When do we leave?" Bibi Dong asked.
"Immediately," Lin Fan answered with seriousness.
"Fine. One hour to assemble!"
After she agreed, Lin Fan left her courtyard and returned to his temporary quarters to prepare.
One hour later, Bibi Dong arrived with the four titled Douluo he had requested.
The familiar Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo were accompanied by two more—Mo Xiong Douluo and Ling Yuan Douluo.
Mo Xiong Douluo's martial spirit was the Blood Demon Berserk Bear. His strength and defense surpassed even Zhao Wuji's Vigorous Vajra Bear, and his physique was larger and more imposing than Zhao Wuji's.
Ling Yuan Douluo was a mature, short-haired beauty with a fierce aura. Her martial spirit was the Blazing Spirit Kite, slightly inferior in quality to the Fire Phoenix, but still a top-tier flying spirit.
As for Yue Guan and Gui Mei, Lin Fan was already well-acquainted with them.
"Let's go," Lin Fan said as he stepped out.
…
"Third Brother!"
Somewhere in the Star Dou Great Forest, Xiao Wu awoke with a start from her dreams.
She blinked and saw a campfire flickering nearby. A tall, broad-shouldered middle-aged man sat on a dead log, staring into the flames.
Memories from earlier that day rushed back—her narrow escape from Spirit Hall, and how Tang San's father had fought desperately to pull her from the tiger's jaws.
"You're awake," Tang Hao said evenly, prodding the fire with a stick.
"Thank you… Uncle Tang," Xiao Wu replied softly.
"No need for thanks. I just didn't expect Ning Fengzhi's Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda to have such an appraisal effect. It completely exposed your true identity to Spirit Hall. That was my mistake." Tang Hao's tone carried regret.
"Uncle, you've already done so much for me. From a soul master's perspective, you could have locked me away, waiting until Third Brother needed me, and then killed me to take my soul ring and soul bone."
"But you didn't. You've been protecting me from the shadows. Today, I thought I was finished, but you fought through a crowd of experts to save me."
Xiao Wu rose to her feet and gave him a solemn bow.
"You're right. I should have locked you away. But you remind me too much of Xiao San's mother—brave, loyal, unyielding. And for Xiao San's sake, I couldn't do it," Tang Hao said quietly.
"Uncle, the tournament is over. Spirit Hall knows who I am now. Take back the soul bone—you'll make better use of it, and Third Brother needs it more than I do." Xiao Wu summoned the Blue Silver Emperor's right leg bone.
"You're not yet fully matured. Keep it. And right now, Xiao San wouldn't gain much from absorbing it," Tang Hao replied.
"But you're right—the competition is over. Staying with Tang San will only put him in danger. You should return to where you belong. That's the only place you'll be truly safe."
Tang Hao sighed.
"You're both too weak right now. A temporary separation will benefit you both. Once you're strong enough, you can be together again.
"When I was with Xiao San's mother, my soul power was already at the Soul Sage level. Even as a Soul Douluo, I couldn't protect her. I had to watch her sacrifice herself in front of me.
"I don't want that tragedy repeated."
A shadow of grief crossed his face.
"Uncle… can I wait until Third Brother wakes up before I go?" Xiao Wu asked, her voice filled with reluctance.
"You think he'd let you go if he saw you?" Tang Hao shook his head.
"Go. We're in the outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest. The deep forest is just ahead." He sat back down, unwilling to watch her leave.
Xiao Wu knew he was right. For Tang San's sake, she had to go.
"Third Brother… you're the first person to comb my hair… and the only one."
She knelt beside Tang San's unconscious body, whispering through her tears. She kissed his forehead, lingering for a moment, then looked at him for a long time before finally turning away, each step heavy with reluctance.
"Human or beast… sometimes beasts have the purer hearts," Tang Hao murmured, watching her disappear. "Xiao San… don't hate your father."
But in truth, he was blinded by his love for the Blue Silver Emperor. He forgot that not all humans were selfish, and not all spirit beasts were noble.
And above all, he underestimated Lin Fan.
If Lin Fan weren't here, Bibi Dong might have been too busy with her God Exam to give chase.
But Tang Hao assumed Lin Fan didn't even know of the Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape. So he let Xiao Wu return to the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest… straight into Lin Fan's path.
Bibi Dong and Lin Fan's party of six left Spirit City, heading directly toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Your Holiness, now that we've left the city in such haste, are we pursuing that human-shaped soul beast from the other day?" Chrysanthemum Douluo asked.
"That's right. Nothing Spirit Hall wants has ever escaped us," Bibi Dong replied coolly.
"But Tang Hao is with her," Ghost Douluo said with a hint of alarm.
"Relax. Tang Hao's been injured for years. After what happened the other day, his old wounds must have flared up again. He's just a sick old tiger now," Lin Fan said with a faint smile.
"If he is still in the forest, all the better—we'll deal with him too," Bibi Dong added coldly.
Once we enter the forest, you will follow my commands. Disobey, and you will be executed on the spot, Lin Fan warned, his tone sharp.
Your Holiness is here. Why should we take orders from you? Mo Xiong Douluo asked with a dissatisfied snort.