Bibi Dong spoke up to remind the others:
"Listen to him. From today onward, Lin Fan will be an Elder of Spirit Hall and also my military adviser."
Her voice was firm as she added:
"His status is second only to mine."
"But—!" the Demon Bear Douluo tried to object.
He was immediately cut off by Bibi Dong's cold tone:
"I said, listen to him. Did you not hear me?"
Beside him, the Spirit Kite Douluo reached out and patted his arm, signaling for him to drop it.
"Yes, Your Holiness," Chrysanthemum Douluo was the first to comply.
"Greetings, Elder Swordshadow!"
"Greetings, Elder Swordshadow!" The others followed suit, though the Demon Bear Douluo still looked unwilling, joining Moon Pass and Ghost reluctantly.
Lin Fan nudged Bibi Dong's arm and muttered, "When did I ever agree to join Spirit Hall, much less serve as your military adviser?"
Bibi Dong, unfazed, replied, "You're operating within Spirit Hall's vast organization — you'll need some kind of official identity. Otherwise, you won't even be able to walk through the front gates in the future."
"Tch." Lin Fan scoffed. "If I can't go through the front gate openly, I can always sneak in."
Bibi Dong quickly changed the subject. "We're already outside the city now. Tell them what they need to know about this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest."
"Alright. We can talk as we walk." Lin Fan nodded. Now that they'd left the city, he wasn't worried about others in Spirit Hall overhearing. He didn't want any 'ears on the wall' — if Qian Daoliu learned there were three-hundred-thousand-year soul beasts involved, he might try to interfere.
The four Titled Douluo turned their attention to Lin Fan, listening intently.
"This trip to the Star Dou isn't just about the humanoid soul beast Tang Hao rescued," Lin Fan began. "That girl has two companions — both hundred-thousand-year soul beasts."
"Their species are the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape, both at the hundred-thousand-year level."
"That's why Her Holiness allowed Tang Hao to take the girl — to let all three gather in the Star Dou so we can wipe them out in one stroke."
As he explained, Lin Fan even gave Bibi Dong some credit.
"What?! The Azure Bull Python?"
"And the Titan Giant Ape! Those are royalty among soul beasts!"
"No wonder… Her Holiness didn't use her Martial Soul True Body against Tang Hao that day," Moon Pass, Ghost, and Spirit Kite exclaimed in turn.
"But wait," Demon Bear Douluo interjected. "Her Holiness's second martial soul already has seven soul rings. If we're hunting three-hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, what happens to the extra hundred-thousand-year ring?"
"Exactly," Bibi Dong replied calmly. "I only need the humanoid soul beast's ring. The rings from the Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape will go to Lin Fan."
"Your Holiness… are you saying Elder Swordshadow is also a Twin Martial Soul user?" Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at Lin Fan in shock.
"What?!" Demon Bear Douluo stared in surprise as well.
"Don't doubt it," Bibi Dong said, speaking for Lin Fan. "He does indeed possess twin martial souls. His spirit power is already at level 96. That is why his position in Spirit Hall is second only to mine. Does anyone have a problem with that?"
"Keep it low-key," Lin Fan said with a faint smile. "And don't worry, I won't let you help for nothing. Afterwards, I'll reward you with some treasures. But I expect you to keep my affairs to yourselves."
"After all," he added, "I'm a man who likes to stay low-profile."
"Yes, Military Adviser!" the four answered together.
An hour later, Lin Fan's group reached the Star Dou Great Forest.
With their combined strength, they charged straight in without hesitation.
Meanwhile…
"Dad…" After lying unconscious for a whole day, Tang San slowly opened his eyes.
Seeing Tang Hao, he called out softly.
"You're awake. How do you feel?" Tang Hao asked with a nod.
"I'm fine, Dad," Tang San replied — then glanced around. When he realized Xiao Wu was nowhere in sight, anxiety immediately showed on his face.
"Don't bother looking. Xiao Wu has gone. She's likely already returned to her place. She'll be safer there than with us — you don't need to worry," Tang Hao said, reading his son's thoughts.
"As long as she's safe… Dad, Xiao Wu is a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, isn't she?" Tang San asked.
"She is. But so what? Little San, I'll ask you one thing — do you have the strength to protect her?" Tang Hao's gaze was serious.
Hearing that, Tang San clenched his fists. He knew the answer — no, not yet.
"Sigh… Little San, a man must know when to hold on and when to let go. When the day comes that you have the power to protect her, then go and find her." Tang Hao sighed, patting his son's shoulder.
"I understand, Dad. But I haven't told her yet… Human or beast, it doesn't matter — I'm willing to be her brother forever."
"Please, Dad — just tell me where she is. Even if I can't speak to her, if I can at least see her from afar and know she's safe, I'll be able to focus on my cultivation." Tang San's tone was pleading.
Tang Hao's heart softened — this was the first time his son had ever begged him for something.
Seeing the flicker of hesitation in his father's eyes, Tang San pressed again.
"Dad, Xiao Wu left so suddenly. Let me just look at her once from a distance. After that, I'll leave with you. I promise I'll train even harder."
"…Fine," Tang Hao relented. "Just one look. Once you've confirmed she's safe, you must leave with me to a place where we'll begin special training."
He knew that if Tang San left now without seeing her, his mind would remain troubled — and that was the fastest path to qi deviation.
"Thank you, Dad," Tang San said with a relieved smile.
Then Tang Hao led him toward the depths of the Star Dou.
On the way, Tang San asked, "Dad, since Xiao Wu is a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, why would she choose to become human and lose all her cultivation?"
Tang Hao answered slowly, "You already know soul beasts are classified as ten-year, hundred-year, thousand-year, ten-thousand-year, and hundred-thousand-year. But what you don't know is — when a soul beast reaches a hundred thousand years, it faces two paths.
"First, remain as they are — but then they have only about a thousand years left to live.
"Second, take the path Xiao Wu did — transform into human form and start over. Humans are the most suitable race for cultivation. Once they reach level 100, they achieve eternal life. Some hundred-thousand-year beasts take that gamble.
"But… soul beasts who become human must interact with humans to progress. Until they reach the Soul Emperor stage, they are considered in their 'youth stage,' and can be detected by Soul Douluo-level experts or higher.
"Once they reach level 60 and mature, their soul beast aura disappears — they become true humans."
"So Xiao Wu was still in her youth stage, which is why I met her when I was six," Tang San realized aloud.
"That's right. The cultivation path for soul beasts is far harder than for humans," Tang Hao confirmed.
What Tang Hao didn't know was that a hundred-thousand-year beast's life wasn't limited to a thousand years — but rather, after that time, they faced a heavenly tribulation.
If they survived, they could advance to two hundred thousand years. If they failed, they would perish entirely.
This was a special rule set by the God Realm for soul beasts.