"Miss!"
"What are you…?"
Qianjun Douluo's figure blurred as he rushed over, his voice mixed with alarm and confusion.
What he saw left him utterly dumbfounded.
Qian Renxue—His Highness, their carefully hidden trump card within the Tiandou Empire—had suddenly released her Seraphim Martial Soul in front of Ning Fengzhi and his people.
This… this was a disaster!
If word of her identity leaked out here, then years of careful lurking and scheming within the Tiandou Empire would all come crashing down. Everything would be wasted.
But what shocked him even more… was Lu Yuan.
One was the stigmatized dark evil spirit master, the other the radiantly pure Seraphim of light. And in front of him—their faces were inches apart, about to kiss!
This had long since gone past outrageous. This was simply insane.
"Sixth Consecration, I must take this man away today!" Qian Renxue declared, her arms sliding under Lu Yuan to support his battered body.
"Miss, he is an evil spirit master!" Qianjun Douluo stepped forward without hesitation, blocking her path. His voice carried weight and urgency. "This man's name has already been reported to the Grand Offering! His existence is dangerous."
Qian Renxue's golden eyes flickered with cold light. "Sixth Consecration, did you not hear my words?"
Qianjun Douluo's brows creased deeply. "Miss, you are confused! If you take him away, you'll be accused of protecting an evil spirit master. The punishment you will face then—no one will be able to shield you."
"Grandpa," Qian Renxue's voice softened, though steel still lined her tone, "what I do, I will take responsibility for. Even if I am punished, I will bear it alone. Unless you knock me down here and now, do not think to stop me."
She shifted Lu Yuan against her shoulder and decisively moved past him.
"…Sigh."
Qianjun Douluo's chest rose and fell with an acrid helpless breath.
No one… no one could ever sway her will once she made her choice. Not her teachers, not her elders, not even the Grand Offering.
But why… why had this ended up like this? Was there truly something between His Highness and this Lu Yuan?
About the time it takes to burn a stick of incense later…
A sudden pink glow streaked from the forest to the side, flashing before Qian Renxue's eyes. Her spirit wavered for the briefest instant—
"The third spirit ability, Teleport!"
A crisp, youthful voice rang out. Xiao Wu's form appeared out of thin air, her long braid whipping forward like a whip, coiling tightly around Qian Renxue's neck.
"The first spirit ability, Waist Bow!"
Xiao Wu's toes pressed hard into Qian Renxue's waist, her slender figure spinning midair with elegant force. With a sharp motion, Qian Renxue was flipped and slammed against the ground!
"Ah… it's you?"
Qian Renxue quickly rose, dust clinging to her exquisite features. Of the many girls orbiting Lu Yuan, she had naturally heard about this rabbit girl who never left his side.
She knew them all—except Liu Erlong, which had been her only oversight.
"Who are you?" Xiao Wu demanded, her eyes flashing with hostility as she stood protectively before Lu Yuan. She was certain she had never seen this woman before.
But then again, her secret identity as a soul beast was no longer hidden. It only made sense that a stranger would know her, while she herself did not recognize them.
"You don't need to know who I am," Qian Renxue answered coolly. "All you need to understand is this: I am here… to save Lu Yuan."
Xiao Wu frowned. She had no idea this fellow was actually the Tiandou Crown Prince Xue Qinghe in disguise.
"You're here to save him?" Xiao Wu's hands tensed, still wrapped protectively around Lu Yuan.
"Then take him away!"
Qian Renxue's sharp gaze swept behind Xiao Wu, where the massive figure of the Titan Great Ape slowly emerged from the shadows. The sight of this familiar giant beast revealed all she needed to know.
She herself did not have the strength to protect Lu Yuan right now. Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would be dragged into destruction if they tried.
But these soul beasts…
Perhaps they alone could spirit him somewhere safe.
Xiao Wu nodded once. "Don't worry. I'll take him to a safe place."
She reached down, lifting Lu Yuan carefully against her arms.
Qian Renxue's voice dropped to a frosty whisper, each word laced with threatening weight. "Little rabbit… if you dare harm him in the slightest, I will burn the entire Star Dou Forest to the ground."
Xiao Wu's expression hardened, but she didn't look back. "Our soul beasts understand gratitude more than you humans ever could. If he saved my life, I will never forget it."
Carrying Lu Yuan, she strode toward the innermost region of the Great Star Dou Forest.
From afar, a faint spiritual voice brushed past her ear. It was Qian Renxue's parting whisper.
Xiao Wu's footsteps slowed slightly. After a moment of silence, she nodded faintly in acknowledgment—then vanished into the forest depths.
"Sixth Consecration, come out!"
Qian Renxue's voice, cold as sharpened steel, rang through the forest.
Qianjun Douluo emerged hesitantly. "Miss, this… this path you've chosen…" Even he barely knew what to say. In just one day, His Highness had let slip a one-hundred-thousand-year spirit beast, the infamous evil spirit master Lu Yuan—things that by all rights should have been destroyed without hesitation.
And yet she let them go…
Another weary sigh left his lips.
After a long pause, Qian Renxue finally said, "Return to my grandfather. Tell him I will come back to receive my punishment in two days."
She could not return yet. Her task was not done—not until she had completed one final, vital matter.
"Miss, but…"
"Did you not hear what I said?"
"…Yes."
Qianjun bowed his head in resignation.
An empty bamboo basket. That was all they had in the end.
They had gained nothing, despite all their effort.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the battlefield—
Qianjun Douluo's departure instantly lifted much of the crushing pressure weighing down Chen Xin and Tang Hao.
But the same could not be said for Yueguan and Ghost.
"Boom!" "Boom!"
The ground trembled under two thunderous strikes, both figures hurled aside like rag dolls. The Titan Great Ape's giant fists tore through their defenses, forcibly interrupting their Martial Soul Fusion Technique.
Each of them spat blood, bodies trembling from the impact.
Against the king of the forest, even veteran Title Douluo were like fragile children being pounded into the dirt.
"Damn it!" Ghost cursed bitterly as they both struggled back. The forest king's fists rained down again, flesh against flesh, bone-crushing force that threatened to smash their souls out of their bodies.
Desperately, both moved together.
"The eighth spirit ability—Holy Light Gate!"
The Strange Velvet Chrysanthemum in Yueguan's hand bloomed wide, golden light blazing from its radiant center. The light coalesced into a thick pillar, its destructive beam lancing out like a divine punishment.
"The eighth spirit ability—Netherworld Shadow Claws!"
Ghost slammed his palms into the ground, his last spirit ring burning bright. From the void emerged massive ghostly claws, each hand larger than a house, slamming toward the Titan Great Ape's hulking body.
"Roooaaar!"
The Titan Great Ape bellowed furiously, its colossal chest reverberating under the primal roar. Its fists thundered against its broad ribcage, shaking the forest.
Dense waves of violent energy burst out from its knuckles, dozens, hundreds of fist shadows exploding into existence.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The golden light beam shattered.
Each ghost-claw was demolished like fragile clay.
In one leap, the Titan Great Ape burst upward, its mountainous body descending like a falling hill upon Yueguan.
"The second spirit ability, Velvet Petal Shield!"
A swirl of golden petals danced desperately around Yueguan, fusing into a luminous barrier.
"Boom!"
The giant ape's knuckles tore through the barrier as if paper. Yueguan's body shot backward, smashing through rock and tree alike like a fired cannonball.
"Your Holiness!" Yueguan's voice trembled with panic. "We… we can't hold him!"
Ghost's breathing was ragged, his face ashen as he dodged another colossal fist.
Why… why was the Titan Great Ape even here?
And why was it chasing them, hammering them like fleeing dogs?
What the hell was going on here?!
"Withdraw!"
At last, Bibi Dong's voice rang sharp above the chaos. Backed by the venomous gleam of her spider-blades, she forced Tang Hao back with one last slash and made her decision.
If she pressed further, she might indeed slay Tang Hao. But two of her Title Douluo elders would certainly die under the Titan Great Ape's fists.
Even before Tang Hao fell, her people would be obliterated.
As much as she coveted the spirit ring and bone of the Titan Great Ape, she had to abandon them today.
Upon hearing the retreat order, Yueguan and Ghost didn't need to be told twice. They fled with everything they had, staggering, bleeding, but alive.
No matter what, standing against that beast meant death.
Tang Hao deftly scooped his son into his arms and carried him behind a sturdy tree in the outer forest.
"San'er, are you alright?"
Tang San's pale face twisted in pain. "Cough… Dad, I'm fine…" His voice was faint, unconvincing. In truth, his ribs felt ready to snap, and his body weak from the crushing spiritual shock he'd endured during the battle of the Title Douluo.
The Titan Great Ape's earth-shaking roar burst out again, its fists hammering its chest in primal fury.
It remembered this boy—Tang San—the human who had once walked through the forest alongside Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu had spoken well of him.
But if he was truly so good… then why hadn't he appeared earlier, when Xiao Wu had nearly been slain by other spirit masters?
Thinking of that, fury replaced reason.
With another roar, the Titan Great Ape charged toward Tang Hao and his son.
"Uncle Jian, we're leaving!" Ning Fengzhi exclaimed, making his decision on the spot.
He didn't know why the Titan Great Ape suddenly wanted to crush the Haotian father and son—but it couldn't possibly be better news for them.
--
Loving the story? Read 149+ extra chapters on my Patreon — link's in the description! 🚀
Loved this fic? 🔥 Then you'll absolutely binge my other hits — "Douluo Dalu: Ten Thousand Years Early System!" & "Douluo Dalu: My Harem System is Bugged!" — don't miss out!