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Xiao Wu stared at the crystal orb in Ye Lan's hand and shook her head frantically.
"No! No!! Ye Lan, please — don't show Brother San, okay?" she begged.
Seeing Xiao Wu's obedient plea, Ye Lan nodded with satisfaction.
If the students at Notting Institute knew that the little hell-raiser Xiao Wu had such an obedient side, what would they think?
"Since you don't want Tang San to see it, then lure the Titan Ape out," Ye Lan said lightly.
"What?! No! I won't! Er Ming is my good friend!!" Xiao Wu wailed in a panic.
Ye Lan smiled and activated the crystal orb.
Then the images from a few hours earlier began to play — not only the footage but Xiao Wu's muffled cries were replayed as well.
Xiao Wu glanced only briefly, then slammed her eyes shut, her cheeks flushing crimson.
She could not bear to think that those shameful, flushed, pleading scenes of hers had been recorded.
Seeing Xiao Wu's reddening face, Ye Lan continued, "Xiao Wu, you don't have to betray the Titan Ape. I can't promise where this footage might end up."
"How about setting the location to Hao Tian Sect?" he suggested.
"Let them see what sort of woman the bride of Hao Tian Sect really is."
"No! No!! Ye Lan, as long as you don't expose this footage I'll do whatever you ask." Xiao Wu cried, begging through tears.
She could not imagine what would happen if that footage were shown at Hao Tian Sect.
If Brother San learned she had lost her purity, would his heart break?
Would he still want an unclean Xiao Wu?
What would Brother San's elders think of her?
Would the Clear Sky Douluo still allow her to be with Brother San?
Moreover, once she became human she could never revert to being a spirit beast; if this footage were exposed, she would have no place left in human society.
Watching Xiao Wu's desperate pleas, Ye Lan nodded in satisfaction.
A golden soul-light flashed in Ye Lan's palm as he permanently stored the footage. Then he channeled his soul power again to open another recording space.
After handling the crystal orb, Ye Lan said, "Next, act more pained — beg the Titan Ape to save you. Remember, don't let the Titan Ape notify the Azure Bull Python."
Although Xiao Wu was begging him, Ye Lan still dared not be reckless and send her straight to lure the Titan Ape — the risk was far too high.
What if Xiao Wu truly shamelessly gave herself away and ruined the ruse?
After all, before Xiao Wu's transmigration into human form she had been a hundred-thousand-year Soft-Bone Rabbit; she had no idea how many times in past millennia she had mated with male rabbits.
If Xiao Wu had been merely acting earlier, then this would be a catastrophic failure.
Moreover, only with Xiao Wu in his grasp could Ye Lan leverage the Titan Ape.
After considering every possible contingency and finding no flaws, Ye Lan commanded the Blue-Silver Grass to exert force once more, channeling soul power into the "Recording Crystal Orb."
Feeling the constriction of the Blue-Silver Grass, a distressed Xiao Wu began to perform.
"Er Ming!! Er Ming!!"
"Save me!!"
"It hurts!!"
"Er Ming, come save me!!"
"Don't tell Da Ming!!"
"Er Ming!!"
"Wahhh~"
Ye Lan watched Xiao Wu's performance with satisfaction, then put away the Recording Crystal Orb.
"Ye Lan, I did exactly as you asked — please don't let Brother San see this." Xiao Wu wiped her tears and begged.
"Judging by your act, if you perform well, Tang San won't know," Ye Lan said.
"Then let me go!!" Xiao Wu pleaded pitifully.
"Stop that nauseating look," Ye Lan said impatiently.
"Wah wah— Er Ming, I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Er Ming!" Xiao Wu cried.
Only then did she realize: Ye Lan had never wanted her soul-bone; he wanted Er Ming.
Ye Lan withdrew the blue shield, then clapped his hands twice.
Snap! Snap!
A silver figure flashed into being. The Silver Wolf eyed the flushed, teary Xiao Wu and teased, "Xiao Lan, your stamina's not bad — you can keep up with ol' Wolf Uncle!"
Ye Lan waved his hand. "Uncle Wolf, it's not what you think!"
"I know, I know. I won't blab — Xiao Xue won't find out!" the Silver Wolf grinned wickedly.
"You like this type, huh?" he joked.
Ye Lan sighed. "Uncle Wolf, keep Xiao Wu safe. I'll go draw out the Titan Ape."
"Xiao Lan, want me to come? Isn't it too dangerous for you?" the Silver Wolf's teasing faded; concern creased his expression.
"Don't worry. I'll open the 'Nature Domain' and use Blue-Silver Grass to contact the Titan Ape," Ye Lan answered. "Besides, Xiao Wu is still in our hands."
"You don't know — those two hundred-thousand-year beasts love her to death. As long as Xiao Wu's with us, they won't act up," Ye Lan explained.
"That's nonsense! Da Ming, Er Ming and I are only friends!!" Xiao Wu shouted.
"Heh. You're too blessed to know it. I have no patience to explain," Ye Lan said, irritated.
After Ye Lan's explanation, the Silver Wolf relaxed.
He trusted Ye Lan wouldn't act without confidence. "Fine, Xiao Lan. Go and return quickly."
With that he struck Xiao Wu unconscious.
"Goodbye, Uncle Wolf. I'll be back soon." Ye Lan said.
Then he opened Flash and dashed in the direction from which Xiao Wu had been taken.
A long while later.
When Ye Lan was several thousand meters from the forest where the Titan Ape dwelled, he stopped.
From that distance came the lowing of the Azure Bull Python and the roars of the Titan Ape — agitation born of Xiao Wu's disappearance.
Ye Lan sat cross-legged on the grass and a verdant domain shimmered around him.
"Nature Domain — activate." Ye Lan continuously communicated with the nearby Blue-Silver Grass.
The Blue-Silver Grass spread the signal outward, from plant to plant — ten to a hundred, a hundred to a thousand.
Soon the communication range expanded seven to eight thousand meters, instantly covering the two ten-thousand-year soul beasts.
"Sister Xiao Wu!! Sister Xiao Wu!! Where are you!!" The Titan Ape tore at trees, tearing timber as if they were weeds beneath its terrifying palms.
Ancient trees were uprooted like crops, flung hundreds of meters.
While the Titan Ape desperately sought Xiao Wu, something tickled its feet.
"Don't be silly!" it growled and began rubbing its foot on the ground to relieve the itch.
No matter how it scratched, something kept tickling its foot.
When the Titan Ape looked down, it found countless Blue-Silver Grass climbing its calves.
Nearby the grass swayed, pointing in a direction.
The Titan Ape was puzzled — when had these grasses become so spirited?
Which way were they pointing?
Could Xiao Wu be there?
Though Blue-Silver Grass was a lowly soul beast, it was still a soul beast — as the saying goes, soul beasts help soul beasts.
Without much hesitation, the Titan Ape charged in the direction the grass indicated.
After running several thousand meters under the grass's guidance, the Titan Ape saw that the Blue-Silver Grass all leaned toward a blond human.
Seeing a human, the Titan Ape's temper flared.
A human had taken Xiao Wu!!
After Xiao Wu returned to the Heavenly Dou Forest, she told it stories every day about her and Tang San.
The Titan Ape thought Tang San had stolen its Xiao Wu; the pain of that idea set it ablaze.
Just as it prepared to explode with brute force toward Ye Lan, the blond human's crystal orb flashed with soul light.
Soon the projection of Xiao Wu being bound by Blue-Silver Grass and pleading for help played out.
The Titan Ape roared, "Human!! What did you do to Sister Xiao Wu!!"
"I advise you to lower your voice. Otherwise I can't guarantee the Soft-Bone Rabbit's safety," Ye Lan said calmly.
At the mention of the Soft-Bone Rabbit, the Titan Ape's face changed.
He knew Xiao Wu's true identity?
"How can I be sure Sister Xiao Wu will be safe after I sacrifice?" the Titan Ape asked quietly.
"Simple. Sacrifice to me," Ye Lan said, eyes fixed on the Titan Ape.
Enraged, the Titan Ape's black fist shot toward Ye Lan.
A massive black fist hurtled with terrifying speed, winds howling and throwing Ye Lan's golden hair into chaos. Yet Ye Lan remained serenely calm.
Boom!!
The fist stopped a meter before Ye Lan. The gale uprooted the giant trees behind Ye Lan, scattering them as splinters.
The Titan Ape stared at the composed human and sighed, "Human, you've won."
"Where is Sister Xiao Wu? If I can't see her, I will not sacrifice," it said.
"Come with me." Ye Lan opened Flash and ran toward the Silver Wolf.
Ye Lan had been so bold because he was certain of Da Ming and Er Ming's feelings for Xiao Wu.
He had also just activated the Golden Gaze.
He had enough reaction time to stack Flash with Instant Step and Echo Shift.
The combined teleportation distance of the three was terrifying — hundreds of meters.
Even if he misjudged the Titan Ape's feelings for Xiao Wu, he could escape in time and stall until Uncle Wolf arrived.
A moment later Ye Lan brought the Titan Ape near Uncle Wolf.
"Uncle Wolf, bring Xiao Wu over," Ye Lan said.
At Ye Lan's voice the Silver Wolf relaxed, realizing the plan had worked. He slung Xiao Wu over his shoulder and, in a flash, appeared perched on a high branch.
Only then did the Silver Wolf fully take in the Titan Ape behind Ye Lan.
The Titan Ape loomed like a mountain, over ten meters when half-crouched. Its dark fur shimmered under the moonlight, every inch of its body bristling with muscles harder than granite, bulging like small mounds. Red fissures streaked across its body — refined soul force made visible.
"Titan Ape — Xiao Wu is on Uncle Wolf's shoulder," Ye Lan said calmly, pointing.
The Titan Ape's red pupils locked on Xiao Wu. Sensing her steady breathing and that she was alive, it breathed a long, relieved sigh.
Then it felt the soul-force fluctuation from the silver figure.
A titled Douluo!!
The Titan Ape's heart sank.
It had thought to snatch Xiao Wu back from the human — but at sight of the Silver Wolf's soul force it immediately dropped the idea.
If it even hinted at attack, Xiao Wu would certainly die here.
It could not risk snatching her back from a titled Douluo.
So the Titan Ape fixed its gaze on Xiao Wu's sleeping face, trying to imprint her forever in its memory.
Ye Lan did not disturb the lovesick Titan Ape; he waited for the Ape and Xiao Wu to have their final farewell.
After a long silence the Titan Ape sighed, "Human, how can I be sure you'll keep your promise after I sacrifice?"
"You have no choice. I have no interest in a ten-thousand-year Soft-Bone Rabbit," Ye Lan said.
"But I can guarantee with my word — once you sacrifice, I will return Xiao Wu to the Azure Bull Python."
The Titan Ape looked at Ye Lan's tranquil pupils and knew it had been trapped.
Xiao Wu was everything to it; the human was right — it had no other choice.
"Human, if you fail to keep your promise, I'll self-destruct my soul and still won't let you take the ten-thousand-year soul ring!" the Titan Ape threatened.
"Heh. Don't worry. In a sense, being allowed to sacrifice for me is your honor. Sooner or later you'll bathe in my glory!" Ye Lan's golden pupils radiated unparalleled arrogance. Twelve Blue-Silver sacrificial vines shot from the ground, instantly enveloping Ye Lan.
Yellow, purple, and purple-black soul rings burst forth from his body.
The Titan Ape stared at the twelve over-forty-meter "Golden-Patterned Silver-Galaxy Vines" and Ye Lan's dazzling third purple-black soul ring.
It was stunned; it could hardly believe this was the power a soul-respect could unleash.
Could this blond human be the Ye Lan Xiao Wu often spoke of and loathed?
Xiao Wu had always described Ye Lan's power as terrifying; the Titan Ape had thought it a joke — until now.
At last it believed that a human could reach such a level.
Originally the Titan Ape had only yielded because of the threat to Xiao Wu's life.
But now — though it would never admit it outwardly — internally it was screaming:
Sacrifice! Sacrifice! Sacrifice!
Ascend to godhood with him!
Resolute, the Titan Ape's massive black body burst into blood-red flames, which flared into a dark crimson blaze, and soon condensed into a crimson soul-ring crystal.
This massive red ring radiated an intoxicating aura.
"A ten-thousand-year soul ring? Is Xiao Lan's plan really going to work!?" the Silver Wolf's palm began to sweat. If Xiao Lan succeeded, he would be the first Douluo to obtain a ten-thousand-year soul ring through conventional means!
Ye Lan closed his eyes and felt the wild, raging power the crimson soul ring released.
Fortunately his body quality now approximated that of a Soul Emperor; facing such violent soul force would not immediately shatter him.
As long as Ye Lan held, the Blue-Silver Grass — Radiant Life — would teach it how to recover.
Prepared, Ye Lan plunged his hand into the blood-red crystal.
Boundless soul force surged into him, swelling his muscles and bulging his veins.
The raging power swept through his meridians; the most violent reaction centered in his left arm.
Ye Lan's left arm began to glow with a dazzling red soul-light — a thick, crimson "Ten-Thousand-Year Titan Ape Left-Arm Bone" was coalescing.
A ten-thousand-year soul bone was still an enormous burden for Ye Lan.
The raging soul force felt like it would shred his meridians.
Feeling his body nearing its limit, Ye Lan roared, "Blue-Silver Grass, convert my life force!!"
"Blood Armor — Complete Form!!"
Countless blood energies roiled; Ye Lan's physical qualities surged again.
This was the first time Ye Lan used Blood Armor — Complete Form to absorb a soul ring and soul bone, and the result exceeded his expectations!
It was like borrowing life in advance — if Ye Lan successfully broke through to Soul Sect level, he would avoid being devoured by the terrible ten-thousand-year soul bone and soul ring.
Moreover, a soul ring and bone sacrificed by a ten-thousand-year soul beast did not behave the same as those absorbed through normal means.
Firstly, Ye Lan would not suffer the soul-shock of a beast's spirit. Secondly, the intensity of soul force was on an entirely different level.
If his own soul power were not too low — if he had been at Level Forty-Nine when absorbing the Titan Ape's sacrificial soul ring and bone — it would not have been so perilous.
With the Blue-Silver Grass continually converting life force to restore him and the rapid blood flow boosting his physique, the ten-thousand-year Titan Ape left-arm bone began to condense at an astonishing rate.
Ye Lan's cells howled in pain within his arm.
Yet he remained expressionless.
After all, Ye Lan had endured soul-level agony before; cell-level pain was nothing in comparison.
The Silver Wolf watched Ye Lan's calm composure and exhaled in relief.
He had assumed sacrifices from ten-thousand-year soul beasts were routine — unaware of the mortal danger Ye Lan actually faced.
Half an hour later, the red soul-light on Ye Lan's arm dimmed.
Shortly after, it vanished completely.
At that instant Ye Lan felt his cells ascend; his physical quality skyrocketed!!
The body-boost from the ten-thousand-year soul bone was terrifying — Ye Lan's physique shot up to Soul Saint level!!
As his body quality surged, the cellular pain from absorbing the soul ring vanished.
Sensing the chain reaction brought by the Titan Ape left-arm bone, Ye Lan began absorbing the crimson soul ring.
Inwardly he prayed, "Goddess!! Goddess!!! Let 'Soul Skill Self-Select' take effect!!!"
"Goddess above, Soul Skill Self-Select!!"
A black panel flashed across Ye Lan's mind — he rejoiced. Even a sacrificial soul ring could be self-selected. Truly the Goddess of the Blue Star Time-Travel Office was generous!
Heart racing, hands trembling, Ye Lan started to choose soul skills.
Soul Skill Self-Select (0/2):
Skill Name: Titan Whip
Passive: Blue-Silver Grass absorbs the Titan Ape's power, boosting Blue-Silver Grass attack by 100%.
Active: Summon the "Titan Whip"; after charging for several seconds, deals 150%–300% physical damage.
Seeing this skill, Ye Lan thought of the original work's "Titan Hammer" — but the "Titan Whip" seemed like a variant. In the original, Tang San used the Hao Tian Hammer to absorb the Titan Ape's soul ring to obtain the "Titan Hammer." Here, the "Titan Whip" even raised the Hao Tian Hammer's attack by 100% — likely the Goddess's doing.
However, a Blue-Silver Grass attack buff was useless to him; if it boosted his own attacks he might consider it.
Skill Name: Earthforce
Passive: Blue-Silver Grass gains the Titan's earth-control power, raising Blue-Silver Grass defense by 150%.
Active: When standing on earth, all attributes increase by 60%; control the earth to alter terrain within ten meters.
"Earthforce" also appeared in the original, but this version differed: it added defense and an all-attribute boost. The values looked decent but didn't meet Ye Lan's expectations. After all, he followed a life-oriented path, and Earthforce didn't grant earth attribute or Ultimate Earth.
Perhaps the Blue-Silver Grass could not evolve further due to his limitations.
When he had obtained the third extreme power it had nearly cost him half his life; further evolution might blow his body apart.
Maybe when his physical quality reached divine level there would be a turning point — Ye Lan pondered.
Skill Name: Gravity Vortex
Passive: Blue-Silver Grass absorbs Titan earth power, controlling its own gravity; adjustable range: 20%–1000%.
Active: Centered on self, Blue-Silver Grass draws forth a powerful gravity field, forming a huge vortex. Gravity inside is adjustable (20%–1000%) and can be localized.
A very intriguing skill: the passive tweaks Blue-Silver Grass gravity, while the active manipulates gravity for self or enemies. Adjusting Blue-Silver Grass gravity could increase attack power or improve control. Gravity Vortex could manipulate enemies via localized gravity shifts — e.g., left side light, right side heavy — enabling gravity-compression tactics. It paired well with Eightfold Brilliant Heart and Seven Orifices Brilliant Heart. Although comprehensive, it could only function within a Blue-Silver Vortex and might conflict with the Titan left-arm bone's gravity skill. Still, it was tempting — but not aligned with his life system. Pending.
Skill Name: Titan Ape Puppet
Passive: Blue-Silver Grass absorbs the Titan Ape and gains shapeshifting ability; all summoned units gain 100% strength bonus.
Active: Consume five Blue-Silver Grass to summon a unit "Titan Ape." The Titan Ape's HP equals 60% of the Blue-Silver Grass total; strength equals 130% of five grasses' combined strength.
A distinctive skill — perfect for a summoning build. Unfortunately, the Titan Puppet's life is only 60% of the sum (five Blue-Silver becomes three), and it conflicts with Blue God Seer, taking up the number of combat Blue-Silver units. Ye Lan already had Life Share and Blue God Seer, allowing his life totals to stack to terrifying heights. Thus Titan Puppet wouldn't be compatible.
Skill Name: Titan Divine Body!!!!!!**
(End of Chapter)