Li Zhexian gave a slight nod.
Looking at the youth before her who now carried a heavier burden, the carefree brows and eyes she so adored seemed weighed down by something invisible.
Suddenly, Qian Renxue stepped forward—
And fiercely bit down on Li Zhexian's lips.
Scarlet beads of blood welled out.
"You—"
Meeting Li Zhexian's astonished gaze, Qian Renxue's slender fingers clenched tightly inside her sleeve, knuckles turning white.
"Think of it as me…"
"Collecting payment in advance."
Li Zhexian frowned, unable to grasp her meaning.
He was about to question her further—
But then Qian Renxue spoke again:
"I want you to remember me."
"Five years from now, Li Zhexian… I want to see you again, too."
Step by step, Qian Renxue retreated.
Her golden eyes never left his figure, burning him into memory.
Then—her torn, bloodstained angel wings unfurled with a sudden snap.
She turned.
Her body transformed into a streak of radiant light—
Soaring into the distant sky.
Her figure vanished into the pitch-black night, swallowed by the darkness.
The eyes that only ever softened before Li Zhexian turned once more as cold and abyssal as the Nine Hells.
She flew straight toward the direction of Spirit Hall.
"To become a god…"
"I must become a god…"
Never before—
Had Qian Renxue's yearning for divinity burned so fiercely,
So… desperately.
All her stakes placed on this single throw of the dice.
—
Traveling non-stop, Li Zhexian and the others finally arrived at the Star Dou Forest.
Looking at Zhu Zhuqing, whose aura grew even weaker, only relying on the rare herbs to hang onto a thread of breath, Li Zhexian plunged headfirst into the vast, dense forest.
With two Titled Douluo guarding his sides—
They advanced like a spearpoint, cutting straight toward the core.
But then—
As they passed through the middle section of the forest—
The entire forest suddenly fell into deathly silence.
Even the chirping of insects and calls of birds ceased entirely.
From the ground came faint, muffled tremors.
A terrifyingly savage aura spread soundlessly, chilling every heart.
Dugu Bo and Feng Bailong's expressions shifted, stepping protectively before Li Zhexian, as though facing their greatest foe.
"This pressure—absolutely not from a mere ten-thousand-year spirit beast!"
At that moment, Xiao Wu darted forward.
Her lovely face, which had lately carried fewer smiles—
Now blossomed into radiant joy.
Crash—
Crash—
Dozens of meters tall, colossal trees were shoved aside like weeds by an overwhelming force.
And then—
Under Dugu Bo and Feng Bailong's astonished eyes—
Two enormous eyes, round as full moons and glowing with an earthy-golden light, suddenly flared within the parted forest.
A moment later—
A massive hand, as if carved from living stone, reached forward.
That hand carefully lifted the cheering Xiao Wu—
And placed her gently upon a shoulder piled with muscles like mountains.
The aura that swept over them was so primal, so savage, that Dugu Bo and Feng Bailong's hair and robes whipped wildly as though in a storm.
They stared at the colossal figure before them—its vast body covered in earthy-gold fur, etched with flowing, dark-golden runes of mystery.
And their voices grew solemn:
"The legendary King of the Forest… Titan Giant Ape."
Li Zhexian turned sideways.
His back became a shield, blocking the oppressive aura from Zhu Zhuqing's frail body.
"Sister Xiao Wu…" The Titan Giant Ape's voice rolled like thunder, shaking the forest, setting leaves trembling and branches quivering.
"Why are there humans following you?!"
"Hmm?! Are they perhaps threatening you?!"
With those words—
A mountainous, crushing pressure descended, tangible and suffocating.
Zheng!
Feng Bailong's Wind Sword left its sheath.
Its ringing cry split the forest, threads of azure wind converging from all directions, flooding into the blade.
The air reeked of imminent battle.
"Er Ming! Stop it right now!"
Xiao Wu stamped her foot upon the giant ape's shoulder.
"Listen to me first!"
The overwhelming aura wavered—just slightly.
Xiao Wu, from a height of a hundred meters, hurriedly explained everything to the Titan Giant Ape.
Soon after—
Li Zhexian saw the Titan Giant Ape's massive head shaking violently, like a drum being struck.
"No! Impossible!"
"Sister Xiao Wu—the Lake of Life must never be tainted by humans!"
"Absolutely not!"
"You... you're driving me crazy!" Xiao Wu put her hands on her hips..
"Zhuqing is my best sister!"
"It's not like we're draining the Lake of Life dry, only using its vitality to nourish her. Even that's not allowed?!"
"Fine then! If you won't agree, so be it!"
"This life of mine was saved by the human below! If you won't relent, I'll return to the human world and let Spirit Hall capture me instead!"
The Titan Giant Ape immediately grew anxious, its voice raising a few pitches.
"No! Sister Xiao Wu!"
"Let me speak with Da Ming first! But hear me—those three humans must not approach the Lake of Life! That's my final bottom line!"
Xiao Wu glanced at Li Zhexian, troubled.
"Li Zhexian…"
Li Zhexian swept his gaze over the colossal beast radiating suffocating pressure, then nodded.
"If that's how it must be."
"Xiao Wu—I entrust Zhuqing to you."
"When I've gathered what's needed, I'll return for her."
Xiao Wu tapped her toes lightly on the giant ape's shoulder and leapt gracefully to the ground. Carefully, she received Zhu Zhuqing from Li Zhexian's arms.
"Don't worry."
"As long as I'm here, Zhuqing will come to no harm."
"…Thank you."
He watched as that mountain-sized figure slowly vanished into the depths of the forest.
Li Zhexian let out a long breath, some of the weight in his chest easing.
Then he turned—
And solemnly cupped his fists toward Dugu Bo and Feng Bailong.
"This journey would've been impossible without your protection."
"When I return after completing my task, I'll pay a proper visit to express my gratitude."
At the forest's edge they parted ways.
The two Titled Douluo watched the youth, clad in tattered, blood-stained robes, vanish along the winding mountain path.
They exchanged a look.
"Five years…"
"Who knows how much he'll grow when we meet again?"
—
A few days later.
Yu Yuanzhen escorted the seven members of the Emperor Team safely back to Heaven Dou City.
Hyah—!
Hyah—!
A mounted Spirit Master tore through the streets atop his galloping steed, clutching a sealed scroll high overhead, shouting hoarsely:
"Latest report of Lord Sword Wine!"
"Latest report of Lord Sword Wine!"
The city guards were ready to rebuke the reckless rider.
But the words froze them, sending a shiver through every spine.
At once they barked orders, clearing the streets, driving the crowd aside.
The news spread like sparks on oil.
In moments, the entire city of Heaven Dou was ablaze with uproar.
The crowd surged like a tide toward the temporary high platform set up in front of the Fragrant Pavilion.
The storyteller excitedly took the sealed scroll handed over by the messenger.
"Could it be—Lord Sword Wine has led the Emperor Team to seize the championship?"
The Heaven Dou Spirit Master's expression was deeply conflicted. His lips moved a few times before he muttered:
"You'll see soon enough. For a story to be told—it must be told with feeling."
The audience below was already restless, a noisy clamor rising.
"Old man, you've been doing this job for decades!"
"Surely you can spin it into gold the moment it's in your hands!"
"Exactly! Hurry, tell us how Lord Sword Wine displayed his might!"
"What's there to tell? Of course he carried the Emperor Team and brought back the crown!"
"Patience, patience, good sirs! Let this old one first change into proper clothes."
The old storyteller returned hastily to the backstage. With impatience, he tore open the sealed scroll.
But what met his eyes was a sheet stained in glaring black and red.
His pupils shrank.
But what met his eyes—
Was a page soaked in black-red ink, glaring, blood-like.
His pupils shrank.
The frail old body trembled violently, nearly collapsing.
Half an hour of torment passed.
The audience below grew more anxious by the moment, whispering and speculating.
At last—
The storyteller stepped onto the stage.
However, this time, he did not change into the festive red robe he usually wore for storytelling.
Instead, he wore again his old blue robe, faded from years of washing.
That sight—
Left the audience staring in confusion.
Standing on stage, the old storyteller rasped hoarsely:
"The red robe… is far too bright…"