Within the Star Dou Forest.
At a bright green lake, two forest overlords conferred.
"Big Brother, Xiao Wu said he's at least Titled Douluo, or scarier…" Er Ming licked his lips. (The whole Xuan Ji-raising-a-ruckus at Spirit Hall thing was suppressed; top powers know, but not Shrek, so Xiao Wu's impression of Su Wen stays at summoning Xuan Ji and wrecking roofs at the Imperial Academy.)
"Hmph." A mountainous bull-headed serpent rose from the water, tail stirring the lake menacingly.
"Just a human. Stay in their own land and we'd ignore them. But now—free meat delivered to our door? Even Titled Douluo must have treasures."
"He bullied Xiao Wu, too."
"So your idea is?"
"Kill them all." The Sky Azure Bull Python's words were cold as ice.
"Hehehe…" Er Ming grinned, bloodlust flickering in his eyes.
These two brothers were infamous. Anyone who'd actually faced them died—besides that lunatic with the massive hammer. All others were food, now just bones and ghosts.
"Buzz…"
With the bull-headed serpent's eyes closed, the whole lake churned, invisible ripples spreading.
Seconds later, Da Ming opened his eyes and sneered, "Foolish, dare to approach the core—no wonder Xiao Wu dislikes them…"
"Er Ming, all these years, we lived in seclusion and humans forgot who owns the Star Dou Forest. Today—let's make an example!"
"Roar!" Er Ming howled to the sky.
Making his intentions clear.
The bull python wound around the giant ape; the latter crouched, then burst up like a cannonball, leaping in the direction they had sensed, for miles around shaking at the impact.
"Tsk, here they come…"
Su Wen sighed.
Some soul bones delivered right to his door. Though to him, these two were useless, and he wouldn't waste Spirit Balls, since the ten-thousand-year-old soul bones + rings were free, he couldn't say no.
But would this mess up future events…
Su Wen frowned in thought.
Or should he mess with Tang San?
Da Ming and Er Ming were Tang San's eventual loyal henchmen. They played key roles in many future events—special as they were to him.
"Old Yi?" Su Wen closed his eyes.
"I can imprison their souls, make them obey you. Just a minor trick of the power of death," came a hoarse voice in his mind. Even as a god, Electrolux could still send a sliver of his soul across time.
"Heh." Su Wen grinned.
Always reliable.
"Just a little trick…" Electrolux said modestly.
"But can it fool Tang San?" Su Wen asked—since Tang San would one day be a Double God-King; if he noticed the abnormality in his two sacrificial soul rings, it'd be awkward.
"Hah, mere Tang San…" Electrolux snorted, "If he didn't control the Gods' Realm Hub, he wouldn't be a match for Destruction itself. Unless he minutely scours their souls, he'll never notice."
"You're two-faced, Old Yi…"
"I just don't like Tang San."
"Seems like you've fought him in the Gods' Realm?"
"Some soul clashes, that's all. Shura God's strong, but he's never mastered it; last Shura left deep secrets, so he's shallow with the power." Electrolux said lightly.
Essentially, original gods, born of heaven and earth, wielded innate power built through eons.
And Electrolux, former Necromancer, nearly became a Death God in another world; thus, he understood such powers deeply, and could easily suppress Tang San, if not for the God Realm Center.
"But are those two actually useful?" Electrolux asked.
"Tang San values them," Su Wen thought. "If he puts spies among Destruction's camp, I can place moles among his people… Maybe useful in the future."
"Haha, forgot—you don't need soul rings or bones." Electrolux chuckled.
"They're here!"
Su Wen opened his eyes.
With a blink, he was in mid-air.
"Boom boom boom!"
Massive impacts shook the ground; the Heaven Dou squad retreated at once.
"Teacher, T-Titan Giant Ape… and Sky Azure Bull Python!" Yufeng said, flying back from the noise, chased miserably.
Hearing this, the team turned pale.
Running into two ten-thousand-year soul beasts—the true overlords—would terrify even famous Titled fighters.
Only the fact they had a true powerhouse on their side kept them from fleeing.
"..."
Zhu Zhuqing glanced secretly at Su Wen; he looked calm, but she quietly sighed with relief inside—she'd decided to join the Heaven Dou Team. Life and death were now shared with them.
Could he really deal with these two soul beasts?
"Mm." Su Wen nodded.
"…Yes." Osler saw and calmed down, landing quietly to await the arrival.
Within seconds.
The forest's noise faded into silence, as if this space was a vacuum.
Dugu Yan's team of seven clustered together, staring nervously ahead, sweat dripping from their brows.
These were ten-thousand-year soul beasts—two of them!
Their teacher had taught: unless a team had a Titled Douluo for protection, never venture to the Star Dou Forest's core—or it was death.
The sense of oppression shrouded all.
Normally a group of happy friends, now everyone was tense.
"Buzz…"
Two massive hands parted the trees. Two towering silhouettes emerged: one with slitted pupils, one with fierce eyes, both looking down coldly.
The pressure rolled out for miles.
Birds and beasts scattered, the land emptied.
Even Heaven Dou's team blanched—this wasn't their first time facing such beasts, but these two radiated open killing intent!
"You two are a bit much. Don't scare my students…" Su Wen threw out a hand; the pressure vanished.
The two beasts' pupils shrank.
"Sky Azure Bull Python, Titan Giant Ape…" Su Wen smiled. "Why leave your lair and come here?"
"Hmph."
The bull python glared coldly, speaking human tongue, "This forest is my brother and I's domain. A human like you is lucky if we ignore you, but now you dare trespass and approach our territory—"
"It's your territory?" Su Wen raised an eyebrow.
Da Ming: "..."
"Did you mark it?"
The creature's huge pupils were confused, "I…"
"Then how do you prove it's yours?" Su Wen smiled, hands behind his back.
"Human!" Da Ming growled, "Are you seeking death?!"
"Why bother being polite? Don't soul beasts follow 'might makes right'? I doubt you two muscleheads care for manners?" Su Wen taunted. "You came for me, right?"
"If so, come at me."
"I was going to let you go, but you came right to me…"
"Wait!"
Sky Azure Bull Python's pupils trembled, killing intent vanishing, overcome by fear.
"Er Ming, run!!"
Though confused, the Titan Giant Ape felt cold when his brother cried out, turned to bolt.
But their hundred-meter bodies abruptly froze.
The air fell silent.
Shadows enveloped them.
They looked up—to see a truly mountain-sized beast glaring down, golden eyes flashing. Like a toy to him…
Dread overcame them—they knew the source was this monster!
"RUN!!!"
But before he could finish, Er Ming leapt from Xuan Ji's side and sprinted back.
"Heh, the Lord hasn't given the word yet." Xuan Ji bared its teeth in a twisted grin.
Somehow, it was instantly at Er Ming's side.
"Boom!!!"
A fist crashed into the Titan's ribs.
Screams, crashes, and relentless thuds shook the forest.
The Heaven Dou team could only stare, dumbfounded.
Elsewhere.
The provisional camp.
Grandmaster looked troubled. Revenge? Not likely. He could keep the Shrek Seven Devils together for now, but on the battlefield? That group from Heaven Dou was no joke.
If they were crushed again...
He certainly didn't believe Su Wen raised their power by legitimate means—there must be crazy side effects, but the real problem:
They couldn't win.
Would he need to use that token again?
He fiddled with a jade-like command token, pondering.
Just then, the tent opened noiselessly.
A black-robed figure walked in.
"Who?" the Grandmaster snapped.
"Me!"
The hood came off, revealing a depressed, disheveled middle-aged man.
"You… Tang Hao! How did you…"
Grandmaster was stunned.
"How's Xiao San?" Tang Hao ignored him, sitting on the far side, gazing coldly at Grandmaster.
"Still…not bad," Grandmaster hesitated.
"Good." Tang Hao poured himself a drink, slumping into melancholy.
All this time, he'd criss-crossed the land, searching for that mysterious man—but found nothing.
So for now, he came to see his son.
"Xiao San…"
"Grandmaster!"
Before he could finish, the tent was thrown open again: Tang San and Xiao Wu came in. Father and son locked eyes.
Minutes later.
Inside the tent.
Tang San gnashed his teeth: "It's all that bastard's fault we ended up like this! I'm sure he was behind everything at Dugu Bo's too! That old poisoner beat me up—I was bedridden for three months!"
"And, the four clans that used to belong with us—only the Strength and Speed clans still joined. The other two turned, betrayed you, and kicked me out."
"..."
"Huff…" Tang Hao's eyes grew cold.
"Dugu Bo's nothing but a useless Titled, daring to hurt my son. And Su Lin—I've searched for him too."
"You looked for him too?" Everyone was surprised.
"Er…" Tang Hao regretted the slip, glancing at Tang San. He couldn't tell them he'd lost their mother, so he changed the subject: "The Defense and Min clans were prepared for you. But since they're disloyal, I'll handle it."
"Mm!" Tang San nodded, starry-eyed.
His dad was the youngest Title Douluo!
Seeing him now—it was overwhelming.
He finally had a real backer!
"Don't worry, San-ge, that Su Lin won't have it easy." Xiao Wu smiled, murder in her eyes.
"Mm." Tang San nodded, thinking she was comforting him.
Tang Hao, however, looked at Xiao Wu with mixed feelings.
This was his chosen daughter-in-law. He'd learned about her from Ah Yin—another hundred-thousand-year-old Soft Bone Rabbit entering the human world, so he'd planned things early.
Soul beasts had too many benefits—he wanted his son to follow the same path.
Xiao Wu's smile hid a murderous intent.
Right about now, Da Ming and Er Ming must have torn that bastard apart.
If he couldn't win on the field, just don't show up for the contest…
Heaven Dou Team 2—they'd be easy to squash.
"Boom boom boom!"
Suddenly, a wild crash sounded.
Everyone rushed out.
And froze.
Not long ago, that forest overlord, Titan Giant Ape, now looked battered—one arm and leg nearly gone, covered in blood, smashing into the camp, knocking over several trees.
Beside him, the enormous bull-headed serpent was just as miserable—half its tail lost, battered scales, broken nose, a swollen face...
"Uhhh…"
Xiao Wu looked on in disbelief.
Mouth agape.
She nearly dropped her human disguise, almost called for Da Ming and Er Ming, tears streaming down, if not for Tang Hao's comforting grip and meaningful shake of the head.
"T-thank you, Uncle…" Xiao Wu suppressed her terror and sorrow, whispering.
She didn't notice the greed flicker in Tang Hao's eyes.
"It's okay," Tang Hao answered calmly.
But his eyes locked on a distant spot with deadly intent.
That enormous beast was drawing near, lowering itself to look at everyone as if they were ants.
"Don't you feel… we've seen him before?" Oscar couldn't help but say.
"I feel it too…" Dai Mubai hesitated.
"..."
The air stilled.
All were shaken, exclaiming in unison: "Su Lin?!"
"Not bad, you still recognize me."
A mocking voice came from atop the beast's head.
Only then did everyone realize—
A white-clothed man stood atop the beast's head.
It was Su Lin!!!
Su Wen looked through the crowd, eyes locking on Tang Hao as he tried to slip away, and his mouth curled into a smile.
"I heard you were looking for me, Tang Hao…"