"Roar!"
Tang Hao looked up to the sky and let out a furious roar.
His muscles bulged powerfully as his once graying hair instantly turned jet black. The wrinkles on his face vanished, and his short hair stood erect like steel needles. The middle-aged man in his fifties transformed into the appearance of a vigorous man in his thirties.
At this moment, his piercing eyes shone with the unwavering strength of an ancient demon god. His very essence radiated with newfound vigor!
Even the Sky Azure Bull Python, observing Tang Hao's sudden burst, grew noticeably serious. It could sense that this Tang Hao was fundamentally different from the man it faced moments before.
"Fight!"
Tang Hao swung his mighty hammer. Having shed years of old wounds, now fully restored to his prime in his thirties, his combat strength was incomparably greater than before.
With no injuries to hamper him, he was prepared to battle for as long as necessary.
——–
Meanwhile, Yun Chuan led Tang San and the others swiftly out of the forest.
Entering demanded caution and soul beast searches, slowing their pace, but now, exiting meant facing fewer constraints—just head straight out.
Dawn was breaking.
Through his Plant Domain, Yun Chuan sensed Tang Hao's full recovery and relaxed slightly. Without him holding back the python, the group likely would have been caught inside the forest.
Knowing Tang Hao's old injuries were resurfacing and he might not hold on long, Yun Chuan summoned his Lifegoddess martial soul to heal him—after all, it was his "father" helping him, so he repaid the favor.
With Oscar's sausages supplying nourishment and Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda providing support, the group bolted from the forest's edge.
Finally, they reached a nearby town.
But danger still loomed—as they were close to the Star Dou Forest.
Without delay, Yun Chuan hired two horse carriages to ferry the exhausted students away fast.
One carriage carried the girls, the other the boys.
"Xiao Wu, what's wrong?" Ning Rongrong asked, concerned by Xiao Wu's unusually silent mood since leaving the forest.
Zhu Zhuqing also glanced supportively.
"I'm fine, just shaken a bit," Xiao Wu forced a smile and gave a flimsy excuse.
"I see. I didn't expect to see a ten-thousand-year soul beast," Ning Rongrong nodded, still visibly shaken. "Luckily, Teacher Tang was with us; otherwise, I think we'd be doomed."
Zhu Zhuqing, normally taciturn, nodded with a hint of unease.
"I'll be fine! Er Ming just missed me and came looking," Xiao Wu thought inwardly, though outwardly she had to agree: "Yes, thankfully Teacher Tang was here."
On the boys' carriage, Yun Chuan's hire was spacious enough for five.
Tang San, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar sat quietly, eyes often drifting to Yun Chuan meditating across from them. So many questions filled their minds, but few words were spoken—asking wouldn't yield answers.
Yun Chuan silently consolidated his soul power, feeling the changes wrought by absorbing the ten-thousand-year soul bone and soul ring. His physique had markedly increased, but beyond that, no new divine abilities had manifested. The soul bone felt like a nourishing supplement rather than a source of direct power. Its two inherent soul bone abilities, he had yet to notice.
"Seems only soul bones at least ten thousand years old hold real value for absorption," he mused. What about divine herbs? Considering this, he resolved to seek out divine herbs next, hoping they might bolster his body.
He felt it was time to leave.
——–
Deep within the Star Dou Forest…
Boom!
Rumble!
Tang Hao fought the Sky Azure Bull Python in a fierce, drawn-out battle.
Though still nursing old wounds, Tang Hao's fighting spirit had returned in full strength, and he fought tirelessly.
He only aimed to delay the bull python, and to his surprise, held it off for an extended time.
Believing Yun Chuan and company should now be safe outside, Tang Hao prepared to retreat.
Rumble!
After smashing away another attack, he turned to flee.
The bull python initially prepared to pursue, then suddenly realized its true mission wasn't to battle the Titled Douluo. It was to rescue the fallen Titan Giant Ape.
Its mood darkened as it trailed the Titan Giant Ape's faint aura,
and with a spiraling motion, darted off at high speed.
In mere minutes, the python reached the ape's location.
Seeing the charred corpse, its eyes flooded blood-red as it howled a furious battle cry!
"Moo!"
"No matter who you are, I will kill you!"
The forest trembled under the python's terrifying pressure and murderous intent.
Meanwhile, Yun Chuan and his group had long since fled the Star Dou Forest, returning to Shrek Academy.
As they glimpsed the familiar school emblem, a wave of disbelief washed over them.
This journey had shaken them profoundly—exposing them to legendary ten-thousand-year soul beasts, twin martial souls, and the black-black-black spirit rings of real monsters!
(End of Chapter)