"Hold on..."
On the back of the giant crow, Xu Cheng suddenly opened his eyes and spoke to the "driver" in front of him.
"You... you really treat me as your driver, huh?!" Wu Yun complained, unable to hold back his frustration. But since Xu Cheng had spoken, he still commanded the giant crow to hover mid-air.
"I need to go down and take care of something." Xu Cheng stood up, moved to the side of the crow, glanced at the height below, and spoke without looking back.
Then, with a light leap, his figure drifted downward.
"Let's wait here and see what A'Cheng is up to," Scorpion Tiger Douluo said, lying leisurely on the crow's back, enjoying the breeze.
Xu Cheng landed softly on an ancient tree.
He fully unleashed his spiritual power, spreading it out like a vast ocean in all directions.
Within a radius of a thousand meters, everything appeared clearly in Xu Cheng's mind.
Under normal circumstances, with Tian Meng's support, his range was only about 1,200 meters. But this was the distance he could maintain without exhausting himself. In an emergency, he could double this range.
Especially now, with Tian Meng Ice Silkworm's assistance.
"Time to activate plot armor!"
Xu Cheng muttered.
Tian Meng: ???
"Oh... It just slipped out. Tian Meng Bro, lend me a hand!"
"Alright!"
Though puzzled by what Xu Cheng was up to, Tian Meng still generously poured his spiritual power into Xu Cheng.
Xu Cheng pressed his fingers to his temples.
Instantly, his blood-red eyes contracted sharply, the color intensifying as if about to drip blood. A massive surge of spiritual power spread out, covering an area of several dozen miles.
His vision zoomed out, as if seeing from a God's-eye view.
A pair of blood-red eyes appeared above the Star Dou Forest, slowly opening. An invisible pressure enveloped the area, causing countless low-level soul beasts to cower on the ground, not daring to move...
"Tian Meng Bro, how does your spiritual power come with bloodline pressure?" Xu Cheng asked while controlling the Blood Eyes to search for someone.
"Heh, bloodline pressure is nothing. I'm the first million-year soul beast, the Snow Silkworm Emperor! Little Cheng, you'll understand my power more as time goes on." In the sea of spirit, Tian Meng Ice Silkworm lay proudly on the water, a smug look on his face.
The first million-year soul beast?
What about the Deep Sea Demon Whale King?
Xu Cheng smiled but then his gaze sharpened.
He found him!
In his vision:
A boy dressed in tattered but clean clothes was clutching his stomach, struggling to move forward.
His nearly exhausted soul power made it difficult for him to continue in the forest.
Although this was the outer region of the Star Dou Forest, it wasn't a place just anyone could wander into. Earlier, he had exhausted most of his soul power fighting a baboon.
And being his first time in the forest, he didn't understand the survival rules—what was edible and what was poisonous...
Starving and dizzy, he had eaten some leaves, only to realize it was from a Ten Thousand Spirit Tree, which had a hypnotic effect and drained soul power from its prey. This made his already dire situation even worse.
Staggering along, he seemed close to collapse.
"What incredible willpower..."
Xu Cheng couldn't help but feel a bit moved.
The boy was clearly on his last legs, held up only by sheer willpower and the determination in his eyes—to avenge his mother.
Thinking back, Xu Cheng realized:
Before entering the Star Dou Forest and encountering Tian Meng Ice Silkworm, Huo Yuhao lived for himself, driven by hope for the unknown and revenge for his mother.
But after meeting Tian Meng and formulating his Godhood Plan, his life became like a small bug stumbling into a spider's web, struggling in vain.
And when he finally reclaimed his surname, it symbolized the complete success of Tang Shenwang's "training plan."
Even so, his character was evident:
Loyalty to Tang Sect: After joining, Tang Ya and Bei Bei gave him a little kindness, and he devoted his life to the Tang Sect, even making it his mission to revive the Tang Sect.Unwavering love: Despite being tortured and repeatedly killed and revived by Tang San in the Yin-Yang Love Querying Valley, he bore no resentment, believing it was merely his trial.
If it were me, I'd have long told that "Tang Princess" to get lost...
However, he was also deeply insecure.
This insecurity was engraved in his bones, making him eager to repay any kindness he received.
After much contemplation, Xu Cheng decided to bring him back to the Sun Moon Empire.
Taking his opportunity yet giving some compensation seemed fair.
Besides, gaining a "Child of Destiny" with just a little benefit was definitely a bargain.
Even if his opportunity was taken, given his "Child of Destiny" luck, he'd likely find compensation elsewhere...
"Wait, it's him?" Tian Meng exclaimed.
"This kid was my first choice for sacrifice. If you hadn't shown up, I would have sacrificed myself to him. Why are you looking for him?"
Xu Cheng quietly watched Huo Yuhao, whose aura was growing weaker.
"Tian Meng Bro, do you believe in fate?"
"Destiny? Hmph, I AM destiny!" Tian Meng boasted.
"Then why did you just so happen to appear today, encounter this kid, and at the perfect moment when your life was ending, you were forced to sacrifice to him?" Xu Cheng asked calmly.
Tian Meng paused.
"Seems... something is off."
For hundreds of years after escaping the Star Dou Forest, Tian Meng had searched for countless spiritual-type soul masters, including a Titled Douluo he deemed "perfect." But all attempts failed for various reasons.
"Are you planning to save him?" Tian Meng asked curiously.
"I wouldn't call it saving..." Xu Cheng shook his head.
He pointed to another direction.
"If we don't save him, someone else will."
"Those two boys from earlier!"
Tian Meng was surprised.
"Heh..." Xu Cheng chuckled.
If it were the Body Sect, he wouldn't intervene since they fiercely protect their own.
But Shrek Academy?
Better not.
Am I... at my limit?
Pant... Pant...
Huo Yuhao struggled with each step, driven by the hatred for the man who wronged his mother.
But...
Thud!
He collapsed, crawling forward with the last of his strength.
The light in front of him suddenly dimmed.
Looking up, he saw a silhouette standing before him, shrouded in sunlight.