Ordinary horses couldn't enter the Star Dou Great Forest, but the Dragon Horse, having evolved into a Soul Beast, could.
The Dragon Horse carried Ao Tian and Xiao Wu into the forest, moving as if on level ground, its speed hardly decreasing.
However, Ao Tian and Xiao Wu could still feel it was a bit bumpier.
Some Soul Masters had already ventured deep into the forest. Ao Tian's spiritual sense allowed him to see that two Title Douluo were leading the way.
After entering the forest, the Dragon Horse headed in another direction, moving away from the Soul Master teams ahead.
"This way is a bit shorter," Ao Tian explained.
"How do you know?" Xiao Wu asked curiously.
"I saw it," Ao Tian patted the Dragon Horse's rear end and said, "Let's take off."
The Dragon Horse excitedly unfurled its wings and took flight. Ao Tian and Xiao Wu no longer felt any bumps.
Back in the forest, Xiao Wu's nervousness eased a bit.
Ao Tian said, "Based on their speed, they won't arrive until at least nightfall. And it's not ideal to fight at night, so they'll definitely find a relatively safe place to spend the night and act tomorrow. You don't need to worry."
Xiao Wu nodded, realizing she had been overly anxious.
At this moment, with the tension gone, the atmosphere suddenly became a little ambiguous.
Feeling Ao Tian's warm leg pressed against her, Xiao Wu's cheeks flushed redder.
But in this situation, she didn't know what to say.
Ao Tian didn't have Xiao Wu's complex thoughts. After all, the person in front of him was just a little girl, and in his eyes, she was simply adorable.
His gaze constantly swept the surroundings. Riding the Dragon Horse and flying through the forest was a brand new experience, and not without its pleasures.
Anyway, he wasn't in a hurry. Otherwise, he could reach Xiao Wu's mother with a single thought.
Suddenly, he frowned, looked at Xiao Wu in front of him, and said, "What's wrong with you? Why is your body so hot?"
Xiao Wu moved forward a little, and said softly, "I... I don't know."
Ao Tian was speechless. He could tell that this little girl was probably shy.
The Dragon Horse sped along, and whenever it started to tire, Ao Tian would inject a wisp of dragon qi into it, immediately revitalizing it.
All the soul beasts ahead were scared away by the pressure Ao Tian released. Finally, around two or three in the afternoon, they approached the small lake where Xiao Wu's mother was.
In the small lake, a massive bull head emerged from the water. Beneath the surface, a thick, long body swayed. This was the Sky Azure Bull Python, another unseen overlord within the Star Dou Great Forest.
Beside the lake, the Titan Giant Ape, its body like a small mountain, sat on the grass, its gaze respectful as it looked below.
In front of it stood a beautiful woman with long, flowing hair. She appeared to be around thirty years old; her name was Rabbit Mama.
"Auntie Bao, I think we should leave this place first. Those hateful human Soul Masters have already entered the forest, and they could find us at any moment," the Titan Giant Ape said.
Its voice was low and rumbling like thunder.
The Sky Azure Bull Python said, "Leave? Where can we go? The Star Dou Great Forest is only so big. You know how greedy those human Soul Masters are. As long as we're in this forest, they'll find us sooner or later."
"Big Brother, what do you suggest we do then?" the Titan Giant Ape asked.
The Sky Azure Bull Python said coldly, "Prepare for battle. We'll kill as many as come. Anyone who wants to harm Auntie Bao will have to step over our corpses first."
"Then let's fight them! All humans deserve to die!" Its eyes, the size of lanterns, flickered with a crazed killing intent.
Rabbit Mama sighed. "I appreciate your kindness, but the human strong are far more numerous than us soul beasts. If many Title Douluo come this time, not only will I be in danger, but so will you both. I think I'll leave the Star Dou Great Forest, so I don't drag you down."
"Auntie Rabbit, your injuries haven't healed yet. Entering the human world again will be very dangerous," Sky Azure Bull Python said urgently.
Rabbit Mama said, "You don't need to try to persuade me anymore. I've watched you grow up. You're like my own children. How could I let you fall into danger?"
"Besides, if I stay here, greedy soul masters will keep coming. They won't give up until they've killed me. No matter how strong you are, you can't protect me forever. Only by entering the human world and hiding can I have a chance of survival."
Titan Giant Ape said anxiously, "Auntie Rabbit, believe me, Big Brother and I can protect you. Once you enter the human world, if you encounter danger, and Big Brother and I aren't by your side, who will protect you?"
"Er Ming, Auntie Rabbit is right," Sky Azure Bull Python's voice became much lower. "Even if we are strong, we can't withstand so many red-eyed soul masters. Auntie Rabbit staying here will be even more dangerous."
Rabbit Mama looked at Da Ming with relief, "Let's decide then. Those soul masters a few days ago fled in the direction of the Heaven Dou Empire. They should be soul masters from the Heaven Dou Empire. You two protect me as I leave from another direction."
"Okay."
The surface of the lake began to churn, and a monster emerged – a creature with a bull's head and a snake's body, stretching over thirty meters in length.
Its massive bull head was over four meters in diameter, covered in chilling green scales, radiating an oppressive aura.
"Someone's approaching quickly," Da Ming said, his bull head snapping to face a direction.
That direction was toward the Heaven Dou Empire.
This was their territory. Normally, no soul beast would dare to enter. Therefore, whoever was coming must be a human Soul Master.
Er Ming stood up straight. His appearance was like both a monkey and a gorilla; except for his earthy-yellow eyes, his entire body was pitch black.
Standing up, his body was incredibly imposing. The bulging muscles across his body looked like small hills, containing unimaginable, ferocious power.
"Tear them apart," Er Ming growled.
The beautiful woman, Rabbit Mama, quickly stood behind Er Ming.
Because Ao Tian had concealed the aura of Xiao Wu and Dragon Horse, Da Ming and Er Ming couldn't detect that the approaching figures were soul beasts.
Otherwise, they would have sensed Xiao Wu shortly after she entered the forest.
Their eyes widened as they saw a flash of white weaving through the gaps in the trees, rapidly approaching them.
On that white flash, two small figures were visible.
"It's Sister Xiao Wu," Da Ming exclaimed with delight.
"Roar, roar..." Er Ming roared excitedly, pounding his chest with force.
"Da Ming, Er Ming!" Xiao Wu shouted excitedly. After Dragon Horse charged to the side of the small lake, she stood up and leaped forward.
Da Ming lowered his bull head and received Xiao Wu on top of it.
Xiao Wu caressed Da Ming's head and shouted excitedly, "Da Ming, Er Ming, I missed you both so much!"
Er Ming's head also came over, allowing Xiao Wu's small hands to stroke it. His huge eyes narrowed slightly, a look of enjoyment on his face.
"Xiao Wu." Xiao Wu's mother, Rabbit Mama, walked out from behind Er Ming.
"Mom!" Xiao Wu called out in surprise, jumping down from Da Ming's head and landing in her mother's arms.
Da Ming and Er Ming's gazes fell on Ao Tian, a little puzzled.
"How is there a human kid?" Da Ming said.
"This little thing isn't even enough to fill a gap in my teeth." Er Ming leaned his head close to Ao Tian, opening his huge mouth and revealing a ferocious expression.
Ao Tian immediately held his breath, unable to stand the strong stench. He slapped out a palm.
Bang!
His palm didn't even touch the Titan Giant Ape's body, but the Titan Giant Ape still flew out, crashing into the lake...
(End of this chapter)