476. Did Ah Yin Survive?

The night was deep and silent.

Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu were sound asleep under their blankets, while Zhu Zhuqing sat cross-legged by the bedside.

In another room, Oscar was being thoroughly overworked by Dai Mubai and the others, constantly producing sausages to feed them.

Star Dou Forest!

The golden aura of angelic will rippled through the air like waves.

Qian Renjue, Qian Renxue, and Ling Yuan roamed through the forest.

“Jue, why are you looking for the Man-Faced Demon Spider?” Qian Renxue asked curiously.

Qian Renjue smiled faintly. Even in the heart of the Star Dou Forest, he showed no sign of nervousness.

With their current lineup, it was the soul beasts that should be on edge, not them.

Qian Renjue’s white eyes scanned the surroundings and said casually, “Just trying my luck to see if I can get an external spirit bone to give to Zhuqing.”

“An external spirit bone?” Qian Renxue was momentarily stunned, surprised in her heart.

However, she was already used to Qian Renjue’s prophetic abilities and quickly composed herself.

“I really don’t understand what you’re thinking.” Qian Renxue muttered softly, the angelic mark on her forehead glowing as she released her spiritual power.

“Just a random attempt. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get lucky,” Qian Renjue replied with a hint of helplessness.

Since Tang San and his group had arrived a few days later than in the original timeline, the Dragon Snake couple likely wouldn’t appear, and the chances of encountering the Man-Faced Demon Spider were slim.

Still, Qian Renjue thought he might as well try—after all, it was a risk-free endeavor.

Ling Yuan, entirely clueless about the plan, couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness, what exactly are you trying to do?”

“It’s complicated to explain. Just watch closely, Sister Ling Yuan,” Qian Renjue said with a slight smile.

He reached out to pinch Ling Yuan’s cheek, leaving a faint blush behind.

“Hmm.” Ling Yuan nodded slightly.

To her, this playful approach wasn’t bad at all.

“Jue, while your elder sister is hard at work here, you’re busy flirting with Ling Yuan!”

Before Ling Yuan could respond, an irritated voice pierced through, sending a chill down their spines.

“Ahem…” Qian Renjue coughed awkwardly and hurriedly explained, “Sister, I was just helping Sister Ling Yuan brush off some leaves!”

“Hmph! I’m not blind!” Qian Renxue snorted in mock annoyance, glaring at him. “If you like pinching so much, I’ll let you pinch to your heart’s content later!”

“Uh…” Qian Renjue’s lips twitched slightly.

Ling Yuan kept her head low, staying silent.

She understood that in moments like this, it was better for His Highness to take the punishment. After all, it was him playing with her, not the other way around.

Moreover, Qian Renxue’s punishments for Qian Renjue often came with hidden rewards. If it were her instead, she’d probably end up with a swollen cheek!

“I found it! Over there!”

Qian Renxue hovered in the air, pointing to the left.


---

The Next Morning

At the edge of the Star Dou Forest, a pink ring lay atop a tree.

Inside a nearby room, Qian Renjue rested his head on a camel pillow, his face slightly red—it bore the unmistakable marks of Qian Renxue’s pinching.

Her own fair cheeks were similarly red, evidence of some mutual “revenge.”

Knock, knock!

Ling Yuan knocked on the door, her voice carrying through, “Your Highness, Miss Xue, breakfast is ready.”


——————

At the Same Time, in a Distant Town

Zhao Wuji’s rough, booming voice woke everyone up.

After breakfast, they wasted no time and headed straight for the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest.

After all, Tang San and the others only had facial injuries; the rest of their bodies were fine. Not to mention, they had been relentlessly working Oscar to produce sausages.

At full speed, Xiao Wu and the others were getting closer and closer to the Star Dou Forest.

However, the most excited ones were not Oscar, who was about to obtain his third spirit ring, but Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing.

They had already made contact with Qian Renjue.

The Star Dou Forest was the largest wild spirit beast habitat on the continent, a vast expanse of green that stretched endlessly, blocking out the sun.

From afar, one could already feel the refreshing breeze carrying vitality from the forest.

Tang San couldn’t help but think that training here would undoubtedly accelerate his cultivation progress.

As he looked at the towering trees over 20 meters high on the outskirts, his heart filled with awe.

“Stop!”

Zhao Wuji raised his hand and ordered the group to halt, emphasizing once again:

“Listen carefully! Do not move more than 20 meters away from me. If you encounter a spirit beast, don’t act rashly!”

After everyone acknowledged his instructions, Zhao Wuji arranged the formation, placing Ning Rongrong and Oscar behind him. Then, they cautiously advanced into the Star Dou Forest.

Once they entered, it didn’t take long for the sunlight to be blocked out by layers upon layers of trees, plunging the surroundings into dimness.

Following closely behind them, Tang Hao, dressed in a black robe, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

A powerful, life-filled aura had frozen him in place.

Facing a tree trunk, Tang Hao trembled. That warm, vibrant presence behind him—it was too familiar to ignore.

He turned stiffly and looked behind him.

“A... Ah-Yin?!”

Tang Hao’s cracked lips quivered as he blankly watched Tang San and the others disappear into the distance. Slowly turning around, his pupils contracted violently when he saw what lay behind him.

“A... A...”

Tang Hao opened his mouth, but no words came out. His eyes turned red in an instant.

Standing before him was none other than the living, breathing Ah-Yin! Or rather, Qian Yin’er.

Qian Yin’er stood elegantly before him, her noble face adorned with a gentle smile.

“Ah-Yin!”

Tang Hao’s hoarse voice cracked with emotion, his eyes filled with panic.

But before he could fully process the sight before him, Ah-Yin turned and darted into the shadows.

Still, Tang Hao could clearly sense her presence. Without hesitation, he gave chase, tears welling up in his eyes.

Could Ah-Yin really be alive? Had the Blue Silver Emperor’s powerful life force revived her?

Tang Hao didn’t have time to think. He only wanted to catch up to her, to ask her the truth.

More importantly, their child desperately needed her help!

“Ah-Yin, don’t go! Wait for me!”

Tang Hao’s cries echoed through the forest. To an outsider, it might have sounded like two sisters playfully chasing each other.

“Ugh, this eunuch’s voice is so annoying,” Ah-Yin muttered, covering her ears as she skillfully maneuvered through the forest.

The Blue Silver Grass underfoot acted as her eyes, guiding her path.

Her master had given strict orders. Whether or not a spirit bone was obtained later, she had a task to complete. For now, her job was to keep leading this “effeminate voice” on a wild chase.

Soon, everything would be dealt with in one go.

“My Ah-Yin! My Ah-Yin!”

Tang Hao screamed, his voice sharp and filled with tears.

As he continued the pursuit, Xiao Wu followed Qian Renjue’s instructions and deactivated the concealment of the Beast master Collar, deliberately releasing a large amount of her aura.

She hoped Er Ming would arrive at the battlefield soon, so she could meet the Holy Son as quickly as possible.


---

The Star Dou Forest’s spirit beasts were distributed vertically: the deeper one ventured, the older and stronger the beasts became.

The outer region was mostly populated by hundred-year spirit beasts, with thousand-year spirit beasts appearing occasionally.

To save time hunting for spirit rings, Tang San and his group aimed for the mixed zone—the area where thousand-year and ten-thousand-year spirit beasts coexisted.

Without a word, Zhao Wuji and the others steadily pushed toward the mixed zone.

Unbeknownst to them, their journey was also a mutual convergence with the Titan Giant Ape, one of the forest’s most fearsome ten-thousand-year beasts.