Yet as Xu Xiaoyan let out a sigh, her eyes widened before she pushed off from the golem body, flipping through the air.
As the area she was at exploded as something came out from the ground, shattering the golem body.
Out of the ground came out another golem who was wielding a spear with a terrifying aura spreading from his.
Xu Xiaoyan swiftly twisted her body, avoiding a spear that launched it past her, missing her by an inch.
She landed on the tree branch, her spiritual sense already picking up on another golem that was rushing to her.
It wasn't just one but countless of them were running to her location as if the last battle alerted all of them.
"Tsk."
Xu Xiaoyan quickly nocked on some arrows onto her bow before aiming to the sky and releasing them.
'Moonlight Ray.'
Streaks of light shot up to the sky before bursting into countless arrows that were shining with an ice-blue light.
In the next second, they began raining down on the area around Xu Xiaoyan causing the golem to hack out with their weapons.
Yet Xu Xiaoyan only smiled as the arrows made contact with the weapons before they exploded once again.
But this time, the ice explosion became a chain reaction as frost and ice formed all around the golem's body.
In the next, few moments, the golems were all frozen solid with pieces of them breaking off.
Xu Xiaoyan let out a sigh before shifting her head to the north, narrowing her eyes as she saw a brilliant light.
"Yue Zhengyu?" Questioned Xu Xiaoyan before latching on an arrow that was trembling with power as she focused.
Her eyesight was able to properly recognize the mermen that Yue Zhengyu was combating.
Alongside that, she was also able to see the others that were being burned by his light as they tried approaching him.
"Time to go." Said Xu Xiaoyan as she released the arrow on the bow that pierced through the forest.
Puncturing the mermen that tried to attack Yue Zhengyu from behind as Xu Xiaoyan began to latch another arrow.
She began sniping all of the mermen around Yue Zhengyu while he finished dealing with the mermen in front.
It didn't take too long for them to overcome their opponent with Xu Xiaoyan meeting up with Yue Zhengyu after.
"Did you also get an attack, instantly?" Questioned Yue Zhengyu with a frown.
"Well, he did say, we are going to a battlefield." Said Xu Xiaoyan with a twitch of her lip as she was starting to understand Old Tang's meaning.
They were sent to a battlefield that was all about sharpening their battle experience and abilities.
Meaning, the enemy will be attacking with all they have.
"Be as that-"
Yue Zhengyu didn't get a chance to ruin talking as he hacks out with his sword.
A fiery light exploded from his sword as it smashed into the spear that was rushing towards them.
"Talk later." Said Xu Xiaoyan ice instantly exploded from her as she made an ice sword.
Before then dashing forward with Yue Zhengyu joining in after boosting their strength with his light.
After they finished with the enemies that just attacked them, they began journeying to find the others.
It was through this that they experienced a bitter time of cultivation has they had to constantly fight the creatures around.
It seemed the level of the people around wasn't the same as they had to fight a bloody fight against some enemies.
While others they could easily beat with their teamwork or by themselves. Either way, the constant battle was strengthening the already rich battle experience there.
While at the same time helping them gain a better understanding of their abilities and control.
An ideal place to propel their growth, tempering them, and sharpening them even further.
#
The streak of light had crossed the ocean before it finally landed in a desolate forest.
The light began to die down, revealing Tang Wulin and Ya Li who were blinking their eyes.
Before they began expanding their spiritual sense, surveying the area for any threat before looking around.
"I don't recognize this place at all." Said Ya Li as she furrowed her brows, wondering just where did this light take them.
"It's the Jury Forest. It's a bit far from the Star Dou Forest."Sleipnir's voice rang out inside Tang Wulin's head.
'How far?'
"Maybe a few hours." Said Sleipnir causing Tang Wulin to swiftly relay this information to Ya Li.
"I see...That means we're a bit far from Shrek." Said Ya Li with a sigh with Tang Wulin nodding his head before he began walking.
Ya Li followed behind him, walking through the forest with the sunlight leaking through the leaves.
"Why did you stay back?" Questioned Tang Wulin as he glances at Ya Li, still not understanding.
One has to remember that the information they learned on the Demon Island was too important to delay.
Which is why he understands the reason for Wu Zhankong and the others leaving.
But instead of going with them to report to this her husband, Yun Ming. She stayed on Demon Island at the shore, even with the threat of attack, waiting for him.
'Why?'
Tang Wulin couldn't understand this point as it wasn't like he could consider Ya Li a friend or anything.
They barely knew each other with them barely knowing each other let alone barely talking with each other.
Maybe they could be considered comrades and teammates on this exploration trip but the trip was already done.
Their cooperation should have technically been done, in favor of making it back to the mainland.
But she still stayed.
At first, he thought it was just her being her well-known kind and gentle person that the world knew her as.
But his instincts and his life bloodline were telling him this wasn't the case. That it was far deeper than this, something that might involve his mother.
Now that he thought about it, she had a similar look that his mother tends to give him.
"...I couldn't leave you behind."Said Ya Li softly causing Tang Wulin to arch a brow.
"Why not? I am sure you understand-"
"I understand very well, but I still couldn't leave you alone. My heart was screaming at me to wait for you and to make sure you're alright." Said Ya Li causing Tang Wulin's eyes to slightly widen before he furrowed his brows.
"You...What exactly do you see me as?" Questioned Tang Wulin as he began piecing everything together, finally understanding why Ya Li stayed.
"...I am unsure at the moment. I want to say you feel like a nephew I never had or a son I wished I was able to birth."Said Ya Li with a bitter smile on her face.
Tang Wulin's expression didn't change, but he was shocked by Ya Li's words.
Nephew? Son?
Tang Wulin truly didn't understand why she treated or saw him like that. Nor could he understand how those feelings form.
"Was it because of Na'er and my relationship?" Questioned Tang Wulin but Ya Li only smiled.
"It was that and your relationship with Yun Ming. I am not even sure if you both realize and understand how you guys act with each other. It's not one of the juniors or pupils, nor is it one of student and teacher. The way you guys clash with each other, argue with each other, and don't back down. Remind me that of an uncle playing with his nephew."Said Ya Li with a chuckle.
"And the pride I see in Yun Ming's eyes as he learns of your achievement through the world. The way he laughs and how he doesn't care about your attitude with him reminds me of a son and his father. In a way, I began caring about you more and more through them." Said Ya Li with a sigh.
'Do we actually act like that?' Thought Tang Wulin with Zeref chuckling but not saying anything.
As she steps over a bundle of vines that were moving out of the ground. While at the same time averting the gaze of Tang Wulin.
"Weird isn't it? It started out as caring through them but as I watched you and saw how you behave. My thoughts kept on imagining you as a nephew or son, my relationship with your mother didn't help. As my imagination began to grow and change as she told me about yours and Na'er's childhood."
"Ultimately, somehow, I couldn't stop myself in the end from caring about you like this." Said Ya Li.
Tang Wulin didn't say anything as he began thinking about the words of Ya Li and how similar they were to Sheng Ming.
Tang Wulin couldn't quite say he dislikes Ya Li nor could he say he saw her as a mother to him.
In actuality, he didn't know his feelings, as his relationship with her is quite barren and not much.
Yet at the same time, he did learn about her from the people around him. The way Na'er eyes lit up as she talked about Ya Li and how amazing she is.
The way Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan kept on praising Ya Li for being one of if not the best person on the continent.
And the list goes on, even his mother and Gu Yue had praise for Ya Li.
But it's not like he could create a relationship like that of mother and son or aunty and nephew from that.
If he didn't accept his birth mother right away, why would he accept Ya Li as well?
Either way, Tang Wulin began to open his mouth but then his instincts screamed at him.
As in the next instant, the area around both him and Ya Li began to warp. The space elements were being controlled by something as space began to twist around them.
"Someone is trying to take us away." Said Ya Li as she quickly began resisting the pressure of space transportation.
Tang Wulin began resisting as well as he thrust out his hand to grab the twisting rift, hoping to reclose it.
But it was too late as a portal was formed from the shattered space as a large hand moved out to snatch them.
"Scram." Said Tang Wulin and he thrust out his fist that began to collapse the space around it.
The fist and hand made contact before a loud sound rang out with their clashing.
The hand was pushed back into the portal from Tang Wulin fist.
"We will talk about this later, right now. It is time to see who wants me captured this time."Said Tang Wulin as he jumped directly into the portal to the shock of Ya Li.
"Wait!" Ya Li shouted as she also made a movement to join him, quickly crossing into the portal before it closed behind.
Leaving the Jury forest, once again quiet and empty.