After three days had passed, he had reached the heart of the forest. The path was filled with spiritual beasts that were destined to die. Most of the ones who stayed away from Zhang Yong were ten- and hundred-year-old beasts.
This leaves monsters of a thousand years and above in danger of extinction
The moonlight was revealing everything on earth, with its high blue color and luminous brightness
Its light was reflected on a blade as black as the night, and with every piece it cut, the night returned to its calm.
The ground was being destroyed under his feet from the speed at which he walked, leaving behind nothing but the remains of bodies
He walked until he reached a lake that reflected the light above it coming from the moon, reflecting it without any blemishes
Titan Giant Ape was leaning on a tree near the lake
Without the slightest hesitation, he sent a dark blade towards the monkey. However, it did not penetrate it, it was more like a tickle
The monkey woke up and looked at Zhang Yong with his red eyes
The monkey got up but did not show any reaction
Zhang Yong rushed and attacked with his sword to cut him down, but every time he was thrown back, he fought without regard for his life
Then suddenly the ground beneath them shook, and from the side of the lake emerged a large monster, much larger than a monkey
It was a giant snake, more than a hundred meters long. His entire body was covered in blue-green scales and he had a massive bull's head that was at least 4 meters in diameter
The true king of the forest, the Azure Sky Bull Python had appeared, Zhang Yong was like a disaster for the spirit beasts in the region and as a king if he didn't intervene, where would his authority be?
With a movement of its giant tail, it struck Zhang Yong and threw him away, his attack carrying no desire to kill
The moment Zhang Yong was flung away he had designated the latter as his additional target
Moving his sword horizontally, a long blade flew out, targeting both monsters, but with a movement of his tail, he was easily blocked by the ox
The ox lowered its tail on Zhang Yong, knocking him to the ground, crushing him with its tail, and then something fell from Zhang Yong.
A giant capsule exploded and a medium-sized bird resembling a hawk with long, elegant black feathers emerged from it. After opening its eyes, the first one to look at it was Naoto.
"Kiuuuu"
The bird sounded as it approached Zhang Yong. Zhang Yong pressed his arm to the ground to stand up and waved the sword and was about to cut the bird in half.
Before the bird in black shadow moved away
It was the bird that Zhang Yong had nurtured for a long time
After a movement of the ox's tail again, Zhang Yong was brought back to the ground. The bird stood next to the ox and looked at each other, as if they were talking.
The ox extended its tail on Zhang Yong's head, and an azure ray appeared from it, and thick black vapor emerged from his body
Zhang Yong raised his head and the first thing his eyes fell on was the ape
"damn you"
Zhang Yong tried to stand up but his strength was failing, unable to stand he stared angrily with his eyes
The bird landed next to Zhang Yong and shouted happily as it scratched Zhang Yong's head with its beak
"You... Kuro."
The name that came out in a gentle whisper between his lips, he supported himself on one of his elbows with all his might and lay on his back and looked at the starry sky above him.
In the midst of his spiritual sea, the Empress woke up and uttered:
"You crazy person, do you hope to die like this?"
A teardrop rolled down zhang yong's cheek and he said:
"I have already lost my friends, so what is the difference between death and life?"
Naoto heard a loud bellow above his head as a thud that brought him back to his tangible reality, when out of the corner of his eye he looked at the azure Sky Bull Python.
"What, do you want to eat me, it's not like I'm going to stop you."
Suddenly the bull spoke calmly, "Human, your comrades are alive and well."
Zhang Yong breathed a sigh of relief, at least he didn't lose his comrades. After several minutes, his body had regained some of its strength. He looked behind him and found the path he came from littered with corpses of monsters, their rings had already disappeared. That's when he felt a movement of energy from one of the corpses. He approached the corpse and began to examine it. It was the corpse of a lightning cheetah. After exhuming it, he found a soul bone for the right leg. He put the bone in the inventory and looked at the ox and bowed slightly.
"thank you for helping me"
The python threw its head back and spoke, "Human, that state you were in and that power is something that should not appear in this world."
Zhang Yong nodded, "I know." Then he turned towards the lake and felt a strange familiarity with it, "By the way, this lake… I feel a strange familiarity, as if it is calling me."
The bull exhaled from his huge nose a white mist "Feel familiar? This is strange, this is the lake of life, and it is a place forbidden for humans to enter , even you is forbidden"
"Lake of Life." Zhang Yong muttered, "Does this have something to do with my tree of life martial soul?" Unconsciously, Zhang Yong had unleashed his martial spirit in front of the bull.
"This!..." The bull's eyes widened and he looked as if he was happy. "Good, I will help you, human."
The bull raised his huge tail and gently touched Zhang Yong's chest with it, feeling the azure radiance spread across his body, soothing him. "The effects of what happened previously cannot be removed because of that power, and there will be many changes in you, but I have stopped the spread, so no more outbursts will occur."
Zhang Yong's eyes lit up, when he thought that the Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beasts were going to kill him, it was the opposite, "Thank you, Senior, I don't know how to thank you, I owe you."
After the bull finished, he pulled his tail away, "If you want to return your debt, come back here when you become a titled Douluo, only then we will talk ,take good care of your friends"
Then the bull pointed at Kuro with a look
Kuro moved and gripped Zhang Yong's shoulders with his paw
"What do you do!?"
Kuro started flying at high speed. The forest was large and spacious and moving around was difficult, but Kuro flew over the forest quickly.
In his heart, Zhan Yong was thankful for the bull, but he didn't know two things. The first was that the bull had smelled Xiao Wu's scent on him, which of course would only appear after spending time for a few years. The second was that he wanted to use his soul at the titled Douluo level to cure Gu Yuena. She was sleeping and injured deep in the forest, guarded by Di Tian
Currently, Zhang Yong was flying in the sky with Kuro's help. The view from the top was incredible. Everything was small, as if he was at the top of this place.
From a distance, he noticed the presence of several people, their appearance was familiar
Naoto landed nearby and gently touched Kuro's head
"Thank you for the ride."
"Koooo"
"SHe's telling you that she's staying in the forest."The Ice Empress spoke in a cold voice
Zhang Yong nodded and patted Kuro's head as he said:"That would be the best option, but I might come visit from time to time."
With that, Kuro flew out of the place while Zhang Yong watched him leave
Then turned around and started walking towards the place he saw from above with a somewhat steady pace. His face was pale but his eyes were full of life and the sun shone with the beginning of a new day.
His steps suddenly slowed, and his gaze settled on a shadow walking towards him from afar
Pity covered his weary expression, yet that did not stop him from smiling
The moment he got close enough for his eyes to be sure of what was coming
"Zhang Yong!"
He recognized the voice, it was Yuan Ling's voice. Without the slightest thought, Yuan Ling rushed towards Zhang Yong
"Yo, I'm back"
Yuan Ling jumped up and hugged him tightly. Zhang Yong couldn't keep his balance and fell to the ground.
Zhang Yong said while trying to breathe hard:
"You, I'm exhausted right now."
Yuan Ling smiled gently as she looked at Naoto and said:
"Are you okay? We watched you get thrown away by the Titan Giant Ape. I thought..."
Yuan Ling couldn't finish, her thoughts at that moment were foggy, she thought he was dead but she didn't want to believe it.
Zhang Yong sighed softly and smiled
"I'm the one who should ask the question. Look at your bleeding nose."
There was a line of blood dripping from Yuan Ling's nose, she quickly took out a handkerchief, wiped it, and laughed silly.
"It doesn't matter, the most important thing is that you're back."
The two got up from the ground and returned to the group. From afar, Tang San had spotted the two coming from afar, and immediately informed the rest.
The two arrived in front of them with a smile on their faces. Everyone moved towards them and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Zhang Yong, are you okay?"
Xiao Wu was the first to react
"Yes, it seems that I will live a long time," Zhang Yong said jokingly
Oscar let out a light laugh and said:
"You disappear for a while and come back like this in one piece. You're lucky, but I feel like you're different. What happened?"
Zhang Yong let out a nervous smile as he scratched his face:
"Well, some of my bones and limbs were broken, I was bitten, and I fought a pack of wolves. I consider myself lucky."
Everyone's expressions were somewhat mixed upon hearing that, Mahongjun was the first to break the strange silence
"I broke your bones and you're still alive. Indeed, scoundrels live long."
Dai Mubai's fist came down on Mahongjun's head
"You fat one better shut up!"
Ma Hongjun wanted to continue speaking, but quickly retreated after a sharp look from Dai Mubai
Zhao Wuji clapped vigorously and said:
"Now that we have obtained the spiritual rings and recovered Zhang Yong, it is time for us to leave."
Everyone cheered happily, all everyone could think about was returning to the academy and lying down on their beds
As they walked out of the forest, Yuan Ling narrated to Zhang Yong what had happened in his absence
"Xiao Wu came back alone!?"
Zhang Yong spoke with a deep sense of astonishment. According to Yuan Ling, she had kidnapped Xiao Wu after he had been slandered.
Zhang Yong felt as if something was going to break inside him as he thought
'She returned alone after she was kidnapped. This means that even if I did not intervene, the outcome would still be the same. Was I of any use at all? I understand now , this time I spent with them made me forget that I was just an extra'
Even now, the moments he spent with his friends gave him a sense of belonging. The wailing of silence cut through his thoughts, yet he didn't say anything, just trying not to think about it.