Jiang Yunzhou saw Little San and Er Ming communicating freely.
He simply walked forward, looking at the mountain of flesh in front of him, exclaiming in wonder, "Wow, that must be four or five stories high..."
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing followed closely behind him, peeking at the mountain of flesh.
'Zhu Qing, this guy is really big...'
'Yes, yes, I've never seen anything like it either.'
The two girls exchanged glances, communicating silently.
"Teacher, we can go now, I've already talked to him!"
"Er Ming, why are you so thoughtless! Quickly put your hand down..."
Er Ming looked reluctant but still gently placed his giant palm on the ground.
Jiang Yunzhou didn't stand on ceremony, pulling the two girls with him as he leaped up, standing steadily in Er Ming's palm.
"We're standing on his palm, what if he secretly does something again?" Ning Rongrong whispered.
"Little San, are you getting special treatment? Why can you sit on his shoulder?" Jiang Yunzhou was also a bit worried, looking at Little San and asking.
Little San looked flustered at the question. It wasn't that she wanted to sit there; Er Ming had simply scooped her up and placed her directly on his shoulder.
"Roar!!"
Although Er Ming couldn't speak human language, he understood it!
He opened his maw towards Jiang Yunzhou, letting out a low growl, expressing his displeasure.
What class is this person? He should be content just standing on my palm.
If it weren't for Little San's sake, he would have flattened him with a single slap!
"Er Ming, don't be fierce with my teacher, understand?" Little San put her hands on her hips, resuming her big sister demeanor, and scolded Er Ming.
After speaking, she jumped down and stood with the others.
"Teacher, please don't be angry, Er Ming just has that temper... See, I've already disciplined him, so you can't scold me anymore, okay?"
Little San's somewhat fawning tone made Er Ming furious.
Now, the ancient trees along the way suffered again.
Jiang Yunzhou pouted and said, "Why would I get angry with an ape? You're overthinking it~"
"Roar~~"
Jiang Yunzhou felt Er Ming's displeased gaze.
He subtly shielded Little San in front of him and urged,
"Let's go, we're still on the outskirts! Do we want to stay here and be watched by others?"
Little San nodded repeatedly: "Mm-hmm, as long as Teacher isn't angry!"
Er Ming's steps were extremely fast, his goal clear, as he sped towards the Lake of Life.
Star Dou Great Forest Outskirts
The commotion Er Ming had caused earlier was simply too great; even the forest's edge could feel the signs of agitated Spirit Beasts.
The Shrek group, who had just arrived at the forest's outskirts, all looked shaken.
This time, Zhao Wuji led the team, accompanied by Yu Xiaogang, bringing four disciples from the academy. A group of six had come to the Star Dou Great Forest for training and to help Tang San and Ao Sika acquire spirit rings.
It wasn't until the commotion in the forest subsided that someone began to speak.
"Teacher, what was that situation just now?" Dai Mubai couldn't help but ask.
Yu Xiaogang seemed to recall something, his expression solemn.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his tone deliberately profound: "I once heard a legend that deep within the Star Dou Great Forest lies a Lake of Life..."
"That commotion just now was probably caused by the Titan Giant Ape."
He vividly recounted the secrets he knew, and the others listened, exchanging nervous glances.
"Then, do we still need to go in?"
"Of course we must go in!" Yu Xiaogang said unequivocally.
"Didn't you notice that the Titan Giant Ape has already retreated back into the depths?"
"Today, we'll rest for a night at the inn, gather our spirits, and depart tomorrow."
"Little San, cheer up! Right now, what you should be most concerned about is yourself, not others..."
He naturally saw that Tang San's expression was a bit off and spoke to remind him.
He was satisfied with Tang San's recent performance. If he had known earlier that Little San's departure would have this effect, he would have found a way to separate them long ago.
Tang San came back to his senses and responded in a low voice, "Yes, Teacher, I understand."
He had been secretly paying attention since early morning.
He saw Jiang Yunzhou leave with the three girls, and he also saw the figure that made him restless.
She looked so happy, as if she had made some kind of decision, leaving without looking back, not even a word of greeting.
Could it be that the promises of childhood were really forgotten just like that?
Although he was still full of resentment and extreme unwillingness at this moment.
But thinking that Little San had already entered the forest, and with such a commotion having just occurred... he still couldn't help but worry.
Just then, Dai Mubai suddenly asked, "Teacher, you said that a Spirit Master who dares not cause trouble is not a good Spirit Master. Does that still count?"
Zhao Wuji felt an inexplicable sense that something was about to happen.
"Of course. Alright, I'm going back to my room to rest first."
Yu Xiaogang nodded: "What Mubai said is true. Why ask about this suddenly?"
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun exchanged glances, smiled wickedly, and said, "Nothing, just took a fancy to a woman..."
Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest.
Er Ming charged through, unimpeded, as if walking on flat ground.
Before long, he brought the group to the human forbidden zone, the Lake of Life.
As soon as the four arrived, the three, excluding Little San, were all captivated by the sight before them.
This place was like a wonderland. The emerald green lake reflected the bright moonlight, like a giant jade, serene and beautiful, untouched by the dust of the world.
Ning Rongrong, who had just been scared and hid behind Jiang Yunzhou, was now drawn in by the scenery, exclaiming softly, "Teacher, this place is too beautiful..."
Jiang Yunzhou chuckled, feigning calmness: "No Spirit Beasts usually dare to disturb this place, so of course the environment is good."
"However, for humans, this is a forbidden land. We're purely benefiting from Little San's influence this time."
Hearing Jiang Yunzhou's words, Little San instantly straightened her back.
The group was gently placed on the ground by Er Ming.
Back in his 'hometown,' Er Ming immediately became much more well-behaved, quietly squatting to the side, no longer daring to roar wildly, as obedient as a grandson.
"Teacher, this is the Lake of Life. Do you want to see Da Ming now?"
"Of course, since we're here, we definitely have to see him."
"Okay! Actually, he wanted to come out just now, but I was afraid of scaring you all, so I told him not to show his head yet~"
Little San stuck out her tongue, looking playful and cute.
She then turned to Er Ming and discussed, "Er Ming, are you hungry now?"
She stammered a bit, continuing, "Look, my two senior sisters just happen to need to absorb spirit rings. How about, before you eat, you let them absorb their spirit rings, and then you can have your meal?"
Er Ming let out a low growl, his eyes seemingly saying: Big sister, aren't you being a bit too kind to humans?
"Roar! Roar, roar~~"
"Oh, oh, around three thousand years is fine."
"Roar, roar..."
"Teacher, Er Ming is asking what type of Spirit Beast~"
"One dark-element, and one pretty one." Jiang Yunzhou made his requests without hesitation.
"Did you hear that? Go quickly and come back quickly!" Little San patted Er Ming.
Then she turned and asked, "Teacher, what about you?"
"Me? At least eighty thousand years or more, the type doesn't matter, but such a high-year Spirit Beast might be hard to get, right?"
Little San also looked troubled, glancing at Er Ming, then at Jiang Yunzhou.
Er Ming raised his hand and pointed at the lake, meaning: Ask Da Ming!
Little San turned to look at the lake and called out, "Da Ming~ Da Ming, come out!"