Luo Feng's POV
The void between universes was a familiar embrace, a tapestry of infinite darkness woven with threads of cosmic laws that Luo Feng had long since mastered. At the pinnacle of his existence in the Swallowed Star universe, he had transcended mortality, becoming a Universe Lord whose will could bend reality itself. The battles against ancient beasts, the unraveling of primordial secrets, the forging of his own cosmic domain—it all culminated in a profound peace. But peace, for a warrior like him, often felt like stagnation.
"I need a break," he had muttered to himself one day, gazing out over the endless expanse of his home universe. "A vacation. Somewhere... different."
With a thought, he tore open a rift in spacetime, stepping through without a second glance. He didn't specify a destination; the multiverse was vast, and curiosity was his guide. What he didn't expect was the abrupt shift in essence—the laws here were... simpler. Weaker. A world governed not by universal origins and genetic evolutions, but by something more primal: souls, spirits, and rings of power.
Luo Feng materialized in a dense forest, the air thick with the scent of ancient trees and vibrant life. Towering canopies blocked out the sun, casting dappled shadows on the undergrowth. Strange energies pulsed around him—spiritual power, he realized, scanning with his divine sense. Beasts roamed these woods, some radiating auras that would intimidate mortals but felt like mere flickers to him.
"This place... Soul Land?" He murmured, drawing from the faint echoes of universal knowledge that lingered in his mind. It was a world from tales he'd glimpsed in fragmented visions during his ascensions—a continent called Douluo, where humans cultivated martial souls and absorbed rings from soul beasts to grow stronger. Amusingly quaint compared to devouring stars and commanding galaxies.
He had arrived a year earlier than the pivotal events he sensed brewing in the timeline. Why rush? For the first time in eons, Luo Feng felt no urgency. He built a modest house deep in the Star Dou Forest, using his control over space to shape wood and stone into a sturdy abode hidden by illusions. It was simple—a thatched roof, a single room with a bed of compressed leaves, and a training ground where he meditated on the local laws, adapting subtly without altering his core strength.
Days turned to months. He observed the soul beasts from afar, their hierarchies and hunts a pale shadow of the cosmic wars he'd known. Occasionally, he'd intervene quietly—redirecting a rampaging beast away from a wandering hunter or pondering the ethics of this world's power system. Loneliness crept in, a rare emotion for him. In Swallowed Star, he had family, allies, purpose. Here, he was an outsider, a god in disguise.
Then, one fateful day, noise shattered the tranquility. Roars echoed through the trees, followed by the crash of underbrush and distant shouts. Luo Feng's eyes snapped open from meditation. His divine sense extended effortlessly, piercing the veil of the forest.
A massive Titan Giant Ape, a 100,000-year soul beast radiating immense power for this world, was barreling through the woods, a small figure clutched in its grasp—a girl with rabbit-like ears, her face pale with fear and resignation. Chasing behind were six youths, their bodies battered, spiritual energy flaring as they pushed their limits.
"Xiao Wu!" one of them screamed—a boy with blue hair and determined eyes, wielding twin hammers that seemed out of place on his slender frame. No, not hammers—spirit tools? Luo Feng corrected himself, recalling the mechanics of this world.
The group was desperate, their formations broken, faces etched with worry and exhaustion. A girl with pink hair and a pagoda spirit hovered at the rear, her support abilities straining to keep her companions going. Ning Rongrong, Luo Feng's sense identified her instantly, her aura pure and auxiliary, yet laced with a hidden strength and vulnerability.
Intrigued, Luo Feng rose. It had been a year of solitude; perhaps it was time to engage with this world.
Tang San's POV
The Star Dou Forest was a nightmare come to life. What started as a routine hunt for third spirit rings had spiraled into chaos. The Titan Giant Ape—Er Ming, as Xiao Wu had whispered in terror—had appeared like a harbinger of doom, its colossal frame shaking the earth with every step. It had targeted Xiao Wu specifically, snatching her up before any of them could react.
"Tang San, we have to keep going!" Dai Mubai growled, his white tiger spirit enhancing his speed, though blood trickled from a gash on his arm.
Tang San nodded grimly, his Blue Silver Grass extending like vines to propel them forward, binding branches for leverage. His mind raced—hidden weapons at the ready, calculations of trajectories and weak points flashing through his thoughts. But against a 100,000-year beast? It was suicide. Yet Xiao Wu was family; they couldn't abandon her.
Behind him, Ma Hongjun panted, his phoenix flames flickering weakly. Zhu Zhuqing moved like a shadow, her hell civet spirit allowing her to keep pace silently. Oscar handed out sausages, his incantations mumbled through gritted teeth. And Ning Rongrong... she was struggling, her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda glowing as she boosted their attributes, but her face was ashen, sweat beading on her forehead.
"Rongrong, hang in there," Tang San called back, his voice steady despite the storm in his heart. He had always been the calm center of the Shrek Seven Devils, the strategist from another world reborn here. But this... this tested even him. Emotions warred within—fear for Xiao Wu, anger at the beast, and a protective urge toward his team.
The ape's roars grew distant, but they pressed on, the forest blurring into a green haze.
Suddenly, a figure stepped into their path from the shadows. Tall, broad-shouldered, with black hair and eyes that seemed to hold the depth of stars. He wore simple robes, yet emanated an aura that made the air still.
"Who—" Dai Mubai started, skidding to a halt, his tiger claws extended.
The stranger raised a hand, his presence commanding without aggression. "You're chasing the Titan Giant Ape. It's taken your friend."
Tang San's eyes narrowed, Purple Demon Eyes activating instinctively. This man... his spiritual power was unfathomable, like staring into an abyss. "Who are you? How do you know?"
A faint smile touched the man's lips. "Call me Luo Feng. I've been living in this forest for a while. I heard the commotion."
Ning Rongrong stumbled to a stop beside Tang San, her pagoda dimming as she caught her breath. She looked up at the stranger, her blue eyes wide with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. There was something about him—calm, unyielding, yet not threatening. In the midst of their panic, his steadiness was a lifeline.
"Can you help us?" she asked, her voice trembling but resolute. As the princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, she wasn't used to begging, but desperation stripped away pride.
Luo Feng's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than the others, noting the fire in her spirit despite her fragility. "Perhaps. But charging blindly will get you killed. Tell me what happened."
Ning Rongrong's POV
Her legs burned, her spirit power reserves dipping dangerously low. Maintaining boosts for the entire team while running through this godforsaken forest was exhausting. Ning Rongrong had always prided herself on her role—support, enhancement, the one who made others shine. But right now, she felt useless, her pagoda's light flickering like a candle in the wind.
And then this man appeared. Luo Feng. He stood there like he owned the forest, his eyes dark and knowing. There was no fear in him, no hesitation. It irritated her—how could someone be so composed when Xiao Wu's life hung by a thread? Yet, beneath the irritation, a spark of relief flickered. Maybe he was strong. Maybe he could change things.
As Tang San quickly recounted the events—their hunt, the ape's sudden attack, Xiao Wu's capture—Ning Rongrong watched Luo Feng. His expression remained neutral, but she caught a flicker of interest, perhaps even empathy. When he nodded, deciding to join them, a strange warmth bloomed in her chest. Not attraction, not yet—just gratitude mixed with the raw emotion of the moment.
"Lead the way," Luo Feng said, falling into step beside them. His presence seemed to part the undergrowth effortlessly.
As they resumed the chase, Ning Rongrong found herself glancing at him. Who was he? A hermit soul master? His power felt... different. Vast. For the first time since the chaos began, she allowed herself a sliver of hope.
Luo Feng's POV
The group moved with renewed vigor, though Luo Feng could sense their exhaustion. He tempered his pace to match theirs, suppressing his aura to avoid overwhelming them. The Titan Giant Ape was ahead, its path clear in his divine sense. But why interfere? Curiosity, perhaps. Or the pull of destiny—he could feel threads of fate weaving around these youths, especially the one called Tang San, whose soul held secrets of reincarnation.
And Ning Rongrong... her spirit was bright, unyielding despite her pampered background. In Swallowed Star, Luo Feng had encountered countless beings, but few with such raw emotional depth. She reminded him of allies long past—fierce, loyal, hiding vulnerability behind strength.
As they delved deeper, the forest grew darker, the ape's roars echoing like thunder. Action loomed, and with it, the beginning of something new.
The chase intensified, branches whipping past as the Shrek Seven Devils pushed their limits. Tang San's mind whirled with plans—using his hidden weapons to distract, perhaps aiming for the eyes. But the beast was too fast, too strong.
Suddenly, the ground trembled. The Titan Giant Ape burst into a clearing ahead, Xiao Wu still in its grasp. She looked unconscious, her body limp.
"There!" Oscar shouted, tossing recovery sausages.
Luo Feng stepped forward, his voice calm. "Stay back. I'll handle this."
Before anyone could protest, he vanished in a blur—space folding around him. In an instant, he reappeared before the ape, his hand raised.
The beast roared, swinging a massive fist that could shatter mountains. Luo Feng didn't flinch. With a casual wave, he invoked a fraction of his spatial laws, creating an invisible barrier. The fist collided with nothingness, the impact rippling through the air like a shockwave.
The ape staggered, confusion in its primal eyes. Luo Feng probed its mind gently—ah, it wasn't malice. Protection. The girl, Xiao Wu, was a soul beast in human form, and this ape was her guardian.
"Release her," Luo Feng commanded, his will infusing the words with cosmic authority. The ape hesitated, then gently set Xiao Wu down, retreating with a low rumble.
The Shrek group stared in awe as Luo Feng carried the unconscious girl back.
"How...?" Tang San whispered, emotions surging—relief, gratitude, wariness.
Luo Feng smiled faintly. "Let's just say I've trained in unique ways."
As they gathered around Xiao Wu, who stirred weakly, Ning Rongrong met his eyes. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice thick with unshed tears.
In that moment, amid the adventure's chaos, a subtle connection sparked—one that would burn slowly, fiercely, in the trials to come.