The light radiating from the silver claw suddenly brightened even further, and a hint of anger crept into the deep, rumbling voice. "I'm collaborating with you, but that doesn't mean I'll conform to you!"

Dazzling silver light erupted forth, and all of the water in the entire lake down below instantly erupted upward. The silver claw swept through the air thrice in succession, and the entire space was suddenly on the verge of cracking.

The Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape were already resisting with all their might, but they were still repressed by the silver claw, and Tang Wulin instantly vanished amid a flash of silver light.

Both the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape reverted back into their human forms and descended onto the shore with extremely dark expressions. 

The Sky Azure Bull Python grumbled, "What an unreasonable bastard! We didn't even get to find out if that kid had anything to do with Tang San! If he hadn't been lying about his name, then it's remarkably similar to Tang Wutong. I recall Tang San said that the name 'Tang Wutong' bore the meaning of Tang San Xiao Wu's little Phoenix; wouldn't that mean that that kid's name entails Tang San and Xiao Wu's little Qilin?"

"But he doesn't look like Tang San and Xiao Wu at all!"

"Are you an idiot? Could you not see that he was in disguise?" the Sky Azure Bull Python snapped, "If he hadn't been taken away, we would've had a whole host of ways to verify his identity. That attack he unleashed with the golden trident was very rudimentary, but it was rather similar to Tang San's Millennium White Clouds, so there really is a very good chance that they're related. If he really is Tang San and Xiao Wu's son, then we have to protect him at all costs; he's our only lead to finding the Divine Realm."

"What do we do? Should we leave this place?" the Titan Giant Ape asked.

A hesitant look appeared in the Sky Azure Bull Python's eyes. "We agreed to stay here to oversee all of the revived soul beast seeds in his steads; if we both leave, then something could go wrong during our absence. You go find him, and I'll stay here. Once you track him down, make sure to protect him at all costs, and establish a mark on his body. That way, we'll be able to appear by his side at a moment's notice." 

"Alright, but what do we do with that kid?" the Titan Giant Ape asked as he pointed at the unconscious Lan Fuozi.

"Get him out of here. He risked his life to save Tang Wulin, so they should be good friends. Once we throw him out of here, he should automatically be teleported away."

...... 

Silver light flashed, and Tang Wulin regained his mobility again, while his soul power and blood essence also resumed normal circulation.

On this occasion, he had seen the giant silver claw in person, and it was just like how his friends had described it to be. What type of creature did that silver claw belong to?

It had saved his friends in the Great Star Dou Forest and just now, it had saved him from the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape in that small plane; this was very strange.

He felt like there were some leads that he could follow, but he couldn't quite place his finger on them.

All of a sudden, the silver light around him vanished, and he found himself situated at the entrance to the Myriad Beast Plane.

He was rather taken aback by this, and he was quickly surrounded by a bunch of workers.

"Are you the one who disappeared in the restricted area? How did you get out?"

A wry smile appeared on Tang Wulin's face. "I don't know! I seem to have fallen unconscious, and now, I'm suddenly here."

"Do you remember anything?" one of the workers asked.

Tang Wulin shook his head in response. "No."

The worker then asked, "Do you sense any changes within your own body?"

Tang Wulin shook his head.

The worker sighed, "That's a pity. The Myriad Beast Plane examination was meant to a reward for all participants. Our Spirit Pagoda recently developed a soul spirit evolution method that can enhance one's soul spirits, and the longer one stays in the plane, the better the effect will be."

Tang Wulin was quite surprised to hear this. "Why is that? Would you need to kill the soul beasts in the plane to reap those benefits?"

The worker shook his head, and replied, "The Myriad Beast Plane simulates the ancient soul beast habitat, but there are some different laws in there that can accelerate the growth of soul beasts and soul spirits; the longer one remains in there, the more they'll benefit."

Tang Wulin was stunned to hear that the Spirit Pagoda had managed to develop something like this. He had indeed sensed the power of laws within that plane, but his soul spirits didn't seem to have been affected. Was this because he had encountered the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape?

In that case, the Spirit Pagoda had undoubtedly created another massive asset for itself. The Myriad Beast Plane was going to be extremely alluring to all Soul Masters, and in conjunction with their man-made black soul spirits, it would be very difficult for the Tang Sect to shake the position of the Spirit Pagoda in the federation.

"With the time you've spent in the plane, you've received a perfect score for this examination. Please continue to the next examination," the worker said as he shook his head in a disappointed manner.

Tang Wulin asked, "Would I be able to enter the Myriad Beast Plane again?"

He still hadn't finished his conversation with the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape yet, and he really wanted to know if he had made the right assumption.

The worker shook his head in response. "We don't have the authority to allow you back in there again. The Myriad Beast Plane will be announced to the public at the conclusion of the event, and you'll be able to enter it for a certain price."

Tang Wulin was rather disappointed, but also quite relieved to hear this as this meant that he would at least be able to enter the plane again in the future, and he planned to do so with his friends.

If this plane really could accelerate the growth of soul spirits, then it would be a monumental invention for all Soul Masters. It had to be said that the Spirit Pagoda really was doing a fantastic job!

Tang Wulin enquired about the last two examinations and discovered they were only general tests that weren't really worth participating in, considering he had already accumulated more than 60 points.

Thus, he decided not to participate in them, but nor did he leave the Myriad Beast Plane.

If his assumption were correct, then the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape most likely wouldn't harm Lan Fuozi.

Lan Fuozi had risked his life to try and save him from the almighty Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape, and Tang Wulin was quite touched by this gesture, so he was going to stay to make sure that Lan Fuozi returned safely.

Sure enough, after waiting for only a short while, Lan Fuozi was also teleported out of the plane. However, she was still in an unconscious state.

"There's an unconscious one over here; he seems to have come out from the restricted area. Where are the medics?"

A group of medics immediately rushed toward her, but Tang Wulin held up a hand to stop them. 

"Allow me," he squatted down as he spoke and gave Lan Fuozi a gentle nudge while injecting a burst of Mysterious Heaven Method soul power into her body.

Lan Fuozi hadn't sustained any severe injuries, so she quickly shuddered and reawakened.

As soon as she caught sight of Tang Wulin, she reflexively threw her arms around her own chest. "What are you doing? Get away from me!"

"I... I'm helping you!" Tang Wulin said as he rose to his feet with a resigned expression.

Peculiar looks appeared in the eyes of the surrounding workers upon seeing this. What was going on with them? They were clearly both men!

Only then did Lan Fuozi realize that she had already exited the Myriad Beast Plane, and she immediately stood up before departing after giving Tang Wulin a vicious glare.

Tang Wulin also didn't want to be scrutinized any longer, so he hurriedly departed as well.

"Why are you following me?" Lan Fuozi grumbled as she stopped in her tracks.

Tang Wulin replied in an innocent manner, "I'm not following you; this is the only exit! Are you alright?"

Lan Fuozi's expression eased slightly as she replied, "I'm fine, but don't follow me anymore! You saved me once, and I returned the favor, so neither of us owes the other anything. From now on, we go our separate ways; see you never!"

After that, she quickly rushed away as if she were avoiding the plague.

A wry smile appeared on Tang Wulin's face. He didn't even get a chance to ask her about why she was participating in this joust for a spouse even when she was a woman!