Chapter 58 - 58: Third Spirit Ring Ability

Listening to Xiao Wu's story of how this is her fault and that the Great Titan Ape, Er Ming, was her brother and he had arrived here because she had unknowingly forgot to conceal her aura. To which Er Ming had felt and wanted to meet with her.

"So, oops?" Xiao Wu said nervously as she let out her tongue and closed one of her eyes while rubbing the back of her head.

The Great Titan Ape, Er Ming, had his head down with his slightly teary eyes staring at the two ladies, looking like a sad and kicked puppy.

Which was weird as hell, because Er Ming is several metres bigger than them and is a freaking ape than being compared to a puppy.

As well as having three golden spirit masters' statues all around the said Great Titan Ape.

Xun Er pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a long sigh of irritation.

"Xiao Wu, as sisters in all but blood, I have to say that you are a magnet of trouble like your sworn brothers, Yan and Tang San."

Er Ming perked up at the words of sworn brothers while Xiao Wu winced at the accusation.

She wasn't as bad as them! Sure she might have become the top boss in her previous school, Nouding Academy, in Nouding City and made all the students, and some teachers, there her little bitches. Stopping some criminal activities in the said city and playing around while acting all innocent...

Xun Er sighed and shot a look at Er Ming, who flinched for a moment, and said with a gentle smile,

"Er Ming, I apologise for scaring you, but to keep this all short, I had to do it. If it were me several years ago, this encounter would have gone differently, in a very bad way, but due to some influence, I changed. So, sorry about it big guy." To which Xun Er came near the arm of the Great Titan Ape and patted it gently.

"Huu..." Er Ming paused for a moment before nodding in understanding. As a Great Titan Ape with a cultivation of more than 100,000 years old his intelligence equaled, if not, surpassed of that of a normal human a.d.u.l.t.

So Er Ming understood that Xun Er being forceful, was because they only had a small amount of time to lift the misunderstanding between the situation of himself and the Shrek students and Zhao Wuji. Though Xun Er and Xiao Wu are the only ones who truly knows of what was going on.

"So, can you go now big guy? I'm sure Xiao Wu will come visit you and your other friend, or is he your brother as well Xiao Wu?" Xun Er asked towards a shocked Xiao Wu.

"H-How?" Xiao Wu stuttered in confusion. She knew who Xun Er was talking about and she didn't think that she would have been able to sense the aura of her other brother.

With a raised eyebrow, Xun Er explained,

"Did you forget? I apprenticed under grandpa Lao in alchemy for a bit, remember? I might not be as good at alchemy and using my spiritual power like Yan but that doesn't mean I totally s.u.c.k.e.d at it." Xiao Wu giggled as Xun Er gave her a raspberry.

Xiao Wu, with a smile on her face, turned towards Er Ming with a sad look in her eyes and said,

Er Ming looked downcast and conflicted but nodded nonetheless in understanding. He knew, despite the dangerous of the outside world, that Xiao Wu needed to grow to be person she wants to be. Even it means going to the side of humanity.

"Xiao... Wu... take care..." Er Ming said in a gruff and rough voice that shocked Xiao Wu.

Her hands covering her mouth, Xiao Wu said.

"Er Ming, y-you can finally talk human speech?!"

Er Ming nodded with a wide grin.

"Oh I'm so happy!" Xiao Wu exclaim with both if her arms raised in the air.

"Ahem!" Xun Er interrupted the two siblings with a fake cough, to which they sheepishly rubbed the back of their heads.

"Sorry." They both said.

Xun Er sighed, thinking, 'Their siblings alright,' and said.

Xiao Wu nodded and turned towards Er Ming and said goodbye.

After that, Xun Er and Xiao Wu went back to their previous position.

Xun Er took a deep breath, and deactivated her third spirit ring ability.

The golden world twisted and distorted before time resume and the natural color of the world returned.

Zhao Wuji, Tang San, and Dai Mubai continued attacking the Great Titan Ape like nothing happened while Ning Rongrong and Oscar were supporting them with their spirits.

At this moment, Ma Hongjun had joined in with the other three vanguards with his spirit active, two yellow spirit rings appeared around him as he attacked the Great Titan Ape at the crotch area.

While the said Great Titan Ape looked down in boredom but also feeling a bit weird as he felt his 'little brother' getting warm.

*Cough!* *Cough!*

"Xun Er!" Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing voices echoed through the battle.

Xun Er's third spirit ring ability, Golden Distortion World, is a time based ability. Something that can affect the time area around her, which she can choose on who to freeze or not to in time. Titled Douluos and Spirit Douluos are the only ones not affected by her ability, which she is sure as she tested with the help of a certain narcissistic a.s.s of an alchemist.

[Unknown Location]

"Achoo! Huh? Who is talking about me? Is it my grandson again?" A man in white robes nonchalantly said as he wiped his nose.

[Back to Xun Er]

But that didn't mean Spirit Sages, Spirit Emperors, and Spirit Kings are easy to disregard and freeze them in her ability. Xun Er's body would be in constant strained when she uses her ability on spirit masters who's spirit ranks top hers by a lot.

Xun Er had froze Zhao Wuji, a Spirit Sage, with her third spirit ring ability, which was why her body is now being stricken with pain.

Xun Er knows, that the moment the time hit seven minutes, Zhao Wuji would have been able to escape and noticed how she and Xiao Wu were talking civilly with the Great Titan Ape.

That would give them suspicion from the Spirit Sage and interrogate them, which is something Xun Er and Xiao Wu both don't want.

Thankfully that situation didn't happened, as Xun Er looked to see Er Ming back handing Zhao Wuji, Tang San, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, who now all vomit out blood, to some trees and had slowly walked back into the darkness of the forest.

"..."

That made Xiao Wu and Xun Er as they stared into the back of the retreating Great Titan Ape speechlessly, who just singlehandedly, and childishly, bitch slapped a Spirit Sage, two Spirit Elders and one Spirit Grandmaster away.

'Er Ming did that out of frustration, didn't he?' Xiao Wu and Xun Er both thought with deadpanned expressions.

While Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong and Oscar, the other three spirit masters weren't slapped aside by the Great Titan Ape, were staring with wide shocked eyes and gaping mouths.

"Uh, Oscar, can you give us some of your recovery sausages?" Xun Er asked with a twitching expression.

....

To a different part of the Star Dou Great Forest location.

"Hoooly shit." A old man with blue long hair, tied into a ponytail, that reached his c.h.e.s.t area with a blue haired goatee and blue eyes stared in slight shock at what was in front of him.

"X-Xiao Yan...?" A fully recovered Ma Xiaotao asked in surprised, standing besides the old man who placed a blue barrier in front of her, she stared at Xiao Yan.

Changes had happened to Xiao Yan. For instance, Xiao Yan's spirit rank not only officially entered the Spirit Elder realm, but also, it had jumped a couple more spirit ranks, landing in the spirit rank 34.

Not only that, but his first spirit ring had jumped in age as well! It had gained two thousand in age, making it a twelve thousand year old spirit ring.

Xiao Yan's appearance also took a mild amount of change. He was taller, by an inch or two, his muscles are now more compact and outline, and some tips of his hair had turned golden.

Xiao Yan opened up his eyes, golden and silver lightning crackled within the pair, as he stared at the old man and Ma Xiaotao.

Unknown to the untrained eye, a golden layer would sometimes flashed all around on Xiao Yan's body, like a second skin barrier that would protect him.

A cheeky smile appeared on Xiao Yan's face, and said,

"Well who did you think I was senior?"

Ma Xiaotao let out a sigh of relief before staring back at Xiao Yan with a pouting expression.

"Hmph! Well excuse me for thinking that you got possessed by the Golden Lion King or something, I was passed out for who knows how long, and woke up to find you surrounded in all with golden lightning! Also..." Ma Xiaotao jerked her thumb towards the old man besides her, saying,

"Who the hell is this creepy old man?" The said old man had a twitching expression as he glanced at Ma Xiaotao.

"... Yeah, with that beard and facial expression, he is kinda creepy." Xiao Yan said.

The old man felt like spitting blood as heard the two teens bullying him.

'What is wrong with the youths of today?! Why are they so disrespectful and mean? Thank god my surrogate granddaughter isn't like that.' The old man thought.

Faking a cough into his hand, the old man nodded at the two and said,

"As you both are safe, I will now take my leave." His body then turned into a flurry of ice and snow.

Xiao Yan and Ma Xiaotao stared at each other for a moment before smiles appeared on their faces.

Xiao Yan, unsummoning his spirit to make his spirit rings and the lightning surrounding him disappear, make his way towards Ma Xiaotao.

Stretching out his right hand, he says,

"I know you have a lot of questions for me, but, can it wait till we're both out of this forest?"

Ma Xiaotao giggled and nodded her head, her smile still on, and said.

"Yeah, you better explain yourself mister, cause I'm not going to take silence for an answer." As she finishes, Ma Xiaotao took a grabbed on Xiao Yan's hand.

The both of them smiled at each other, their spirit power intertwining and supporting each other.

Ma Xiaotao came close and hugged Xiao Yan by his right side, to which the latter reciprocated with circling his right arm to her shoulder.

Staring down at the pair of red beautiful eyes of Ma Xiaotao, Xiao Yan asked,

"Are you ready?"

Ma Xiaotao nodded.

With that said, Xiao Yan used instant movement technique to moved through the forest and arrived several minutes later to where he felt the spirit tools he gave to his friends.

Everyone were just chilling in their now newly built camp with the others nursing their injuries with the help of Oscar's Recovery Sausage and some pills of Xiao Yan's that Tang San had in his storage belt.

They had moved towards a near location of where Xiao Yan and Ma Xiaotao's location were said to be and took up camp.

Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing, the two fastest spirit masters in the group, were to go and find Xiao Yan and Ma Xiaotao until...

"Yo, what up?" A familiar voice was heard and everyone in the camp turned their heads to find Xiao Yan, with a slightly different appearance, and Ma Xiaotao in his right arm.

"Xiao Yan/gege/Ma Xiaotao/jie!" Everyone said out loud before walking towards the pair and surrounding them, expressing their worries as well as interrogating them.(A/N: Jie stands for sister, right?)

"Where were you guys?!"

"Are you two alright?"

"Why didn't you guys meet up with us earlier?"

"Did you get your third spirit ring Xiao Yan?"

Xiao Yan and Ma Xiaotao separated as they tried to answer their friends and teacher's questions.

"Yan..." Xiao Yan heard Xun Er's voice and he turned to asked towards her, only to take a step back as the latter had jumped and embraced him.

Xun Er buried her head in the surprised Xiao Yan's c.h.e.s.t, her arms circling and crossing behind the latter's back.

Xiao Yan looked at her in confusion, but nonetheless, he reciprocated by hugging her back. He closed his eyes and embraced the girl in his arms tight.

Everyone quiet down as the pair stood, their arms with one another.

Several moments later, they both separated and smiled gently at each other.

"Welcome back." Xun Er said with a smile.

"Hm. I'm back." Xiao Yan nodded in returned.

They both continued on staring at each other's eyes until they were interrupted.

"Ahem." Ma Xiaotao coughed, ending the moment between the two.

They both blushed and looked away from each other as they felt the teasing eyes of the others on them.

Xiao Yan turned towards Tang San and asked,

"Hey bro, what the heck happened to you-" However, he stopped as he suddenly heard a soundtrack sounding inside his head, or rather, in his mindscape.

'Flame Emperor, what the hell are you doing?' Xiao Yan asked.

Flame Emperor turned towards Xiao Yan, a boom box in his hand, and said.

"Oh I'm just playing the music for the battle."

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow in confusion. Battle? He opened his mouth to asked but then Tang San had interrupted him by shaking his shoulder, asking,

"Hey bro, you alright? You just stopped mid sentence." Tang San asked worriedly.

Xiao Yan shook his head and replied.

"Yeah sorry about that, I just remembered something important."

Tang San nodded in understanding.

Xiao Yan opened his mouth to asked again but then his attention was suddenly taken to something, or rather, to someone else.

"Hi, I'm Ma Xiaotao. You must be Xun Er, right?" Ma Xiaotao introduced herself with a sweet smile, as she outstretched her hand.

Xun Er smiled and grabbed the offered hand to shake, and responded,

"Yeah, Xun Er. Childhood best friend of Xiao Wu, Tang San and Xiao Yan."

"Heh~ Really?"

"Yes."

The two females had their eyes closed while they shook each other's hands with sweet smiles on their faces.

Suddenly, images of a dragon and a phoenix appeared behind Xun Er and Ma Xiaotao respectively that are staring with one another balefully with flames surrounding each other.

"I-Is it just me, or does my sister and Xun Er have hostile feelings to one another?" Ma Hongjun asked to the others who nodded to confirmed that he wasn't the only one.

"Hehe..." The two females giggled as their respective flames manifested.

"..." Everyone looked at each other and instantly decided to back away and go back to camp.

====================================================

Omake 2: I hate you, I love you by Xiao Yan & Ma Xiaotao

(A/N: I do not own this song! This is own and sang by Gnash ft. Olivia O'brien)

Xiao Yan and Ma Xiaotao stood in front of each other, sad expressions were set on their faces with mics on each of their hands.

Ma Xiaotao raised her mic, near her mouth, and sang,

????Feeling used but I'm still missing you????

????And I can't, see the end of this????

????Just wanna feel your kiss against my lips????

????And now all this time, is passing by????

????But I still can't seem to tell you why????

????It hurts me every time I see you????

????Realize how much I need you...????

????I hate you, I love you????

????I hate that I love you????

????Don't want to but I can't put????

????Nobody else above you????

????I hate you, I love you????

????I hate that I want you????

????You want her, you need her????

????And I'll never be her...????

Xiao Yan now raised his own mic and sang,

????I miss you when I can't sleep????

????Or right after coffee????

????Or right when I can't eat????

????I miss you in my front seat????

????Still got sand in my sweaters????

????From nights we don't remember????

????Do you miss me like I miss you?????

????F.u.c.k.e.d around and got attached to you????

????Friends can break your heart too????

????And I'm always tired but never of you????

????If I pulled a you on you, you wouldn't like that shit????

????I put this reel out, but you wouldn't bite that shit????

????I type a text but then I 'nevermind' that shit????

????I got these feelings but you never mind that shit????

????Oh oh, keep it on the low????

????You're still in love with me but your friends don't know????

????If you wanted me you would just say so????

????And if I were you, I would never let me go????

????I don't mean no harm????

????I just miss you on my arm????

????Wedding bells were just alarms????

????Caution tape around my heart????

????You ever wonder what we could have been?????

????You said you wouldn't and you f.u.c.k.i.n.g did????

????Lie to me, lie with me, get your f.u.c.k.i.n.g fix????

????Now all my drinks and all my feelings are all f.u.c.k.i.n.g mixed????

????Always missing people that I shouldn't be missing????

????Sometimes you gotta burn some bridges just to create some distance????

????I know that I control my thoughts and I should stop reminiscing????

????But I learned from my dad that it's good to have feelings????

????When love and trust are gone????

????I guess this is moving on????

????Everyone I do right does me wrong????

????So every lonely night, I sing this song????

Xiao Yan and Ma Xiaotao simultaneously sang with each other, though the latter was the one more in the lead,

????I hate you, I love you????

????I hate that I love you????

????Don't want to, but I can't put????

????Nobody else above you????

????I hate you, I love you????

????I hate that I want you????

????You want her, you need her????

????And I'll never be her????

????All alone I watch you watch her????

????Like she's the only girl you've ever seen????

????You don't care you never did????

????You don't give a damn about me????

????Yeah all alone I watch you watch her????

????She's the only thing you've ever seen????

????How is it you never notice????

????That you are slowly killing me????

????I hate you, I love you????

????I hate that I love you????

????Don't want to but I can't put????

????Nobody else above you????

????I hate you, I love you????

????I hate that I want you????

????You want her, you need her????

????And I'll never be her????

The song ends as Xiao Yan sadly stared and c.a.r.e.s.sed the tear stricken face of Ma Xiaotao.