Chapter Sixty-Four: The Butterfly Effect

Tang Hao departed, carrying with him an endless weight of resentment.

Xiao Yu, however, was in no rush to seek out the Blue Silver Empress’s soul bone in Holy Soul Village. Firstly, after Tang Hao’s battle with the Asura, his wounds would likely require at least ten days or half a month to heal. Knowing his temperament, Tang Hao would certainly return to Holy Soul Village to see his wife before he left. There was no need for Xiao Yu to act until he had seen her.

Secondly, if Xiao Yu remembered correctly, after the Rose Hotel incident, it would be time for Shrek’s entrance exams, the gathering of the Seven Devils. Shortly after, Oscar would break through to rank thirty, and the Seven Devils would set off for the Star Dou Forest. Many events would take place in this brief period—just a matter of days, in fact—and during this journey, Tang San would obtain one of the greatest boons of his life: the external spirit bone, the Eight Spider Lances.

Such a powerful advantage—how could Xiao Yu possibly let Tang San acquire it so easily?

As Xiao Yu pondered what excuse he might use to travel to the Star Dou Forest, a message arrived from the sect: after years of bitter cultivation, Hui Huo had finally broken through the bottleneck to become a Title Douluo.

It was as if a pillow had appeared just when he was ready to sleep. Xiao Yu immediately sent word back to the sect, instructing Hui Huo to head straight for the Star Dou Forest and rendezvous with him there.

As for Hui Huo’s ninth spirit ring, Xiao Yu had decided on it years ago. Hui Huo’s fighting style emphasized offense and explosive power, and his martial spirit, the Bennu Bird, possessed black flames whose destructive power was feared even by other Title Douluo. Naturally, the soul beast most suited to be his ninth ring must embody overwhelming force and explosive strength.

So, who else but the Titan Giant Ape?

Because the Asura was also injured in the fight with Tang Hao, Xiao Yu arranged for Radamantis to accompany Hui Huo, ensuring they could hunt the Titan Giant Ape with absolute certainty.

Leaving the Asura to recuperate in Soto City, Xiao Yu did not head for the outskirts of Shrek Academy to stir up trouble during enrollment. Instead, he set out straight for the Star Dou Forest. On previous hunts with Hui Huo for spirit rings, they had always stayed at the same inn on the forest’s edge; this time, he arranged to meet there once more.

Xiao Yu had considered poaching members of the Shrek Seven Devils for himself, but after careful reflection, he abandoned the idea.

Among the Seven Devils, the eldest, Dai Mubai, was the third prince of the Star Luo Empire. Such a noble could never switch allegiance to Xiao Yu, not to mention his character—having abandoned his fiancée to flee alone and indulging himself in the pleasures of Soto City. Pass.

The second, Oscar, was the one Xiao Yu most wished to recruit. A food-type spirit master with innate full spirit power—perhaps not unique for all time, but certainly unprecedented. His rarity was on par with Tang San’s twin martial spirits.

Oscar, though infatuated with Ning Rongrong, was a remarkably clear-headed suitor. In the original story, after realizing Ning Rongrong’s willful nature, he decisively distanced himself from her. If Ning Rongrong hadn’t later changed and integrated into the group, he would have abandoned her without hesitation.

After the Soul Master Tournament, in order to gain powerful offensive abilities and win his beloved, Oscar unflinchingly chose a dangerous path, braving life and death countless times over five years. Tang San, though he endured many hardships in those years, even the peril of Slaughter City was ultimately little more than a challenging trial for him. Xiao Yu would wager his own head that if Tang San ever truly faced death, Tang Hao would break every rule to save him.

But Oscar had no such backing. Other than the hidden weapons Tang San gave him, he was all but defenseless. How many times in those five years did he brush shoulders with death? Even Oscar himself probably lost count.

Unfortunately, Oscar’s first appearance in the original story was at Shrek Academy. Considering the plot, it was clear he was an orphan, and he had long since regarded Shrek as his home. Recruiting him away would be all but impossible.

The third, the God King Tang—pass. The reason needs no explanation.

Ma Hongjun, though he lost his innocence early and became a frequent visitor to brothels, did so under the influence of his Evil Fire. Once his martial spirit was resolved, he became devoted to Bai Chenxiang. His character was not as good as Oscar’s but certainly better than Dai Mubai’s.

But like Oscar, Ma Hongjun’s first appearance was at Shrek Academy, and, according to the original story, he was raised from childhood by Flender and was his personal disciple. His attachment to Shrek likely surpassed Oscar’s, making poaching him even less likely. Pass.

Xiao Wu—a human ornament, the scabbard of the Asura Demon Sword, obedient only to her “third brother.” Pass.

Ning Rongrong, young mistress of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Although the Nine Star Hall and her sect had established close cooperation in recent years, both sides remained wary of each other. Befriending the next sect leader without caution would only arouse Ning Fengzhi’s suspicion that Xiao Yu sought to absorb the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect through his successor. Xiao Yu had indeed had such thoughts, but ultimately abandoned them, for Ning Fengzhi was simply too shrewd. So with Ning Rongrong, Xiao Yu adopted a hands-off policy, never interfering.

As for the little cat, Zhu Zhuqing, her status was much like Xiao Wu’s. Due to her family background, she could only serve as Dai Mubai’s companion. Even if Xiao Yu wished to help her, he had to consider the Star Luo Empire’s pride—a prince’s consort being lured away would be a slap in the empire’s face.

Never underestimate the significance of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires’ million-strong armies. If not for this deterrent, Ning Fengzhi would have seized control of Heaven Dou Empire, not merely supported it; Spirit Hall would not have sent a saintess to infiltrate, either. Even the corrupt ruling class of Heaven Dou inspired such caution—how much more so the Star Luo Empire, founded on military might?

With not one of the Seven Devils open to recruitment, there was no point in Xiao Yu visiting Shrek Academy. Was he to merely cause trouble and disgust Flender and the God King Tang?

……

While Xiao Yu made his way to the edge of the Star Dou Forest to meet Hui Huo, events at Shrek Academy unfolded as in the original story. Zhao Wuji, who was supposed to act as examiner, found his hands itching for action and personally tested Tang San and the others.

There was, however, one difference: Ning Rongrong was not a level twenty-six Grandmaster, but a level thirty-one Spirit Elder.

This was, of course, the butterfly effect brought about by Xiao Yu. After witnessing Xiao Yu’s unrivaled talent, Ning Fengzhi grew anxious and imposed stricter discipline on the sect’s sole prodigy. Furthermore, as a top-tier VIP business partner of the Nine Star Hall, Ning Fengzhi had spent a fortune to acquire for Ning Rongrong a high-quality medicinal pill, improving her physique and allowing her to break through at twelve years old—leaving the God King Tang far behind.