Su Ming then asked, "Xiao Wu, can you tell me the specific effects of your mother's fifth and sixth spirit rings?"
Xiao Wu answered truthfully, "The fifth spirit ability is called Soft Bone Lock. It's a control skill where I use my body's flexibility to lock onto the opponent. If the opponent's level isn't five levels higher than mine, they can't break free."
As she said this, Xiao Wu suddenly realized why Su Ming was asking about this.
"The sixth spirit ability is called Void Explosive Eightfold Throw. It's a life-bound spirit ring. You know Explosive Eightfold Throw, and using it as a spirit ability increases its power. As for the 'Void' part, it allows me to be immune to physical attacks, so it's both a life-saving and attack-enhancing ability."
As expected, Su Ming then spoke up, "Xiao Wu, I think you shouldn't follow your mother's path for the fifth spirit ability. You can replace it with something else, but the sixth ability is great and doesn't need to change."
Xiao Wu thought for a moment and agreed, "I think you're right. Using my body to control the enemy makes me an easy target. And with my current strength, I don't need to rely on a skill like that to control an enemy who's only five levels above me."
Su Ming cleared his throat and added, "Ahem, Xiao Wu, you're absolutely right, and that's exactly what I was thinking. But there's actually another important reason."
Curious, Xiao Wu asked, "What is it?"
With a serious expression, Su Ming said, "Xiao Wu, don't you think that using Soft Bone Lock, getting so close to the enemy, is basically giving them a benefit? I'm your man now, right? If your opponent is a woman, that's fine, but if it's a man... Well, I don't want to see you getting that close to another guy. This is a matter of my pride as a man. You could say I'm a bit controlling!"
"Do you find that annoying?"
Xiao Wu blushed and shyly replied, "Brother, what are you thinking? I'm actually happy you feel that way. How could I find it annoying?"
"You thinking this way shows you love me and don't want me getting close to other men! And now that I think about it, Soft Bone Lock does require me to fully press against the opponent, so yeah, that's not ideal."
Seeing Xiao Wu wasn't upset, Su Ming felt relieved. It was his first time in a situation like this, and even though he knew Xiao Wu's personality—how she'd follow someone she liked, being both obedient and adorable—it still made him nervous.
In his mind, Su Ming thought, "If Xiao Wu wants to use Soft Bone Lock, that's fine, but only on me. I'd actually like to see what it feels like being locked like that by her. It sounds a bit thrilling! Maybe I'll ask her to try it out later. With her flexibility, she could do it even without the spirit ability, just without the control effect."
Xiao Wu, noticing the mischievous smile on Su Ming's face, immediately knew he was thinking something naughty. She pouted, "Su Ming! You're not thinking something bad, are you?"
Caught off guard, Su Ming was shocked. Did he make it that obvious? He realized he had to be more careful. But it wasn't entirely his fault—after all, Xiao Wu had grown into a beautiful and mature woman over the last five years, and using that Soft Bone Lock on him... well, that'd be quite the treat!
While Su Ming and Xiao Wu chatted, the Titan Giant Ape finally returned to the Star Dou Lake.
As soon as they arrived, Er Ming shouted toward the lake's center, "Big brother, come out! Look, Xiao Wu is back!"
At that moment, Su Ming noticed the water in the lake began to churn. A massive soul beast with the head of a bull and the body of a serpent emerged from the lake. This was likely the Azure Bull Python!
As the Azure Bull Python surfaced, it glanced at Xiao Wu in Er Ming's hand and the human next to her. What's going on? Why is there a human with Xiao Wu?
However, the Azure Bull Python didn't immediately ask. It knew Xiao Wu would introduce this human in due time. Instead, it greeted Xiao Wu, "Xiao Wu, you're back."
Yet, the Azure Bull Python couldn't help but feel puzzled. "Strange, why don't I sense Xiao Wu's ten-thousand-year soul beast aura anymore? All I can sense is a human aura now."
It planned to ask more questions later. It figured that Er Ming, being the simple-minded creature he was, hadn't noticed any changes in Xiao Wu. He had probably just sensed her aura after wandering around and rushed over to bring her back.
But why did Er Ming bring a human back with them? And why were Xiao Wu and this human so close? Was there something special about their relationship?
In the short time the Azure Bull Python was greeting Xiao Wu, it had already thought of many things. It was indeed quite intelligent.
When Su Ming saw the Azure Bull Python emerge, he felt the pressure emanating from its body. It was indeed worthy of being stronger than Er Ming—a true ten-thousand-year soul beast.
Then, Su Ming took Xiao Wu's hand, jumped down from Er Ming's grip, and before Xiao Wu could introduce him, he spoke up, "You must be the ten-thousand-year Azure Bull Python, Da Ming, that Xiao Wu told me about. I'm Su Ming, Xiao Wu's brother in the human world for the past six years, and now I'm also her boyfriend—her future husband!"
The Azure Bull Python couldn't keep its composure. Its tone turned low and dangerous, "Human! What did you just say?!"
At this moment, the Azure Bull Python's hostility toward Su Ming skyrocketed. Six years? And this human knew Xiao Wu's identity as a ten-thousand-year soul beast? He had earned Xiao Wu's trust and even had her and Er Ming bring him here? What were this human's true motives?
It wasn't unreasonable for Da Ming to think this way. In this world, the most tempting prize for soul masters was the soul rings and soul bones from ten-thousand-year soul beasts. He highly doubted Su Ming's intentions.
But then again, this human didn't seem that old—probably around Xiao Wu's age. He couldn't possibly be a match for them, so what was going on?
Even someone as smart as Da Ming was momentarily baffled by the situation.
Xiao Wu, noticing Da Ming's hostility towards Su Ming, furrowed her brows and was about to speak, but Su Ming stopped her. If he wanted Da Ming and Er Ming's approval, he'd have to earn it himself. Xiao Wu speaking on his behalf might actually have the opposite effect.
Su Ming calmly said to Da Ming, "Da Ming, there's no need to be so agitated. I'm not interested in your ten-thousand-year soul rings or soul bones. Whether you believe me or not is up to you."