Without wasting any time, Song Qing left the Spirit Hall and immediately unfolded his magnificent External Spirit Bone, the Ancient Void Dragonbone Wings. The massive, obsidian wings shimmered with an ethereal light as they expanded, ready to carry him across the vast distances.
He channeled a significant amount of soul power into the wings, activating their powerful skill, Aerial Supremacy. A surge of speed propelled him forward like a black arrow piercing the sky. He then began to utilize the spatial attribute of Aerial Supremacy, incorporating short, controlled bursts of teleportation into his flight. With each teleport, he would vanish and reappear a significant distance ahead, drastically increasing his travel speed.
'The Lake of Life… I need to reach it as quickly as possible,' he thought, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
Despite his incredible speed, the Great Star Dou Forest was vast, and the journey to its central region was considerable. The sun arced across the sky, and it was nearly the end of the day by the time Song Qing finally approached the vicinity of the Lake of Life.
As he neared his destination, he began his descent, his Ancient Void Dragonbone Wings beating rhythmically to slow his momentum. Throughout his flight, A'Rou had been his constant guide, her mental voice directing him through the sprawling forest.
'A little to the left… now straight ahead… you're getting close,' she had projected, her eagerness palpable.
Song Qing also utilized his Primordial Life Tree Spirit's passive ability. By subtly sensing the plants and even the faint consciousness of the flora throughout the forest, he could get a general sense of the powerful spirit beasts in the area. It wasn't long before he could distinctly sense the immense auras of Er Ming and Da Ming, and a smaller, yet familiar, aura nearby – Xiao Wu.
'They're close… just as A'Rou said,' he thought, a sense of anticipation building within him.
In the last few days, ever since Xiao Wu had returned to the Great Star Dou Forest after her brief encounter with Song Qing (in his guise as Su Qing), she had been inseparable from her sworn brothers, Er Ming and Da Ming. She had excitedly recounted her experiences among the humans, telling them about her companions and friends like Tang San, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing.
She had also told them about a kind human named Su Qing, a mysterious individual she had met who had somehow allowed her to speak with her mother's soul.
The two colossal beasts, Er Ming and Da Ming, had been shocked by this revelation. They found it hard to believe that a human could possess the ability to communicate with the soul of a spirit beast that had become a soul ring.
"Xiao Wu, are you sure about this?" Er Ming had rumbled, his voice like the grinding of stones. "A human letting you talk to your mama? That powerful woman from the Spirit Hall… your mama is her soul ring now. It's impossible."
Da Ming had echoed his brother's skepticism. "That human might have been trying to trick you, Little Sister. Showing you some pretty illusions to gain your trust."
But Xiao Wu had vehemently argued with them, her rabbit ears twitching with indignation. "It wasn't an illusion! I know my mama's soul! I could feel her warmth, hear her voice in my heart! Su Qing… he was different. He wasn't like other humans."
The conversation had gone back and forth for days, with Er Ming and Da Ming remaining unconvinced, their distrust of humans deeply ingrained. Xiao Wu, however, held onto the memory of speaking with her mother, a flicker of hope rekindled within her.
Now, a few days later, the trio of sworn siblings were relaxing by the tranquil waters of the Lake of Life, enjoying a rare moment of peace. Er Ming was playfully tossing boulders into the lake, creating massive splashes, while Da Ming lay coiled nearby, his massive form radiating a gentle warmth. Xiao Wu sat between them, nibbling on a patch of clover, her thoughts drifting back to her human friends and the mysterious Su Qing.
Suddenly, both Er Ming and Da Ming's massive heads snapped upwards, their eyes narrowing as they sensed a powerful and rapidly approaching aura descending from the sky. Their playful mood vanished instantly, replaced by a primal alertness.
Song Qing, who was now hovering a short distance above the treeline, took a deep breath and focused his immense soul power. He channeled it directly into the Dark Soul Emperor's Crown, specifically targeting the dormant spiritual body of A'Rou. At the same time, A'Rou, sensing his intention, focused all of her mental power.
In the next instant, a brilliant, ethereal figure began to congeal in mid-air beside Song Qing. It was A'Rou, her spiritual body now fully manifested, radiating a gentle, otherworldly glow.
The moment her spiritual form became visible, a collective gasp echoed from below. Both Er Ming and Da Ming, their massive bodies tensing, stared in shock at the sudden appearance of the human and the spectral woman beside him. Even Xiao Wu, who had instinctively looked up, a faint sense of familiarity stirring within her at the approaching aura, was utterly stunned.
Her eyes widened, her gaze fixed on the ethereal woman floating in the air. 'Mama…?' she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief and a dawning recognition.
However, she didn't recognize the young man standing beside her mother's soul. The last time she had seen him, he had been disguised as the gentle human named Su Qing.
It was A'Rou who broke the stunned silence. This time, she didn't rely on mental communication. Her spiritual body, now fully formed and radiating a soft, comforting light, spoke in a clear, melodious voice that echoed across the tranquil surface of the Lake of Life.
"Er Ming, Da Ming," A'Rou said, her voice filled with a mix of affection and a hint of her usual bossiness. "And look at you, my little Xiao Wu! You've grown so much!"
Meanwhile, as A'Rou greeted her family, Song Qing quietly focused his soul power. He extended a tendril of his abyssal energy and solidified another Anchor Point in the space around them.
'Two down, one to go,' he thought, a sense of satisfaction settling within him. Having two secure points of return was a significant advantage.
The two colossal spirit beasts, Er Ming and Da Ming, could only stare in utter disbelief at the ethereal figure floating before them. It looked like their Aunt A'Rou, it sounded like her, but… it had been so long. And she was supposed to be…
"Aunt A'Rou?" Da Ming finally rumbled, his voice still carrying a note of uncertainty despite the overwhelming familiarity. "Is… is it truly you?" He needed to be sure. This could be some elaborate trick. "Tell me… what was the name of the silly little game you used to make me play when I was just a hatchling?"
Er Ming, never one for intellectual pursuits, blurted out his question without much thought. "Yeah! And… and what was your favorite flower in the entire forest? You always used to say it smelled the best!"
A'Rou's ethereal eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of her characteristic impatience entered her voice. "Da Ming, you dare question your Aunt like this? After all these years? It was 'Chase the Moonbeam,' you overgrown earthworm! And Er Ming, you oaf, it was the Silvermoon Blossom, you know, the one that only blooms under the light of the full moon! Honestly, your courage has certainly grown while I was away." Her tone was sharp, but there was a hint of fondness beneath the reprimand.
Despite their immense power, both Er Ming and Da Ming couldn't help but flinch at A'Rou's familiar scolding. The way she spoke, the specific details she recalled… it had to be her. No one else would dare to call Da Ming an overgrown earthworm and Er Ming an oaf with such authority.
'It really is Aunt A'Rou!' Er Ming thought, a wave of relief and happiness washing over his brutish features.
'Her scolding… it's definitely her,' Da Ming mentally agreed, a rare smile touching his reptilian face.
While the two behemoths were coming to terms with the reality of their aunt's return, Xiao Wu, her eyes still wide with a mixture of awe and joy, took hesitant steps forward. "Mama… is it really you?" she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.
A'Rou's gaze softened instantly as she looked at her daughter. "My precious Xiao Wu," she said, her voice filled with love. "Yes, my darling, it's me." She extended an ethereal hand, and Xiao Wu rushed forward, embracing it as if it were solid, tears welling up in her eyes.
As mother and daughter shared a touching moment of reunion, A'Rou took the opportunity to introduce the young man floating beside her. "Xiao Wu, my dear, and you two lumbering mountains," she said, turning her attention to Er Ming and Da Ming. "This is Song Qing. He is the one who helped me… return to you all." She then looked directly at Xiao Wu. "Remember that human named Su Qing you met at Shrek Academy? The one who helped you speak with my soul? This is him. He was just in disguise then."
Xiao Wu's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Song Qing, really looking at him for the first time without the illusion. The features were different, sharper, more defined. But there was something in his eyes… a familiar kindness.
"Su Qing… you're Song Qing?" she asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.
Song Qing offered her a gentle smile. "That's right, Xiao Wu. It's good to finally meet you properly."
Xiao Wu readily accepted his explanation. She was just so overjoyed to see her mother again that the details of his identity seemed secondary. She turned back to A'Rou, her excitement bubbling over. "Mama, how are you? What happened after… after you became a soul ring? I have so much to tell you!"
As mother and daughter began to excitedly exchange stories, Song Qing turned his attention to the two massive spirit beasts. They were both staring at him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. Da Ming, the Sky Azure Bull Python, was particularly observant. His reptilian eyes were fixed on the Dark Soul Emperor's Crown resting on Song Qing's head.
'That crown…' Da Ming thought, his gaze narrowed. 'It radiates a familiar spiritual energy… it feels connected to Aunt A'Rou's soul. That must be where she has been residing all this time.' He continued to study Song Qing, a cautious curiosity replacing his initial suspicion. This human was clearly powerful, and he had somehow managed to bring their Aunt A'Rou back to them, even in this spiritual form. He decided to reserve judgment for now and observe the situation further.