The humid forest air wrapped around Tang San like a cloying shroud as he tore through the skies, the transparent wings gifted by Oscar's Swift Flight Mushroom Sausage fluttering with spirit-powered intensity. His eyes were narrowed to slits, the strain of tracking Er Ming's fading trail weighing heavily on him. Leaves blurred below him, a green river of movement, but his heart beat to the rhythm of a single name.
'Xiao Wu!'
'I'm coming!'
A sharp scent pricked at his senses. Tang San slowed slightly, glancing downward. Amidst the foliage, a glint of pale silk caught his eye. Below, nestled in a ravine veiled by overhanging vines, something stirred.
His breath hitched. There—a spider-type spirit beast, but not the Man Faced Demon Spider. This one was leaner, cloaked in a slick, black carapace that shimmered faintly with a greenish sheen. Eight long legs curled in calculated tension, its abdomen bloated with venom sacs. Threads of webbing shimmered between trees, glistening with poison.
Poison Silk Ghost Spider, Tang San recognized it at once. Rare. Strong venom. Not quite as fearsome as the Man Faced Demon Spider, but still a high-tier spirit beast. This would match perfectly with my skillset.
He hovered.
The thought crept in unbidden: a perfect opportunity. His third spirit ring.
But Xiao Wu—
Tang San clenched his fists. His mind warred with itself. With this ring, I'll grow stronger. I can protect her better. Save her with certainty.
Logic whispered to him, tempting.
He descended, spirit power coalescing.
Unseen and above, hidden by his invisibility and Diend armor, Li Wei watched.
He stood silent on a tree branch, arms crossed, the shimmer of the [AttackRide: Invisible] still cloaking his body from sight, smell and hearing. Only the sight of boot shape leftover from his own weight can be seen.
His gaze narrowed.
Even now... Tang San.
He watched as Tang San poised to strike. A perfect predator locked on its prey.
Li Wei exhaled quietly and shook his head.
Side to side.
You stopped. Again. Even now.
No words were spoken. None were needed. His disapproval radiated from the subtle shift of his posture.
Xiao Wu is in danger, and you're chasing power. You still don't understand yourself only a hypocrite. Even though what happen already change from the original canon from him messing around, seeing this really make him felt disgust with Tang San.
Li Wei fingers grazed the Diendriver at his side. His eyes flickered in the direction of Er Ming's trail.
He stepped off the branch.
One breath. One leap.
And he vanished into the mist.
---
Tang San engaged the Poison Silk Ghost Spider with precise fury. Blue Silver Grass lashed out, spiraling through the air, binding and redirecting as the spider hissed and retaliated with venom-laced webs. The air grew thick with poison mist.
It's fast. Tang San ducked low, rolling beneath a sweeping leg. But I've fought worse.
He called out his first spirit ability—Bind activated, ensnaring the spider using the Blue Silver Grass from the surrounding. Its legs writhed, trapped. Venom sprayed from its fangs, sizzling against stone.
A perfect moment.
Tang San then take out the Godly Zhuge Crossbow from his own storage and shoot toward the spider weak point. Making the spider fall from being weakened as most of it blood flow out. Then he manifest the Clear Sky Hammer, leaping toward the spider overhead then smash it. The spider then convulsed, legs folding.
He landed, breath heaving. Silence returned.
His gaze lingered on the corpse.
This ring... it will help me. I know it will. I have to be stronger for her.
But even as he stepped forward, the hesitation returned.
She trusted me. She needed me.
He glanced upward, where the trail disappeared beyond the canopy.
Am I abandoning her again?
The whisper of doubt gnawed at him, but he dropped to his knees.
I need to be ready. Only then can I protect her.
He began the absorption.
---
Mist curled around the treetops like ethereal serpents as Li Wei bounded silently through the forest, leaping from limb to limb of the tree. The Diend armor amplified every motion, lending him grace and silence.
He didn't look back.
Xiao Wu.
His thoughts drifted.
He had seen the look in her eyes before she vanished with Er Ming. Fear, yes. But something more. Regret.
She had known this moment would come.
How much have you hidden? he wondered. From the show it cannot be seen how disheartened she was everytime after seeing the spirit beast get killed. Because in animation this was not shown, it just show how happy she was.
His hand curled around the Diendriver again.
If Tang San knew the truth... would he save you, or condemn you? No, the answer already been given. Looking at all the version of douluo dalu after that, she change quite a lot.
A kind person can laugh at the misery of others, the only explanation can be when she was resurrected Tang San must have change her memories however subtle same as his mother.
He pushed harder. Branches whipped past his face. The echo of Er Ming's steps had long faded, but the mist carried a faint pressure. A presence. Ancient and monstrous.
He could feel it.
Er Ming hadn't gone far.
Li Wei's eyes narrowed.
He then continue forward.
---
Back at the spider's corpse, Tang San sat cross-legged, the third spirit ring floating before him, pulsing with a purple light. The Poison Silk Ghost Spider's energy seeped into his body in waves, pressing against his spirit power core.
His body trembled as venomous energy coursed through him.
He grit his teeth. Endure it. You've endured worse.
But doubt continued to swirl.
She needed me. She cried out to me.
He clenched his fists, even as the spirit ring began to brand itself upon him.
I have to be strong enough to protect her. If I'm not... then what good am I?
But another part of him whispered: You left her.
You hesitated.
His heart shuddered.
---
Meanwhile, the forest ahead darkened.
Li Wei slowed.
A grove of ancient trees stood ahead, cloaked in silence. The air was heavier here. Spiritual pressure tingled against his skin.
He crouched on a high branch, gaze piercing through the fog.
A massive figure knelt beside a glowing pool.
Er Ming.
The Titan Giant Ape loomed like a mountain, arms folded protectively around a faint form.
Xiao Wu.
She lay cross-legged, body wrapped in spirit energy, safe but unmoving. This should be the part where she tried to form her third spirit ring.
Li Wei didn't move. Not yet. He simply watched.
His heart slowed.
She's safe... for now.
But time was not on their side.
I can't fight him. Not yet. But maybe... I can talk to her.
He tapped the Diendriver.
A card shimmered between his fingers. On it a masked rider with a peach shape visor and a train follow it.
Not to fight. To bend time.
A glimmer of possibility.
But before he moved, a whisper in the leaves sound behind him.
He tensed.
---
Back where Tang San sat, he still in the process of absorbing the third spirit ring.
It has been four hours that he begin absorbing the ring and still in the process of it.
Surrounding him it can be seen that the other member of Shrek that consist of Zhao Wuji, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong sat in circle.
After they catch up to Tang San, they realize that Tang San was in the middle of absorbing the spirit ring with Li Wei silhouette nowhere in sight.
The other's do not say anything and treat this as a normal thing, increasing your power to save the person you love seem like a common thing.
But for Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, they seen something different. Your women got caught by a spirit beast with high chance of getting eaten and here you are taken the time tried to get your third spirit ring.
When both of them looking around the surrounding they realize that Li Wei do not present here.
Zhu Zhuqing noticed a print—a boot-shaped impression on a branch, leading deeper into the forest.
She already said this to their teacher Zhao Wuji and Zhao Wuji decide to protect Tang San more. He said that he believe in Li Wei.
Zhao Wuji know about Li Wei capability more than the others student whether they are new or old.
After Li Wei become soul ancestor, he never been able to touch Li Wei anymore. Even though Li Wei unable to broke through his defend, he also cannot even touch Li Wei.
He already has summon that move as fast as sound, now he able to use that abilities himself. If he times it right, even the overlord will not be able to catch him when he decide to use speed and hide.
Zhao Wuji faith in Li Wei was absolute.
Both Zhu zhuqing and Ning Rongrong hear the answer from Zhao Wuji that said to them to not worry about Li Wei as he believe him was ridiculously for them.
That is the overlord of the forest, it felt incomprehensible to them that Zhao Wuji do not seem even worried about his student.