Just as Fang Chang finished devouring the Slime, he detected a commotion to the southwest. The sounds of combat and hurried, heavy footsteps were rapidly approaching his location.
Quickly scanning the area, Fang Chang found a bush just large enough to hide his body. Activating his Stealth skill, he merged seamlessly into the surroundings, his form becoming semi-transparent and blending with the underbrush. In the darkness, it was nearly impossible to spot him with the naked eye.
Moments later, a pink-and-white rabbit about half a meter tall and 70 to 80 centimeters long stumbled into his view.
Fang Chang recognized the creature immediately. Among the many spirit beasts in the Douluo Dalu world, the Soft-Boned Rabbit held significant fame—more so than even the Man-Faced Demon Spider.
This particular rabbit had a cultivation of 1,100 years, a respectable level of spirit power.
However, its current state was pitiful.
Its once-fluffy pink-and-white fur was matted with blood, and several deep wounds stretched from its back to its tail. Though it was running, its speed was painfully slow, hampered by a grievous injury on one of its hind legs, where the white bone was faintly visible beneath the torn flesh.
The rabbit, barely able to support itself on its remaining leg, struggled in Fang Chang's direction, hopping awkwardly toward his hiding spot.
Shortly after the rabbit appeared, four human figures emerged in Fang Chang's view.
Three men and one woman—hunters.
The leader was a Level 37 Spirit Elder, and the others were no weaklings either, with spirit power levels exceeding 30. The woman was clearly the weakest of the group at Level 30.
From their demeanor, Fang Chang quickly deduced their purpose: they were hunting the rabbit to provide the woman with a suitable spirit ring.
The group was in no rush. They followed the Soft-Boned Rabbit leisurely, occasionally launching long-range attacks to deepen its injuries and further slow its movements.
Even so, their strikes were controlled—carefully avoiding fatal blows, ensuring the woman could later absorb the spirit ring.
As the group closed in, so did the Soft-Boned Rabbit. Fang Chang's heart raced.
He was still in a critical condition, his strength barely better than the rabbit's.
If the hunters discovered him, they might kill him as an afterthought. Worse, he could inadvertently be caught in the crossfire while they attacked the rabbit.
Fang Chang swallowed hard, keeping his body perfectly still to maintain Stealth. Inwardly, he prayed for the rabbit to leave.
But fate had other plans.
The rabbit stumbled closer and closer until, under Fang Chang's anxious gaze, it collapsed unconscious—just 30 centimeters from his hiding place.
Fang Chang's breath hitched. This was dangerously close for spirit masters' attack range.
At that moment, the sound of rushing wind caught his attention.
The Shrek Seven Devils, drawn by the commotion, arrived from another direction and immediately locked eyes with the hunters.
The two groups exchanged wary glances, each calculating their next move.
The Shrek team's attention quickly shifted to the Soft-Boned Rabbit lying pitifully near the bushes. Its blood-soaked body heaved faintly, proof it was still alive.
Tang San's gaze lingered on the rabbit. The sight of it instantly reminded him of Xiao Wu.
It had been hours since Xiao Wu had been taken by the Titan Giant Ape, and her fate remained uncertain. A pang of guilt and pain stabbed Tang San's chest.
"Let's go, Tang San. Don't cause trouble," Oscar urged, tugging at Tang San's sleeve.
But Tang San remained frozen, staring at the rabbit.
"Tang San?"
"I... I want to save that Soft-Boned Rabbit," Tang San said, pointing to the unconscious creature.
Tang San's thoughts turned to Xiao Wu. Her martial soul was also a Soft-Boned Rabbit. Though he hadn't been able to rescue her from the Titan Giant Ape, perhaps he could save this one.
Dai Mubai placed a hand on Tang San's shoulder. "Thinking about Xiao Wu?"
Tang San nodded silently.
"Then we'll help. Failing to save Xiao Wu wasn't just your responsibility; it was ours too," Dai Mubai said firmly.
Gratitude flashed in Tang San's eyes.
Tang San stepped forward, cupping his fists politely. "I ask that you show mercy and spare this Soft-Boned Rabbit."
"What?"
One of the hunters, a lean, dark-skinned man, scowled. "We're hunting our spirit beast. What does that have to do with you?"
Tang San hesitated before speaking again. "I know my request is unreasonable, but this rabbit reminds me of someone very important. I can't stand by and watch you kill it."
The dark-skinned man sneered, but the stocky hunter beside him cut in with a sharp tone.
"Who do you think you are, meddling in the affairs of the Spirit Hall?"
Oscar stiffened at the mention of the Spirit Hall. Turning to Tang San, he whispered, "Tang San, maybe we should let it go. They're from the Spirit Hall..."
Before he could finish, Ning Rongrong pinched him hard.
"What's so special about the Spirit Hall? Are you still Xiao Wu and Tang San's friend or not?"
Tang San froze momentarily at the mention of the Spirit Hall—the most powerful organization on the Douluo Continent.
However, his gaze returned to the rabbit lying helplessly by the roadside. His resolve hardened.
"I hope you can give us this small favor," Tang San said firmly.
The stocky hunter opened his mouth to retort, but the leader raised a hand to stop him.
Looking at the six youths, the leader hesitated. They were clearly younger than his group, yet their spirit power matched—or even exceeded—his team's. He couldn't dismiss the possibility that they were from an influential background.
"We are from the Spirit Hall's Whitewater City branch. And you are?" the leader asked cautiously.
Whitewater City was a significant settlement near the Star Dou Forest, and the Spirit Hall's presence there signified its importance.
"We are..." Tang San began, but Oscar quickly interjected, "We're the Shrek Six Monsters from Shrek Academy."
"Shrek Academy?"
The leader frowned. He had never heard of such a place.
After some thought, he replied, "This Soft-Boned Rabbit is important to my companion. Please do not interfere. I'll pretend I didn't hear your earlier request."
The leader was confident. Though these youths might have some background, this was his group's hunt, and they had the Spirit Hall's name to back them.
Tang San sighed, summoning his Blue Silver Grass martial soul.
"In that case, I apologize for the offense."
The tension between the two groups thickened, as both prepared for a confrontation.