Xuan Lao, where are you?

The twelve most elite core disciples of Shrek Academy, and also the twelve reserve elders designated for the Sea God's Pavilion, were currently making their way through the Star Dou Great Forest beneath a banyan tree.

The reason it was a banyan tree and not a grove of banyan trees was due to a rather special characteristic of the species. Branches that grew downwards from a banyan tree would sprout aerial roots upon touching the ground. As time passed, those branches would become new trunks supporting the tree.

Furthermore, if a plant-type Spirit Master with a tree-type Spirit were to hunt a banyan tree, the Spirit Skill it granted would often lean towards one specific ability: "A Forest of One Tree!"

This was a field-like Spirit Skill that could, when used, create hundreds of copies of the user's own Spirit in a short period of time, yet its consumption was not significant.

However, because hunting a banyan tree was exceedingly difficult, not only was its combat power high, but one also needed to locate the banyan tree's true body within a forest-sized mass of trees. Therefore, even with Titled Douluo-level powerhouses leading the hunt, obtaining a banyan tree's Soul Ring was often impossible.

After all, one wrong guess about which trunk housed the banyan tree's consciousness could render a Titled Douluo's efforts useless for most of the day.

Obtaining a banyan tree's Soul Ring had always been terrifyingly difficult. Not only did the leader need to be strong, but they also required astonishing insight. It could be said that to acquire this Soul Ring, even a ten-thousand-year one, required an experienced Titled Douluo to lead the expedition. As for a hundred-thousand-year one, it either required an experienced Super Douluo or an incredibly lucky individual who could instantly strike the trunk bearing the banyan tree's consciousness. Otherwise, there was no other possibility.

Currently, Tang Tong was unsure if he possessed such extreme luck, but he was certain that he had a sufficiently senior powerhouse protecting him from behind.

Even though that powerhouse emitted no aura whatsoever, as if they had completely shaken them off, Tang Tong was still quite confident in his choice of elder.

It was the Vice Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion, Shrek's second strongest individual, a Level 98 powerhouse who had been famous for over two hundred years – Xuan Zi, the Gluttonous Douluo!

To suggest that someone of that caliber could lose track of them was less likely than Shrek producing a horde of evil Soul Masters.

It was simply impossible!

Thus, while completely unable to sense any trace of Elder Xuan, yet utterly convinced that Elder Xuan was watching them from the shadows, Tang Tong began his plan.

"Let's rest here for a bit first."

Within the forest formed by a hundred-thousand-year-old banyan tree, Tang Tong, who was halfway through, ordered everyone to stop and rest.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately sat down. Some ate, while others closed their eyes to rest. Their level of relaxation made it seem as if they weren't there to hunt for a Soul Ring, but rather for a picnic.

It was understandable. Elder Xuan's display of strength earlier had been too immense. Two ten-thousand-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bears, comparable to hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beasts, had been sent fleeing with just a few slaps from Elder Xuan, without him even releasing his Spirit.

Thinking of such a powerful being protecting them from behind, even though everyone couldn't sense Elder Xuan's aura at all, as if he were lost, they all believed that Elder Xuan was constantly watching over their safety.

With this mindset, everyone naturally felt more relaxed, even a bit arrogant.

Tang Tong was still contemplating how to specifically provoke the banyan tree into attacking when he saw several Shrek students casually hacking off some of the banyan tree's branches to make firewood. They even took out meat and grills from their Spirit Tools.

"I've wanted to have a barbecue in the Star Dou Great Forest for ages, but the previous teachers leading us weren't as strong as Elder Xuan. Now that Elder Xuan is leading us, I can finally experience what it's like to have a picnic in the Star Dou Great Forest. Tsk, I'll probably only get to do this once in my life."

One student said, conjuring flames in his palm, but without releasing his Soul Ring. Clearly, those flames were his Spirit.

"Holy crap, I can actually taste your cooking, Old Yan, here in the Star Dou Great Forest? This is worth dying for."

Another student's eyes lit up, indicating that the student called Old Yan was an exceptionally good cook.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan did not respond to the bright-eyed student. Instead, after the meat was cooked, he loudly called out to the forest, "Elder Xuan, would you like a bite of this barbecue?"

After his voice echoed for a long time, the group received no response. However, they showed no panic whatsoever, only feeling that Elder Xuan was being too dedicated.

He was usually inseparable from food and drink, but unexpectedly, when it came time to do serious business and help them hunt for Soul Rings, he wouldn't even spare a glance for delicious food. This made everyone admire Elder Xuan from the bottom of their hearts.

Truly the pillar of Shrek! Truly a senior of Level 98! Such a dedicated spirit made them feel ashamed of themselves!

Not long after, the meat was finished, and the group was almost done eating. Just then, dozens of aerial roots attacked the Shrek group, but they were blocked by Tang Tong.

Then, before Tang Tong could execute his plan to trick the hundred-thousand-year-old banyan tree, the surrounding banyan trees all moved.

A large number of aerial roots lunged towards the Shrek group like octopus tentacles, their attacks filled with killing intent.

In response, Tang Tong was overjoyed rather than angered, though his joy did not show on his face. Instead, he looked at the surrounding banyan trees with a furious expression.

"Banyan Tree! What do you mean by this? We knew you were a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast, which is why we didn't choose to hunt you for a Soul Ring. What are you trying to do?"

As Tang Tong spoke, human faces appeared on the trunks of several banyan trees around them.

"Hmph! Pompous human, daring to intrude upon my domain and use fire within it, what do you think I'm trying to do?"

The hundred-thousand-year-old banyan tree spoke, and hundreds of aerial roots struck the group with terrifying might.

It had sensed for a long time but couldn't detect any powerhouse that could threaten it.

Considering that humans often deceived Spirit Beasts, the hundred-thousand-year-old banyan tree believed Tang Tong and the others were bluffing.

And it wouldn't let go of bluffing humans, especially since these humans had considerable cultivation. With their flesh and blood, it was confident it could break through the twenty-thousand-year tribulation and ascend to the ranks of ferocious beasts.

Thus, the hundred-thousand-year-old banyan tree attacked with killing intent.

Normally, a hundred-thousand-year-old banyan tree would have trouble defeating Tang Tong, who did not yet have his ninth Soul Ring and had not truly become a Titled Douluo. However, it wasn't an easy fight either, as Tang Tong was a genius who had survived Shrek's teachings.

But unfortunately, Tang Tong's current objective was to intentionally take damage and be severely injured. Naturally, he wouldn't defend with all his might against the hundred-thousand-year-old banyan tree's attack. Consequently, in just one exchange, Tang Tong 'accidentally' had an aerial root, hidden amongst the others, pierce his shoulder blade. A large amount of blood or Soul Power was drained from him. If not for his plant-type Spirit and a powerful Soul Bone he obtained with his eighth Soul Ring, this blow could have been fatal.

In response, Tang Tong was overjoyed rather than angered. Although he was now incapable of resisting, weakened to the point where even a Soul King might defeat him and unable to maintain his protective Soul Power due to the absorption of his Soul Power and vital energy by the aerial root, he was still excited.

"Elder Xuan! Save me!"

Tang Tong shouted with his last ounce of strength, awaiting Elder Xuan's rescue. However, his only response was the profoundly silent air.

Tang Tong: "???"