In the Star Dou Great Forest, Shrek Academy's twelve most elite core disciples—also the twelve reserve candidates for future elders of Sea God's Pavilion—were making their way beneath a banyan tree.
It was a single banyan tree rather than a grove because banyan trees possessed a rather special trait. Any branch that drooped down and touched the ground would grow aerial roots. As time passed, that branch would become a new trunk supporting the banyan tree.
If a plant-type Soul Master whose martial soul was a tree hunted a banyan tree, the Soul Skill it granted would often lean toward one thing: One Tree Becomes a Forest!
This was a domain-like Soul Skill. Once used, it could create hundreds of copies of the user's martial soul in a short time, yet its consumption was not high.
However, banyan trees were exceedingly difficult to hunt. Not only were they quite powerful, but one also had to locate the banyan tree's true body within a forest of that scale before killing it. Therefore, even when a Titled Douluo led the team, banyan tree soul rings were often impossible to obtain.
After all, if one mistook the trunk containing the banyan tree's consciousness, that Titled Douluo's entire half-day of work would have been for nothing.
Obtaining a banyan tree soul ring had always been terrifyingly difficult. Not only did it require a powerful leader, but also astonishing knowledge. It could be said that even for a mere ten-thousand-year soul ring, an experienced Titled Douluo had to lead the team. As for a hundred-thousand-year one, it either required a seasoned Super Douluo or unbelievably terrifying luck to strike the trunk carrying the banyan tree's consciousness in one blow. There was no other possibility.
Tang Tong was not sure whether he possessed such extreme luck, but he was certain that a sufficiently veteran powerhouse was protecting him from behind.
Although that powerhouse had not leaked even the slightest aura, as if he had completely lost them, Tang Tong was still quite confident in Xuan Zi.
He was the vice master of Sea God's Pavilion, Shrek's second strongest expert, a level ninety-eight Taotie Douluo who had been famous for over two hundred years—Xuan Zi!
Claiming that someone of that level could lose track of them was less believable than saying Shrek could produce a whole bunch of Evil Soul Masters.
It was impossible even to think about!
Thus, despite being utterly unable to sense even a trace of Xuan Zi's aura, yet firmly believing that Xuan Zi was watching them from the shadows, Tang Tong began his plan.
"Let's rest here for a while."
Halfway through the forest formed by a hundred-thousand-year banyan tree, Tang Tong ordered everyone to stop and rest.
At his words, everyone immediately sat down. Those who wanted to eat ate, while those who wanted to rest their eyes did so. They were so relaxed that they seemed to be on an outing rather than hunting for soul rings.
There was no helping it. Xuan Zi's earlier display of strength had been far too overwhelming. Two ten-thousand-year Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bears comparable to Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts had been slapped away with just a few strikes, without Xuan Zi even releasing his martial soul.
Thinking of such a powerful existence protecting them from behind, everyone remained utterly unable to sense Xuan Zi's aura, as though he had gotten lost. Yet all of them believed that Xuan Zi was constantly watching over their safety.
With that mindset, they naturally relaxed considerably—so much so that they became a little arrogant.
Tang Tong was still considering how exactly to provoke the banyan tree into attacking in rage when he saw several Shrek students raise their hands and chop off some banyan tree branches. Not only did they turn them into firewood, they even took meat and a grill from their Soul Tools.
"I've wanted to grill meat in the Star Dou Great Forest for ages, but the teachers who led us before weren't as strong as Xuan Zi. Now that Xuan Zi is leading us, I can finally experience what it's like to have a picnic in the Star Dou Great Forest. Tsk, I probably won't get another chance like this in my life."
As one student spoke, flames rose from his palm, but he did not release a soul ring. Clearly, those flames were his martial soul.
"Damn, I can actually taste Old Yan's cooking in the Star Dou Great Forest? This really makes dying worth it."
Another student's eyes lit up. Clearly, the student called Old Yan was no ordinary cook.
Xiao Yan ignored the bright-eyed student. Once the meat was cooked, he shouted loudly into the forest, "Xuan Zi, would you like some grilled meat?"
A long time passed after his voice carried out, yet they truly received no response. No one panicked in the slightest; they only felt that Xuan Zi was exceptionally responsible.
Normally, he always had food and drink in hand, yet when it came time to do serious work and help them hunt soul rings, he did not even care about delicious food. Everyone could not help but admire Xuan Zi in their hearts.
Worthy of being Shrek's pillar! Worthy of being a level ninety-eight senior! Such a responsible spirit made them feel deeply ashamed of themselves!
Before long, the meat was done, and everyone had nearly finished eating when dozens of aerial roots lashed toward the Shrek students, only to be blocked by Tang Tong.
Then, before Tang Tong could carry out his plan to deceive the hundred-thousand-year banyan tree, all the banyan trees around them moved.
A great number of aerial roots pounced at the Shrek students like octopus tentacles, every strike a killing blow.
Tang Tong was delighted rather than angered, but he did not show that delight on his face. Instead, he glared furiously at the surrounding Banyan Trees.
"Banyan tree! What is the meaning of this? We know you are a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, which is why we did not choose you as our soul ring. What are you trying to do?"
As Tang Tong's words fell, human faces appeared on the trunks of several Banyan Trees beside them.
"Hmph! Humans putting on a bluff, you dared trespass into my domain and even use fire within it. What do you think I want to do?"
As the hundred-thousand-year banyan tree spoke, over a hundred aerial roots struck swiftly toward them with terrifying force.
It had sensed the area for quite some time, yet it simply could not detect the presence of any powerful expert capable of threatening it.
Considering that humans often deceived soul beasts, the hundred-thousand-year banyan tree assumed that Tang Tong and the others were merely bluffing.
And it would not let bluffing humans go, especially when these humans were all quite powerful. Nourished by their flesh and blood, it was even confident that it could overcome the two-hundred-thousand-year heavenly tribulation and enter the ranks of ferocious beasts.
Thus, the hundred-thousand-year banyan tree unleashed killing blows from the start.
Normally, the hundred-thousand-year banyan tree could defeat Tang Tong, who did not yet possess his Ninth Soul Ring and had not truly become a Titled Douluo. However, defeating him would not have been easy either, for Tang Tong was a genius who had survived Shrek's teaching.
But Tang Tong's current goal was to hold back and allow himself to be severely injured. Naturally, he could not defend against the hundred-thousand-year banyan tree's attacks with all his strength. Thus, after only one exchange, Tang Tong was "carelessly" pierced through the shoulder blade by a hidden aerial root of the banyan tree. A great amount of his blood and Soul Power was drained away. If not for his plant-type martial soul, along with the powerful soul bone he had obtained with his eighth soul ring, that attack might even have been fatal.
Tang Tong was delighted rather than angered. Although he had already lost the ability to resist, and the aerial root's absorption of his Soul Power and vitality had weakened him to the point where even a Soul King might be able to defeat him, leaving him unable even to maintain his protective Soul Power, he was excited.
"Xuan Zi! Save me!"
Tang Tong used the last of his strength to shout, waiting for Xuan Zi's rescue. Yet the only response he received was the incomparably silent air.
Tang Tong: "???"
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