Zhao Wuji: Wasn't This What You Told Me to Do?

Although Shrek was poor, the Seven Devils were rich.

Amid Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran's ugly expressions, the deal was struck.

They scraped together one hundred Gold Soul Coins, and Oscar handed them to Yu Mingfei.

Strictly speaking, that little money was nowhere near enough to buy a Thousand-Year Soul Beast, especially a rare Soul Beast like the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

But first, they did not have many Gold Soul Coins on them, and second, Yu Mingfei was merely using it as an excuse to avoid a fight.

Thus, he had practically given away the Thousand-Year Phoenix-tailed Cockscomb Snake for just one hundred Gold Soul Coins.

To him, the money was basically free.

I made a killing! Yu Mingfei was overjoyed.

The Shrek Seven Devils thought so too.

Perhaps only Meng Yiran and the other woman were not so happy.

Uncle Sausage was beaming at that moment, a dagger in hand, eager to finish off the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

But with so many outsiders around, he forcibly restrained the impulse.

As he stroked the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's wings, he winked and nudged at Yu Mingfei.

"Thanks, brother! We've been here for days. If it weren't for your snake, who knows how much longer we'd have had to search.

"When you come to Suotuo City, I'll treat you to a meal!"

Yu Mingfei smiled in response and stepped aside, making room for Oscar.

Chao Tianxiang took hold of her granddaughter, her cold gaze sweeping over Yu Mingfei.

"Young man, you have quite the future ahead of you, but you should think things through more carefully." Then she turned to Zhao Wuji. "We'll concede today, Immovable Bright King. Until we meet again."

After tossing out those parting words, Chao Tianxiang grabbed her granddaughter and immediately leaped away.

She did not dare linger for even a moment.

After all, once Tang San and Meng Yiran's contest had ended, she had tried to forcibly drag Yu Mingfei into it. Her intentions had clearly been malicious.

Now that her scheme had failed, she was obviously afraid Zhao Wuji would turn hostile.

Yu Mingfei tossed the pouch of Gold Soul Coins into the wicker basket on his back and was about to leave.

Tang San suddenly spoke. "Wait."

Yu Mingfei turned around. Though he slowed his pace, he did not stop. With the Soul Beast Tide approaching, he only wanted to leave as quickly as possible.

And why should he warn these people?

"Does this friend need something?"

To be honest, Yu Mingfei felt a little guilty. After all, Tang San's mother was growing in the wicker basket on his back.

He was not sure whether Tang San could sense anything through their bloodline.

Tang San was stunned as well. He opened his mouth, but did not speak.

He studied Yu Mingfei closely.

Yu Mingfei wore plain clothes riddled with holes, carried a small wicker basket on his back, and had bright eyes.

Tang San sensed a familiar, intimate aura from him.

Before he could figure out why, Zhao Wuji's shout rang out beside him.

"Something's wrong! Everyone, stay alert!

"Xiao Ao, don't kill it yet!"

Though the order came suddenly, Oscar immediately stopped his blade and rose to his feet.

The remaining Seven Devils, Tang San included, gathered together in tacit understanding and warily looked around.

Boom—

The earth trembled as a gigantic Soul Beast, massive as a mountain, descended from the sky and landed directly before the Seven Devils.

It was covered in black fur, with knotted muscles and enormous yellow crystal eyes the size of lanterns fixed directly upon them.

"Titan Giant Ape..."

Tang San's voice trembled as he called out the Soul Beast's name.

Among the Seven Devils, Xiao Wu suddenly covered her forehead.

Oh no! Er Ming still caught up!

The ground shook even harder.

In the distance, a torrent of Soul Beasts, driven by the Titan Giant Ape, swept toward them.

Where was Yu Mingfei?

He had already run off.

Knowing the Soul Beast Tide was about to arrive, Yu Mingfei could not even spare a thought for the Hundred-Year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. He wished he could immediately return to the shelter and hide.

But he had chased the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent all the way here, changing directions several times while following the Guiding Nether Bee, then encountering Meng Yiran and her grandmother, the Shrek Seven Devils, and others.

By now, he was somewhat unable to tell which way was which.

He was not directionally challenged, but the Star Dou Great Forest was simply too vast.

As for the Guiding Nether Bee, he had lost it when he ran into Shrek.

Yu Mingfei could only run by instinct.

A Soul Beast Tide! Could the Titan Giant Ape have sensed Xiao Wu's aura and driven the Soul Beasts to search the outskirts?

No, that doesn't make sense. Does it even have the ability to command Soul Beasts?

Yu Mingfei could not figure it out, so he could only lower his head and keep running.

A Soul Beast Tide was not something that could simply be stopped. Once too many Soul Beast Colonies had been alarmed, the Beast Tide might not remain limited to the outskirts.

A chain reaction might even send large numbers of Ten-Thousand Year Soul Beasts charging out from the Mixed Area.

When that happened, the Star Dou Great Forest would truly become a forbidden zone for humans.

Even a Titled Douluo would gain nothing by coming here.

Should I leave the Star Dou Great Forest first? The outskirts will probably become chaotic soon. Yu Mingfei thought as he ran.

*My Soul Power isn't far from level twenty now. I'm probably around level eighteen or nineteen.

The Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone's energy is still continuously merging with me, so my Soul Power cultivation speed won't slow down anytime soon. As for the sparring partners I'm lacking...

*After leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, I can go to the Great Soul Arena.

As long as my disguise is thorough and I know when to stop, I won't have to worry about anyone noticing how abnormally fast my injuries heal.

With his thoughts sorted out, a plan gradually took shape in his mind.

The trembling beneath his feet intensified without end.

Yu Mingfei suddenly had a bad feeling.

*No, the Beast Tide has only just begun. It shouldn't be spreading this fast.

*I've been running without stopping. With the Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone's energy supporting me, my speed and endurance should be no worse than a Soul Elder's.

*Logically, I should barely be able to escape the Beast Tide's range.

Why is the ground shaking more and more violently?

The Sensing from the [Earth Meditation Method] became increasingly clear, and the sense of danger in Yu Mingfei's heart grew heavier.

As he ran, he inexplicably turned back for a look.

His heart instantly sank.

In the distance, an enormous brown bear was running for its life.

Behind it loomed the terrifying figure of the Titan Giant Ape, along with the raging tide of Soul Beasts it led.

It was Zhao Wuji! And the Shrek Seven Devils!

Zhao Wuji had already unleashed his Martial Soul Avatar, transforming into a massive brown bear.

The Great Strength Vajra Bear avatar, nearly two stories tall, carried all of the Shrek Seven Devils on its back.

Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Xiao Wu clung to its left shoulder, right shoulder, and the back of its neck respectively, while Zhu Zhuqing sat atop its head.

Its two bear paws held Ning Rongrong and Oscar, while Tang San had woven a sling from Blue Silver Grass and hung himself from its chest.

The unconscious Thousand-Year Phoenix-tailed Cockscomb Snake was even dangling from its thick, nearly invisible bear neck!

Ning Rongrong desperately activated the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, casting her Soul Skills on Zhao Wuji.

Oscar continuously conjured sausages as well, stuffing them into Zhao Wuji's mouth.

Zhao Wuji's eyes were wide with fury, blood threads filling them. He had clearly pushed himself to the absolute limit.

His two thick bear legs moved furiously, and in just that brief time, he had nearly caught up to Yu Mingfei, who had left earlier!

Couldn't you run in another direction?!

Did you have to run this way, toward me?

Yu Mingfei gritted his teeth.

No matter how patient he was, he could not endure it any longer. He was already cursing furiously in his heart.

He poured more Soul Power into his legs, turned back around, and accelerated once more.

"Teacher Zhao! That person is up ahead!" Tang San hung from Zhao Wuji's chest, the steel-needle-like bear fur making him grimace in pain.

His eyesight was excellent, and he was currently using Purple Demon Eyes to scout the path ahead for Zhao Wuji.

The moment he spotted Yu Mingfei's fleeing figure in the distance, he immediately reported it to Zhao Wuji.

The Great Strength Vajra Bear's eyes widened as it locked onto the figure ahead, who was likewise fleeing for his life.

He let out a low roar.

The seven Soul Rings around him flashed in unison as a Soul Skill gathered, ready to be unleashed.

Its target was Yu Mingfei.

"Teacher Zhao? What are you doing?" Tang San asked in confusion.

He did not understand why Zhao Wuji would waste Soul Power to use a Soul Skill at such a critical moment.

At Tang San's question, Zhao Wuji lost focus, and the Soul Power within him nearly went astray.

His bear eyes glanced downward at Tang San on his chest.

Wasn't it you who told me to attack him?

To divert the Titan Giant Ape's attention?