Xiao Qing clamped one hand over Tang San's mouth and firmly pressed down on his trembling shoulder with the other.
Xiao Qing lowered his voice to a whisper. "Tang San, stay calm. We don't know what's going on. If you make a sound or act rashly, you'll only provoke that Soul Beast and put Xiao Wu in immediate danger."
Tang San stiffened. He whipped around to look at Xiao Qing, his eyes full of urgency. His lips moved beneath Xiao Qing's palm, but he couldn't form a complete word.
Xiao Qing was right. Though the Titan Giant Ape was badly wounded and weak, it was still a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. If Tang San charged out and shouted now, he might completely enrage the injured beast.
Xiao Qing's gaze passed over Tang San and met Zhao Wuji's across the short distance. They exchanged a quick look.
Er Ming remained on one knee, not getting up. The wound in his abdomen rose and fell with each breath, oozing dark-red blood. Tang Hao's hammer blow had clearly hurt him badly, severely limiting his mobility.
Yet perhaps because he had finally found Xiao Wu, or perhaps because he was accustomed to ruling the Star Dou Forest, the weakened Er Ming had failed to carefully sense his surroundings.
Zhao Wuji had naturally spotted Xiao Wu, and he was no less astonished than Tang San.
He couldn't understand why this usually lively, spirited girl had come alone to stand before the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast that had just been hunting them.
Even more baffling was how Xiao Wu could stand there so "calmly."
Faced with a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, even one that was badly wounded, an ordinary Soul Master would be shaken and trembling under the sheer pressure of its superior life force.
But Zhao Wuji had no time to investigate these strange details.
He was their teacher and leader. Keeping every student safe was his foremost responsibility.
No matter how Xiao Wu had managed it, the most urgent thing now was to get her away from the dangerous Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
Zhao Wuji quickly assessed the situation.
The Titan Giant Ape was badly wounded and clearly had limited mobility. It didn't seem eager to attack, either, but the threat remained. Xiao Wu was right under its nose, and one careless move could leave her gravely injured or even dead.
He had to create an opening for Tang San to get Xiao Wu away safely.
A plan quickly took shape in Zhao Wuji's mind. He looked at Xiao Qing and conveyed his intentions with his eyes and gestures.
He pointed at himself and Xiao Qing, then toward the opposite flank. Next, he made a gesture meaning "draw its attention, lead it away," and finally pointed toward Tang San and Xiao Wu to signal "rescue, retreat."
Xiao Qing immediately understood Zhao Wuji's plan: he and Zhao Wuji would reveal themselves and make enough noise to draw the Titan Giant Ape's attention away from Tang San and Xiao Wu, giving Tang San the chance and time to take her away.
It was a very risky plan.
Deliberately provoking a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast—even a wounded one—didn't mean they could push it around.
But there seemed to be no better option. A frontal assault would have little chance of success and would instantly put Xiao Wu in the greatest danger.
Xiao Qing barely hesitated before giving Zhao Wuji a slight nod of agreement.
His expression remained unchanged, but deep within him, a bolder and more reckless thought had just taken root.
A wounded Hundred-Thousand-Year Titan Giant Ape—this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Under normal circumstances, hunting one was out of the question. Even getting close was a fantasy. But now, Tang Hao had smashed it with a hammer, leaving it gravely wounded, weakened, and slow.
And on Xiao Qing's side, he had Zhao Wuji, a Soul Saint who would give his all to help, as well as three powerful Soul Beast companions—Xiao Feng, A'Man, and Thunder Feather—whose cultivation was close to or had reached five or six thousand years.
Perhaps... there was a chance!
The risk was undeniably enormous. Even a dying camel was bigger than a horse. Faced with death, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast would fight back with terrifying force. But the potential rewards were beyond measure!
If one of his Soul Beast companions—especially Xiao Feng—could land the final blow and gain the experience, Xiao Qing was almost certain Xiao Feng would break through the ten-thousand-year bottleneck and become a true Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!
Once Xiao Feng reached ten thousand years, with A'Man, Thunder Feather, and Xiao Qing himself fighting alongside him, no Soul Master below Soul Emperor rank would be able to threaten them.
The thought grew wild in Xiao Qing's heart like weeds. He quickly sent a new command to Xiao Feng, A'Man, and Thunder Feather through their spiritual connection:
"Wait for your chance. Make sure Xiao Feng lands the final blow that defeats Er Ming!"
Seeing how readily Xiao Qing agreed, a trace of admiration flickered in Zhao Wuji's eyes.
He knew how dangerous this plan was for Xiao Qing, too. Sending a Soul Elder in his thirties to help draw away a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast—even in a supporting role—was practically sending him into danger.
But he had no other choice. Of the three of them, Tang San was the weakest. His Blue Silver Grass would likely be more fragile than spider silk against the Titan Giant Ape. Bringing him along wouldn't help; he would only become a burden and force them to split their attention to protect him.
Xiao Qing, on the other hand, might not have much Soul Power, but his three thousand-year-old Soul Beast companions could do far more than his Soul Power Level would suggest.
"Tang San, listen carefully. Xiao Qing and I are going to draw the Titan Giant Ape away. Take the chance to get to Xiao Wu and bring her back. I don't care if she's willing or not—you bring her back. Understand?"
Zhao Wuji spoke in a low voice, stressing each word to Tang San. He was afraid Tang San would go soft and refuse to take Xiao Wu away, wasting all the effort he and Xiao Qing were about to make.
Tang San nodded firmly. He knew this was his only chance to save Xiao Wu.
"Xiao Qing, are you ready?"
Zhao Wuji looked to Xiao Qing one last time, his expression grave.
Xiao Qing drew a deep breath and suppressed his reckless urge to hunt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. His expression turned calm once more.
"I'm ready, Teacher Zhao."
Xiao Qing's voice was steady and even.
Zhao Wuji said no more. He made a "get ready" gesture to Tang San, then turned to Xiao Qing and gave him a firm nod.
The next instant, Zhao Wuji burst out from behind the tree where he'd been hiding. As he charged out, he stuffed Oscar's Recovery Big Sausage and Blood-Nourishing Sausage into his mouth.
The Recovery Big Sausage melted into a gentle warmth, quickly easing the fatigue from his continuous flight and replenishing his depleted Soul Power.
The Blood-Nourishing Sausage, meanwhile, became a much hotter surge of energy as soon as it reached his stomach, spreading through his entire body.
Zhao Wuji could clearly feel his strength, speed, and even the resilience of his muscles and bones rising at a noticeable rate!
The boost from that "extra vitality and blood" was even more pronounced than he'd expected. His whole body brimmed with explosive strength, and his earlier weakness vanished.
The power was only temporary, but it was exactly what he needed right now!
Then his Martial Soul, the Vajra Bear, possessed him in an instant. Two yellow, two purple, and three black Soul Rings rose with a furious force, as the aura of a Soul Saint erupted without restraint, aimed straight at the Titan Giant Ape!
"Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar!"
Dark golden light once again enveloped Zhao Wuji, transforming him into a five-meter-tall giant bear. He roared and slammed his enormous paw into the ground!
"Third Soul Skill, Gravity Enhancement!"
"Fifth Soul Skill, Gravity Compression!"
A dual gravity field instantly spread out from Zhao Wuji, engulfing the Titan Giant Ape!
It couldn't inflict any real damage on a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, but the sudden restraint and oppressive force were undeniably a direct challenge and an effective way to draw its attention!
Almost at the same moment, Xiao Qing appeared on the other side. He didn't release his Soul Rings. Instead, with a thought, he rode Xiao Feng to a spot in the distance and ordered Xiao Feng and the others to wait for their chance to launch a fierce attack on the Titan Giant Ape.
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