Titan Giant Ape

A hotel in a hunter village, not far from the Star Dou Great Forest.

In front of Ning Rongrong, her companions were already locked in combat with the students from Canghui Academy, while she sat in the back, watching and skillfully utilizing her first two soul skills. Compared to her other soul skills, these two felt more natural to use, and they were more than enough to deal with these people.

Under the massive amplification, the Shrek group decimated the Canghui Academy students with overwhelming superiority.

Everyone was excited, and even Teacher Zhao felt happy for the strength his students displayed.

Except for Ning Rongrong.

Yesterday would have been a wonderful day, if only she hadn't run into Huo Shengsheng.

Haunted by the words, "The Holy Spirit Sect has already set its sights on you," Ning Rongrong had remained on high alert throughout the entire journey today. Yet, despite her vigilance, she hadn't found a single trace of the Holy Spirit Sect, and her mind was already utterly exhausted.

"Since Teacher Zhao is leading the team this time, there shouldn't be any problems, right?"

Ning Rongrong sighed.

Her companions gathered around her, marveling at her enhanced support capabilities. This was only natural; after all, the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda was a top-tier support martial soul, not to mention her own innate talent.

Three days after regaining control of her body, the group entered the Star Dou Great Forest.

Not long after entering the forest, they spotted a red figure. Upon closer inspection, it was a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

Thinking this soul beast would be perfect for Oscar, the group began the hunt.

The snake was incredibly fast. Even Zhu Zhuqing, amplified by Ning Rongrong's second soul skill, could only barely keep up with its speed.

Zhu Zhuqing and the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent were already battling in the air, and Dai Mubai, seeing the serpent preparing to use a skill, leaped up to join them. Ning Rongrong watched the three figures beneath the clear sky and rubbed her eyes. She didn't know if it was just an illusion, but she thought she saw black mist—that distinct black mist unique to Evil Soul Masters...

"Rongrong, watch out!"

"Eh? Me?"

Zhu Zhuqing's shout pulled Ning Rongrong back to reality.

Ning Rongrong froze for a moment, only to realize that the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent had shifted the trajectory of the skill it had prepared for Zhu Zhuqing, aiming it directly at her!

At the same time, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent took advantage of the distraction and charged straight toward Ning Rongrong.

It was incredibly fast, and the others had their attention focused on the sky. Teacher Zhao was the furthest away from her. As the attack was about to land, Ning Rongrong's hands moved instinctively.

She applied her third soul skill, Poison Attribute Amplification, to herself, then activated her reversed first soul skill. A purple barrier appeared before her, blocking the serpent's mist. The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent slammed directly into the barrier and collapsed onto the ground.

Ning Rongrong remained stunned. Her actions just now hadn't been intentional; they felt like a physical instinct.

It's that physical instinct trained into me that night...

Back at the Great Soul Arena, she had only activated her reversed soul skill at the very last millisecond before an attack landed. She remembered hearing the words, "That's how you maximize the damage." She had used it so many times that night that her body had developed this instinct—the ability to activate a soul skill the moment before taking damage without needing to recite the incantation.

The purple light on the first layer of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda continued to intensify. As it shone upon the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, a purple soul ring emerged above its head.

Only then did Ning Rongrong recall that Trapped Beast had another function: it could directly suppress soul beasts. Being well-read, she also remembered that only the person who dealt the final blow could absorb the soul ring, which meant this ring could only be absorbed by her.

But she didn't need a soul ring. This thousand-year soul ring was effectively wasted.

The others rushed to Ning Rongrong's side and stared at the soul ring, remaining silent for a long time.

"Don't blame me for this; it crashed into me and died on its own," Ning Rongrong said, looking completely innocent. Could she be blamed for forgetting the effects of her own soul skill? Besides, what kind of decent person goes around hunting soul beasts all day long?

The group's gazes shifted between Ning Rongrong, the soul ring, and Oscar, until Oscar finally sighed, putting an end to the tension.

Xiao Wu's expression was a bit strained, but in the end, she didn't say anything. She had seen with her own eyes that the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent had rammed into Ning Rongrong and killed itself.

"Forget it. It seems I wasn't meant to have this soul beast. Let's find another one."

Teacher Zhao nodded. Although Tang San felt a bit of regret, he had no choice but to nod as well.

After the group left, the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny appeared beside the carcass of the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

"This Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was even better than the one from yesterday, but it's a pity it has already had its soul ring absorbed."

Snake Granny shook her head, feeling a sense of regret.

"How did we not notice this snake earlier? And its behavior was very strange. You saw it too—it was fighting a girl in the sky, so why would it suddenly change its target?"

"Are you saying this snake was being manipulated?" Snake Granny's aged voice was filled with doubt. "But who would have the ability to do that?"

The Dragon Duke looked around and said, "I'm not sure, but there are always those who can. I once... participated in a special operation to wipe out a group of people the Martial Soul Hall calls Evil Soul Masters. Their methods are bizarre and beyond the understanding of ordinary people. I fear something is going to happen in this forest. Let's take Yiran and leave."

Just then, the Dragon Duke's expression suddenly twisted as he looked toward the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest.

"How were they disturbed as well?"

Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest.

Ning Rongrong was shielded in the center by Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun. She decided that the black mist she had seen earlier must have been a result of her poor mental state. She understood why the three were protecting her; if another soul beast were to crash into them, they would have to waste even more effort searching for a new one.

Once Ning Rongrong was under protection, things went smoothly. Another Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent appeared, was severely wounded by their combined efforts, and Oscar successfully absorbed the soul ring.

Tang San also broke through to level thirty after the battle, and the group changed their plans to help him obtain his soul ring before returning to Shrek Academy.

However, a sudden change occurred.

Just as Oscar was testing his soul skill, the ground began to shake violently. A massive soul beast rose from the earth and appeared before them.

"This is... at least a ten-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape!"

Tang San exclaimed in shock, and Zhao Wuji's expression turned incredibly grim.

This Titan Giant Ape should have been in the core region; how could it appear here? One could barely even find ten-thousand-year spirit beasts in this area!

Zhao Wuji had already activated his Avatar of the Spirit.

"Respected King of the Forest, we mean no offense. If this is your territory, we shall withdraw immediately!"

The Titan Giant Ape was an incredibly powerful existence capable of defeating other ten-thousand-year spirit beasts even at a century old. Zhao Wuji knew he could hardly contend with it, so if he could avoid a battle, that would naturally be for the best.

Yet, the Titan Giant Ape paid no heed to Zhao Wuji's words. With a single stride, it closed the distance to the Shrek group, then reached out a hand to snatch at them.

"Damn it! Dai Mubai, take them and leave first! I will hold it off!"

Zhao Wuji let out a thunderous roar, activating four spirit skills simultaneously.

Gravity Amplification, Gravity Squeeze, Immovable Wisdom King Body, Vajra Palm!

Launching the full set of spirit skills toward the Titan Giant Ape's palm, Zhao Wuji had no confidence in fighting the beast head-on; he could only hope to slow its pace and buy a glimmer of survival for his students.