When everyone saw the enormous creature, they all froze, as if they had stopped breathing.
It was as tall as a mountain, its dark fur shimmering with silvery light.
"This is actually the Forest King, the Titan Giant Ape!" Tang San cried in shock.
How had the Forest King appeared at the outskirts?
"Tang San, Mubai, protect the students! Get out of here! I'll hold him off!" Zhao Wuji shouted. Then he released his Martial Soul and charged at the Titan Giant Ape.
But after spending so many days together, they had long since developed a tacit understanding. Would they really abandon their teacher and run?
The answer was naturally no. Both Tang San and Dai Mubai chose to stay. Dai Mubai released his third Soul Skill—White Tiger Vajra Transformation.
Ning Rongrong had also released her Soul Skill. "Seven Treasures Famous, first: Strength, second: Speed!"
At once, Dai Mubai and Zhao Wuji both had their strength increased by thirty percent.
At the same time, Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu launched their attacks together, trying to strike from the trees.
All eight of them were fighting. Only Murong Ci stood by and watched; the system had said the time wasn't right yet.
Where he found the confidence, no one knew, but with the boost from the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, Zhao Wuji actually tried to match the Titan Giant Ape's strength head-on.
Just as expected, he was slapped flying. And once Zhao Wuji was sent flying, the Shrek Seven Monsters beside him naturally became targets too.
The shockwave from Zhao Wuji and the Titan Giant Ape's punch sent the other seven flying as well.
In an instant, the tables had turned!
Tang San was worthy of being the protagonist; his reflexes were truly astonishing. When the shockwave swept toward them, he released Blue Silver Grass, pulled Ma Hongjun to his side, and flung Xiao Wu away.
But what Tang San hadn't expected was that, after breaking free of the attacks, the Titan Giant Ape reached straight for Xiao Wu with both hands!
"No! Let Xiao Wu go!" Tang San roared, unleashing every Hidden Weapon he had and firing them at the Titan Giant Ape.
When Zhao Wuji saw Xiao Wu caught by the Titan Giant Ape, he forgot all about his injuries and immediately released his Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar.
With the Martial Soul Avatar combined with Ning Rongrong's boost, he punched straight at the Titan Giant Ape!
The Titan Giant Ape knew that Zhao Wuji in this state could pose a slight threat to him.
The Titan Giant Ape casually leaned aside. Tang San's Hidden Weapons struck his tough skin instead of his eyes, while he used his powerful right arm to meet Zhao Wuji's punch head-on.
"Boom—!"
A stronger, more violent gust of air erupted from the center, blasting Tang San away.
"No!" Xiao Wu cried out in alarm. The Titan Giant Ape let out another low growl and rushed deep into the forest. With a single leap, it covered a thousand miles, unstoppable.
Everyone cried out in shock and anguish. Their classmate and companion had been taken by the Titan Giant Ape—this was truly dreadful news.
"Oscar, Mushroom Sausage. Miss, boost us."
Murong Ci's voice was cool as he called out to them.
Oscar and Ning Rongrong looked at Murong Ci in disbelief.
"Y-you're going to save her?" Tang San asked, unable to believe it. He patted Murong Ci's shoulder as if he'd grabbed hold of a lifeline.
"Count me in. Let's go together!"
"Forget it. You're too badly injured."
"That's my sister!"
Tang San shouted. Murong Ci couldn't help pausing to consider it.
"Fine. If you think you can keep up with me, come along."
Oscar had finished reciting his lewd incantation and handed over two sausages. Ning Rongrong had also released her speed boost.
"Let's go, system!"
[Here we go, kid. The game... begins!]
In an instant, Murong Ci's body underwent a tremendous transformation.
The ball of Grey Light that was Yongzhen suddenly grew larger and wrapped around him. When the light faded, the young man before them had sharp brows and bright eyes. The traces of youth had disappeared, and he had grown into a mature man.
Inside the Sea of Consciousness, Murong Ci and the system had also switched places. Murong Ci looked at himself, now under the system's control, and felt a little anticipation.
[You at eighteen—that is, you six years from now. The effect lasts three hours and can be ended at any time. Watch.]
The system's voice echoed throughout the Sea of Consciousness.
Surround-sound audio? Not bad.
Outside, everyone was already staring in stunned silence. What was this? What had happened? He'd grown up and gotten handsome?
Before anyone could react, "Murong Ci" murmured a line of poetry.
"Riding the wind, I chase the clouds across the sky; in a flash, I cross ten thousand miles to slay demons!"
As soon as he finished, he rose into the air. The air beneath his feet exploded as if it had substance, sending fallen leaves and broken stones flying in every direction for several yards.
His figure transformed into a streak of light. With Ning Rongrong's boost and Oscar's Flying Mushroom Sausage, he tore through the air in an instant, leaving behind only a fading afterimage.
He really seemed to have achieved the "cross ten thousand miles in a flash" described in the poem. Compared to the Titan Giant Ape, he was just as fast, if not faster.
So Tang San truly couldn't catch up with him. But Tang San really was doing his best to chase after them.
On the other side, the Titan Giant Ape brought Xiao Wu to the Life Lake.
"Er Ming, don't go any farther! Stop! Xiao San is hurt!" Xiao Wu said anxiously.
The Titan Giant Ape—Er Ming—really did stop. He lowered his head to look at Xiao Wu, his enormous eyes full of confusion.
Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Rabbit and knew Da Ming and Er Ming, but only Murong Ci knew this.
Xiao Wu thought that since Er Ming had brought her here, she might as well complete her third Soul Ring in this place. After all, there was no one around.
Thinking this, Xiao Wu sat cross-legged. She formed orchid-finger gestures with both hands, resting her right palm faceup on her thigh while holding her left hand upright before her chest.
Just then, an uninvited guest arrived. It was Murong Ci.
Er Ming roared, startling flocks of birds into flight and sending the beasts scattering in all directions.
If a human discovered Sister Xiao Wu's secret, there was only one outcome! Death!
Xiao Wu was also extremely flustered and gave up on absorbing a Soul Ring.
"Murong Ci, y-you followed me here..."
Her words were full of guilt.
"The shockwave from Er Ming and Zhao Wuji fighting hit me. I'm furious, so I've come to demand justice!"
Of course, this was only "Murong Ci's" side of the story. In truth, he just wanted to play around.
"Er Ming, how did you know..."
Xiao Wu was terrified. He definitely knows I'm a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who took human form. He must!
The Titan Giant Ape was already preparing to destroy the evidence and leave no trace.
It punched straight at Murong Ci! The enormous fist came crashing down like a small mountain. Wherever the wind from the punch passed, the air burst with a piercing sonic boom, and the ground was gouged into a deep furrow.
"I've heard that the Forest King is famed for his strength. Allow me to experience it for myself!"
With an explosive crack, the All-Encompassing Martial Soul suddenly blazed to life. A golden dragon appeared behind Murong Ci. The dragon's phantom coiled in midair, every scale glinting with a metallic sheen. Its eyes opened slightly, looking down on all living things, and a bloodline-deep pressure surged outward like a tide.
"The Golden Dragon King? Or the Golden Dragon?"
The real Murong Ci shouted inside the Sea of Consciousness, Is this the boost from the ultimate power I'll have in the future? Then this...
[Both. And I told you before: in the future, Yongzhen will be able to simulate Martial Souls, Soul Beasts, and their Soul Skills.]
"Golden Dragon Bloodlust, Golden Dragon Roar!"
"Murong Ci" roared. The golden dragon burst into a vivid crimson, blood-colored light! Crimson patterns spread across its body like molten lava, and an overbearing, violent aura surged into the sky.
This was the Golden Dragon Bloodlust skill. It increased attack power by thirty percent!
When the Golden Dragon Roar rang out, the phantom seemed to solidify. It appeared before him, its body blazing with golden light as it charged straight toward the Titan Giant Ape's fist!
Boom!
Fist and dragon collided, turning heaven and earth pale! A terrifying shockwave swept out from the point of impact. The lake's surface was forced down by several feet, while ancient trees thick as a man's embrace were uprooted from the shore. Flying sand and rolling stones blotted out the sky.
The Titan Giant Ape took a whole step backward. The tough fur on his pillar-thick arm stood on end, and his eyes were filled with fear and utter shock.
It was the awe of a Soul Beast before its ancestor, rooted deep in its bloodline.
"Y-you... who are you?" The Titan Giant Ape finally spoke. His voice was low and deep, yet carried an unmistakable tremor.
In truth, Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts could speak. He had only kept quiet earlier to avoid drawing attention, but now he couldn't hold back any longer.
"I'm the one who's going to beat you up!"
"Murong Ci" roared again and shot into the air. The golden dragon behind him suddenly swelled, blotting out the sky. "Golden Dragon Prison-Suppressing Kill!"
In that instant, Er Ming felt himself dragged into an invisible space. Everything around him fell silent.
It was as if a pair of invisible giant hands had seized both his soul and body, crushing him from every direction.
Pain exploded through every bone and every muscle.
He tried to struggle, but his limbs were bound fast. He couldn't move a fraction.
He could only let out a pained roar, making the Soul Beasts in the area tremble with fear. Some of the more timid ones were even shaken to death.
"No! Don't kill him!" Xiao Wu shouted in terror!
That attack could really kill Er Ming!
"I won't kill him."
"Murong Ci" withdrew his hand, and the effect of Golden Dragon Prison-Suppressing Kill faded with it.
Er Ming collapsed to the ground in agony, gasping heavily, his eyes filled with terror. His mountain-like body twitched faintly, and every breath was as heavy as a bellows being pumped.
He couldn't help but fall to his knees and beg in a low voice, "Spare me..."
Just then, the water splashed, and an enormous Soul Beast with a bull's head and serpent's body emerged. It was trembling all over, a clear sign of submission.
This was the Sky Azure Bull Python, the Forest Emperor with dragon blood in its veins. But now, sensing that ultimate pressure, it could only submit.
"Sir... why have you come to Star Dou?" the Sky Azure Bull Python asked, trembling.
"I wasn't trying to kill him. I came to play."
Play? The Sky Azure Bull Python's pupils contracted. After making such a commotion, he'd only been playing?
"Don't worry. I'll come again in the future. For now, have Er Ming protect Xiao Wu while she completes her Soul Ring."
Murong Ci pointed at Xiao Wu and the Titan Giant Ape, both collapsed on the ground. There was no killing intent in his eyes; there was even a trace of gentleness, completely unlike his earlier self.
Then he looked at the Sky Azure Bull Python. "As for you, find me a Demon Eye Magic Tree at least five thousand years old. I'm going to absorb my third Soul Ring."
"Y-you're only a two-ring Soul Master?!"