Ji Ye, I beg you, help me bring Xiao Wu back

A massive figure emerged from the depths of the woods.

Trees were as short as grass before it; it brushed aside thick trunks with ease, and broken branches fell with a clatter like toothpicks.

It stood taller than the highest trees in the vicinity, its entire body covered in magma-like patterns. Its muscles bulged, and the ground trembled with every step it took.

A pair of giant golden eyes swept across the front, carrying a condescending indifference.

Titan Giant Ape.

Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

The overlord of the forest.

Zhao Wuji's face turned deathly pale. He took a few steps forward, raised his hands in a submissive posture, and kept his voice as sincere as possible.

"Respected overlord of the forest, we are passing soul masters who entered this forest to help our students obtain soul rings. We have no intention of offending your territory, nor have we harmed any high-level soul beasts in this forest. Please—"

The Titan Giant Ape did not let him finish.

It lowered its head, its giant golden eyes overlooking this group of tiny humans, and then opened its mouth.

A roar erupted from its throat, the sound waves spreading like a tangible shockwave, whipping up a sky full of fallen leaves and dust.

Zhao Wuji's words were forcibly choked back. His body was sent flying like a stone launched from a catapult; he flipped twice in the air before slamming heavily into a large tree.

The trunk cracked with a snap, and as Zhao Wuji slid down, a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

"Teacher Zhao!" Tang San shouted.

The Titan Giant Ape gave him no time to react.

A massive palm descended from the sky, reaching toward Xiao Wu.

Tang San's body moved before his brain could process the thought.

Blue Silver Grass grew frantically from the ground and tree trunks, winding toward the Titan Giant Ape's arm in an attempt to block the palm.

But before the Titan Giant Ape's immense strength, the Blue Silver Grass was as fragile as spider silk; it snapped strand by strand, failing to delay the beast for even a second.

Zhao Wuji climbed up from the ground, wiped the blood from his mouth, and gritted his teeth to activate his Martial Soul Avatar.

The phantom of a giant bear emerged behind him. His body swelled to twice its size, muscles bulging and veins throbbing.

He rushed in front of Xiao Wu, crossed his arms to block, and took the Titan Giant Ape's palm head-on.

With a boom, the ground beneath Zhao Wuji's feet collapsed a foot deep. His arms trembled, and the blood at the corner of his mouth flowed more profusely.

But his body did not retreat.

"Everyone! Go! Get out of here!"

"Teacher Zhao, we aren't leaving!"

"That's right, Teacher Zhao! If we go, we go together!"

The Titan Giant Ape's attention was drawn to Zhao Wuji for a moment. It looked down at this tiny yet stubborn human, a flicker of impatience flashing in its giant golden eyes.

It raised its other palm, preparing to strike again.

Ji Ye leaned against a tree, watching everything.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, his gaze fixed on Xiao Wu.

The opportunity had arrived.

The Titan Giant Ape's palm slammed down.

Zhao Wuji's body was sent flying like a discarded rag, snapping two trees before coming to a stop. He lay in a pile of fallen leaves, blood pooling from his mouth, struggling a few times but unable to stand.

The Titan Giant Ape did not look at him again.

Its massive hand reached out, fingers closing to precisely grab Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu didn't even have the strength to resist; she was held within the giant palm, with only her head exposed.

"Xiao Wu!" Tang San's voice was heart-wrenching.

He charged out, Blue Silver Grass spreading wildly behind him in an attempt to entangle the Titan Giant Ape's ankles.

But the Titan Giant Ape merely lifted a foot, and those strands of Blue Silver Grass snapped like spider silk, failing to even make it pause.

Tang San ran desperately, chasing with all his might, but the Titan Giant Ape covered dozens of feet with a single stride. No matter how fast he was, he could not catch up to the behemoth.

He watched Xiao Wu's back grow smaller and smaller. His eyes were bloodshot, his fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his flesh, and blood dripped down between his fingers.

"Xiao Wu!!!"

The Titan Giant Ape did not look back. Its massive body crushed everything in its path through the woods, and it soon vanished into the depths of the dense forest.

Tang San knelt on the ground, gasping for air, his hands pressed into the mud, his entire body trembling.

Ji Ye walked over from behind at a leisurely pace, stopped beside Tang San, and looked down at him.

"Stop kneeling. Get up."

Tang San did not move. He kept his head down, his shoulders shaking, and his voice squeezed out from his throat, sounding nothing like his own.

"I must bring Xiao Wu back... I must..."

Ji Ye looked at him, silent for two seconds, then turned his head toward Oscar.

"Oscar, give me a few more Mushroom Sausages."

Oscar froze for a moment, subconsciously manifesting several golden Mushroom Sausages from his palm and handing them over.

"Are you going to chase it?"

Ji Ye took them, bit into one, and swallowed it; a pair of translucent wings instantly unfurled from his back.

"Yes."

Tang San suddenly raised his head, looking at Ji Ye with eyes so red they seemed to be dripping blood.

"I'm going too!"

Ji Ye glanced at him.

"You won't be able to catch up."

"I..."

Tang San wanted to retort, but the words stuck in his throat.

He knew Ji Ye was telling the truth; the Titan Giant Ape's speed was too great, and he simply couldn't keep up.

He gritted his teeth and turned to look at Oscar.

"Oscar, give me one too."

Oscar looked troubled, glancing down at his own palms.

"My Soul Power isn't enough... I manifested quite a few just now, I can't produce that many in such a short time..."

Tang San's body stiffened.

He knelt on the ground, his hands clenching the fallen leaves and dirt, his fingernails digging into the soil as his entire body tensed with effort.

He remained silent for a few seconds, then suddenly looked up at Ji Ye.

"Ji Ye."

His voice was soft, but every word was enunciated clearly.

"I beg you."

He knelt there, his back straight, hands braced on his knees, his head bowed until his forehead nearly touched the ground.

"I beg you to bring Xiao Wu back. I know you can do it; your Martial Soul is powerful, you are far stronger than me. I beg you—"

Ji Ye looked down at Tang San kneeling on the ground.

His expression remained unchanged, but his eyes flickered slightly.

"I will do my best."

Tang San snapped his head up.

"Thank you."

Ji Ye did not look at him again; with a beat of his wings, he shot into the sky, chasing in the direction where the Titan Giant Ape had vanished.

Tang San knelt where he was, looking up as Ji Ye's figure grew smaller and smaller, turning into a black speck before disappearing above the treetops.

Ji Ye was fast.

The flight speed of a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was already top-tier among thousand-year Soul Beasts, and with the added boost of his own spatial affinity, he streaked over the forest like an arrow released from a bow.

The wind whistled past his ears, and the canopy beneath his feet receded like green waves.

As for what Tang San had just said?

Ji Ye's lips curled slightly; you actually believed me when I was just messing with you?

After flying for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, a massive, moving figure appeared in the forest ahead.