A gigantic figure emerged from deep within the woods.
The trees looked like grass around it. It casually shoved aside thick trunks, and broken branches rained down with a clatter like toothpicks.
It towered over the tallest trees nearby, its body covered in lava-like patterns, muscles bulging. The ground trembled with every step it took.
A pair of enormous golden eyes swept over the area ahead, their gaze cold and condescending.
The Titan Giant Ape.
A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
The forest's ruler.
Zhao Wuji's face turned deathly pale. He took a few steps forward, raised both hands, and adopted a deeply deferential posture, making his voice as sincere as he could.
"Respected ruler of the forest, we are Soul Masters passing through. We entered this forest to help our students obtain Soul Rings. We have no intention of trespassing on your territory, nor have we harmed any high-level Soul Beasts here. Please—"
The Titan Giant Ape didn't let him finish.
It lowered its head, gazing down at the puny humans with its golden eyes, then opened its mouth.
A roar burst from its throat, the sound spreading like a tangible shock wave and sending leaves and dust billowing into the air.
Zhao Wuji's words were cut off. He flew backward like a stone hurled by a catapult, flipped twice in the air, and slammed hard into a tree.
The trunk cracked with a sharp snap. Zhao Wuji slid to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Teacher Zhao!" Tang San shouted.
The Titan Giant Ape gave him no time to react.
A massive hand descended from above, reaching for Xiao Wu.
Tang San's body moved before his mind could catch up.
Blue Silver Grass surged wildly from the ground and tree trunks, Entanglement coiling around the Titan Giant Ape's arm in an attempt to stop its hand.
But against the Titan Giant Ape's immense strength, the Blue Silver Grass was as fragile as spider silk. The strands snapped one after another, not even holding it back for a second.
Zhao Wuji climbed to his feet, wiped the blood from his mouth, and gritted his teeth as he activated his Martial Soul Avatar.
The phantom of a giant bear appeared behind him. His body doubled in size, muscles swelling and veins bulging.
He charged in front of Xiao Wu, crossed his arms before him, and forcibly withstood the Titan Giant Ape's blow.
With a boom, the ground beneath Zhao Wuji's feet caved in a foot deep. His arms trembled, and blood poured from his mouth even more heavily.
But he didn't retreat.
"Everyone! Hurry! Get out of here!"
"Teacher Zhao, we're not leaving!"
"Yeah, 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 the small but steadfast human, a flicker of impatience passing through its golden eyes.
It raised its other hand, ready to strike again.
Ji Ye leaned against a tree, watching it all.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as his gaze settled on Xiao Wu.
The opportunity had come.
The Titan Giant Ape's hand came crashing down.
Zhao Wuji flew away like a rag thrown aside, smashing through two trees before coming to a stop. He lay in a heap of leaves, blood pooling from the corner of his mouth. He struggled a few times but couldn't get back up.
The Titan Giant Ape didn't look at him again.
Its massive hand darted out, fingers closing around Xiao Wu with pinpoint accuracy. She didn't even have the strength to resist. Its enormous palm enclosed her whole body, leaving only her head exposed.
"Xiao Wu!" Tang San's voice tore from his throat.
He charged forward, Blue Silver Grass spreading wildly behind him as he tried to bind the Titan Giant Ape's ankles.
But the Titan Giant Ape merely lifted a foot, and the Blue Silver Grass snapped like spider silk. It couldn't even make the creature pause.
Tang San ran with all his might, chasing desperately, but every stride the Titan Giant Ape took covered more than ten zhang. No matter how fast he ran, he couldn't catch up to the massive beast.
He watched Xiao Wu's back grow farther and farther away. His eyes were bloodshot, and he clenched his fists so tightly that his fingernails dug into his flesh. Blood trickled between his fingers.
"Xiao Wu!!!"
The Titan Giant Ape didn't even look back. Its enormous body crushed its way through the forest and soon vanished into the depths of the woods.
Tang San fell to his knees, gasping for breath. He braced both hands in the mud, his whole body trembling.
Ji Ye strolled up behind him without hurry and stopped at his side, looking down at him.
"Stop kneeling. Get up."
Tang San didn't move. His head hung low, his shoulders shaking. His voice came rasping from his throat, so hoarse it hardly sounded like him.
"I'll bring Xiao Wu back. I have to... I have to..."
Ji Ye watched him in silence for two seconds, then turned to Oscar.
"Oscar, give me a few more Flying Sausages."
Oscar froze, then reflexively conjured several golden Mushroom Sausages in his palm and handed them over.
"You're going after it?"
Ji Ye took them, bit into one, and swallowed. A pair of translucent wings instantly unfurled from his back.
"Yeah."
Tang San jerked his head up and looked at Ji Ye, his eyes so bloodshot they seemed ready to drip blood.
"I'm going too!"
Ji Ye glanced at him.
"You can't catch up."
"I..."
Tang San wanted to argue, but the words caught in his throat.
He knew Ji Ye was telling the truth. The Titan Giant Ape was too fast; he couldn't possibly keep up.
He gritted his teeth and turned to Oscar.
"Oscar, give me one too."
Oscar looked troubled and glanced at his palm.
"I'm out of Soul Power... I just made several. I can't conjure that many more right away..."
Tang San's body went rigid.
Kneeling on the ground, he clenched the leaves and soil beneath him in both hands, his fingernails digging into the dirt, his whole body taut with effort.
He fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly raised his head and looked at Ji Ye.
"Ji Ye."
His voice was quiet, but each word came out clear and deliberate.
"I'm begging you."
He knelt there with his back straight, both hands braced on his knees, his head bowed until his forehead nearly touched the ground.
"Please help me bring Xiao Wu back. I know you can do it. Your Martial Soul is powerful—you're so much stronger than I am. I'm begging you—"
Ji Ye looked down at Tang San, kneeling before him.
His expression didn't change, but his eyes shifted slightly.
"I'll do my best."
Tang San raised his head sharply.
"Thank you."
Ji Ye didn't look at him again. With a beat of his wings, he shot into the sky and sped after the Titan Giant Ape in the direction it had disappeared.
Tang San remained kneeling where he was, staring up as Ji Ye's figure grew smaller and smaller, until it became a black speck and vanished above the treetops.
Ji Ye was fast.
The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was already among the swiftest flying Thousand-Year Soul Beasts. With the boost from his own spatial attribute, he streaked across the treetops like an arrow loosed from its bow.
The wind roared past his ears, and the treetops below rolled backward like green waves.
As for what Tang San had just said?
Ji Ye's lips curled upward. I was just messing with you, and you really believed me?
After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, a huge moving figure appeared in the woods ahead.
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