"Even your Sister Xiao Wu in the human world will become my Soul Ring."
At the mention of Sister Xiao Wu, the Sky Azure Bull Python flew into a complete rage and struggled with all its might.
But Ye Qiong merely planted a foot on it and pinned it back down:
"Think it over. If you offer a sacrifice, you might still retain a wisp of your soul."
"But if I kill you, then you'll truly have nothing left."
The Sky Azure Bull Python fell silent.
It stared into Ye Qiong's eyes, hoping to find a hint of hesitation.
There was none.
The human's eyes held nothing but calm.
He was serious.
At last, the Sky Azure Bull Python shut its eyes in anguish:
"I... am willing to offer a sacrifice."
Ye Qiong smiled:
"That's more like it."
The outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Titan Giant Ape Er Ming was wandering through the woods.
Suddenly, it stopped and looked toward the core area.
A familiar presence was fading away.
It was Da Ming's presence.
Er Ming's eyes instantly turned blood red.
It let out a grief-stricken roar:
"Da Ming!"
Da Ming was dead!
The Titan Giant Ape instantly went berserk.
It charged wildly through the forest, venting its grief and smashing everything in its path.
It wanted to find the human who had killed Da Ming.
It would tear him to pieces.
By Star Lake, Ye Qiong had no idea that the frenzied Titan Giant Ape was racing toward him.
He sat cross-legged on the ground, frantically absorbing the energy left behind by the Sky Azure Bull Python's sacrifice.
The energy was immensely powerful, flowing into his body without end and filling Ye Qiong with an indescribable sense of comfort.
A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes.
Soul Rings rose one after another from beneath his feet.
Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, red.
Seven Soul Rings revolved around him.
The Sixth Soul Ring had an unusual hue. Though black, it was tinged with a deep, blood-red color.
That was the Soul Ring he had obtained five months ago.
It might have been a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, but its power far exceeded that of an ordinary Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
That was because it came from the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, a particularly special Soul Beast!
"Level seventy-four." Ye Qiong took a deep breath.
He had finally broken through.
Elsewhere, the people from Shrek Academy had the misfortune of running straight into the rampaging Er Ming.
Zhao Wuji stopped and looked at the mountain-like Titan Giant Ape before them. His face instantly turned deathly pale.
"Not good! It's the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, the Titan Giant Ape! Run!"
But it was already too late.
Er Ming charged straight out of the woods.
Its eyes were bloodshot, and it wanted to kill everyone it saw.
Feeling that towering killing intent, Zhao Wuji immediately released his Martial Soul and stepped forward to shield the others.
"Get out of here! I'll hold it off!"
Tang San grabbed Xiao Wu, who was frozen in place, and ran. The others hurried after them.
But the moment Er Ming saw Xiao Wu among the group, its target changed.
It took a single step, bypassed Zhao Wuji, and reached out with its giant palm, snatching Xiao Wu up.
At the sight, Tang San's eyes instantly turned blood red.
"Xiao Wu!"
He charged at Er Ming, but it casually swatted him away.
Holding Xiao Wu, Er Ming turned and ran, vanishing into the depths of the forest in the blink of an eye.
Tang San got back to his feet, blood running from the corner of his mouth. Gritting his teeth, he chased after them without a second thought.
"Xiao Wu!"
Zhao Wuji shouted from behind:
"Xiao San! Come back!"
But Tang San couldn't hear him.
There was only one thought in his mind.
Save Xiao Wu.
The core area.
Having just finished absorbing the Soul Ring, Ye Qiong was about to open the system and check his mission progress.
Suddenly, he sensed the ground shake beneath him.
The corner of Ye Qiong's mouth lifted.
"Heh. You're here?"
Sure enough, the next moment, the trees burst apart as though they were made of paper.
Er Ming charged out, with someone seated on its shoulder.
It was Xiao Wu.
As soon as they reached Star Lake, Er Ming fixed its eyes on the red Soul Ring around Ye Qiong.
"Da Ming... You human! What did you do to Da Ming?"
Looking at the Soul Ring, Xiao Wu trembled all over.
"You—you killed Da Ming!"
Facing Xiao Wu and Er Ming, Ye Qiong merely smiled calmly.
But in their eyes, that smile was a mocking sneer.
It was as if killing their loved one were no different from crushing an ant.
His attitude instantly left Xiao Wu and Er Ming seeing red.
"Human! You dared to kill my kin! I'll tear you limb from limb!"
Er Ming beat its chest furiously and let out a roar that shook the heavens.
Xiao Wu charged forward, heedless of the difference in their strength.
Ye Qiong frowned at the sight.
"What a nuisance."
Tang San's opportunity was about to appear. He didn't have time to waste here.
He wanted to leave.
So, the next moment, he moved.
Xiao Wu had barely taken a step when Ye Qiong struck her hard on the back of the neck with his bat.
She hadn't even had time to release her Martial Soul. Her vision went black, and she crumpled to the ground.
"Sister Xiao Wu!"
Er Ming flew into a rage and swung its palm at Ye Qiong.
But Ye Qiong merely leaped lightly and landed on Er Ming's head.
"I'm in a hurry. I'm done playing with you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Qiong raised the baseball bat in his hand. The Seventh Soul Ring lit up.
The next moment,
A gigantic baseball bat, towering between heaven and earth, appeared above the Titan Giant Ape.
Seeing the colossal club that seemed to prop up the sky, Er Ming's fur stood on end. Terror seized it, and it tried to run.
But its legs no longer obeyed.
Ye Qiong gripped the baseball bat and swung it down with all his strength, his expression utterly indifferent.
The enormous baseball bat came crashing down.
Er Ming crossed its arms above its head to shield itself.
Boom!
The ground exploded into a massive crater.
When the dust settled,
Er Ming lay at the bottom of the crater, eyes rolled back, completely unconscious.
Seeing this, Ye Qiong put away his Martial Soul and leaped down beside the crater.
Then, without sparing them another glance, he turned and left.
After an unknown length of time, Xiao Wu was the first to wake, her head throbbing with pain.
She saw the unconscious Er Ming beside her and remembered what had happened. Tears welled up against her will.
Er Ming opened his eyes. Seeing Xiao Wu in tears, he beat his chest furiously.
"Argh! You wretched human! I'll get revenge! I'll get revenge!"
"Er Ming... Don't do anything rash."
Looking at the furious Er Ming, Xiao Wu clenched her fists and bit her lip.
"Da Ming is gone, Er Ming. You're the only family I have left. I don't want to lose you too."
Er Ming froze.
"But, Sister Xiao Wu..."
"I'll go after him and avenge this myself."
Xiao Wu stood up and wiped away her tears. Her eyes turned ice-cold.
"That man killed Da Ming and humiliated us. I'll settle this score with him myself."
Watching Xiao Wu's retreating figure, Er Ming realized for the first time that Sister Xiao Wu had grown up.
"Er Ming, leave this place and find somewhere to hide."
After a long silence, Er Ming finally said in a low voice:
"Sister Xiao Wu, I'll wait for you here. If you need me, come back anytime. I'll help you."
Xiao Wu nodded and turned to face Suotuo City.
Da Ming was her family, and he was her younger brother.
The murder of her brother could never be forgiven!
Whoever that man was, she would kill him with her own hands!
Elsewhere, Tang San was running wildly through the dense forest like a madman, growling as he went:
"Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu!"
But he had no idea that a Man Faced Demon Spider was stealthily closing in behind him.