The Titan Giant Ape on the Forest's Outskirts

"Why?"

"Why could he solve the problem the moment he stepped in? Why did he get to steal all the spotlight for himself?"

"I'm clearly the most talented one among everyone here! I'm clearly the genius with Twin Martial Souls!"

"Just because he has a royal background?"

"I refuse to accept this!"

Tang San's eyes faintly reddened, and his breathing gradually grew heavier.

Right now, his mind was filled with the scene of Meng Yiran humiliating him in public just now. Added to that was Lin Yan displaying his brilliance before everyone, creating an even sharper contrast with him.

Unsurprisingly, Tang San began to resent everyone around him!

"Damn Zhao Wuji, acting so meek and submissive in front of a Soul Emperor."

"Damn Meng Yiran, embarrassing me in public."

"And damn Lin Yan!"

"All of you already have a path to death!"

"Brother, are you okay?"

Seeing Tang San clenching his fists, his gaze fixed hard on Lin Yan, Xiao Wu could not help tugging at his sleeve and asking.

"You don't look too good. Are you feeling unwell?"

Tang San looked back, and when he saw Xiao Wu's exquisite, pretty face filled with concern for him, his emotions finally restrained themselves slightly.

He took Xiao Wu's hand, his movements gentle...

"Xiao Wu, thank goodness you're here."

Amid all the "inequality" around him, Xiao Wu was like a clear stream appearing in Tang San's world, making him sink into it, deeper and deeper.

A light breeze swept past, scattering the withered leaves on the ground.

Oscar went on to smoothly absorb the soul ring and gained the exact same skill as in the original timeline: Flying Mushroom Sausage.

After that, everyone gathered around Lin Yan and praised him for a long while, marveling at his noble status and how he could actually intimidate figures like Dragon Duke and Snake Granny.

The group chatted and laughed, and time soon reached evening.

Night in the Star Dou Forest was the same as ever. The sound of wind, the chirping of insects, and the roars of wild beasts all intertwined, making those who listened feel uneasy.

Inside the camp.

The campfire had gone out, and everyone had already crawled into their own tents.

Lin Yan had volunteered to keep watch with Wen Ruan, and at this moment, the two of them were nestled together, sitting on a tree branch and looking at the moon.

"Did you notice? The way Tang San looked at you was really off, like he was looking at an enemy."

"It's fine. In a while, we'll leave this place."

"Then... are we going to Heaven Dou City?"

"What? You don't like it?"

"..."

The two asked and answered, sketching out their future beneath the moonlight.

In truth, Lin Yan could see the inferiority buried in Wen Ruan's heart.

Only, for some reason, that inferiority would be magnified without limit every time he mentioned Heaven Dou City.

It was as though Wen Ruan knew there was a ferocious beast in Heaven Dou City that would force the two of them apart, and she kept avoiding it from afar.

As for this, Lin Yan had always thought Wen Ruan simply did not dare accept new things and was used to life in Suotuo City...

"Something's happening!"

"Everyone, be on guard!"

Just as the two were being affectionate, Zhao Wuji suddenly rushed out of his tent and let out a thunderous shout.

Everyone followed right after him, one after another crawling out of their tents.

The ground trembled! The forest collapsed!

In less than a moment, a figure dozens of meters tall, like a small mountain, had already entered everyone's sight.

"That's... the King of the Forest, the Titan Giant Ape!"

"Why? Why would a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast appear on the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest?"

Zhao Wuji's expression was horrified. Under the grip of fear, he unconsciously swallowed.

Among the crowd, Xiao Wu behind Tang San clearly began to look incredibly guilty.

At this moment, Dai Mubai asked.

"Teacher Zhao, what's going on?"

Zhao Wuji did not answer Dai Mubai. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Lin Yan on the tree branch.

"Lin Yan, get everyone else out of here!"

"I'll hold it off!"

[Seventh Soul Skill: Martial Soul Avatar!]

Faced with the sudden threat of death, Zhao Wuji issued his orders cleanly and decisively. Immediately after, he completed his Martial Soul Possession and unleashed his Martial Soul Avatar.

The phantom of the Vajra Bear gradually solidified, and in the blink of an eye, Zhao Wuji had transformed into a giant bear.

The next second, the Titan Giant Ape's fist came crashing in. Zhao Wuji raised his arm and met it head-on.

Rumble—

Their fists collided, and the resulting shock wave knocked everyone straight to the ground.

The Titan Giant Ape did not waste time either. Taking advantage of the moment, it grabbed Xiao Wu in one hand, and after succeeding, quickly returned the way it had come.

"No! Xiao Wu!"

Tang San watched Xiao Wu get taken away, and like a madman, he unleashed every hidden weapon in his storage belt at his waist in one go.

Unsurprisingly, a series of crisp clangs rang out. The Titan Giant Ape's movements were not hindered in the slightest, and before long, it disappeared from everyone's sight.

The field fell silent.

This storm had come quickly and gone just as quickly.

Zhao Wuji looked around. Seeing that the Titan Giant Ape had already left and there was no longer any threat nearby, he took the opportunity to release his Martial Soul Possession.

After returning to human form, one of Zhao Wuji's arms hung limply at his side. Clearly, he was badly injured.

Good thing it was only Xiao Wu who was taken!

She's just a commoner soul master. If she dies, she dies. That's still better than one of the little monsters with backing dying.

Thinking this, Zhao Wuji secretly let out a breath of relief.

At the same time, he made a shocking decision: they would travel through the night and leave the Star Dou Forest at top speed.

He never wanted to stay in this damned place again. In the future, he would never lead a team out to hunt for soul rings again...

In fact, after going back this time, he only wanted to stay safely and steadily at the academy. He did not even want to continue taking part in teaching or assessments anymore.

However... that was what he thought.

But Tang San, who had almost completely lost his reason, could not care about any of that. Right now, there was only Xiao Wu in his mind. He immediately rushed to Oscar's side and pleaded in a low voice.

"Oscar! I'm begging you, please help me. Give me your Flying Mushroom Sausage, quick!"

Oscar looked at Tang San's bloodshot eyes and was so frightened for a moment that he did not know what to do. Almost subconsciously, he made a Flying Mushroom Sausage.

"Oh, okay, okay!"

With a turn of his wrist, a red sausage appeared in Oscar's hand.

Tang San grabbed it without another word, then swallowed it into his stomach.

It was at that moment that Zhao Wuji keenly noticed something strange about the two of them.

"What are you two doing?"

Unfortunately... he still noticed too late. The next second after his words fell, a pair of translucent wings grew from Tang San's back, and he quickly flew, stumbling and swaying through the air, in the direction the Titan Giant Ape had left.

Seeing this, Zhao Wuji instinctively cursed.

"Fuck!"

"Leaving the team at a time like this? Is the situation not chaotic enough already?"

It was one thing for Xiao Wu to be taken. She was only a commoner soul master with no background, so it did not matter if she died.

But Tang San was different.

On the day of enrollment, although Tang Hao had not gone to cause trouble for Zhao Wuji, he had still appeared before him, making his identity and stance perfectly clear.

If the son of a Title Douluo lost his life while Zhao Wuji was leading a team to hunt soul rings, the consequences were obvious...

"Teacher Zhao, I'll follow and take a look. Protect my junior sister."

Lin Yan glanced at Zhao Wuji, then gently squeezed Wen Ruan's palm.

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. I'll be back soon."