"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 simply stomped it back down with one foot.
"Think it over. If you offer a sacrifice, you might still retain a sliver of your soul."
"But if I kill you, you'll truly be left with nothing."
The Sky Azure Bull Python fell silent.
It stared into Ye Qiong's eyes, hoping to see a trace of hesitation.
But 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 region.
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 ran wild through the forest, venting its grief and destroying everything in its path.
It had to find the human who had killed Da Ming.
It would tear him to pieces.
By Star Lake, Ye Qiong still didn't know 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 vast, pouring ceaselessly into his body and filling Ye Qiong with an indescribable sense of bliss.
A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes.
One Soul Ring after another rose from beneath his feet.
Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, red.
Seven Soul Rings revolved around his body.
The Sixth Soul Ring was unusual in color. Though black, it was tinged with a deep, blood-red hue.
That was the Soul Ring he had obtained five months ago.
It might look like nothing more than a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, but its power far surpassed that of an ordinary Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
That was because it came from the extraordinary Dark Demon Evil God Tiger!
"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 into the rampaging Er Ming.
Zhao Wuji stopped and stared at the mountain-like Titan Giant Ape before him. 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 blood-red, and it wanted to kill everyone it saw.
Feeling its overwhelming murderous intent, Zhao Wuji immediately released his Martial Soul and stepped forward to block it.
"Get out of here! I'll hold it off!"
Tang San grabbed Xiao Wu, who was frozen in place, and ran. The others followed close behind.
But when Er Ming spotted Xiao Wu among them, its target changed in an instant.
It took a single stride, bypassed Zhao Wuji, and seized Xiao Wu in its enormous hand.
At the sight, Tang San's eyes turned blood-red.
"Xiao Wu!"
He spun around and charged at Er Ming, but Er Ming casually swept a hand and sent him flying.
Clutching Xiao Wu, Er Ming turned and ran, vanishing into the depths of the forest in the blink of an eye.
Tang San scrambled to his feet, blood running from the corner of his mouth, and chased after them without a second thought.
"Xiao Wu!"
Zhao Wuji shouted after him.
"Xiao San! Come back!"
But Tang San couldn't hear him at all.
There was only one thought in his mind.
Save Xiao Wu.
The core region.
Ye Qiong had just finished absorbing the Soul Ring and was about to open the system to check his quest progress.
Suddenly, he sensed the earth shaking beneath him.
The corner of Ye Qiong's mouth curled up.
"Heh. So you're here?"
Sure enough, the next second, the trees burst apart as if they were made of paper.
Er Ming charged out, with someone seated on its shoulder.
It was Xiao Wu.
As soon as Er Ming reached Star Lake, its eyes locked onto the red Soul Ring around Ye Qiong.
"Da Ming... You human! What did you do to Da Ming?"
Xiao Wu stared at the Soul Ring, trembling all over.
"You... you killed Da Ming!"
Facing Xiao Wu and Er Ming, Ye Qiong merely smiled calmly.
But to the two of them, that smile was a scornful sneer.
It was as if he had killed their loved one as casually as crushing an ant.
His attitude sent Xiao Wu and Er Ming's eyes blazing red.
"Human! You dared to kill my family! I'll tear you limb from limb!"
Er Ming pounded its chest furiously, unleashing a roar that shook the heavens.
Xiao Wu didn't care how strong she was. She charged straight at him.
Seeing this, Ye Qiong frowned.
"How annoying."
Tang San's opportunity was about to appear. He had no time to waste here.
He wanted to leave.
So, in the next instant, he moved.
Xiao Wu had barely taken a step when he brought the bat down hard on the back of her neck.
She didn't even have 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 simply 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 second,
A colossal baseball bat, towering from earth to heaven, appeared above the Titan Giant Ape.
At the sight of the towering club, 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 with all his strength, his face utterly devoid of emotion.
The enormous bat came crashing down.
Er Ming crossed its arms above its head to shield itself.
Boom!
A massive crater blasted open in the ground.
When the dust settled,
Er Ming lay at the bottom of the crater, eyes rolled back, completely unconscious.
Seeing this, Ye Qiong withdrew his Martial Soul and leaped down beside the crater.
Then, without even sparing them a glance, he turned and walked away.
After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Wu was the first to wake. Her head throbbed with pain.
She saw the unconscious Er Ming beside her and remembered everything that had happened. Tears welled up despite her efforts to hold them back.
Er Ming opened its eyes. Seeing Xiao Wu in tears, it beat its chest furiously.
"Raaah! That despicable human! I'll have my revenge! I'll have my revenge!"
"Er Ming... don't do anything reckless."
Watching Er Ming rage, 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 avenge this grudge myself."
Xiao Wu stood up, wiped away her tears, and turned a gaze as icy as frost toward the distance.
"That man killed Da Ming and humiliated us. I'll settle this score with him myself."
Watching Xiao Wu's back, Er Ming felt for the first time that Sister Xiao Wu had grown up.
"Er Ming, leave this place and find somewhere to hide."
Er Ming was silent for a long while. At last, it 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 toward Suotuo City.
Da Ming was her family—and her little brother.
The murder of her brother was a blood feud that could never be forgiven!
Whoever that man was, she would kill him with her own hands!
Elsewhere, Tang San was running wild through the dense forest like a man possessed, growling as he went.
"Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu!"
But he had no idea that a Man Faced Demon Spider was silently drawing closer behind him.
Before you continue