Apples had to grow on trees, and Soul Rings had to be absorbed by Soul Masters.
When Bai Ran saw that the Apple Guards were giant apples, he felt as though his brain had crashed for a moment.
Even the lowest-century Apple Guards were over half a meter tall.
And though these Apple Guards were called apples, they had limbs just like humans.
Bai Ran: Uh... even if you gave me this apple for free, I wouldn't dare eat it.
"Tut, tut, tut. These Apple Guards look so fresh and juicy."
In Xuan Zi's eyes, aside from arrows, there was nothing he would not dare eat.
To him, these Apple Guards were absolutely good stuff. If turning them into apple pie were not even more delicious, Xuan Zi probably would have grabbed one and taken a bite already.
"Please, Elder Xuan."
Ye Tian respectfully cupped his fists.
This Apple Guard clan was protected by an Apple Guard King over eighty thousand years old. As a Food-type Soul Master, even with powerful Soul Tools, Ye Tian did not dare provoke it.
He could only ask Elder Xuan to act.
However, the facts proved that Ye Tian had made the wrong choice.
Though Xuan Zi was stronger, for something like capturing a century-old Apple Guard, it would certainly have been more appropriate for Elder Wang, a control-type Titled Douluo, to act.
Because Xuan Zi had a huge appetite. Aside from the century-old Apple Guard he caught for the little fellow, he also captured three thousand-year Apple Guards and one Apple Guard that was twenty thousand years old.
Soul Beasts below ten thousand years old generally found it difficult to develop intelligence unless they belonged to a powerful clan.
Soul Beasts that had not developed intelligence were not considered part of the Star Dou Great Forest by its rulers. If human Soul Masters captured them, then so be it.
But Soul Beasts over ten thousand years old? They were all mid-level combat forces of the Star Dou Great Forest.
If they were not encountered, the rulers could turn a blind eye. But if they were encountered, human Soul Masters would be in trouble.
As fate would have it, the twenty-thousand-year Apple Guard Xuan Zi captured was the mate of that eighty-thousand-year Apple Guard King.
Furthermore, the Apple Guard clan was protected by Xiong Jun, one of the rulers of the Star Dou Great Forest.
And today just happened to be the day Xiong Jun came to the Apple Guard clan to collect "Apple Honey."
Apple Honey: A unique drink brewed by the Apple Guard clan from their own flesh and blood, deeply loved by Soul Beasts, especially bear-type Soul Beasts.
When the Apple Guard King discovered that its mate had been captured by human Soul Masters, it flew into a rage and immediately told Lord Xiong Jun, who was visiting its territory, hoping he would uphold justice for it.
As the saying went, one was soft-hearted after eating another's food and reluctant after taking another's things.
While drinking Apple Honey, Xiong Jun heard that powerful human Soul Masters had entered the forest's core region and even captured a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast.
He immediately gave chase.
He wanted to see who dared make trouble on his turf.
Meanwhile, Xuan Zi had just returned to Ye Tian and the others after capturing several Apple Guards. He was about to toss the century-old guard in his hand to the little fellow and let Bai Ran deliver the final blow.
Suddenly, a terrifying aura came from behind them.
Elder Wang: Old Xuan, was it you who brought that bear over here?
Xuan Zi: I don't know either.
"Sky-Ripping Claw!"
An enormous bear paw swept toward them with an unstoppable force.
Xuan Zi could no longer care about the Apple Guards in his hands. Nine Soul Rings emerged around him as he immediately activated his Martial Soul Avatar.
Elder Wang, the other Titled Douluo, hurriedly shielded Ye Tian behind him as well, preventing him from being instantly killed by the aftershock of the Soul Power.
In this clash, the odds were eight to two.
Xuan Zi was nearly beaten to the point of vomiting blood.
It could not be helped. Xiong Jun had opened with his ultimate move, and he had done so in a sneak attack.
Besides, in terms of strength, Xiong Jun was not weaker than Xuan Zi at all.
Though he was only ranked sixth among the Ten Great Beast Kings, relying on the terrifying racial talent of the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, only Di Tian, ranked first, could suppress him throughout the entire Star Dou Great Forest.
"Are you trying to start a war with Shrek Academy?"
Realizing that he might not be able to win, Xuan Zi immediately invoked Shrek Academy's name.
No matter what, Shrek Academy was a top-tier force on the Douluo Continent, and Dragon God Douluo Mu En was publicly known to be stationed there.
No force was willing to provoke it, not even the several rulers within the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Shrek Academy?"
Xiong Jun was a brute who was not good with words, so he raised his right hand and prepared to give Xuan Zi another Sky-Ripping Claw.
The enormous disturbance at the outskirts of the core region naturally caught the attention of Di Tian, the ruler of the Star Dou Great Forest's core region.
Upon hearing the words Shrek Academy, Di Tian immediately ordered Xiong Jun to stop.
After all, the Star Dou Great Forest had no intention of going to war with them at present.
Xiong Jun: Di Tian, you!
Di Tian: The Star Dou Great Forest is still under my command. Besides, going to war with Shrek Academy could affect our lord's plans.
Unless something happened that Di Tian could not tolerate, such as the Emperor Auspicious Beast that inherited the Star Dou Great Forest's destiny being killed by humans, Di Tian would not go to war with any Soul Master faction.
The brutes of the Body Sect were an exception. If he did not know where the Body Sect was located, Di Tian would have slaughtered his way to their doorstep long ago.
Across the entire Douluo Continent, only the Body Sect treated Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts as nothing and slaughtered them wantonly. They were what Di Tian hated most.
"Get lost!"
After receiving Di Tian's order, Xiong Jun withdrew his pressure and roared at the human Soul Masters before him.
Seeing this, Xuan Zi turned and left without hesitation, not forgetting to drag along the terrified Ye Tian, Master Ye, and Elder Wang.
Facing a powerful four-hundred-thousand-year beast king, even though Wang Youcai was a level ninety-three Titled Douluo, he could only feel profound powerlessness.
If Xuan Zi had not been standing in front of him, that terrifying palm strike would have torn him apart in an instant.
Even with Xuan Zi blocking it, the mere aftershock had nearly knocked him to the ground.
Wang Youcai: Is this the gap between me and the truly top experts?
"Wait, Elder Xuan."
Supported between Elder Xuan and Elder Wang as they prepared to leave the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest, Ye Tian suddenly spoke.
"What is it, Ye boy?"
Though Xiong Jun had spared them, who knew whether he would regret it the next second? Soul Beasts were the least trustworthy creatures.
"My nephew is missing."
Although Elder Xuan and Elder Wang had blocked the aftershock of the battle in front of him,
Bai Ran's Soul Power Level was too low, and he was also small. Naturally, he had been blown away.
"That little fellow?"
Xuan Zi frowned.
It was all because he had been too greedy. If he had not captured that ten-thousand-year Apple Guard, he would not have drawn that powerful beast king here.
In the end, it was all his fault.
"Youcai, take Ye boy back first. I'm a Super Douluo, and my spiritual power is strong. I'll look for him."
Xuan Zi sighed and spoke helplessly.
Even if Xiong Jun changed his mind, he could flee immediately on his own.
If Wang Youcai and Ye boy stayed behind, they would only get in the way.
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