Target

It was a giant ape with glossy black fur, standing over seven meters tall, its body like a small mountain.

In the darkness, its two eyes hung like lanterns.

"The king of the forest, the Titan Giant Ape," Tang San said in a low voice.

Everyone sucked in a breath. Dai Mubai and the others, having been born into wealthy families, had naturally heard of the forest king's fearsome reputation. Although Oscar and Ma Hongjun were not particularly knowledgeable, they immediately grew serious at the sight of everyone's expressions. Oscar's sausage-making movements became even faster.

Ning Rongrong moved a little closer to Zhu Zhuqing. During the night watch earlier, since Xiao Wu had wanted to stay with Tang San, Ning Rongrong had shared a tent with Zhu Zhuqing. Standing close together now did not seem out of place.

"Respected King of the Forest, we mean no offense. If this is your territory, we are willing to leave immediately," Zhao Wuji said solemnly. This Titan Giant Ape had clearly surpassed ten thousand years in age. Its intelligence was not low, and it could understand human speech.

But the Titan Giant Ape clearly had no intention of answering. It even took a step toward them. Its body was simply too enormous; that small step instantly shortened the distance between both sides.

Zhao Wuji's heart leaped into his throat. "I'll hold it back. Run!" The moment he spoke, his first, second, third, fifth, and fourth soul rings all lit up at once as he charged toward the Titan Giant Ape.

Dai Mubai immediately told Tang San to lead everyone away. "Tang San, cover everyone's retreat. I'll help Teacher Zhao." He possessed himself with his martial soul and charged forward as well. Yet someone moved faster than him. The moment Zhu Zhuqing saw Zhao Wuji rush forward, she followed. A brilliant golden barrier appeared around her once more, along with the activation of her strongest offensive skill.

"Second Soul Skill—Nether Hundred Claws."

Her attack was not even enough to scratch a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast like the Titan Giant Ape. But the radiant golden barrier was far too conspicuous in the night, immediately drawing the Titan Giant Ape's attention. As if provoked by something, it furiously beat its massive, muscular arms against its chest before striking at Zhu Zhuqing, completely ignoring Zhao Wuji. Its sole intent was to kill her.

The others assumed it was because the barrier around Zhu Zhuqing was too eye-catching, but Tang San and Xiao Wu knew why.

Invincible Golden Body was practically an exclusive skill of the Soft Bone Rabbit.

Xiao Wu did not know that Zhu Zhuqing's skill came from a Soul Tool. She thought Zhu Zhuqing's soul bone must have come from a Soft Bone Rabbit over ten thousand years old. Since they were of the same kind, even if Zhu Zhuqing had not killed that Soft Bone Rabbit herself, its killer had to be connected to Zhu Zhuqing. If Er Ming killed Zhu Zhuqing, it would count as avenging his kin.

Tang San knew the truth. He only thought that it would be wonderful if Er Ming took this chance to kill her outright. He could then acquire a defensive Soul Tool of at least Rank Nine for free, and with Red Dust Blessing, Xiao Wu would be safer as well.

With Zhu Zhuqing acting as a target, the pressure on everyone else instantly lessened considerably.

Ning Rongrong immediately recited her soul incantation. "Seven Treasures Have Names. First: Strength. Second: Speed." She boosted Zhao Wuji, their strongest fighter at present.

But the gap between a Soul Saint and a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was simply too vast. Even after Zhao Wuji used his Martial Soul Avatar, the results remained minimal.

Faced with a life-or-death crisis, Ning Rongrong was overwhelmed with fear. This was already the third time. This time, she truly felt that she would die, and the urge to retreat gradually rose within her.

For a moment, all kinds of lights flared across the battlefield. Several attacks from the Titan Giant Ape were blocked by the barrier of Invincible Golden Body, while the others' soul skills interfered from the side. The Titan Giant Ape suddenly raised its head and let out a beastly roar. A streak of black light rippled out from its body, sending everyone flying. The only two who were not blasted away were Zhu Zhuqing, protected by Red Dust Blessing, and Xiao Wu, who had remained beside Zhu Zhuqing and had happened to be shielded by the barrier when the Titan Giant Ape attacked.

Tang San naturally would not be struck by that force either, but to avoid appearing too conspicuous, he retreated several steps with its momentum.

Only then did the other Shrek members truly realize the power of the "soul bone" on Zhu Zhuqing.

They had originally thought blocking Zhao Wuji was the limit of that soul bone. Who could have expected it to even withstand the attacks of the Titan Giant Ape, the king of the forest? It was simply unbelievable.

Yet because Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu were unaffected by the black light, they were left where they stood. The Titan Giant Ape stepped forward, grabbed both Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu in one hand, and fled with them at full speed.

The change happened in the blink of an eye. Tang San had planned for this all along. Seeing Xiao Wu get taken away, he immediately turned to Oscar. "Little Ao, give me two Recovery Sausages." During the battle just now, he had not held back. He had merely not used his trump cards, and his Soul Power consumption had been very real.

Oscar was still tense to the extreme. Since he had already made the Mushroom Sausages earlier, he had begun preparing the Recovery Sausages long ago. The moment Tang San spoke, Oscar instinctively handed them over.

"Little San!" Only after handing them over did Oscar come back to his senses, but it was already too late to stop him.

After eating the Recovery Sausages, Tang San immediately swallowed the Mushroom Sausage he had received earlier. He chased after the Titan Giant Ape in the direction it had gone.

Seeing Tang San leave, Dai Mubai seemed to finally come back to his senses and attempted to follow suit. But just as he was about to eat a Mushroom Sausage and give chase, Zhao Wuji stopped him.

"Those taken by the Titan Giant Ape have no chance of survival. Even if Tang San catches up, he'll only find it was futile."

Zhu Zhuqing was held in the Titan Giant Ape's hand. Looking at Xiao Wu, who had been pressed entirely against the barrier by its grip, she calculated the time. Two seconds remained.

Zhu Zhuqing decisively reached out. The instant she grabbed Xiao Wu's hand, she pulled her into the barrier. Her other hand had already brought the Mushroom Sausage to her mouth.

But before she could take a bite, Xiao Wu slapped the Mushroom Sausage from her hand. The barrier's energy was also exhausted, shattering on the spot.

With nimble movements, Xiao Wu leaped directly out of the Titan Giant Ape's hand. She sprang forward in just a few jumps before landing on the Titan Giant Ape's shoulder and sitting down securely. Throughout this, the Titan Giant Ape did not slow down in the slightest. It even extended its other hand to shield Xiao Wu from the wind.

"!?" Zhu Zhuqing was still held in the Titan Giant Ape's grasp. She stared at the scene before her, too shocked to say anything.

Er Bai ran while gripping her for a long time, only stopping after confirming that no one else was nearby.

He turned toward the girl on his shoulder and asked, "Sister Xiao Wu, how should we deal with this person?"