Target

It was a giant ape with jet-black, gleaming fur, standing over seven meters at the shoulder, its massive body like a small mountain.

In the darkness, its two eyes hung like a pair of lanterns.

"The King of the Forest, the Titan Giant Ape," Tang San said quietly.

Everyone sucked in a breath. Dai Mubai and the others, born into wealth and privilege, had naturally heard of the King of the Forest's fearsome reputation. Though Oscar and Ma Hongjun were not especially knowledgeable, the sight of the others' expressions made them turn serious as well. Oscar's sausage-making movements sped up.

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

"Honored King of the Forest, we mean no offense. If this is your territory, we are willing to leave immediately," Zhao Wuji said in a deep voice. This Titan Giant Ape had clearly surpassed ten thousand years in age. Its intelligence was considerable, and it could understand human speech.

But the Titan Giant Ape clearly had no intention of answering. Instead, it took another step toward them. Its body was simply too enormous; that small step instantly closed much of the distance between them.

Zhao Wuji's heart leaped into his throat. "I'll hold it off. Run!" As soon as the words left his mouth, his first, second, third, fifth, and fourth soul rings lit up at once, and he charged toward the Titan Giant Ape.

Dai Mubai immediately ordered 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 rushed forward as well. Yet someone was faster than him. The moment Zhu Zhuqing saw Zhao Wuji charge in, she followed. A brilliant golden barrier appeared around her once more, and she simultaneously unleashed her strongest attack skill.

"Second Soul Skill—Nether Hundred Claws."

Her attack was not even enough to scratch the hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape. But the brilliant golden barrier was exceptionally conspicuous in the night, immediately drawing the Titan Giant Ape's attention. Then, as if it had been provoked, it furiously pounded its broad, muscular chest with its two massive arms before striking at Zhu Zhuqing, completely ignoring Zhao Wuji. It was determined to kill Zhu Zhuqing.

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 a skill exclusive to the Soft-Boned Rabbit.

Xiao Wu did not know that Zhu Zhuqing's skill came from a soul tool. She thought that Zhu Zhuqing's soul bone must have come from a Soft-Boned Rabbit over ten thousand years old. Since they were of the same species, even if Zhu Zhuqing had not killed that Soft-Boned Rabbit herself, the person who had killed it must have been connected to her. If Er Ming killed Zhu Zhuqing, it would count as avenging his kin.

Tang San knew the truth, but what he thought was that it would be great if Er Ming took this chance to kill her directly. He could then pick up a defensive soul tool of at least rank nine for free, and with Red Dust Blessing, Xiao Wu would be safer too.

With Zhu Zhuqing serving as a target, the pressure on everyone else immediately lessened considerably.

Ning Rongrong promptly recited her soul incantation. "The Seven Treasures have a name. First: strength. Second: speed." She buffed Zhao Wuji, currently their strongest combatant.

But the gap between a Soul Sage and a hundred-thousand-year soul beast was simply too great. Even after Zhao Wuji used his Martial Soul True Body, the effect 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 might die, and the urge to retreat slowly rose within her.

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

Naturally, Tang San would not be struck by that force either, but to avoid standing out too much, he let the force push him back several steps.

Only then did the rest of Shrek truly realize how powerful the "soul bone" on Zhu Zhuqing was.

They had originally thought that blocking Zhao Wuji was the limit of that soul bone, but now it could even withstand attacks from the King of the Forest, the Titan Giant Ape. It was simply unbelievable.

Yet because Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu were unaffected by the black light, they were left behind. The Titan Giant Ape stepped forward, grabbed both Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu in one hand, and sprinted away with them.

The change happened in the blink of an eye. Tang San had planned ahead. Seeing Xiao Wu taken away, he immediately turned to Oscar. "Little Ao, give me two Recovery Sausages." He had not held back in the battle just now; he simply had not used his trump cards. His soul power expenditure had been real.

Oscar was still in an intensely tense state. Since he had already made the Mushroom Sausages, he had long begun preparing the Recovery Sausages. The moment Tang San spoke, Oscar instinctively handed them over.

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

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

Seeing Tang San flee, Dai Mubai seemed to finally snap out of it and followed suit. But when he was about to eat a Mushroom Sausage and give chase, Zhao Wuji stopped him.

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

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

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

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

With nimble movements, Xiao Wu leaped straight out of the Titan Giant Ape's hand. She bounded forward in a few quick jumps before landing on the Titan Giant Ape's shoulder and sitting down steadily. Throughout it all, the Titan Giant Ape did not slow down in the slightest. It even stretched out its other hand to shield Xiao Wu from the wind.

"!?" Still held in the Titan Giant Ape's grasp, Zhu Zhuqing stared at the scene before her, too shocked to speak.

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

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