Rider's Bridle Control! Riding Three in Flight! Fourth Soul Skill Replacement!

Star Dou Forest, heading deeper into the mixed zone.

Relying on the Mushroom Sausage's effect, Tang San's six illusory wings trembled behind him as he weaved through the forest canopy.

The Titan Giant Ape was moving too fast. He could only pursue it based on its general direction.

As time passed, the Mushroom Sausage was about to wear off, and Tang San was frantic with worry.

Suddenly!

Bang—

A pair of feet landed on his back!

Tang San was startled. His Silent Sleeve Arrow was ready to fire, and just as he was about to turn around and counterattack, a golden rope wrapped around his chest and back several times.

"Don't panic, I'll fly you!

"You'll never catch that damn monkey on your own!"

It was Qian Ni!

He had caught up! He was even going to help Tang San chase the Titan Giant Ape!

After his brief shock, a surge of gratitude filled Tang San's heart.

Qian Ni was powerful, with endless tricks up his sleeve. Maybe he really could catch the Titan Giant Ape and save Xiao Wu!

But back at camp, Tang San hadn't known how to ask. Making someone else risk their life for him and Xiao Wu would have weighed heavily on him.

Yet Qian Ni had taken the initiative to chase after them. How could Tang San not be grateful?

It was just that this posture...

Tang San was flying horizontally through the air, while Qian Ni stood on his back holding a set of reins...

Tang San shook his head.

No time to think about that! Finding Xiao Wu is what matters most!

Qian Ni continued.

"This time, I'll make that damn monkey understand that my dogs aren't something a mere Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast can touch!

"Even a nominal dog is still my dog! She's mine, and I'm the only one allowed to hurt her!

"Rider's Bridle! Control!"

An irresistible force surged through the golden reins and into Tang San's body, making his speed rise sharply! Explode! Skyrocket!

He nearly turned into a streak of light, shooting toward the direction the Titan Giant Ape had gone!

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?

Tang San seemed to have heard something incredible, but he had no time to think. The Mushroom Sausage in his hand was suddenly snatched away by Qian Ni, only for even more to be stuffed back into his hands the next moment.

"Keep track of the timing yourself. Eat a sausage when the effect runs out!

"Flying's always faster than running!

"Besides, if you ran while I stood on your back, it'd feel pretty weird."

Qian Ni copied a batch of Mushroom Sausages for Tang San while calculating how many Fate Stones it would take to reset his fourth soul skill!

His fourth Soul Ring had come from a Whirling Burial Fox that was nearly sixty thousand years old.

The soul skill the Whirling Burial Fox provided Qian Ni was related to shadows.

[Shadow Concealment], covering oneself with shadows to hide all kinds of auras and reduce one's presence.

That was why that Ten-Thousand-Year Whirling Burial Fox had been able to ambush Zhao Wuji.

What kind of aura concealment is this!

Qian Ni frowned and immediately activated the Summoning System.

*I currently have 77 Fate Stones. Keep 30 in reserve as hidden backup energy!

System! Wake up! Time to work!

[Father, please issue your command.]

Replace my fourth soul skill! Draw for me! If you don't pull something good, just wait until I lock you in solitary confinement!

The shadow of his last soul skill replacement loomed over him. Having learned his lesson, Qian Ni hadn't even dared to casually spend Fate Stones in the item pool afterward. He was afraid he wouldn't have enough Fate Stones when replacing a soul skill, only to pull out a pile of crap in the end.

[...]

A phantom void appeared before his eyes, and his Fate Stone count decreased by one.

[Shadow Concealment] → [Soul Devouring Hand]

When Qian Ni saw the result, distant memories began to surface clearly in his mind.

*A Red Eye skill? Grab an enemy, absorb their blood energy, then release it?

Seems usable enough!

But then Qian Ni thought about the Titan Giant Ape he was about to face.

That head was the size of a van. How was he supposed to grab it?

Even if he grabbed it, could he really teach it a lesson?

Still useless. Keep drawing!

An endless hell... began...

Fate Stones vanished one by one. The smile on Qian Ni's face faded bit by bit, and his aura gradually turned gloomy.

Even Tang San, who was serving as the sword in this sword-riding flight, could clearly sense the rage and darkness brewing within Qian Ni.

It was a terrifying storm powerful enough to send the entire Douluo Continent to meet its ancestors.

Tang San trembled inwardly.

*The Titan Giant Ape... is probably in for it!

Serves it right! It dared hurt Xiao Wu! If I had the strength, I'd kill it and take its Soul Ring too!

Below them, Tang San overtook two figures and left them behind in the blink of an eye.

"Qian Ni, it's Dragon Duke and Snake Granny!"

Tang San's Purple Demon Eyes spotted them at once.

"Don't mind them. Keep flying!"

Qian Ni answered casually, his face dark.

The summoning continued.

→ [100% Barehanded Blade Catch]

Interesting, but it's useless right now. Keep going!

→ [Telepathy]

What am I supposed to use that for? Become a caring big brother? System, keep drawing!

→ [Rito Fall]

Damn it! Can you be serious for once, System?!

→ [Golden Finger]

...System, why don't you switch genres?

Light kept leaping from the void, one strange skill after another appearing as Qian Ni's expression grew darker and darker.

"Qian Ni, I see it! The Titan Giant Ape!"

Tang San cried out in delight!

Qian Ni spared a sliver of attention and looked ahead. Sure enough!

The Titan Giant Ape's massive form was constantly leaping across thick branches in the Star Dou Forest.

In its right palm, it held two youthful, beautiful girls.

Xiao Wu and Meng Yiran!

Xiao Wu looked panicked, but she didn't seem worried for herself.

Meng Yiran, however, was having a miserable time. Her little face was so pale it looked like it had been painted with white latex.

There wasn't a trace of color in it.

The two girls were trapped in the Titan Giant Ape's clenched fist, unable to move, with only their heads exposed to look outside.

Just then, a streak of light approached from behind.

Xiao Wu and Meng Yiran turned their heads and saw Qian Ni riding Tang San as they flew rapidly toward them.

Tang San lay stretched out horizontally in the air, his six illusory wings spread behind him.

Qian Ni stood on his back, holding the Rider's Bridle. Cyan wing fragments unfurled behind him, while four black Soul Rings slowly revolved around his body.

"Little San!" Xiao Wu cried out in surprise.

Quietly, she kicked the Titan Giant Ape's palm with her foot.

Meng Yiran saw Qian Ni as well. In what she had considered a hopeless dead end, Qian Ni was actually willing to come rescue her no matter the danger.

Her heart shook, and her eyes immediately reddened.

"Run! Don't worry about me!"

Though terrified, Meng Yiran still shouted at Qian Ni.

This Soul Beast's power far exceeded anything she had imagined.

Along the way, all kinds of terrifying Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts had played dead whenever the Titan Giant Ape passed by. None of them dared move, afraid it would set its sights on them.

This showed that the King of the Forest truly lived up to its name.

With love clouding her mind, Meng Yiran feared that Qian Ni would get hurt and shouted desperately.

As for the extra Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring on Qian Ni's body?

Did three rings or four rings make any difference against a Soul Beast like the Titan Giant Ape?

Qian Ni stood on Tang San's back and flicked the Rider's Bridle. Their speed soared once more.

The Summoning System produced something new as well.

→ [Hyper Beam]

Qian Ni narrowed his eyes.

*Hyper Beam? That's practically a minor ultimate move from Pokémon.

Damn it, let's test its power first!

His fourth Soul Ring trembled. Strange black light flickered as a large amount of Soul Power gathered in his throat.

Qian Ni arched his back. After charging for a moment, he opened his mouth and fired a golden beam straight at the Titan Giant Ape!

The Soul Power aura behind it made the Titan Giant Ape instinctively dodge.

The Hyper Beam grazed its ankle and vanished into the forest. The Titan Giant Ape took a moment to glance down, only to see that the skin on the side of its foot had been scorched bright red.

Roar—

It opened its mouth and roared furiously, but mindful of Xiao Wu in its hand, it could only speed up and flee farther away.

Not far ahead, a clear lake like a mirror appeared faintly behind the forest canopy.

After firing that Hyper Beam, Qian Ni's body stiffened for a moment. Only with his powerful physique was he able to recover.

Hard to control! Not powerful enough! And there's that damn stiffness! What a trash skill! It's not even remotely wheelchair-friendly. Replace it! Draw again!

Light appeared in the void once more.

→ [Chair Suppresses Demons]

A skill Qian Ni had never even heard of appeared before his eyes.

*What is this?

A control skill that creates a gridded chair which clamps the Demon Pills of all male creatures sitting on it, forcing them to remain seated. The more they try to stand, the more painful it becomes?

Qian Ni couldn't help smacking his forehead as he cursed inwardly.

Damn it, System, can you give me something normal for once?!

Watching the Titan Giant Ape pull farther and farther away, Qian Ni steeled himself.

Whatever. Let's bring that damn monkey down first!