Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were surprised to hear they were going to the Star Dou Great Forest. With the Mycelium Network aiding their cultivation, their Soul Power had risen quickly.
Ning Rongrong had reached level 28, and Zhu Zhuqing level 29, but neither had reached level 30. They had no need to hunt for Soul Rings yet.
Lan Yu gave them no explanation and took them straight to the Star Dou Great Forest.
Once inside, Lan Yu spread out the Mycelium Network, forming a small mushroom domain.
"Stay here and cultivate. Reach Soul Power Level 30 as soon as you can."
"All right. What are you going to do?"
"I have something more important to do."
Lan Yu walked through the Star Dou Great Forest, spreading the Mycelium Network as he went.
Before long, Lan Yu found a dead Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.
Looks like this was the one Oscar was supposed to get as a Soul Ring. Because of the butterfly effect, Meng Yiran must have gotten it instead.
Let's see if I can find that Man Faced Demon Spider. I can't let the Eight Spider Lances fall into Tang San's hands again.
While Lan Yu searched for the Man Faced Demon Spider, Flender led the Shrek Academy group into the Star Dou Great Forest.
Xiao Wu had barely spoken, but her heart was racing. This was her only chance to escape Tang San and his father. How could she not be nervous?
"Xiao Wu, what's wrong?"
"N-nothing. It's so gloomy here. It makes me uneasy."
"Don't worry. No matter what happens, I'll protect you."
Xiao Wu's mouth twitched as she forced a smile.
A day passed without them finding anything. That night, Flender had everyone set up campfires and rest.
Soul Hunting was never easy. Spending ten days or even half a month looking for a suitable Soul Ring was perfectly normal.
"Strange."
"Headmaster, what's strange?"
"Don't you think it's too quiet? There are plenty of Spirit Beasts active around here. It shouldn't be this quiet."
"Could overhunting have reduced the number of Spirit Beasts on the Periphery?"
"Impossible. Unless Spirit Hall gathered a large force of Soul Masters to clear them out, scattered Soul Masters hunting on their own couldn't reduce the Periphery's Spirit Beast population on that scale."
"Whatever the reason, something's wrong. Stay alert, all of you."
"Yes, Headmaster!"
Only Xiao Wu knew the real reason. The Spirit Beasts on the Periphery had sensed the Titan Giant Ape's presence and fled in terror.
Meanwhile, Lan Yu had found the Man Faced Demon Spider and obtained the Eight Spider Lances.
After refining the Eight Spider Lances, Lan Yu wanted to reshape them into wings. Combined with Dance with the Wind, they would greatly improve his ability to fly.
Just then, Lan Yu sensed the Titan Giant Ape.
That rabbit's made her move too. Might as well go watch the show.
Over at Shrek Academy's camp, a fierce wind suddenly whipped up. A huge black shadow passed overhead and blocked their retreat.
Flender caught sight of what it was, and his face went pale.
"The Titan Giant Ape! What's it doing on the Periphery? Everyone, run!"
The Titan Giant Ape swatted at Flender.
"Seventh Spirit Ability: Cat Owl True Form!"
Flender summoned his Martial Soul Avatar, but the Titan Giant Ape still sent him flying with one blow.
Then the Titan Giant Ape reached out and snatched Xiao Wu up.
"Go, quickly!" Xiao Wu told him.
The Titan Giant Ape obeyed, carrying Xiao Wu deeper into the forest.
"Xiao Wu!"
When Tang San saw the Titan Giant Ape take Xiao Wu away, he shouted and started after them.
Dai Mubai grabbed Tang San's shoulder. "We can't get her back. Chasing them will only get you killed. Don't be reckless."
"Let go! I'm saving Xiao Wu, no matter what."
Tang San broke free of Dai Mubai and was about to pursue them into Deep Senluo when Tang Hao appeared.
"Dad?"
"Xiao San, stay here. I'll go after them..."
"Dad, you..."
Tang Hao wasted no words. He brought out his Martial Soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, and revealed nine Soul Rings: two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red.
Flender, who had just staggered back in a sorry state, was startled by the sight.
"The Clear Sky Hammer! You're His Excellency Haotian!"
"Yes. Look after Xiao San for me."
"Of course, Your Excellency. No wonder he's such a genius. He's your son!"
Flender was a master of flattery.
Tang Hao said nothing more. In a flash, he sped toward Deep Senluo.
Lan Yu, watching from the shadows, followed too. At Tang Hao's speed, he could never have caught the Titan Giant Ape if it kept running.
But the Titan Giant Ape stopped, just as Xiao Wu had asked.
Erming's presence had given Xiao Wu enormous confidence. She wanted him to teach Tang Hao a lesson and repay him for the years she had spent living in fear.
The Titan Giant Ape sensed Tang Hao approaching and let out a roar.
"Erming, attack!"
"Roar..."
The Titan Giant Ape immediately unleashed his Gravity Domain, enveloping the charging Tang Hao.
Tang Hao's expression changed at once. "Divine Slaughter's Domain, open!"
White killing intent spread outward from Tang Hao. It was the Divine Slaughter's Domain he had gained in the Capital of Slaughter.
The two domains clashed, neither gaining the upper hand. By then, the Titan Giant Ape's fist was already hurtling toward Tang Hao.
"Clear Sky Nine Jue: Destruction Formula! Gather force through structure and break through with speed!"
The Clear Sky Hammer struck the Titan Giant Ape's fist. Tang Hao flew backward, while the Titan Giant Ape took a step back.
Pfft! Blood sprayed from Tang Hao's mouth. His earlier injuries had yet to heal, and now he had made them worse.
"Erming, kill him!"
"Roar..."
Tang Hao recognized Xiao Wu's voice this time, and his face turned livid.
Only now did he understand: he had been exposed long ago. That rabbit had been acting in front of him all this time, and he had never noticed.
Furious as he was, Tang Hao had not lost his head. He turned to flee, only to find a Mycelium Swamp forming beneath his feet.
"Damn you! You set me up!"
Tang Hao's only answer was the mushrooms sprouting all around him and the spores they released.
Xiao Wu's face lit up at the sight of the mushrooms. "May the Sage Lord of Fungi protect us! Erming, get him!"
Erming had no idea why so many mushrooms had suddenly appeared, but that did not matter. He just had to listen to Sister Xiao Wu.
The Titan Giant Ape swung his fist again, with even greater force than before.
"Seventh Spirit Ability: Clear Sky True Form!"
Tang Hao summoned his Clear Sky True Form and swung his hammer to block the Titan Giant Ape's fist.
At that moment, Lan Yu summoned the Jadeplume Terrorshroom behind Tang Hao.
"Roar..."
The Jadeplume Terrorshroom lashed its tail, firing a volley of Grass Element Missiles that exploded against Tang Hao.
Tang Hao could not hold out for long while fending off the Titan Giant Ape and taking the Jadeplume Terrorshroom's attacks.
The Titan Giant Ape, however, froze for a moment at the Jadeplume Terrorshroom's sudden appearance. He had never seen a Spirit Beast like it in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Tang Hao seized that brief opening and shouted, "Ring Detonation!"
His first six Soul Rings shattered instantly, turning into pure Soul Power that flowed into the Clear Sky Hammer.
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