Titan Giant Ape

"No, this is..."

This was a supreme art of the Tang Sect. How could he hand it over so easily?!

"This..." Tang San's expression struggled. "Anyway, I can't hand it over!"

This time, Zhao Wuji refused to let it go. He shot him a glare. "Then what do you suggest we do?!"

This is all your fault!

"I..." Tang San wanted to argue, but in the end, he lost his nerve. Lowering his head, his eyes reddened. "...I'll hand them over..."

In the end, he handed over two concealed weapons: the Money Dart and the Bone-Piercing Needle.

The moment Snake Granny saw the two concealed weapons, her eyes lit up. With weapons like these, her granddaughter's strength would surely double!

These two had considerable power, but they were only basic ones.

Fortunately, she had never seen any other concealed weapons. Otherwise, she definitely would not have accepted them.

Afterward, everyone left in silence beneath Meng Yiran's resentful gaze.

After walking for quite some time, Zhao Wuji stretched out his broad hand and patted Oscar. "It's fine. We'll find you something better."

Everyone knew those were only comforting words. The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was an extremely rare Soul Beast.

How could they possibly find something better?

Oscar did not answer.

"Rest where you are. Once we've recovered, we'll continue on."

At his words, everyone rested. Dai Mubai and the other two sat together. Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing sat beside Lu Shi, while Xiao Wu sat in the middle, though closer to Lu Shi.

As for Tang San, knowing that he had ruined everything, he deliberately sat far away.

He hung his head in dejection.

For the entire next day, they searched for Soul Beasts, yet did not find even one suitable target.

It was not until nightfall that they set up their tents.

The tents were small, and they had never been meant for lying down to sleep. Wanting to relax in Star Dou Forest was simply courting death.

Cultivation could replace sleep anyway, so they all sat down to cultivate.

Bored out of his mind, Lu Shi prepared to take a walk. Zhao Wuji initially disagreed, but when he thought of Lu Shi's strength in crushing a 1,500-year Soul Beast,

he merely warned him not to go too far.

Not long after Lu Shi left, Zhu Zhuqing followed him out as well.

Watching her retreating figure,

Ning Rongrong revealed a sly look and glanced at Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu had her eyes closed. Her long eyelashes trembled faintly in the firelight before growing still.

It was as though she knew nothing at all.

Three miles away, Lu Shi leaned against a branch in the treetop.

The starlight was sparse, and leaves rustled in the wind throughout the forest.

Zhu Zhuqing silently appeared beside him and gently leaned against him as she sat down. Her long hair drifted in the wind, like a quiet little cat.

The corners of Lu Shi's lips lifted slightly. He pulled her into his arms and gently stroked her silky hair.

Ever since arriving at Shrek, the two of them had barely had any time alone together.

As the breeze brushed past them, Lu Shi softly asked, "Zhu Qing, if one day I leave Shrek, would you come with me?"

Zhu Zhuqing froze, unable to understand why Lu Shi had suddenly said such a thing. Still, she nodded, rubbing her cheek against his chest. Her beautiful eyes were gentle yet resolute.

"Wherever you go, I'll go."

They would never be separated.

The night passed without incident.

In the morning, Tang San, who had cultivated all night, opened his eyes, his gaze filled with excitement.

There was none of yesterday's dejection left.

"Teacher Zhao, I've broken through to level thirty."

"I need a Soul Ring too."

At those words, Zhao Wuji was immediately delighted, completely forgetting yesterday's unpleasantness. After all, Oscar was the one who had lost a Soul Ring, not him.

"Hahaha, good! Good!"

He praised him repeatedly.

"You heard that, right? You should all learn from Tang San. A twelve-year-old Soul Elder!"

He announced that they would search for Soul Rings for both Oscar and Tang San next.

Everyone reacted differently, though most were envious. After all, a twelve-year-old Soul Elder truly was rare. But Oscar was absolutely not among them.

He did not want to look at Tang San again.

For battle Soul Masters, most early-stage Soul Skills were of little use later on. However, the Soul Skills of support-type Soul Masters would grow stronger as their levels increased.

For example, an attribute boost of ten percent in the early stages might rise to fifty percent or even one hundred percent at higher levels.

For the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, each additional ring increased its attribute boost by ten percent.

Ning Fengzhi could raise every attribute by eighty percent.

The same applied to recovery or healing Soul Skills.

Setting aside Martial Soul quality, another factor affecting the improvement of enhancement effects was Soul Ring quality. Soul Rings from rare high-level Soul Beasts had greater growth potential.

In other words, Tang San had permanently lowered the limit he could reach.

Oscar had not fallen out with him only because he had been bullied too many times at Shrek, and his tolerance had grown stronger.

Besides, what would falling out accomplish? Have someone teach Tang San a lesson for him?

A food-type Soul Master with no combat ability challenging a control-type battle Soul Master of the same rank?

Or was there anyone present who could fight Tang San on his behalf?

Other than enduring it, what else could he do?

Over the next two days, Zhao Wuji led everyone through the outskirts of Star Dou Forest, continuing their search.

His strategy for finding Soul Beasts was extremely conservative. He would rather spend more time than take greater risks.

On the third night, the prolonged tension had left everyone's nerves somewhat numb.

It felt as though there was no real danger.

With Lu Shi and Zhao Wuji around, what was there to fear?

Ma Hongjun was the first to come around to this idea. He gathered some leaves and spread them outside the tent as a temporary bed, then lay down comfortably and closed his eyes.

The tent was too small. It only allowed people to sit and was not large enough to lie down in.

Zhao Wuji gritted his teeth in anger.

I'm acting as your babysitter, and you're sleeping like a log?

He walked over and kicked Ma Hongjun flying. His fat rippled like waves as he crashed heavily to the ground.

He let out a pained cry.

Stars spun before Ma Hongjun's eyes. Just as he tried to climb up, he felt an ice-cold aura erupt from Zhao Wuji.

Accompanied by a low roar, Zhao Wuji directly summoned his Martial Soul. The Vigorous Vajra Bear instantly possessed him.

The moment Ma Hongjun saw this, his legs went weak. Cold sweat poured down his face as he lay on the ground and begged, "Teacher Zhao, I'll never dare again!"

"I won't do it again!"

Don't hit me!

Unexpectedly, Zhao Wuji shouted, "Everyone, get out of the tent! Quickly!"

Ma Hongjun's face immediately went pale. Was Zhao Wuji going to punish him in front of everyone?

He hurriedly hugged himself and curled into a ball, shouting for Teacher Zhao to spare him.

Zhao Wuji ignored him. He dragged the ball-like Ma Hongjun behind him and sternly said, "All of you, get behind me. If anything happens later, don't worry about me. Leave this place immediately. We'll talk once you're out of Star Dou Forest. Lu Shi, while I'm gone, I'm entrusting everyone's safety to you!"

Ma Hongjun raised his head in confusion. So he was not going to be punished?

Behind him, neither Dai Mubai nor Oscar understood what had happened. What could make Zhao Wuji, who had always been so confident in his own strength, this nervous?

Then everyone saw a mountain-like figure. Its pitch-black fur gleamed faintly beneath the dim starlight and moonlight. Though it moved on all fours, its shoulders stood well over seven meters high.

If it stood upright, it would likely be at least fifteen meters tall.

It resembled both an ape and a gorilla. Its lantern-sized eyes glowed like yellow crystals, and its entire body was black, as if it had merged with the night itself. Every part of its enormous body was covered in terrifying muscles tougher than granite, bulging like small hills.

Yet despite its enormous body, it made no sound as it moved. Even its breathing could not be heard.

Zhao Wuji said in a deep voice, "Honored King of the Forest, we mean no offense. If this is your territory, we are willing to withdraw immediately."

The Titan Giant Ape ignored him and merely took a step forward. Yet that simple movement made everyone's hearts leap into their throats.

Zhao Wuji guessed that the King of the Forest would not let them go. Soul Masters slaughtered Soul Beasts, and Soul Beasts hated Soul Masters—especially an intelligent King of the Forest like this.

Gritting his teeth, he said in a deep voice, "I'll hold it back. Ning Rongrong, use your Soul Skills to support them. Leave quickly. You must be fast. I can't hold on for long."

Zhao Wuji took a deep breath. "Run!"

Then the seven Soul Rings around him blazed with light as he charged straight at the Titan Giant Ape.