The Titan Giant Ape Must Be an Evil Soul Beast

Dai Mubai slowly made his way back. After traveling about half a mile, he suddenly heard someone call out behind him.

"Boss Dai? What are you doing here?"

Dai Mubai paused and turned around. It was Xiao Wu.

He deliberately put on a pleasantly surprised expression. "Of course I came to save you. I followed the Titan Giant Ape's trail deep into the forest, but before I'd gone far, I suddenly sensed an incredibly terrifying presence, like there was some extremely powerful Soul Beast ahead. The pressure was dreadful. I really wasn't confident I could handle it, so I was about to head back and get Teacher Zhao for support. I never expected you to escape on your own. That's wonderful!"

He paused, then asked in confusion, "By the way, how did you escape from the Titan Giant Ape?"

Xiao Wu had clearly prepared her explanation long ago. She immediately replied, "I don't really know what happened either. That Titan Giant Ape carried me deeper into the forest. It hadn't run very far when a roar, like the bellowing of a bull, suddenly came from another direction. The Titan Giant Ape seemed very nervous when it heard it. It threw me aside and ran away."

As Xiao Wu spoke, she put on a lingeringly frightened expression.

Dai Mubai looked enlightened and nodded. "So that's what happened... You were really lucky. You've got a tough life."

Wasn't it? If Tang Hao hadn't been watching, you'd already be knocked out and stuffed into my Soul Tool!

"Yeah, it still feels like a dream." Xiao Wu forced a smile, then abruptly changed the subject. "Where's Third Brother? Why didn't he come?"

Dai Mubai's heart stirred, but his expression remained unchanged. "Oh, Tang San? He's fine. When we came after you, we encountered a Millennium Man Faced Demon Spider. Tang San said it was perfect for his third Soul Ring. He said he'd absorb the Soul Ring first to increase his strength, then come save you. That way, he'd be more certain of success."

The smile on Xiao Wu's face visibly froze for an instant.

She fell silent for several seconds before softly saying, "...Is that so? That's good. Third Brother has always been steady and reliable."

Dai Mubai secretly laughed. You had the Titan Giant Ape roar at me. Even if I can't capture you now, I can at least make you feel miserable.

He pretended to be concerned. "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

"I'm fine." Xiao Wu squeezed out a smile. "Let's hurry back. We shouldn't make everyone worry."

"Alright, let's go."

The two headed back in the direction they had come from, one after the other.

By the time they returned to where Tang San was absorbing his Soul Ring, Zhao Wuji and the others had already arrived. They stood guard around Tang San with great vigilance.

When everyone saw Dai Mubai and Xiao Wu return, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong in particular. Dai Mubai gave the two girls a reassuring look.

"Xiao Wu, how did you escape?" Zhao Wuji's face was full of shock when he saw that Xiao Wu was safe and sound.

Xiao Wu repeated the same explanation she had given Dai Mubai, then seemed to remember something and added,

"Oh, right, Teacher Zhao. Before that Titan Giant Ape ran away, it let out a huge roar. I was knocked unconscious immediately, and quite a few Soul Beasts nearby were knocked out too. When I woke up, I discovered that my Soul Power had actually reached level thirty! And among those unconscious Soul Beasts, I found a thousand-year Soul Beast that suited me perfectly, so I killed it and absorbed its third Soul Ring."

As she spoke, three Soul Rings slowly rose beneath her feet, two yellow and one purple. She was clearly already a Soul Elder!

"What?!"

Everyone stared in dumbfounded shock, exchanging bewildered looks.

Oscar's mouth fell open as he exclaimed, "Th-this is too absurd, isn't it? You got captured by the Titan Giant Ape, and not only were you completely unharmed, you even got a third Soul Ring for free?"

"Xiao Wu, your luck... it's practically heaven-defying!" Ma Hongjun scratched his head, his face full of envy.

Zhao Wuji was equally incredulous, but he couldn't spot anything suspicious. He could only shake his head and sigh. "Forget it, forget it. As long as you're safe, that's what matters. You've truly turned misfortune into a blessing."

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward as well, fussing over her with concern.

Xiao Wu smiled as she responded, but her gaze drifted toward Tang San, who was still absorbing his Soul Ring. Her eyes were complicated.

Four hours later, the darkness of night gradually faded, and the horizon turned pale with the first light of dawn.

Tang San finally slowly opened his eyes, though this time, there were no Eight Spider Lances. Feeling the surging Soul Power within him, a smile rose to his lips. Then he turned his gaze and saw Xiao Wu standing not far away.

"Xiao Wu?!"

Tang San abruptly sprang to his feet and rushed over. Overjoyed, he said, "Xiao Wu! It's wonderful that you're alright. I thought you wouldn't make it back!"

His ecstatic expression looked utterly sincere to anyone who saw it.

Seeing Tang San like that, the little bit of complicated emotion in Xiao Wu's heart seemed to fade considerably.

She bit her lip and softly said, "Brother, I thought I'd never see you again either."

Tang San hurriedly comforted her. "Xiao Wu, don't worry. I'm a Soul Elder now. From now on, I'll be able to protect you with everything I have. I won't let anyone hurt you again."

Xiao Wu nodded gently. "Third Brother, I believe you."

Watching this scene of "deep sibling affection" from the side, Dai Mubai suddenly had an idea. He prepared to add more fuel to the fire.

He clenched his fists and said indignantly, "That's right, Tang San, I support you. That Titan Giant Ape actually dared to harm Xiao Wu for no reason and abduct her. It must be an incredibly evil Soul Beast, one that deserves to die a thousand deaths. When we become stronger, we'll kill it together and vent Xiao Wu's anger!"

At those words, the flames of rage in Tang San's eyes were instantly ignited.

He suddenly lifted his head, his gaze blazing as he declared firmly, "Boss Dai is right! Xiao Wu, once I become stronger, I'll avenge you! I'll personally kill that beast and make it understand the consequences of hurting you!"

Xiao Wu suddenly had the overwhelming urge to curse. She was frantic inside!

On one side was Er Ming, and on the other was Third Brother. She didn't want anything to happen to either of them.

She hurriedly waved her hands. "Third Brother! Don't listen to Boss Dai's nonsense! The Titan Giant Ape didn't actually hurt me, really! I was only knocked unconscious for a moment! Don't take such a risk. We can't afford to provoke a Soul Beast of that level!"

"Xiao Wu, you're just too kind." Dai Mubai sighed. "It took you away. That counts as harm. Don't worry. As long as I, Boss Dai, am here, I won't let anything happen to Tang San. We Shrek members are as close as brothers. Your grudge is everyone's grudge. Sooner or later, we'll go settle the score with that Titan Giant Ape. Right, Tang San?"

"Right!" Tang San nodded heavily. "Xiao Wu, don't worry. I swore an oath that I would never let anyone who hurt you go. Even if it's the King of the Forest, I'll make it pay the price!"

Xiao Wu was on the verge of tears. Her pretty face flushed red from holding it in, and in the end, she simply lowered her head without saying another word.

"Alright, alright!" Zhao Wuji finally spoke. "We'll talk about the future later. Tang San, what is your third Soul Skill? What level is your Soul Power now?"

Tang San answered, "Teacher Zhao, my third Soul Skill is Web Restraint. It can release a large web over a wide area to restrict enemies' movements, and it carries a paralytic toxin. My Soul Power is level thirty-one."

"Web Restraint? A control-type Soul Skill. Not bad." Zhao Wuji nodded, then swept his gaze over the group. "Now only Ma Hongjun still lacks a Soul Ring. Everyone, pack up and continue onward!"

"Yes, Teacher Zhao!"

Everyone responded in unison and began organizing their gear.