The Beaten Titan Giant Ape

Early the next morning, Yang Xiu, who originally planned to return to the sect and wanted to spend more time walking with Zhu Qing, finally decided to lead the team himself, taking Tang San and the people of the Flame Emperor Sect to the Star Dou Great Forest to give them some practical experience, help Tang San obtain his soul ring, and by the way, take Xiao Wu home to visit.

Just like the original events, Flender began his lecture to them. Bai Kai was beside him, only without Ma Hongjun and Zhu Qing who were lying in bed, but with the additions of Bai Ling, Hong Wu, and Zi Yang.

The last one to train was Bai Kai, who started making Oscar and Ning Rongrong run. Seeing Yang Xiu's arrival, Flender stepped up to greet him.

"I wonder if you all are leaving or?"

Yang Xiu spoke up. "Xiao San has reached the point of obtaining his soul ring, so I am taking him. Since I happen to have free time, I am also taking the sect disciples out for some practical experience."

Flender knew they were from the Flame Emperor Sect, though he did not know their exact status. Still, he could roughly guess.

"Oh, is that so? Then I won't disturb you all." Flender nodded toward Yang Xiu and the others and left.

"Xiao San, Xiao Wu, Bai Ling, Hong Wu."

Yang Xiu did not pay attention to Dai Mubai and the others nearby, nodded to Bai Kai, and finally led the four of them away.

On the way, Yang Xiu said to them,

"This is a trial for you. None of us will make a move unless you encounter people and Soul Beasts you cannot defeat, so you must all pay attention. If you are careless and get injured, you will be punished when we get back. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sect Master!" Even Xiao Wu called him Sect Master this time.

"Alright, pick up the pace. Destination: the Star Dou Great Forest."

Soon, they arrived at the inn where the original group had rested. They did not run into that level-50 Turtle King, since it was not Oscar's breakthrough time, and there were no accidents. They had a peaceful and uneventful night of rest, and set off again early the next morning.

Inside the Star Dou Great Forest, Tang San and the others proceeded with caution. They had already encountered several Soul Beasts, but because they did not need their soul rings, and on account of Xiao Wu, none of them were killed.

At that moment, they had begun to enter the area where Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts haunted. Just then, the sounds of battle ahead drew their attention.

A team dedicated to hunting Soul Beasts was currently slaying a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. The person who hired them should be a genius among commoners, a Soul King in his forties. Of course, given his age, a Soul Emperor might be his limit.

"Hold steady! Yes, right like that!"

"You there, hurry, launch a sneak attack from behind!"

Soon, under their coordinated efforts, a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast forfeited its life.

Shortly after, they discovered Yang Xiu's group, since a group of people was simply too large.

The people on the opposite side grew nervous. Yang Xiu paid them no mind, walking on by himself. He soon passed right by them, looking at the silent group. The other side did not look for trouble either, and they brushed past each other just like that.

And so, Yang Xiu led Tang San and the others trekking through the forest for a long time. Not a single Soul Beast they encountered was suitable for Tang San, but soon, the goddess of luck favored them when they ran into a Soul-Devouring Spider of over twenty thousand years.

"Xiao San, you all will take this one yourselves. If you can't beat it, we'll step in. This will be your soul ring."

Before long, under Tang San's leadership, the battle commenced. Guan Sheng also sensed the arrival of Er Ming.

"Sect Master, a powerful Soul Beast is coming. Could it be here for Xiao Wu?"

"Yes, her home is right here. You go ahead and intercept it first. Talk reason with it; if it won't listen, then fight."

"After Xiao Wu and the others finish this battle, I'll take her over."

"Understood, Sect Master." Finishing his words, Guan Sheng soared into the air, heading deep into the Star Dou Great Forest, and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Soon, Guan Sheng spotted the Titan Giant Ape, Er Ming. At the same time, Er Ming spotted Guan Sheng. It halted its steps and sensed Guan Sheng's aura. It was overwhelmingly strong—so strong that it felt peace was still the better option.

"Human,

what are you here for? Why are you blocking my path?" "The person you are looking for is currently undergoing a trial. She will come over in a bit, so don't go disturbing her for now."

"How do you know I'm looking for someone? Who are you? What did you do to her?!" The Titan Giant Ape flew into a rage.

"She is fine. I told you, she will be here in a moment. Even if I wanted to do something to her, you wouldn't be able to stop me. Don't be ungrateful." Guan Sheng's temper was not great either, and he no longer intended to speak nicely.

"Why should I believe you? Are you lot plotting against Sister Xiao Wu?" This absolute blockhead—with that kind of thought process, he lost his brain the moment he got anxious...

"Roar!" A colossal roar shook the entire Star Dou Great Forest. Knowing it could not defeat Guan Sheng, it called for backup.

Moments later, a responding roar answered it. Upon hearing the reply, Er Ming charged straight at Guan Sheng, and combat erupted.

Guan Sheng grew utterly furious. With that pig-headed display, his anger flared right up. Given the disparity in strength, no matter how thick-skinned the Titan Giant Ape was, it was soon beaten black and blue. If he hadn't known this was a misunderstanding, Guan Sheng would have loved to use the Dragging-Blade Technique to slaughter this creature that grew a body without a brain. Shortly after receiving a thorough beating, the Titan Giant Ape prepared to fight to the death.

Right at that moment, the Sky Azure Bull Python arrived. It looked at Er Ming, who had only suffered superficial wounds, and then sensed Guan Sheng's strength. It knew Guan Sheng had held back, and it figured there must be something going on here that it did not know about.

"Second Brother, stop."

"But Sister Xiao Wu might have been captured by them!" Er Ming shouted anxiously.

"Humans, what is your purpose in coming here?"

"No particular purpose, just helping a junior acquire a soul ring."

A voice came from afar, and Hua Xiong soon arrived at the spot. Upon sensing the Sky Azure Bull Python's aura, he had informed Yang Xiu. Yang Xiu sent him over, fearing that these two Soul Beasts would be unreasonable.

Sensing Hua Xiong's aura, although not quite as formidable as Guan Sheng's, it was still immensely powerful and could definitely match Er Ming in a fight.

"Another Super Douluo! What do you humans want?"

"I told it just now, but it wouldn't believe me." Guan Sheng pointed at Er Ming as he spoke.

"I'll say this one last time: that little rabbit will be here shortly, so don't go disturbing them."

The Sky Azure Bull Python pondered for a moment. If they harbored any malicious intentions toward Xiao Wu, they wouldn't have come here to dawdle and argue with it; they would have killed Xiao Wu long ago.

"Humans, I believe you. But you must tell me, how much longer until Sister Xiao Wu arrives?"

"Very soon, just wait a little longer," Hua Xiong said.

For a time, the two men and two beasts fell silent. If they hadn't been able to sense Xiao Wu's aura, they wouldn't have been so easy to talk to.

Over on Tang San's side, the Soul-Devouring Spider had already sustained injuries from their prolonged, coordinated attacks. Tang San pulled out all his hidden weapon trump cards; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so simple, considering it was a two-10,000-year Soul Beast. Right at that moment, the Soul-Devouring Spider prepared to fight for its life, getting ready to use its innate ability, Soul Devour. Faced with such a situation, Yang Xiu took action. Fearing they might suffer any mishaps, he unleashed the Void Force, instantly appeared before them, and unleashed a Fierce Leopard's Roar straight at the Soul-Devouring Spider, roaring it directly into unconsciousness and interrupting its innate ability.

"Xiao San, go!"

Seizing the opportunity, Tang San directly used a hidden weapon to shoot through the Soul Beast's eye and into its brain. After struggling for a moment, it died.

Looking at the floating black soul ring, Yang Xiu said,

"Xiao San, go ahead."

Soon, Tang San began to cross his legs and sit down to absorb the soul ring. At that moment, Yang Xiu approached Xiao Wu.

"Xiao Wu, come with me. You guys keep an eye on Tang San for a moment; I'm taking Xiao Wu to handle something."

"Zhu Qing, I'll be right back." Zhu Qing smiled at Yang Xiu and nodded.

Releasing his External Soul Bone, Yang Xiu scooped up Xiao Wu with one hand and took flight, soaring toward the spot where Guan Sheng and the others' auras were.

Sensing Xiao Wu's aura drawing closer and closer, the hearts of the two Soul Beasts gradually calmed. Before long, Yang Xiu appeared in their field of vision carrying Xiao Wu. The moment she touched the ground, Xiao Wu ran over and cried out happily,

"Da Ming, Er Ming! Sister Xiao Wu has come to see you!"

"Sister Xiao Wu!" Both beasts shouted. Er Ming appeared extremely excited. Soon, Xiao Wu noticed the bumps all over Er Ming's body—lump after lump—and let out a very unrighteous laugh, causing the Titan Giant Ape to cast a deeply aggrieved look at Guan Sheng with its large eyes. Guan Sheng, however, ignored it. While Xiao Wu chatted about everyday family matters with them, this was the first time Yang Xiu had laid eyes on a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. To say he had no thoughts at all would be a lie; his second martial soul was still empty. Yet, he had his own bottom line, and that was the difference between humans and people. Half an hour later,

"Human, thank you for taking care of Sister Xiao Wu. From now on, your Flame Emperor Sect is a friend of my Sky Azure Bull Python. You are the best human I have ever met. Thank you for protecting her for so long; please take good care of her from now on. She said she found a boy who combs her hair—could you bring him for us to see next time?"

"She is also a part of the Flame Emperor Sect, and she is my younger sister. You don't need to thank me."

Yang Xiu then transmitted his voice: "His mother was also a Soul Beast, so you don't need to worry. He treats Xiao Wu very well." After chatting a bit more with the Sky Azure Bull Python,

he looked at Xiao Wu, who was still teasing Er Ming, and said,

"We should get going, Xiao Wu."

Only then did Xiao Wu walk over with lingering reluctance.

Seeing her like this, Yang Xiu said, "We can just come back next time. There's no need to be so reluctant to part."

Xiao Wu pouted, but still said, "Alright, then."

"Da Ming, Er Ming, I'm leaving! Remember to miss me!"

"Goodbye, Sister Xiao Wu!"

Watching the four figures depart, the two beasts stood motionless for a long time.

"Big Brother, do you think taking human form is really that great?"

"Don't let your mind wander with useless thoughts all day. Go back and cultivate properly, and don't be so impulsive in the future. If that person had wanted to kill you, do you think you could have lasted until I arrived?"

The Sky Azure Bull Python left. Er Ming thought of what it had been like to get beaten up, and finally shuddered.

Suddenly, it harbored a psychological shadow regarding that human. It felt it needed to cultivate properly—not even speaking of revenge, at least so it wouldn't get beaten up quite so miserably next time.

In a flash, Er Ming leaped away and vanished deep into the Star Dou Great Forest.