The Titan Giant Ape Gets Beaten Up

Early the next morning, Yang Xiu had planned to return to the Sect, but he wanted to spend more time with Zhu Zhuqing. In the end, he decided to lead Tang San and the Flame Emperor Sect disciples into the Star Dou Great Forest. The trip would give them experience, help Tang San obtain a Soul Ring, and let Xiao Wu visit home.

As before, Flender began lecturing them. Bai Kai stood beside him, but Ma Hongjun and Zhu Zhuqing were absent, still lying in bed. Bai Ling, Hong Wu, and Zi Yang had joined them instead.

Bai Kai was in charge of the final exercise. He had Oscar and Ning Rongrong start running. When Flender saw Yang Xiu arrive, he greeted him.

"Are you all leaving, or...?"

Yang Xiu answered, "It's time for Xiao San to obtain a Soul Ring. I'm taking him there, and since I have some free time, I'll bring the Sect disciples along for experience."

Flender knew they belonged to the Flame Emperor Sect. He did not know exactly when their identities had come to light, but he could more or less guess.

"Oh, I see. Then I won't keep you." Flender nodded to Yang Xiu and the others before leaving.

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

Yang Xiu paid no attention to Dai Mubai and the others nearby. He nodded to Bai Kai, then led the four of them away.

On the road, Yang Xiu told them,

"This trip is training for you. None of us will step in unless you face someone or a Soul Beast you can't defeat. So stay alert. If carelessness gets you hurt, you'll be punished when we return. Understood?"

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

"Good. Pick up the pace. Our destination is the Star Dou Great Forest."

They soon reached the hotel where the group had rested before. They did not run into that level-fifty turtle king; after all, this was not when Oscar broke through. Nothing unexpected happened. After an uneventful night's rest, they set out again early the next morning.

Inside the Star Dou Great Forest, Tang San and the others advanced cautiously. They had already encountered several Soul Beasts, but none had a Soul Ring they needed. For Xiao Wu's sake, they had killed none of them.

They had now entered an area where Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts roamed. Just then, the sound of fighting ahead caught their attention.

A team that specialized in hunting Soul Beasts was killing a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. The person who had hired them was probably a rare talent from among the common people, having reached Soul King in his forties. At his age, though, Soul Emperor might be as far as he could go.

"Hold steady. Yes, just like that!"

"You there! Quick, attack it from behind!"

Working together, they soon took the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast's life.

Before long, they spotted Yang Xiu's group. There were too many of them to miss.

The hunters grew tense. Yang Xiu ignored them and kept walking. He and his group soon passed them without a word, and the hunters made no trouble. The two groups simply brushed past each other.

Yang Xiu led Tang San and the others through the forest for a long while. Not one of the Soul Beasts they encountered suited Tang San. But before long, Lady Luck smiled on them: they found a Soul-Devouring Spider more than twenty thousand years old.

"Xiao San, this one is yours to handle. We'll step in if you can't beat it. That's your Soul Ring."

The battle soon began under Tang San's lead. Guan Sheng also sensed Er Ming approaching.

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

"Yes. Her home is here. Go and stop him first. Try talking sense into him; if he won't listen, beat him."

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

"Yes, Sect Master." With that, Guan Sheng leaped into the air and headed deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest, soon vanishing from sight.

Guan Sheng soon spotted Er Ming, the Titan Giant Ape. Er Ming saw him too and stopped. After sensing Guan Sheng's aura, Er Ming found his strength almost absurd. He decided it would be best to keep the peace.

"Human,

what are you doing here? Why are you blocking my way?" "The person you're looking for is training right now. She'll come over soon. Don't go and disturb her."

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

"She's fine. I told you she'll be here soon. If I wanted to do anything to her, you couldn't stop me anyway. Don't push your luck." Guan Sheng had a temper of his own, and he had lost all interest in speaking politely.

"Why should I believe you? Are you hurting Sister Xiao Wu?" This big fool's mind had taken a strange turn. The moment he got anxious, he stopped using his head...

"Roar!" A tremendous roar rang throughout the Star Dou Great Forest. Er Ming knew he could not beat Guan Sheng, so he called for help.

A answering roar soon came. On hearing it, Er Ming charged Guan Sheng, and they began to fight.

Guan Sheng was furious. What a pig-brained fool! His anger only grew as they fought. The gap in strength was too great; even with his thick hide, the Titan Giant Ape was soon beaten black and blue. If Guan Sheng had not known this was a misunderstanding, he would have wanted to use the Dragging-Blade Technique to kill this creature who had grown a massive body without growing a brain. After taking a thorough beating, the Titan Giant Ape was ready to fight for his life.

Just then, the Sky Azure Bull Python arrived. Da Ming looked at Er Ming and saw that his wounds were only superficial, then sensed Guan Sheng's strength. He knew Guan Sheng had held back and suspected there was something he did not know.

"Er Ming, stop."

"But they might have captured Sister Xiao Wu!" Er Ming said urgently.

"Human, why have you come here?"

"No particular reason. We're helping a junior obtain a Soul Ring."

A voice came from afar, and Hua Xiong soon arrived. When he had sensed the Sky Azure Bull Python's aura, he had informed Yang Xiu, who sent him over. Yang Xiu was worried the two Soul Beasts might refuse to listen to reason.

Da Ming sensed Hua Xiong's aura. Though Hua Xiong was not as strong as Guan Sheng, he was still formidable—more than capable of fighting Er Ming.

"Another Super Douluo. What are you humans trying to do?"

"I already told him, but he wouldn't believe me," Guan Sheng said, pointing at Er Ming.

"I'll say it one last time. Little Rabbit will be here soon. Don't go and disturb them."

The Sky Azure Bull Python thought for a moment. If these humans had designs on Xiao Wu, they would not be standing here wasting words with him. They would have killed her already.

"Human, I believe you. Tell me, how much longer until Sister Xiao Wu arrives?"

"Soon. Wait a little longer," Hua Xiong said.

The two men and two Soul Beasts fell silent. If the beasts had not been able to sense Xiao Wu's aura, they would not have been so willing to talk.

On Tang San's side, the Soul-Devouring Spider had been wounded by their prolonged, coordinated assault. Tang San had used every trump card he had, including his Hidden Weapons. Otherwise, fighting a twenty-thousand-year Soul Beast would never have gone so smoothly. Just then, the spider prepared to fight desperately and unleash its innate ability, Soul Devour. Yang Xiu stepped in, afraid the others might be hurt. Using Void Force, he appeared before them in an instant and hit the spider with Fierce Leopard's Roar. The blast knocked it unconscious on the spot and interrupted its ability.

"Xiao San, now!"

Tang San seized the chance. He fired a Hidden Weapon through the Soul Beast's eye and into its brain. After struggling for a moment, the spider died.

Watching the black Soul Ring rise from its body, Yang Xiu said,

"Go ahead, Xiao San."

Tang San soon sat cross-legged and began absorbing the Soul Ring. Yang Xiu went over to Xiao Wu.

"Xiao Wu, come with me. Keep an eye on Tang San, everyone. I need to take Xiao Wu somewhere."

"Zhu Zhuqing, I'll be back soon." Zhu Zhuqing smiled at Yang Xiu and nodded.

Yang Xiu released his External Soul Bone, grabbed Xiao Wu with one hand, and flew toward Guan Sheng and the others.

As Xiao Wu's aura drew closer, the two Soul Beasts gradually relaxed. Yang Xiu soon brought her into view. The moment they landed, Xiao Wu ran over and called out happily,

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

"Sister Xiao Wu!" both beasts cried. Er Ming was especially excited. Xiao Wu soon noticed the lumps all over him and burst out laughing without a shred of sympathy. The Titan Giant Ape turned his enormous eyes on Guan Sheng in reproach, but Guan Sheng ignored him. While Xiao Wu caught up with them, Yang Xiu studied the beasts. This was his first time seeing hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts. He would have been lying if he said the thought had not crossed his mind; his Second Martial Soul still had no Soul Rings. But he had his own limits. Perhaps that was what set one person apart from another. Half an hour later,

"Human, thank you for looking after Sister Xiao Wu. From now on, your Flame Emperor Sect is a friend of mine. You're the best human I've ever met. Thank you for protecting her all this time. Please continue to take good care of her. She said she's found a boy who brushes her hair. Could you bring him to meet us next time?"

"She's part of the Flame Emperor Sect, and she's my little sister too. You don't need to thank me."

"She means Xiao San."

Yang Xiu added through a voice transmission, "His mother was a Soul Beast too, so you don't need to worry. He treats Xiao Wu well." He chatted with the Sky Azure Bull Python a while longer.

Seeing Xiao Wu teasing Er Ming, Yang Xiu said,

"It's time for us to go, Xiao Wu."

Only then did Xiao Wu come over, reluctant to leave.

Seeing her like that, Yang Xiu said, "You can visit again. Don't be so reluctant to go."

Xiao Wu pouted, but said, "All right, then."

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

"Goodbye, Sister Xiao Wu!"

The two beasts watched the four figures disappear into the distance. For a long time, neither moved.

"Big brother, is taking human form really that good?"

"Stop letting your thoughts run wild. Go back and train hard. And don't be so impulsive next time. If that man had wanted to kill you, do you think you could have lasted until I arrived?"

The Sky Azure Bull Python left. Er Ming thought back to the beating he had taken and shuddered.

All at once, that human had become a shadow hanging over him. He decided he ought to train hard—not necessarily for revenge, but at least so he would not be beaten so badly next time.

Soon, Er Ming bounded away into the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.