A Chance Encounter with Tang San

"What exactly does this mark on the map mean?"

Lu Mingzi frowned, holding a pitch-black Beast Hide. A map of the Star Dou Great Forest was drawn on it.

The black hide felt bone-chillingly cold and was hard to the touch, as though it had existed for countless years.

The red mark was not very far away, roughly halfway through the outer reaches. At most, there would be Soul Beasts approaching ten thousand years old there, so the risk was not great.

The map had fallen out of the Titan Giant Ape's body. That meant the marked location could not be ordinary. Perhaps some rare opportunity lay hidden there.

After considering it carefully, Lu Mingzi decided to make the trip himself and see what was at the marked spot.

He put away the map and headed toward the mark.

"Just a few more miles."

Lu Mingzi looked ahead. A vast gorge lay there, split down the middle. The long journey had left him drenched in sweat.

Just as he was about to continue, he heard a sound behind him. He instantly grew wary, his entire body tensing.

Boom!

A tremendous crash shook the earth. Birds scattered in every direction, as though something had frightened them.

A terrifying wave of air surged toward him like a rising tide. It scraped across Lu Mingzi's face like blades, stinging his skin.

Lu Mingzi immediately realized that a powerful Soul Master was hunting a Soul Beast nearby. The commotion was enormous, and that Soul Master had to be at least above the Soul King level.

He was not skilled at reconnaissance, so he could only guess from the fluctuations of Soul Power.

"Hm?"

Lu Mingzi's expression changed sharply. The fluctuations were growing stronger. Something seemed to be approaching him at high speed.

No—it was a Soul Beast!

Lu Mingzi's face darkened. He immediately summoned his Martial Soul, the Demonfire Blade, and used his first Soul Skill. Flames mingled with Demonic Qi and poison blazed along its edge.

An enormous, strange black shape appeared. It had eight long, twisted legs, black-purple armor covering its body, and a hideous human face on its abdomen.

A Man Faced Demon Spider!

A huge wound gaped across its abdomen. Some Soul Master had apparently dealt it a grievous blow earlier, and it had fled all the way here to survive.

It did not attack Lu Mingzi. Instead, it escaped into the depths of the dark forest.

Lu Mingzi lowered the Demonfire Blade. He did not know whether the Soul Master hunting the Man Faced Demon Spider was friend or foe.

If he killed it, only he could absorb its Soul Ring. That would amount to stealing someone else's hard-won prize.

Besides, that Soul Master was strong. Lu Mingzi did not want to make an enemy of him.

Letting the Man Faced Demon Spider go might be the best choice.

Just then, several figures burst out of the woods.

Lu Mingzi's heart jolted. One of them looked extremely familiar. It was Tang San.

"The Man Faced Demon Spider. Right, the Man Faced Demon Spider. How did I forget Tang San was hunting it at this point?" He gave a bitter laugh.

"It's you!"

Tang San spotted the man below. The memory of Xiao Wu being beaten filled him with fury.

Without hesitation, he landed in front of Lu Mingzi. For some reason, the others all stopped behind him as though by silent agreement.

All of the Shrek Seven Devils were there. Beside them stood a middle-aged man of modest height. Though his face was bruised and swollen, he radiated a powerful pressure. It was Teacher Zhao Wuji.

"Seems fate keeps bringing us together."

Lu Mingzi smiled faintly, calm and composed.

"Little San, who is he?"

Dai Mubai looked baffled. He had not recognized Lu Mingzi.

In the Soul Fighting Arena, no one showed their true face. Everyone wore a mask to conceal their identity.

It was only natural that Dai Mubai had not recognized him.

"He hurt Xiao Wu before!"

At Tang San's words, anger flared in all of them. They turned hostile gazes on Lu Mingzi.

Lu Mingzi appeared calm, but inside, his thoughts were in turmoil.

All seven of the Shrek Seven Devils are here, and Zhao Wuji is with them. There's no way I can escape on my own.

His mind raced. Fighting them head-on would be no different from seeking death, but he could not outrun them either.

Even without the Shrek Seven Devils, Zhao Wuji alone could pin him to the ground and pummel him. He would have no chance to fight back.

"You hurt my teacher and Xiao Wu. Today, I'll make you pay!"

Tang San spoke furiously. With his companions beside him and someone as powerful as Zhao Wuji present, there was no way Lu Mingzi would get away unscathed.

Years of resentment surged up in Tang San. He would show Lu Mingzi what happened to those who hurt the people he cared about.

Lu Mingzi kept his nerves taut and focused on speaking to Demonic Thought.

"Do you have a way to get me out of here?"

"Of course. Fly to that gorge behind you."

Demonic Thought sounded relaxed, utterly unconcerned with whether Lu Mingzi lived or died.

"Pour all your Soul Power into the Angel Wings, and you can fly at high speed for two minutes. The cost is steep, though. Want to try?"

"Yes."

Lu Mingzi had no other choice. He could either stay and let Tang San beat him half to death, or risk everything to escape.

At that moment, Tang San's figure flashed forward. He closed in rapidly and threw a punch at Lu Mingzi.

Zhao Wuji did not move to help. He already knew Lu Mingzi was only a boy at the Soul Elder level.

This was a good chance for Tang San to test his skills. Zhao Wuji had misjudged the situation.

Boom!

Lu Mingzi threw a punch of his own. Their fists collided with a faint crack of bone, and Tang San went flying.

Neither had used Soul Power, yet Lu Mingzi's strength was astonishing. Tang San stared in shock, feeling as though he had clashed with a ferocious giant beast.

Tang San gritted his teeth as he hurtled backward like a cannonball. Only a tree stopped him. Several of his finger bones had been shattered, and blood spilled from his mouth.

"How is that possible?"

Zhao Wuji was stunned. Tang San was a prodigy who could withstand several of his Soul Skills. His strength was beyond doubt, yet he had been sent flying by a single punch.

"Bye-bye!"

Lu Mingzi taunted them. A pair of black wings spread from his back, and he drove all the Soul Power in his body into them.

By the time the others reacted, it was too late to stop him. Lu Mingzi shot toward the gorge at such speed that their eyes could barely follow him.

"Damn it!"

Zhao Wuji flew into a rage, but he did not give chase. Instead, he hurried to Tang San's side to check his injuries.

"Little San, how are you?"

Not long ago, Tang San's father had beaten Zhao Wuji so badly that his face was bruised and swollen. He had not had a chance to fight back.

If Tang San was seriously hurt, Tang Hao would never let Zhao Wuji off.

"I'm fine, Teacher Zhao. We have to catch him!"

Tang San struggled to his feet. Agonizing pain stabbed through his hand, bringing hot sweat to his brow.

"Brother San, have a sausage."

Oscar came over and gave Tang San a Recovery Big Sausage. Only then did he feel somewhat better.

"After him! Don't let him get away!"