Bibi Dong froze briefly as she watched the Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor flee deeper into the forest.
You're a fifty-thousand-year soul beast, for heaven's sake! Why did you run after just one exchange?
With no time to dwell on it, Bibi Dong cautiously pursued him, occasionally using her first soul skill to hamper his speed.
In the distance,
Bibi Dong was not the only one stunned by the Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor's retreat. Qian Daoliu and the others were puzzled too. Wasn't this Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor acting out of character? Where had his bloodthirsty ferocity gone? What happened to his extreme aggression?
As a fifty-thousand-year soul beast, surely he would dare trade a few rounds with Bibi Dong.
What was this business of running after just one exchange?
Could he know we're nearby?
But we haven't leaked any of our auras, have we?
"Surely Dong'er didn't scare him off?"
"Let's follow him. We can't let him escape."
As Qian Daoliu spoke, he stopped concealing his aura and led the others after him.
"Ling!"
Qian Daoliu called out to Guang Ling, who nodded in understanding.
Silvery-white hair cascaded to his waist, and his formerly gentle eyes took on an icy-blue hue. Then his martial soul, the Light Feather Divine Bow, appeared in his left hand, and ice instantly encased his arm.
Two purple and seven black soul rings appeared.
The two purple rings flashed.
First soul skill: Invisible Arrow!
Second soul skill: Light Feather Arrow Rain!
Countless arrows flew toward the distant Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor as though they had eyes.
Guang Ling did not shoot to kill, however. Instead, he used the arrows' slowing ice effect to repeatedly cut off his target, keeping him from actually reaching the core region of Star Dou Forest.
A powerful sense of danger rose within the Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor. Without hesitation, he spat an enormous web behind him, then immediately drove his legs harder and fled with even greater desperation.
That sudden feeling had been right. Powerful humans really were following that little girl.
At that moment, he had only one thought: If I don't run faster, this spider is going to die.
Some of the arrows pinned the web to a large tree, and only a few struck him.
Seeing this, Guang Ling's third soul ring, a ten thousand year soul ring, lit up.
Third soul skill: Light Feather Ice Wings!
Icy feathered wings spread behind Guang Ling, and he flew high into the air. As he hovered there, his fourth soul ring instantly lit up.
High-Explosive Piercing Strike!
Guang Ling gathered his power, and a deep-blue arrow condensed on the Light Feather Divine Bow.
Whoosh!
The deep-blue arrow shot toward the Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor.
Boom!
The arrow exploded on impact, coating the Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor's body in icy blue and blasting off two legs on his right side.
The Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor let out a strange, agonized shriek. Disregarding his two missing legs, he continued fleeing deeper into the forest.
But with two legs missing, his speed dropped noticeably, and he struggled to maintain his balance.
"Boss, mission accomplished."
Guang Ling did not withdraw his martial soul. Instead, he returned to the others with a cheerful grin.
"Don't let your guard down. That soul beast took an arrow from Ling, so Dong'er will have an easier time killing him. But we're already in the inner region."
Qian Daoliu addressed the others.
He could sense the increasingly rich aura of life. That meant the Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor knew the Lake of Life lay ahead. He was leading them there, hoping the powerful soul beasts within would force them back.
"Stay alert. We can't let any nearby soul beasts disturb Dong'er's soul hunting."
After Guang Ling's arrow struck, Bibi Dong had caught up with the Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor.
Bibi Dong was fighting him, but the Man Faced Demon Spider still showed no intention of staying.
"Roar!"
An enormous roar came from deep within the forest.
Bibi Dong's expression changed as she maneuvered around the Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor.
Qian Daoliu and the others immediately appeared above the Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor.
A terrifying pressure spread out, forcing the Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor to prostrate himself on the ground and tremble.
Golden Crocodile released his martial soul. Eight black soul rings and one red encircled him, and an enormous Golden Crocodile King appeared, its body over forty meters long. With a wave of Golden Crocodile's hand, the Golden Crocodile King pinned the Man Faced Demon Spider beneath its forelimb, leaving him unable to move.
"Dong'er, a soul beast is coming. Send this spider on his way first."
Bibi Dong looked at the Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor beneath the Golden Crocodile King's feet. Since her teacher had not left, that meant it was safe.
Then her sixth soul ring activated.
Blood-Sucking Spider Thorn!
The spider spears on Bibi Dong's body pierced the Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor's head and began draining his soul power to replenish her own.
Soon, the still-struggling Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor no longer had the strength to resist.
The soul power Bibi Dong had expended earlier was replenished.
Fifth soul skill: Kiss of Death!
Boom!
With no soul power left to resist, the Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor was killed by Bibi Dong. A black soul ring appeared, and the Golden Crocodile King lifted its forelimb away upon seeing it.
Bibi Dong leaped onto the Man Faced Demon Spider Emperor's back and began absorbing the soul ring.
"Golden Crocodile, Guang Ling, watch the surroundings and guard Dong'er while she absorbs her soul ring."
"Yes."
Golden Crocodile and Guang Ling both grew solemn.
"Boss, it should be a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. Want it?"
A black-and-gold staff rested across Jiang Mo's shoulders. It was his martial soul-the Coiling Dragon Staff! Red runes marked its surface.
The moment Golden Crocodile and the others sensed this soul beast, they thought of securing another soul ring for Qian Daoliu. They simply did not yet know what kind of soul beast it was.
A hundred meters away, several large trees suddenly tilted to either side, and a mountainous figure appeared before them.
Seeing this enormous creature, Golden Crocodile and the others smiled. They had been worried it might not suit Qian Daoliu as a soul ring, but this fellow seemed promising.
The mountainous soul beast in the distance had bulging, powerful muscles and jet-black fur covering its body. Beneath the sunlight, however, its fur took on a black-and-gold sheen.
Even on all fours, this soul beast stood over seven meters tall at the shoulders. If it rose upright, it would probably tower over sixteen meters.
In appearance, this soul beast resembled an enormous black gorilla, with a savage, menacing face. Its lantern-sized eyes watched Qian Daoliu and the others as it slowed its steps.
"So it's a Titan Giant Ape."
Jiang Mo spoke as he watched the ape. Though his tone was casual, he remained highly vigilant.
According to Spirit Hall's intelligence,
A Titled Douluo had once ventured to the center of the inner region while exploring Star Dou Great Forest. He had seen this Titan Giant Ape, and beside it had been a Sky Azure Bull Python with a bull's head and a snake's body.
When the Sky Azure Bull Python spoke, it had given that Titled Douluo quite a fright.
With the Titan Giant Ape appearing here now, the Sky Azure Bull Python might show up as well.
Jiang Mo was not afraid of a single hundred-thousand-year soul beast, but two would require some consideration...
Looking at the giant ape before him, Qian Daoliu knew this was Er Ming, the hundred-thousand-year soul beast who served as a gatekeeper of Star Dou Great Forest.
Although Qian Daoliu no longer possessed his peak strength, he still released his martial soul and soul rings. He could at least put on an intimidating show.
"Hey, human, you..."
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