Douluo: I Can Become Stronger by Pitfalling Yu Xiaogang

Meng Yiran was tugged by Chao Tianxiang and came to her senses somewhat, but she still stared fixedly at Zhang Tianyu, her eyes like a pool of spring water. "You... My name is Meng Yiran. May I know your name?"

Xiao Wu frowned and was just about to speak when Zhang Tianyu said, "My name is Zhang Tianyu."

"Zhang Tianyu... Zhang Tianyu..." Meng Yiran repeated it several times. "All right... I'll remember it. I lost this time. I hope we'll have another chance to spar someday."

"Let's go." Chao Tianxiang gave Zhao Wuji a deep look, then glanced at Zhang Tianyu before turning and leaving with Meng Yiran.

Meng Yiran looked back every few steps as she left.

After the two of them departed, everyone turned their gazes back to Zhang Tianyu.

"Ah, what is it? Why are you all looking at me like that? Little Ao, why are you still standing there? Hurry up and absorb the Soul Ring."

"Oh, right!" Oscar snapped back to his senses and slapped his forehead. "Thanks, brother!"

Then, excitedly, he slit the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's throat and sat down cross-legged to begin absorbing the Soul Ring.

Dai Mubai glanced at Oscar, then sidled up to Zhang Tianyu and jabbed him with his elbow, grinning slyly. "Tianyu, I already knew you were charming, but I never expected you to be this charming! You've got a girl you just met completely smitten with you!"

"Yeah, yeah!" Ma Hongjun was nearly mad with envy. "If I had that kind of charm, I wouldn't have to worry about my Evil Fire at all!"

Dai Mubai draped an arm around Zhang Tianyu's shoulders. A glint flashed through his wicked eyes as he lowered his voice. "Next time we go out to have some fun, I'll definitely bring you along, brother..."

"Hey! Dai Mubai! What are you talking about?!" Xiao Wu finally couldn't hold it in anymore and erupted in Rage Burst on the spot.

Dai Mubai suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly raised both hands. "Ah... well, I was just saying, just saying. Tianyu isn't that kind of person either..."

He figured Xiao Wu was not someone he could afford to provoke, so he quickly fled with a placating grin.

Ma Hongjun likewise oiled his feet and ran off right after him.

Xiao Wu looked at Zhang Tianyu, her little mouth pouting. "Why did you tell her your name?"

"It's only a name. The more friends you have, the more paths you have open to you." Zhang Tianyu smiled. "Besides, you saw Teacher Zhao's attitude toward her just now. That Dragon Duke Snake Matriarch clearly isn't someone easy to deal with. I don't want to bring trouble upon our whole team over a name."

After hearing that, everyone understood.

Zhao Wuji smiled. "Exactly. It's only a name, no need to fuss over it. Could that little girl steal him away from your side just because she knows his name?"

Xiao Wu's face reddened. "Oh, Teacher Zhao, what are you saying..."

The boys laughed. Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were smiling as well, but there was obvious disappointment in their eyes.

"Was I wrong?" Zhao Wuji spread his hands. "I may be getting old, but my eyes aren't deaf."

Everyone burst into laughter, and the forest was filled with cheerful air.

"All right, keep it down. Don't disturb Oscar," Zhao Wuji said seriously. "Tianyu, Zhu Zhuqing, you two get up high and keep an eye on the surroundings."

The two nodded. Zhang Tianyu rode his flying sword into the air, while Zhu Zhuqing nimbly climbed onto the branch of a large tree.

About an hour later, Oscar successfully absorbed the Soul Ring.

Three Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet. Having transformed from a Soul Grandmaster into a Soul Elder, Oscar's entire bearing had changed.

"Not bad. What's your Third Soul Skill?" Zhao Wuji quickly asked.

"You can't laugh if I tell you," Oscar said.

"Quit talking nonsense and hurry up!" Zhao Wuji said.

"Don't worry. We've received professional training. No matter how funny it is, we won't laugh," Zhang Tianyu said.

Oscar fell silent for two seconds. His third Soul Ring lit up.

"I Have a Mushroom Sausage!"

"HAHAHA! I knew it!" Dai Mubai was the first to burst into wild laughter.

"Staying true to yourself!" Zhao Wuji also laughed loudly.

The others joined in as well, including Zhang Tianyu.

Oscar: ...

"Didn't you say you wouldn't laugh? That you wouldn't laugh no matter how funny it was?"

"Unless we can't hold it in," Zhang Tianyu said.

All right, it wasn't actually that funny.

But you had to play along with these people.

Otherwise, they'd say I didn't share their joys and sorrows.

That was life. Not everyone liked to follow the crowd, but often you had to go along with it, if only to avoid seeming so out of place.

Humans really are social animals!

Later, when they learned that Oscar's Third Soul Skill created a mushroom sausage that allowed whoever ate it to fly at the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's speed for one minute, everyone was utterly shocked!

In Ning Rongrong's understanding, flight-related skills for support Soul Masters generally had to be at least Sixth Soul Skills. Yet this Third Soul Skill granted flight—it was incredible!

Of course, it still couldn't compare to Zhang Tianyu.

Zhang Tianyu had been able to fly on a sword long ago.

Ning Rongrong acknowledged Oscar's excellence and admired his talent, but in her eyes, Oscar was still no match for Zhang Tianyu.

What the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect truly lacked were Battle Soul Masters like Zhang Tianyu—powerful and immensely talented!

Oscar had been feeling rather pleased with himself, but when he saw Ning Rongrong's eyes still seeming glued to Zhang Tianyu, his mood sank.

But he quickly pulled himself together.

There were plenty of beautiful women in the world. There was no need to hang himself from this one tree.

Zhao Wuji was very satisfied. "Not bad! This trip to the Star Dou Great Forest can be considered a complete success. Pack up—we'll get ready to head back."

Just then, Tang San raised his hand. "Teacher Zhao, I'm afraid we can't go back just yet."

"Why?" Everyone was taken aback.

"My training over the past several days finally paid off—I broke through this morning," Tang San said. "So I'm afraid I also need a Soul Ring to advance."

Everyone froze!

Another one!

Another twelve-year-old Soul Elder had appeared!

Zhao Wuji looked at Tang San seriously. "Tell me exactly how old you are, down to the month."

Tang San answered without hesitation, "Twelve years and seven months."

"Good, very good! Hahaha! After Zhang Tianyu, our academy has produced another twelve-year-old Soul Elder—a twelve-year-old monster! Hahaha!"

Everyone offered their congratulations.

Tang San looked at Zhang Tianyu. "Looks like I'm about to catch up to you."

"Keep it up." Zhang Tianyu smiled on the surface, but laughed even harder inwardly.

Catch up to me?

What the hell are you so proud of? I'm already a Soul Ancestor, alright?

But never mind. There's no need to show off in front of you all right now. I'm not that lowbrow.

"Excellent, double happiness! Then let's keep looking around the forest and find a suitable soul beast for you!" Zhao Wuji said happily.

Next, the Titan Giant Ape should be making its appearance, right?

Zhang Tianyu clenched his fists, somewhat expectant.

Finally, someone worth fighting was coming!

They searched the outskirts for an entire afternoon but failed to find Tang San a suitable Soul Ring.

After all, Dragon Duke Snake Matriarch were not running a charity. They could not possibly drive every kind of soul beast over here.

By evening, everyone took out their tents, found a relatively open area, and set up camp to rest.

Zhao Wuji kept watch while the others rested in shifts. Just as everyone entered the tents, the atmosphere around them abruptly changed.

In an instant, the entire world seemed to fall silent.

The nocturnal birds and beasts shut their mouths, and the cheerful chirping of insects came to an abrupt halt.

Even the previously gentle night breeze seemed as though it had been severed at the waist.

The surroundings were so quiet, they seemed frozen solid!

Xiao Wu raised her head and looked outside the tent, her expression incomparably complex.

Zhang Tianyu slowly opened his eyes, Huangquan poised to strike!

Zhao Wuji sensed that something was wrong and immediately shouted in a low voice, "Everyone, leave the tents! Quickly!"

Everyone swiftly exited the tents. Dai Mubai took a quick step to Zhao Wuji's side and asked in confusion, "Teacher Zhao, what's wrong?"

Zhao Wuji did not answer. Instead, with an extremely grave expression, he said in a deep voice, "Everyone get behind me. If anything happens later, don't worry about me. Leave this place immediately—get out of the Star Dou Great Forest first! Mubai, if I'm not here, I'm entrusting you with the responsibility of protecting everyone!"

No one understood what could have happened to make Zhao Wuji, who had always been confident in his strength, so nervous. Then, at that very moment, two towering trees directly ahead slowly parted to either side, and an enormous figure silently emerged from between them.

At the sight of that giant, everyone seemed to stop breathing. Only then did they finally understand what Zhao Wuji had been worried about.

It was a creature like a mountain. Its entire body was covered in jet-black fur that glimmered faintly beneath the dim starlight and moonlight. Though it moved on all fours, its shoulders still stood well over seven meters high.

If it stood upright, it would likely be over fifteen meters tall.

Not only was this creature massive, but every part of its body was covered in powerful muscles even more terrifying than granite, bulging like small hills!

And what was truly terrifying was that such an enormous creature made no sound as it walked—not even the sound of breathing!

The legendary Titan Giant Ape had finally appeared!

"The legendary King of the Forest, the Titan Giant Ape! Why is it here?" Tang San's voice trembled!

Zhao Wuji respectfully bowed. "Honorable King of the Forest, we mean no offense. If this is your territory, we are willing to withdraw immediately!"

The Titan Giant Ape could not be bothered with him at all. It lifted its massive foot and took a step forward.

To it, it was merely a small step. But in human eyes, it was a gigantic one.

Everyone was so frightened that their legs nearly went numb!

Gritting his teeth, Zhao Wuji said in a deep voice, "I'll hold it back. Eat Oscar's Mushroom Sausages and get out of here immediately! Tianyu, you're fast—cover everyone's retreat! I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on for long. You have to move fast!"

Having said that, Zhao Wuji took a deep breath. His first, second, third, and fifth spirit rings lit up simultaneously as he charged straight at the Titan Giant Ape!

Dai Mubai showed his manly side as well. "Tianyu, Tang San! Cover everyone's escape. I'll go help Teacher Zhao!"

After giving his instructions, he launched into a sprint with a tiger's roar toward the sky!

Seeing this, how could the others possibly leave?

They were all hot-blooded people, all monsters. Leaving now would be extremely detrimental to their future cultivation!

Besides, they were all youths as fierce as raging winds and crashing waves—the kind who, in a burst of hot blood, would think, If we're fucking dying, we're dying together. I'm no coward! They were reckless fighters through and through.

So what if it was the King of the Forest, the Titan Giant Ape? If a white blade went in, a red blade had to come out!

If they beat up the Titan Giant Ape today, dying wouldn't be shameful. If they survived, they could brag about it for the rest of their lives!

And so, everyone summoned their Martial Souls, while the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda shone brilliantly!

Whoosh!

Huangquan whistled over everyone's heads, sword qi carrying the Flying Sword straight toward the Titan Giant Ape's forehead!

Then, everyone else's attacks arrived as well!

Yet it was exactly as Zhang Tianyu had expected. Their trash-tier team challenging the Titan Giant Ape was simply asking for humiliation.

That thing had over ten thousand bars of health above its head. Their combined barrage had only taken off, at most, ten bars.

And six of those bars had been dealt by Huangquan.

Who said sword users were bottom-tier? Step out and take a good look at the DPS chart.

Why weren't they already crying out, "Brother Crane is fucking awesome!"

A burst of black air erupted from the Titan Giant Ape's body, instantly sending everyone flying.