After Oscar successfully absorbed his soul ring, Tang San and Xiao Wu were next. Su Ling required a soul ring of a much greater age.
Besides, they were currently in an area populated by thousand-year soul beasts, so the search remained focused on those two.
But Xiao Wu had undergone soul beast transformation and did not need to absorb a soul ring. She could condense one herself.
This put Xiao Wu in an awkward position, but Su Ling knew that the Titan Giant Ape would soon come to take her away.
Then every problem would unravel like bamboo split by a blade!
The ten of them continued searching for suitable soul beasts. Less than an hour after they set off, the entire Star Dou Great Forest suddenly fell eerily silent.
Su Ling occasionally observed Xiao Wu, too. Judging by her expression, she might have anticipated this long ago.
"Everyone, be careful. I have a feeling something's wrong," Flender said.
Just then, the ground began to shake. The Titan Giant Ape had arrived.
"Watch out!" Flender and Zhao Wuji stepped forward of their own accord, shielding everyone behind them.
Zhao Wuji enveloped himself in the protection of his Great Strength Vajra Bear martial soul, while Flender released his martial soul and swiftly flew into the air to investigate the disturbance ahead.
"This is bad."
Flender spotted the enormous Titan Giant Ape in the distance at a glance.
"Run! Run out of the Star Dou Great Forest as fast as you can! Hurry!"
Flender immediately landed and added, "It's too late. Zhao Wuji and I will hold it off. Get moving!"
"Go!" Su Ling urged. Although he knew the Titan Giant Ape would not hurt them, he still had to keep up appearances.
But sometimes, the more critical the moment, the more determined someone was to stir up trouble.
"Scared? It's just a few soul beasts. I'll fight alongside the dean and Teacher Zhao," Dai Mubai said.
Perhaps he wanted to distinguish himself from Su Ling.
"All of you, get out of here!" Flender roared.
"Let's go. There's no time," Tang San said as well. He had activated his Purple Demon Eye and seen the Titan Giant Ape. In that brief moment, they had missed their best chance to escape.
As they spoke, a gust of wind swept over them, and the Titan Giant Ape appeared before the group. Now it truly was too late.
The Titan Giant Ape resembled both an ape and a chimpanzee, with lantern-sized eyes and a pitch-black body.
Not only was it enormous, but every part of its body was covered in terrifyingly powerful muscles. Each bulging muscle resembled a small hill.
"The Titan Giant Ape!" Su Ling immediately revealed its identity.
Flender and Zhao Wuji did not attack right away. After all, the Titan Giant Ape had not attacked them upon appearing.
So Flender spoke first. "Honored Forest King, if we have blocked your path, we apologize. We will leave immediately."
With that, Flender and Zhao Wuji began trying to retreat.
Just then, the Titan Giant Ape suddenly opened its massive mouth and blew out a powerful blast of air.
Flender and Zhao Wuji were fine, but everyone else struggled badly.
Su Ling quickly grabbed Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong beside him. Xiao Wu was a little farther away, beyond his reach.
Dai Mubai had intended to grab Zhu Zhuqing, but Su Ling acted first, leaving him clutching empty air.
Su Ling pulled both girls close, holding one in each arm as he struggled to steady himself. Seeing Su Ling embracing Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai immediately shouted, "Su Ling, let go of Zhu Zhuqing!"
But his voice was insignificant amid the blast of air, and no one heard him.
Then the Titan Giant Ape slammed both hands into the ground, making it seem as though the earth itself would collapse.
Ignoring Flender and Zhao Wuji, the Titan Giant Ape headed straight for Xiao Wu.
Its aim was actually very simple: to take Xiao Wu away.
Flender and Zhao Wuji immediately moved to stop the Titan Giant Ape.
"Rongrong, support us."
Su Ling stopped worrying about it. Since the danger was minimal, he might as well put on a show. He released his martial soul, the Water Moon Bow.
Everyone released their martial souls, including Xiao Wu.
Su Ling raised the Water Moon Bow and fired at the Titan Giant Ape. Ma Hongjun unleashed his Phoenix Fire Line, alongside Tang San's blue silver grass, Dai Mubai's White Tiger Fierce Light Wave, and the others' attacks.
Everyone stood united against their foe, but to the Titan Giant Ape, these attacks amounted to little more than scratching an itch.
Meanwhile, Zhao Wuji and Flender both unleashed their Martial Soul Avatars.
With his Martial Soul Avatar active, Zhao Wuji struck at the Titan Giant Ape with his Great Strength Vajra Palm, but the Titan Giant Ape sent him flying with a mere sweep of its forearm.
Fortunately, the Titan Giant Ape did not use much force, so Zhao Wuji suffered little harm. It seemed to have received instructions from Xiao Wu not to hurt anyone.
But when someone blocked it from taking Xiao Wu away, the Titan Giant Ape had no choice but to knock them back.
After Zhao Wuji was repelled, Flender met the same fate. His soul skills had no effect on the Titan Giant Ape, and it sent him flying as well.
Only Su Ling and the other seven remained in front of it.
To everyone's surprise, Xiao Wu took the initiative to attack, charging straight out.
"Xiao Wu, don't!" Tang San shouted, but Xiao Wu did not stop.
To the others, her soul skills were meant for close combat, so approaching the Titan Giant Ape to attack seemed perfectly natural.
Little did they know that Xiao Wu was charging forward deliberately so the Titan Giant Ape could take her away and end the battle.
Seeing even Xiao Wu charge in, Zhu Zhuqing could hardly remain where she was, so she rushed forward as well.
She had no ranged attacks either. She needed to get close for her Hell Stab and Netherworld Hundred Claws to be effective.
Xiao Wu would be safe charging in, but the same could not be said for Zhu Zhuqing.
If the Titan Giant Ape failed to control its strength, how could Zhu Zhuqing possibly withstand it?
With Ning Rongrong's support, Su Ling immediately accelerated and charged forward.
Dai Mubai reacted a little slower. The Titan Giant Ape grabbed Xiao Wu as soon as she approached. Zhu Zhuqing's attack struck its body but had no effect whatsoever-it did not even count as a scratch.
Instead, when the Titan Giant Ape turned, its enormous body bore down on her.
Oh no!
Zhu Zhuqing also realized she was in danger. Worse still, it was too late to escape. Left with no choice, she could only raise her hands to block it.
Just before the Titan Giant Ape's massive body struck her, a hand grabbed her and flung her away.
Who else could that hand have belonged to but Su Ling?
With a bang, the Titan Giant Ape's turning body sent Su Ling flying.
"Big Brother Su!" Ning Rongrong cried out.
Meanwhile, the Titan Giant Ape grabbed Xiao Wu and ran off. Tang San immediately gave chase. How could he spare a thought for anyone else at a time like this?
Dai Mubai also reached Zhu Zhuqing's side and asked, "Zhu Zhuqing, are you all right?"
But Zhu Zhuqing ignored him and immediately ran toward Su Ling.
Su Ling had been hurled into a large tree ten meters away before falling to the ground.
"Big Brother Su, are you all right?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.
"It's nothing serious, just a few scrapes," Su Ling said.
As he collided with the tree, Su Ling had used his hands to absorb some of the impact.
This had left abrasions on his arms, but they were only superficial injuries.
Fortunately, the Titan Giant Ape had merely turned quickly rather than attacked, so Su Ling's current physique could withstand it.
"As long as you're all right!"
"Your arms... let me tend to them," Zhu Zhuqing offered.
"Zhu Zhuqing, let me do it." After saying that, Dai Mubai actually stepped forward of his own accord to treat Su Ling's wounds.
"There's no need. Xiao Wu's been taken. What do these little injuries of mine matter?" Su Ling looked toward the direction where the Titan Giant Ape and Xiao Wu had disappeared.
Flender spread his wings and said, "All of you stay here and rest. I'll go take a look. Zhao Wuji, protect them."
[Ding... Ning Rongrong's affection +2. Obtained White Chest ×2.] [Ding... Zhu Zhuqing's affection +6. Obtained Yellow Chest ×5, Black Chest ×1.]
The Black Chest?
He had actually received a Black Chest. What a rare occurrence!
[Ding... Zhu Zhuqing's affection is greater than or equal to 70. When the host gains affection, he is guaranteed to receive at least a Yellow Chest. The chances of obtaining Purple Chests and Black Chests are tripled.]
Su Ling checked Zhu Zhuqing's individual information panel again. It had changed once more.
[Bound goddess: Zhu Zhuqing] [Goddess overall rating: 94] [Affection: 75 (likes you a little)] [Binding effect: The host can obtain 20% of the bound goddess's daily cultivation gains without reducing her cultivation speed.] [Bound skill 1: Advice Listening (can be activated once per day. The bound goddess has a 40% chance of following the host's advice).] [Bound skill 2: Luck (passive skill. While Zhu Zhuqing is within fifty meters of the host, the host receives a certain boost to his luck!)]
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