Oscar crouched in front of the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, decisively drew a dagger, and plunged it into the red fleshy growth on its head.
He stirred the dagger back and forth inside the growth, and fresh blood dripped onto the ground.
Scrape! A faint sound of metal making contact rang out.
Oscar slowly withdrew the dagger, suppressed his nausea, and reached inside, feeling around until he pulled out a small ball that looked woven from strands of hair.
"Dragon Whisker Needle," Oscar said through gritted teeth, his eyes all but blazing with fire.
He pocketed the clump of Dragon Whisker Needles, then took out a water flask and washed his hands.
After quickly finishing all this, Oscar strode toward where Zhao Wuji was waiting.
Seeing Oscar return unharmed, Zhao Wuji said, "Let's keep looking for soul beasts."
The others walked ahead while Zhao Wuji followed behind, and they set off again.
"Oscar, Oscar, Oscar!" Dai Mubai called several times.
Oscar snapped out of his daze. "What is it, Boss Dai?"
"What happened? Why do you look so distracted?" Dai Mubai asked with concern.
"Nothing. I was just thinking about something." Oscar smiled and waved a hand.
Dai Mubai draped an arm over Oscar's shoulders. "Whatever happens, you've got your brother here."
Oscar pinched Dai Mubai's lower back, and both burst out laughing.
"Dai Mubai. Oscar." Zhao Wuji's icy voice reached them.
Both ducked their heads, their laughter stopping instantly.
Boom! Boom!
The ground began to tremble.
"Stay alert!" Zhao Wuji shouted, and everyone instantly scanned their surroundings warily.
Everyone except Xiao Wu and Cao De. Xiao Wu looked somewhat anxious. "Brother, I..."
Several times, Xiao Wu started to speak, only to stop.
Cao De smiled and stroked her head. "It's all right."
A roar shook the heavens.
"It's a Titan Giant Ape!" Zhao Wuji's face turned deathly pale.
"Martial Soul Avatar!" Zhao Wuji acted without hesitation, and the phantom of a brown bear appeared around him.
"Run toward the outskirts!" Zhao Wuji shouted to those behind him.
Without hesitating, Tang San stepped forward, grabbed Ning Rongrong's hand, and dragged her backward.
Ning Rongrong immediately kicked Tang San in the crotch.
With all his attention on the Titan Giant Ape, Tang San never noticed.
"Urgh!" Tang San's face flushed crimson. He instantly released Ning Rongrong's hand and clutched his privates.
Tang San knelt on the ground, one hand covering his privates and the other braced against the earth.
Ning Rongrong's expression was icy. "Don't touch me again, or I won't mind kicking yours to pieces."
As she spoke, she turned toward Cao De. Seeing that he had not noticed what was happening here, she took out a handkerchief and thoroughly wiped her hand, completing every movement in one smooth sequence.
Meanwhile, Dai Mubai hurried to Zhu Zhuqing's side. "Zhu Zhuqing, hurry, let's go!"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Dai Mubai. "Dai Mubai, how about waiting here for the Titan Giant Ape to come over?"
Dai Mubai's face filled with disbelief. "Zhu Zhuqing, what are you thinking? That's a Titan Giant Ape! One slap could kill us!"
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing more. With a light leap, she landed beside Xiao Wu.
Ning Rongrong also jogged over to Xiao Wu and Cao De, urgently saying, "Hurry, let's go!"
Trees that towered into the sky toppled, and a Titan Giant Ape as tall as a mountain appeared before them.
An enormous hand reached toward them as well.
Still clutching his crotch, Tang San instantly scrambled up, shot out his Blue Silver Grass, and fled into the distance.
Dai Mubai gave Zhu Zhuqing a long look and murmured, "Zhu Zhuqing."
Then he grabbed Oscar and ran toward the rear.
"Why haven't you left yet?" Zhao Wuji used various soul skills to block the Titan Giant Ape's enormous hand, turning to roar at them.
Xiao Wu's eyes were filled with anxiety, and Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing looked extremely anxious too.
Pain shot through the Titan Giant Ape's hand. It threw its head back and howled, then sent Zhao Wuji flying with a sweep of its hand.
The Titan Giant Ape's massive hand reached toward Cao De and the others again.
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze sharpened. A rope appeared in her hand, and she swiftly bound the giant hand before using her soul skill, Hell Stab, hoping to pull it aside.
She did not know why Cao De and Xiao Wu refused to leave, but she knew that throughout these past days, Xiao Wu had cheered her up, and Cao De had looked after her feelings.
So she could not leave!
Ning Rongrong's little face turned deathly pale with fright, but she forced herself to hold on, using the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to grant everyone enhancements.
Deeply moved, Cao De summoned the Thousand-Blade Demon Sword into his hand.
"Demon Sword's Protection!" The soul skill activated, enveloping Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.
Holding Xiao Wu's hand, Cao De lunged straight into the Titan Giant Ape's enormous palm.
Cao De moved so quickly that no one had time to react.
Seeing Cao De in the Titan Giant Ape's hand, Ning Rongrong collapsed onto the ground, and the Demon Blade fragments around her gradually vanished.
"Cao De was taken away to protect me." Ning Rongrong's eyes were vacant.
Zhu Zhuqing watched the Titan Giant Ape's retreating back, her gaze shifting again and again.
"It's all right. Cao De is so strong. He'll definitely be fine." Zhu Zhuqing helped Ning Rongrong up from the ground.
Ning Rongrong's eyes brimmed with tears, which streamed down like pearls from a broken string.
"I'm going to find Cao De," Ning Rongrong said.
Zhu Zhuqing did not stop her. She nodded and followed Ning Rongrong.
Trees crashed down as Zhao Wuji charged out, still in his Martial Soul Avatar state. Seeing Ning Rongrong unharmed, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Where are the others?" Zhao Wuji asked.
"Cao De and Xiao Wu were taken by the Titan Giant Ape, Teacher Zhao." Ning Rongrong's voice trembled.
Zhao Wuji's expression changed.
"Teacher Zhao, let's go find them," Ning Rongrong said in a trembling voice.
"You two come back with me first. Once you're safe, I'll contact the Dean and have him search for them," Zhao Wuji said sternly.
Zhao Wuji had already made his decision. Ning Rongrong was the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. If anything happened to her, he would be finished too.
As for Cao De, however talented or wealthy he might be, their investigation had shown that he had no backing. If something happened to him now, all one could say was that this was where his life was meant to end.
Zhao Wuji pondered this inwardly.
"Come on. Follow me out," Zhao Wuji said sternly again.
Ning Rongrong's gaze was resolute. "Zhao Wuji, think this through!"
With that, she headed in the direction the Titan Giant Ape had gone.
"I told you to go back. Don't force me to use force," Zhao Wuji said harshly.
"If you dare lay a hand on me, be prepared to bear the wrath of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
Seeing that the Titan Giant Ape had gone far away, Tang San, Oscar, and Dai Mubai returned along their original route, only to witness the argument before them.
"Rongrong, let's talk this out calmly," Tang San said, stepping forward to intervene.
As for Ning Rongrong's kick, Tang San had already figured it out. Xiao Wu must have said something behind his back. Innocent Rongrong had surely been deceived.
"Get lost!" Ning Rongrong snapped.
"Teacher Zhao, what happened?" Tang San asked.
"Cao De and Xiao Wu were taken by the Titan Giant Ape," Zhao Wuji said slowly.
Tang San's eyes lit up. Cao De and Xiao Wu are dead! Hahahahaha! Oppose me, Tang San, and death is truly your only path!
Tang San was inwardly thrilled beyond measure, but he still feigned distress as he said, "How could this happen?"
"Rongrong, don't be too sad. None of us could have prevented something like this," Tang San said, trying to comfort Ning Rongrong.
"Sister Zhu Zhuqing, let's go." Ning Rongrong had no desire to deal with these idiots and spoke to Zhu Zhuqing beside her.
"All right."
The two ran along the trail of the Titan Giant Ape's footprints.
"Zhu Zhuqing," Dai Mubai called.
Zhu Zhuqing ignored him.
Dai Mubai ran after them, and Tang San also hurried to catch up with the two girls.
Yet he could not stop the corners of his mouth from curling upward, and his steps grew lighter as well.
Oscar and Zhao Wuji had no choice but to follow.
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