"Third Brother, Third Brother, wake up!"
Tang San was awakened by Xiao Wu's calls. When he opened his eyes, many of his companions beside him were still unconscious, including Shangguan Hong, who had returned here a minute before Xiao Wu arrived.
Looking at his younger sister's worried face, then at Oscar nearby, who was calling to their other companions, Tang San gradually regained his ability to think. The first thing he did when he came to his senses was seize Xiao Wu's arm in agitation.
"Xiao Wu, hurry and go! A terrifying ten-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape has appeared nearby. We can't stay here! Wake everyone up, then get out of here!"
Still filled with lingering fear, Tang San overlooked the fact that he had broken through to rank 30. Compared to their lives, a Soul Ring was not worth mentioning.
"Brother Shangguan, Brother Shangguan!"
Even now, Tang San could not forget the smile Shangguan Hong had left him with in the face of mortal danger. He called to Shangguan Hong, who slowly awoke under his shaking, while Oscar woke their other companions as well. This trip to the Star Dou Great Forest had cost the Shrek group dearly. Zhao Wuji was severely injured and would need a great deal of time to recover. Apart from Xiao Wu and Oscar, everyone had exhausted their Soul Power. They were no longer capable of continuing to hunt Soul Beasts.
"Little San, what happened to us...?"
Shangguan Hong looked utterly bewildered, as though he really had only just regained consciousness. Nearby, the severely injured Zhao Wuji coughed twice. After eating a sausage Oscar had made, his condition had improved somewhat, but his current fighting strength was still practically nonexistent.
"Stop... stop wasting words. Get moving! We really escaped death today!"
Zhao Wuji urged them on, his voice weak. None of them dared be careless. They ate Oscar's sausages and supported one another as they slowly made their way out of the Star Dou Great Forest.
On the surface, Oscar had gained the most from this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest. He had obtained his Third Soul Ring, his Soul Power had risen to rank 31 in the process, and he had gained a fairly practical Soul Skill. He was also the only member of the team still in peak condition. But looking at his companions' miserable states, he could not smile. He could also imagine just how terrible a crisis they had encountered.
"A ten-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape-that thing sounds terrifying! But luckily, nothing happened to any of us..."
Dai Mubai spoke with relief, but...
Some things could not be said carelessly!
The instant Dai Mubai finished speaking, an immense pressure of Soul Power suddenly descended upon the Shrek group! Zhao Wuji reacted first, but his injuries were simply too severe. He struggled to release his Martial Soul, but unfortunately, that enormous hand that blotted out the sky and sun was faster!
"Watch out!"
The Titan Giant Ape had actually returned!
Shangguan Hong and Tang San, whom Xiao Wu was supporting, reacted just after Zhao Wuji. Almost without any hesitation, both released their Martial Souls at the same time, and the others followed close behind. But how could such a battered band stop a terrifying hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape?
Roar-
The Titan Giant Ape's furious roar pierced the clouds. The sound waves from its roar alone sent the badly battered Shrek group flying. Shangguan Hong and Tang San became brothers in misfortune, because the Titan Giant Ape's target was Xiao Wu, who had been supporting them!
Sure enough, Er Ming came back!
Shangguan Hong thought to himself before crashing heavily to the ground. Tang San was in an even more wretched state, but when Xiao Wu faced danger, he actually erupted with astonishing strength. He forced himself to his feet, staring so fiercely that the corners of his eyes threatened to split as the Titan Giant Ape carried Xiao Wu away.
"Xiao Wu, no!"
Xiao Wu understood Er Ming's intentions, and so did Shangguan Hong, but the others from Shrek did not. In their eyes, with her Soul Power at only rank 29, Xiao Wu had less than a one-in-ten-thousand chance of surviving after being seized by the Titan Giant Ape.
But they could do nothing. They could not even mount a proper resistance. Tang San barely managed to throw a few throwing knives, but to the Titan Giant Ape, attacks like those did not even count as a tickle! They could only watch as the Titan Giant Ape seized Xiao Wu, its enormous body vanishing into the forest in an instant and leaving nothing but devastation behind...
Overcome by anguish, Tang San coughed up a mouthful of blood and toppled stiffly backward. Shangguan Hong barely managed to catch him. The Shrek group fell into chaos as everyone swarmed around him. Oscar frantically made sausages and stuffed them into Tang San's mouth, while the others' conditions had worsened under the Titan Giant Ape's furious roar. Never mind giving chase-in their current state, whether they could safely leave the Star Dou Great Forest was still an open question.
"Damn it, why did this happen? Why!"
Zhao Wuji blamed himself to the extreme. Who could have imagined that the king of the Star Dou Great Forest would appear in its outer reaches? The others from Shrek also wore complicated expressions. Unable to pursue it, they did not know how to comfort Tang San. They could only watch as Tang San, who had forced himself to pull through, devoured Oscar's sausages like a madman, his eyes utterly bloodshot, his entire being on the verge of collapse.
As the sky gradually darkened, the Shrek group, struck by yet another blow, could only rest and recover where they were. The good news, however, was that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples Ning Rongrong had summoned finally arrived. Looking at those Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples in their fine clothes, Oscar, who was not far away, suddenly felt a sense of inferiority well up within him.
These Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples were quite strong. Most were experts at the Soul Ancestor or Soul King level, and there was even a Soul Saint among them! Unfortunately, none of them were healing-type Soul Masters. They could only take the Shrek group out of the Star Dou Great Forest. Once they left the Star Dou Great Forest, given how Zhao Wuji had protected Ning Rongrong, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would certainly spare no expense in finding a powerful healing-type Soul Master, and everyone would be out of danger.
But doing so would mean abandoning Xiao Wu!
That was something Tang San absolutely could not accept!
Over two hours of rest, Tang San ate who knew how many sausages Oscar had made. Several direct-line Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples also summoned their Martial Souls to assist with his healing. In the end, Tang San recovered to seventy percent of his peak condition. He felt that was enough.
"Little Ao!"
While everyone was recovering, the bloodshot-eyed Tang San called Oscar over from nearby. Neither noticed that Shangguan Hong, who was closest to Tang San, twitched his ears and quietly emerged from his meditative state.
"Little San, you..."
Oscar hesitated, but Tang San seized his hand in agitation, his voice full of pleading.
"The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent is known for its speed, and your Sausage Martial Soul is the best vessel! If I'm not mistaken, your Third Soul Skill boosts speed, or even allows flight, doesn't it? Help me, I'm begging you!"
Tang San's extensive theoretical knowledge had allowed him to grasp one last hope. Oscar froze at his words, because his Third Soul Skill was indeed flight. Looking into Tang San's eyes, Oscar could find no reason to refuse.
"I understand..."