The Hell White Tiger's form slowly faded, turning back into Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun.
Zhu Zhuyun's face was somewhat pale. Clearly, that last blow had taken a great deal out of her.
Dai Weisi's expression, however, remained unchanged. Only his breathing was slightly hurried.
It wasn't that he hadn't used any Soul Power; he simply recovered faster!
He glanced in the direction the Titan Giant Ape had disappeared, a disdainful sneer curling his lips.
Run?
The monk can run, but the temple can't.
He turned to look at Shi Mo.
"My lord." Shi Mo's voice was as steady as ever.
"Well done."
Dai Weisi nodded.
Just then, the cold system notification sounded in his mind once more.
[Ding! The Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Xiao Wu and the Titan Giant Ape have been detected fleeing. The host faces a new choice.] [Option one: stop here and leave the Star Dou Great Forest. Danger lurks everywhere in the Star Dou Great Forest; quitting while ahead is the wisest course. Reward: Soul Power Level increased by one.] [Option two: hold your position and rest. Wait at your ease for other Soul Beasts to walk into your trap. Reward: one Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring Upgrade Card (can upgrade any one Soul Ring to the ten-thousand-year level).] [Option three: press the advantage and pursue, cut the grass and pull up the roots! Nip any potential threats in the bud! Reward: one Power Attack System Titled Douluo guard!]
The system's three options were clearly laid out in Dai Weisi's mind.
Give up?
Dai Weisi had never had that option.
Wait?
Handing the initiative to someone else and waiting for the enemy to make every preparation before coming back to cause trouble was the act of a fool.
His gaze fell on the third option without hesitation.
One Power Attack System Titled Douluo guard?
Not a bad reward!
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuyun had already taken a clean spare dress from her Storage Soul Tool.
She walked over to Zhu Zhuqing and gently dressed her, covering the glimpses of skin exposed by her torn clothing.
Perhaps it was the pain in the back of her neck, or perhaps it was the sensation of fabric brushing against her, but Zhu Zhuqing's eyelashes trembled, and she slowly awoke.
She opened her eyes, her vision blurred. The first thing she saw was the conflicted expression on her sister Zhu Zhuyun's face.
"Sis..."
She spoke instinctively, her voice hoarse.
Then her memories came flooding back.
The terror of the Titan Giant Ape, Dai Weisi's strength, those two glaring Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings, and Dai Weisi's domineering taking and withdrawal.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes turned from bewildered to icy in an instant. She sat up abruptly and shrank back.
"You..."
She wanted to curse him, but when she looked past Zhu Zhuyun and saw the man standing a short distance away, all her words caught in her throat.
Dai Weisi stood with his hands behind his back, calmly watching the direction in which the Titan Giant Ape had disappeared, a cold curve on his lips.
Seemingly noticing Zhu Zhuqing's gaze, he slowly turned his head and met her eyes.
"Choice: pursue."
Shi Mo and Dugu Bo's expressions remained unchanged, as though they had expected this decision all along.
Zhu Zhuyun's body trembled slightly, but she soon regained her composure and silently took her place at Dai Weisi's side.
Only Zhu Zhuqing felt as though she had been struck by lightning!
Pursue?
He still intended to pursue them?
"Watch closely."
Dai Weisi's voice rang out again. This time, he was speaking directly to Zhu Zhuqing.
A playful smile curled his lips, full of malicious amusement. "I'll let you watch with your own eyes as your so-called hope, your so-called trump cards, are crushed bit by bit into powder before me."
"You, you..."
Zhu Zhuqing opened her mouth, but still couldn't get the words out!
Dai Weisi smiled unconcernedly and paid her no further attention, turning instead to Dugu Bo.
"Old Poison, I'll have to trouble you to serve as a mount again."
"Heh, you jest, my lord. It's my honor to serve you."
That enormous serpent body lay coiled in the valley, its dark golden markings shimmering faintly in the sunlight.
"Go!"
Dai Weisi swept an arm around Zhu Zhuyun's waist and pushed off with his toes, landing like a ghost atop the Serpent Emperor's broad head.
Shi Mo Douluo grabbed Zhu Zhuqing and silently followed, landing steadily behind Dai Weisi.
"Bring her along too." Dai Weisi glanced at Zhu Zhuqing on the ground.
"Roar-!"
The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor roared, its enormous body soaring into the air. Like a bolt of dark green lightning, it followed the lingering presence of the Titan Giant Ape and sped toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest!
The Star Dou Great Forest, the Core Circle, the Lake of Life.
Blue-green ripples spread across the lake, and a rich breath of life filled the air, making everything here seem full of vitality.
"Boom!"
With a tremendous crash, the Titan Giant Ape's enormous body dropped from the sky and landed heavily beside the lake, spraying dirt everywhere.
"Er Ming, you're back."
The surface of the lake parted, and an enormous bull's head slowly emerged from the water.
The bull's head was entirely azure, as though carved from green jade.
It was the forest emperor, the Sky Azure Bull Python-Da Ming!
"How did you end up in such a sorry state?"
Da Ming looked at the charred wound on the Titan Giant Ape's arm and the violent presence around him that had yet to subside, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"And I just sensed three powerful presences that didn't belong to the forest. Could they have come for you, Xiao Wu?"
His gaze fell on Xiao Wu, who had jumped down from the Titan Giant Ape's shoulder, her face still pale.
"Da Ming, Er Ming..."
Her voice thick with tears, Xiao Wu quickly recounted what had just happened.
From Dai Weisi's two terrifying Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings, to Shi Mo Douluo's defenses, to the Hell White Tiger that could clash head-on with Er Ming.
After hearing Xiao Wu's account, even someone as steady as the Sky Azure Bull Python fell silent.
"A Soul Saint with two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings... a Martial Soul Fusion Skill capable of taking on Er Ming head-on... and a Titled Douluo with astonishing defenses, as well as a Poison Douluo..."
Da Ming analyzed the situation slowly. "That combination is indeed troublesome."
"Big brother! What are you afraid of?"
The Titan Giant Ape pounded his chest and roared.
"If they dare come after us, we'll fight them to the bitter end! With your domain and my Gravity Domain stacked together, even three or four Titled Douluo can forget about coming out ahead!"
"No, Er Ming, we can't be careless."
Da Ming shook his head, a wise light flickering in his enormous bull eyes.
"That young man named Dai Weisi is far too strange. His Soul Ring Configuration completely defies common sense, and the way he acts is domineering, ruthless, and utterly merciless. We can't judge him by ordinary standards."
He paused and looked at Xiao Wu, his tone becoming deadly serious:
"Xiao Wu, if you stay here, we'll inevitably be distracted when we fight. I'm afraid something might happen."
"Then... what should I do?"
"Go 'there.'"
Da Ming said in a deep voice, "Follow the Lake of Life inward, enter that misty forest, and hide in the place at its deepest point.
"Once we've dealt with these troublesome humans, we'll come find you."
"But if I leave, what will happen to you?"
Xiao Wu's eyes were full of worry.
"Don't worry."
The Titan Giant Ape grinned, revealing a ferocious smile.
"Together, big brother and I have never feared anyone here in the Core Circle of the Star Dou Great Forest!"
Xiao Wu looked at the determination in Da Ming and Er Ming's eyes and knew she would only be a burden if she stayed.
She nodded firmly, her eyes reddening. "Da Ming, Er Ming, you must be careful!"
With that, she hesitated no longer. She turned and hurried away along the shore of the Lake of Life. Her figure soon disappeared into the hazy mist.
As he watched Xiao Wu disappear, the Sky Azure Bull Python's gaze turned cold and sharp.
He slowly sank into the water, leaving only his enormous bull eyes above the surface, and exchanged a glance with the Titan Giant Ape on the shore.
"Roar!"
The Titan Giant Ape let out a low roar and lowered his massive body, blending in with the surrounding rocks. Only his blood-colored eyes remained visible, fixed on the distant sky.
An earth-shaking battle was about to begin.