A chill spread from the crown of her head to her limbs, making Tang Sui’s heart clench and her breathing quicken.
But no one paid attention to her distress. Everyone's gaze was fixed on Zhao Wuji, who was warily scanning the path ahead.
Dai Mubai, who had already positioned himself behind Zhao Wuji, asked doubtfully while activating his martial soul, "Teacher Zhao, what's happening?"
The dense foliage around them swayed violently in the strong gusts of wind. Pebbles on the ground began to skitter and jump under a slight tremor. Tang San, who had adopted an offensive stance, tightened his lips, a hint of purple flashing in his eyes as he instantly entered the vision of his Purple Demon Eyes, taking in every movement within the thick undergrowth.
Zhao Wuji didn't elaborate, only instructing without turning his head, "Little monsters, be ready to escape! Whatever happens, don't mind me. Escape the forest at full speed!"
"Mubai, you must protect everyone, understand!?"
As he spoke, numerous small soul beasts rushed towards them from the front, darting past them with urgent movements as if pursued by some terrifying presence. Soul beasts that had been completely unseen moments before were now clearly visible.
Whether they were hundred-year or thousand-year, they fled past them, heedless, making their escape.
"So many soul beasts! Even thousand-year soul beasts are anxious. What on earth is happening?" Tang San’s expression grew solemn as he saw that among the fleeing soul beasts were even two or three thousand-year-old ones.
Flying and walking soul beasts alike fled in droves, and the air was instantly filled with anxiety and a deadly stillness.
Zhao Wuji dared not hesitate. Gazing towards the direction of the immense disturbance, he said gravely, "Xiao Ao, prepare the flying mushroom sausage."
Oscar nodded hastily, then circulated his soul power and began to quietly chant the incantation for his third soul skill.
However, before he could utter the first word, the two towering trees before them were suddenly pushed aside from the middle by a furry, black giant hand. A dark figure stood there like a small mountain peak, every bulging muscle as robust as a swollen hill, with strange, lava-like patterns flowing across its body.
If not for the faint light emanating from it and its eyes, as large as lanterns and glowing like amber in the darkness, they might not have even detected the terrifying presence of such a behemoth watching them.
Its movements and every shift were completely silent and soundless. They couldn't even feel its breath. If not for the soul beasts directly in its path feeling threatened and fleeing, they would have remained oblivious.
A suffocatingly powerful pressure instantly enveloped the entire space. Everyone unleashed their martial souls to resist this overwhelming and stifling might.
This soul beast… it had to be over ten thousand years old!
Zhao Wuji's expression changed drastically, cold sweat involuntarily beading on his forehead and dripping down.
"This is… the King of the Forest, the Titan Giant Ape!" Tang San, usually so composed, lost his composure at the sight of the soul beast before him, for the Titan Giant Ape was an absolute overlord in any soul beast forest.
Even a hundred-year-old Titan Giant Ape was not to be trifled with. At that level, they could contend with other ten-thousand-year soul beasts, making them exceptionally gifted existences.
More importantly, the Titan Giant Ape was not only powerful but also possessed intelligence comparable to humans!
Strength, speed, offense, defense – they had no weaknesses. Most terrifyingly, they could even use skills akin to soul skills.
But why would such a king of the forest appear on the outskirts of the soul beast forest?!
At this moment, Tang San's thoughts mirrored Zhao Wuji's.
Zhao Wuji, who had seemed tall and sturdy before them, now appeared like a newborn bear cub in front of the Titan Giant Ape, utterly lacking in any deterrent force.
Dai Mubai, unaware of the Titan Giant Ape's identity, frowned, but an instinctive sense of awe made his White Tiger martial soul involuntarily want to bow in submission.
This was… a soul beast at the apex of the food chain…
Dai Mubai, always proud, bit his lip and wanted to step forward past Zhao Wuji to reason with it, but Zhao Wuji raised a hand to stop him. Then, Zhao Wuji himself took a step forward, cupped his fists, and bowed respectfully, "Respected King of the Forest, we have no intention of offending. If this is your territory, we will withdraw immediately."
The Titan Giant Ape before them was so powerful that its cultivation likely exceeded ten thousand years!
If conflict erupted, even with his full strength, he had no confidence in protecting the children from the Titan Giant Ape!
What should he do!?
The Titan Giant Ape slightly lowered its head, its hot breath like a violent gust of wind, spewing onto Zhao Wuji's face, causing him to break out in a sweat and dare not even breathe.
Because in the face of such a terrifying Titan Giant Ape, his own survival was questionable, let alone protecting others!
This gust of hot, storm-like breath swept across everyone's faces. Tang Sui, who had been chilled to the bone, finally felt a trace of warmth and snapped back to attention. A faint black glow began to flicker deep within her clear blue eyes.
If the gears of fate, no matter how they deviated, would always return to their original track, then what was the point of all her actions and efforts?
Lost in her chaotic thoughts, Tang Sui didn't notice that as her state of mind plunged into negativity, her personal panel began to flicker unstably.
In the silent and tense standoff, Zhao Wuji, after confirming that the terrain made escape extremely difficult, gritted his teeth fiercely and said in a deep voice, "Mubai, take everyone and go! Be quick!"
With that, Zhao Wuji took a deep breath, stomped heavily on the ground, and his seven soul rings blazed with light, his fourth, deep purple soul ring flaring intensely.
"Gravity Amplification!"
The Immovable King Body instantly possessed him, and the gravity field expanded, centered on Zhao Wuji, covering the Titan Giant Ape comprehensively and precisely.
"Boom—!"
He slammed his palm heavily onto the ground, fully unleashing the Vajra Power Palm. A formidable energy fluctuation was suddenly released, and combined with the gravity field, it surged towards the Titan Giant Ape!
Feeling its body suddenly grow heavier, the Titan Giant Ape let out a low roar towards Zhao Wuji and the others. Only Xiao Wu, upon hearing its voice, her expression changed slightly.
Xiao Wu, in her martial soul-attached state, her rabbit ears atop her head twitched. Her lips moved slightly, and a communication only understandable between soul beasts transmitted to the Titan Giant Ape's ears. At the same time, Tang Sui heard it all clearly.
"Xiao San, cover for everyone to leave first! Third Soul Skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation!" The White Tiger martial soul behind Dai Mubai let out a roar, and golden light enveloped Dai Mubai’s entire body. His physique instantly expanded by several folds, his muscles tensing, becoming more robust. With a low growl, he charged forward, closely following Zhao Wuji.
"Seven Treasures are named, the first is strength!"
— Author's Notes —
【Deep in Thought】 If the editor is opening VIP at midnight, there will likely be the first wave of burst updates around 0:20. If it’s morning, the first wave will drop at noon tomorrow.
There will be two waves of burst updates on the day of VIP launch!