That fearsome colossus had lost all signs of life, and the tension and oppressive atmosphere lingering in the air suddenly vanished.
Only then did everyone's tightly-strung nerves finally relax, and they all revealed expressions of relief.
Yan and Shui Bing'er exchanged a smile, and the flames and icy energy on the battlefield swiftly withdrew.
Ye Lingling suddenly stepped forward and said:
"Let me help you all recover your soul power."
Aside from Ye Lingling, the other five had all taken part in the battle and had consumed a considerable amount of soul power, especially Yan and Shui Bing'er.
As Ye Lingling's Ten Heart Begonia spirit bloomed, gentle and filled with the power of life, a faint fragrance permeated the air. Within this scent seemed to lie endless healing and recovery.
When the platinum light descended upon the five of them, an indescribable sense of comfort welled up from within.
Yan closed his eyes, feeling the power flowing through his limbs and bones.
The soul power he had depleted during the recent battle was now recovering at an astonishing rate.
The other four felt the same.
In just a short moment, Yan's body had returned to its optimal condition.
"Lingling, thank you."
"You're welcome. This is the only thing I can do for you all."
At that moment, a red mist began to rise from the massive body of the Titan Giant Ape, gradually spreading and dyeing the surroundings with a mysterious and solemn hue.
As the red mist continued to gather and condense, a breathtaking scene unfolded before everyone's eyes: a brilliant hundred-thousand-year soul ring gradually took form.
This soul ring glowed with a dazzling radiance, red like blazing flames, exuding an immense aura of energy and pressure.
Seeing the hundred-thousand-year soul ring burst into red light, Shui Bing'er and the others were wide-eyed with shock.
This was their first time witnessing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring form right before their eyes and at such a close distance.
"Brother Yan, are you going to absorb it now?"
All of them simultaneously looked toward Yan, hoping he could successfully absorb this hundred-thousand-year soul ring, though there was also some concern in their eyes.
During the Titan Giant Ape's escape, Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu had used flames to erase its blood scent and traces, but this place was still less than ten thousand meters from where it had been discovered.
Once Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo and the other experts from Spirit Hall recovered, it was only a matter of time before they found this location.
And for Yan to absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, he would need at least several hours.
If Yan absorbed this soul ring without permission and Bibi Dong found out, the consequences would be unimaginable.
From everyone's eyes, Yan could feel their concern and worry.
"I know what you're worried about. I have a way."
As he spoke, Yan took out a stalk of immortal herb from the Myriad Spirit Treasure Vault.
The leaves of this herb were an extremely rare silvery-white, glimmering faintly under the dim light.
Everyone looked on curiously.
"Brother Yan, what is this?"
Yan smiled and said:
"This is Hundred-Flavored Hidden Scent. After consuming it, you temporarily lose your sense of smell and taste. Let's divide it and eat it now."
As he spoke, Yan plucked the silvery-white leaves and handed one to each person.
He also took one for himself and placed it in his mouth.
"Brother Yan, why are we eating this?"
"I'm about to create a mist illusion, and the smell of that mist would be unbearable for you all."
Upon hearing this, everyone quickly placed the leaf into their mouths and swallowed it.
After that, Yan took out three immortal herbs of different colors from the Myriad Spirit Treasure Vault.
One was the Scarlet Flame Spirit Pepper, completely red like fire, its leaf edges glimmering with tiny flame patterns, radiating an intense spicy aura that seemed capable of igniting every trace of chill in the air.
Another was the Nether Rot Spirit, twisted and eerie in shape, with dull and lusterless leaves covered in a thin layer of mold. Its flowers were mottled with black-brown rotten flesh-like growths, and those were covered in tiny bubbles, making it all the more nauseating.
One was the Misty Rosemary, a uniquely shaped immortal herb, with faint clouds coiling between its branches and leaves. Its foliage was as soft as silk, exuding a hallucinatory fragrance.
Seeing everyone's curiosity, Yan explained:
"You've already lost your sense of taste and smell now, so you won't be able to sense the scent of these three immortal herbs.
Once these three herbs are mixed together, they can create a unique scent that is both spicy and putrid, and this scent also possesses a hallucinogenic effect.
Once it stimulates the olfactory or gustatory senses of humans or soul beasts, it produces a strong throat-slitting sensation. The extremely rancid stench will cause uncontrollable vomiting, creating the illusion of being fatally poisoned."
After hearing Yan's explanation, everyone was stunned.
"Brother Yan, you really are all-powerful. You can even think of a method like this. That's amazing."
Time was tight, and Yan had already begun the process.
Very soon, the three immortal herbs in his hands turned into a blended mixture.
That mixture seemed to ignite, continuously emitting thick dark red smoke.
"Xiaotian, use your wind power to quickly spread this mist."
"Alright."
With a swift maneuver from Feng Xiaotian, the dark red smoke rapidly spread out over a range of several hundred meters, enveloping the cliffside.
Shui Bing'er still had some concern.
"Brother Yan, with this barrier in place, will they really not chase after us?"
"Except for Elder Chrysanthemum, no one else will be able to see through this mist illusion."
As Yan spoke, he took out a prepared brocade pouch from his soul tool and handed it to Shui Bing'er.
"Bing'er, if Elder Chrysanthemum or Elder Ghost breaks into this mist while I'm absorbing the soul ring, give this to them."
"Okay."
Shui Bing'er didn't ask more. She knew Yan always acted with caution, so he must have a reason for doing this.
Then, Yan walked beneath that hundred-thousand-year soul ring, sat cross-legged, and began absorbing it.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Bibi Dong pursued the Sky Azure Bull Python she had gravely injured to a lake at the heart of the forest.
This place was quite unique, but Bibi Dong had no mood to admire the scenery she was eager to kill that two-hundred-thousand-year soul beast.
Just as she was about to succeed, the Sky Azure Bull Python dove headfirst into the bottomless lake.
Hu Liena and the other Spirit Hall experts had forced Xiao Wu to the other side of the lake, and Xiao Wu also dove into the lake.
Watching both the Sky Azure Bull Python and Xiao Wu escape right under her nose, Bibi Dong was furious.
At that moment, a Spirit Hall expert arrived to report.
"Reporting to Your Holiness, that hundred-thousand-year soul beast was trapped in a stillness domain by the two elders and was gravely injured by Lord Yan before it escaped. Lord Yan is already in pursuit."
"What? Yan is there?!"
A sudden sense of foreboding surged in Bibi Dong's heart.
"What are the two elders doing?!"
"Your Holiness. The two elders had overdrawn their soul power and only just recovered slightly. They're already pursuing and ordered me to report to you."
"Understood!"
Only then did Bibi Dong feel slightly at ease.
Looking at the lake surface that still rippled with residual waves, a cold smile appeared on her face.
"Jumping into the lake means you're safe? I'll see how long you can hide! Even if I have to turn this lake upside down, I'll drag the two of you out!"