Before arriving at the Star Dou Great Forest, everyone had already prepared for this. The only thing that would determine success or failure was whether the Titan Giant Ape would appear.
Silence.
This area seemed as if no one had ever set foot in it before.
Boom, boom.
The earth trembled, and a herd of beasts stampeded. Even those hidden in the shadows couldn't help but feel a hint of nervousness. This wasn't about their cultivation level; it was simply because a 100,000 Year Soul Beast was too precious, and this was their first time hunting one.
"Sister Xiao Wu..."
Dust and smoke rose, giant trees toppled, and the massive figure of the Titan Giant Ape approached from a distance, leaping several times to reach the spot where Li Xun and the others had left.
"Divine Demon Slash, Sword Douluo Chen Xin!"
"Emerald Scale Profound Water Divine Light!"
"Bone Transformation Divine Dragon!"
Without any warning, the moment the Titan Giant Ape stopped in its tracks, attacks enveloped it.
A brief look of confusion appeared in the Titan Giant Ape's eyes.
Xiao Wu hadn't shown herself for a long time. He was naturally impatient, and when he suddenly detected a familiar scent, he was overjoyed. Without even thinking about Da Ming, he rushed over at full speed.
But what he didn't expect was that instead of the petite figure he was hoping for, he was met with the ninth Soul Skills of five Title Douluos, each radiating killing intent.
"Roar! Ambush!"
The Titan Giant Ape looked up at the five incoming attacks, its mouth agape, a chill running from its tailbone to the top of its head.
"Gravity Domain!"
Though the situation was urgent, years of combat experience didn't make the Titan Giant Ape give up. A yellow light surrounded him, and although it didn't deflect all the attacks, it prevented him from being killed in one blow.
Misty blood fell from the sky, staining the surrounding trees and grass. One of the Titan Giant Ape's arms and a hind leg had already disappeared.
Howls of pain and agony pierced the heavens.
The Titan Giant Ape had lived in the Star Dou Great Forest for who knows how many years.
Apart from witnessing the hunting of Xiao Wu's mother in his early years and a human swordsman a few years ago, he had rarely seen any humans dare to provoke him and his brother.
Pain, anger, fear, and regret—these four emotions intertwined in his heart. The Titan Giant Ape's face twisted as he propped himself up with one hand, forcing himself to stand. Just as he was about to take action, he sensed another wave of attacks coming.
By now, Sword Douluo and the others had emerged from the shadows, continuously bombarding the Titan Giant Ape with attacks. Massive energy overflowed, creating deep trenches in the ground, and towering trees were shattered and scattered.
Because they needed to leave the final blow to Li Xun, they had never intended to kill the Titan Giant Ape outright, including the ninth Soul Skills they had unleashed earlier, which were not aimed at the Titan Giant Ape's vital spots.
Boom, boom, boom—
Attack after attack poured down, and the Titan Giant Ape continued to defend, but soon his remaining leg was broken, and his massive body collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash.
Sword Douluo seized the moment and slashed out with his sword, striking the Titan Giant Ape's spine: "Xiao Xun, it's your turn."
Hearing this, Li Xun quickly rushed over from a distance.
There was no need for further discussion, as there was still the possibility of the Azure Sky Bull Python arriving to provide support at any moment.
Li Xun's fifth Spirit Ring lit up, and a series of azure spears suddenly extended from beneath his feet.
"It's you..."
The Titan Giant Ape detected a familiar scent and immediately recalled the incident that had occurred years ago at the cliff on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest: "If only I had known..."
Li Xun didn't let the Titan Giant Ape finish its words. He thrust his spear repeatedly towards its neck. Humans and beasts were different, and from the very beginning, he had never positioned himself as a benevolent person.
If one day he truly felt pity, it would only be when he stood at the pinnacle of the continent. Until then, there was no other path but to grow stronger and kill.
The vitality of a 100,000 Year Soul Beast was formidable, and the Titan Giant Ape's hide was incredibly tough. However, under Li Xun's relentless assault, death was inevitable.
As a brilliant red Spirit Ring slowly rose from the Titan Giant Ape's body, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, though their eyes also gleamed with envy.
This was something that even the five Title Douluo present had never possessed, and yet, this was already Li Xun's second one.
Someone whose Spirit Rings weren't even perfectly matched couldn't help but feel a pang of bitterness.
Sitting cross-legged, Li Xun summoned his Martial Soul. The vibrant red Spirit Ring, sensing the pull, instantly floated from the Titan Giant Ape's body towards Li Xun.
As the Spirit Ring settled around his Martial Soul, a wave of pain surged through his entire body.
Because Xiao Wu had sacrificed her soul, Li Xun had felt no pain during the absorption process; instead, it had been somewhat comfortable. But now, the sensation was more akin to when he had absorbed the Blue Silver King—a violent energy accompanied by intense pain.
Li Xun had absorbed several Ten Thousand Year Spirit Rings before, but this was the first time he had experienced what could be called a soul impact.
Within his Spiritual Sea of Consciousness, a dark red figure roared. From its constantly shifting outline, Li Xun could vaguely make out the form of the Titan Giant Ape.
Ferocity and killing intent relentlessly assailed him, making his very soul tremble.
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You want to drag me to death with you? I've already died—twice, in fact. How can you compare to my experience with death?
A fierce glint flashed in Li Xun's soul form. Facing the Titan Giant Ape's counterattack, he didn't dodge but instead lunged forward.
Pulling, biting, entangling.
The battle between the two soul forms was unadorned, devoid of flashy skills or powerful Soul Skills. Both were engaged in the most brutal close-quarters combat.
However, the battlefield was within Li Xun's Spiritual Sea of Consciousness. Though the Titan Giant Ape's soul power was formidable, it was like a rootless duckweed, constantly being worn down by Li Xun's soul.
While he held the upper hand within his Spiritual Sea, the situation outside was far from optimistic.
As the Titan Giant Ape's immense energy entered his body, unable to be quickly absorbed, it began to run rampant.
Li Xun's body swelled like a balloon, his blood vessels and muscles tearing, his skin cracking, and blood seeping through the fissures.
The Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone emitted a faint glow, and the passive healing of Wood Release was constantly at work. Li Xun was like a balloon being continuously inflated and deflated.
This scene left Bone Douluo and the others in shock.
Though Sword Douluo and Dugu Bo were also concerned, their composure was much better, as both had witnessed Li Xun in even more dire situations.
"Old Sword Man, has Xiao Xun always absorbed Spirit Rings like this?"
Bone Douluo felt a chill run down his spine. In all his years, this was the first time he had seen Li Xun absorb a Spirit Ring. Though he had anticipated it to some extent, this method of constantly teetering on the edge of bodily explosion seemed a bit too insane.
"Don't worry, Xiao Xun has always been like this when absorbing Spirit Rings. Otherwise, how do you think he managed to obtain such high-level Spirit Rings in the past?"
Sword Douluo straightened his posture and proudly glanced at the few who seemed inexperienced.
Even Dugu Bo rubbed his chin, looking as if he had everything under control.
Damn it, they really showed off.
Bone Douluo's eye twitched, feeling a surge of resentment in his heart.
From now on, he decided he couldn't let Sword Douluo accompany Li Xun outside alone. It made him feel like a stranger guarding the sect at home.
"Roar! Er Ming~~!!!"
Just as the group was subtly competing with each other, a deafening roar echoed through the air.
(End of Chapter)