Just as in the original story, the group quickly found a soul beast highly suitable for Oscar, a thousand-year Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent, with an ideal age.
After analysis by Yang Xiong and Tang San, they determined the Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent to be around six to eight meters long, with an age between 1,300 and 1,800 years. In terms of attributes and overall suitability, it was perfect for Oscar.
Tang San, having grown up under Yu Xiaogang's tutelage, was highly knowledgeable about soul beasts. Yang Xiong, who had read through the entire archive of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan since childhood, was equally well-versed in soul beast lore.
With their analysis complete, the group moved swiftly. They surrounded and subdued the Phoenix-Tail Crest Serpent, leaving it severely weakened and waiting for Oscar to deliver the final blow.
During the process, they also encountered Snake Woman Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran, who had clearly been pursuing this soul beast for some time.
Fortunately, no conflict occurred. Yang Xiong stepped forward to communicate, and once Ning Rongrong revealed her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial spirit, the two wisely chose to leave.
Though Meng Yiran seemed a bit unwilling, the strength of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was not something to be trifled with, especially since powerful clans like this fiercely protected their own.
Oscar took a full three hours to absorb the soul ring. Meanwhile, Tang San and Xiao Wu showed no signs of breaking through.
Zhao Wuji appeared very pleased. "Little Ao, your luck was really good this time. Judging by how happy you are, your soul skill must be excellent."
Oscar's face was full of excitement. "Thank you, Teacher Zhao! My soul skill is indeed excellent. It's called Flying Mushroom Sausage. It grants a soul master the ability to fly for a short time, though only for one minute."
Everyone was shocked upon hearing this. In the world of soul masters, despite the variety of martial spirits and soul skills, actual flight was extremely rare, only flying-type soul masters or those at the Title Douluo level could truly achieve it.
Yet Oscar had gained flight with just his third soul skill. Although the duration was short, its effect far exceeded everyone's expectations.
Yang Xiong was silent for a moment. Oscar's soul skill seemed tailor-made for soul master battles but might not be as effective in other scenarios.
After all, no matter how fast one flies, a minute's duration would only cover one or two kilometers, negligible for high-level soul masters.
Just as they were preparing to leave, the ground began to tremble as if a powerful creature was approaching.
Yang Xiong was alarmed. The Titan Giant Ape shouldn't have appeared so soon. What was going on?
The Titan Giant Ape was known to dwell in the Lake of Life, deep in the Star Dou Forest's core area, several hundred kilometers away. It was shocking that such a creature appeared just as the group was about to leave, especially since they had only been in the forest for five or six hours.
Zhao Wuji reacted instantly and shouted, "Everyone, behind me, now! We're leaving immediately!"
Although confused, everyone quickly moved behind Zhao Wuji, who had summoned his martial spirit, the Vigorous Vajra Bear, and looked extremely serious.
The tremors intensified. Trees were being pushed aside or crushed into splinters.
Then, a massive figure appeared before them, a gigantic ape.
The ape stood over ten meters tall, and if fully upright, it would exceed fifteen meters. Its entire body was jet black, like granite, and its eyes glowed like lanterns.
Yang Xiong shouted, "That's the Titan Giant Ape, a true hundred-thousand-year soul beast. We need to get out of here now!"
Zhao Wuji remained unusually calm. He bowed slightly to the Titan Giant Ape and said, "Respected King of the Forest, we mean no offense. We will leave your territory at once."
Everyone was terrified. In the world of Douluo, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast was a legendary existence, stronger even than a Title Douluo, an insurmountable mountain for ordinary soul masters.
The Titan Giant Ape let out a roar and moved toward the group. Its steps were enormous and incredibly fast, closing the distance almost instantly.
Zhao Wuji shouted again, "Run! I'll hold it off!"
Soul rings flashed around Zhao Wuji as he activated multiple soul skills simultaneously. His Vigorous Vajra Bear radiated immense power.
After activating several soul skills, the space around him seemed compressed, the ground came under tremendous pressure, and a gravitational force pressed toward the Titan Giant Ape, clearly a combination of gravity compression and control, along with self-enhancement techniques.
However, the Titan Giant Ape roared again, instantly dispelling Zhao Wuji's gravitational pressure. A mysterious force surged toward Zhao Wuji, far surpassing his own skill.
Yang Xiong rushed to Ning Rongrong's side. "Everyone, prepare to retreat. This Titan Giant Ape is far too powerful."
Dai Mubai immediately activated his third soul skill, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, clearly intending to help Zhao Wuji. But as soon as he got close, he was thrown back by an invisible force.
The others didn't hesitate to summon their martial spirits. Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda released beams of light, boosting the entire group.
But her current strength wasn't enough to support someone at Zhao Wuji's level. Her soul power was quickly drained.
Despite Zhao Wuji's formidable strength, the Titan Giant Ape struck him with a single slap, sending him flying.
Although Yang Xiong had urged everyone to flee, Xiao Wu did not immediately retreat. Instead, she leapt toward the Titan Giant Ape.
The Titan Giant Ape reacted swiftly, releasing immense pressure. Everyone was knocked away instantly. Xiao Wu, in particular, was caught in the ape's giant hand.
Everyone was horrified, especially Tang San, whose eyes turned purple with rage. Countless hidden weapons shot toward the Titan Giant Ape, but even the sharpest ones couldn't pierce its skin, they might as well have been scratching an itch.
Zhao Wuji let out a furious roar and activated his most powerful black soul ring, using his seventh soul skill: Martial Spirit Avatar.
His height grew from around 1.7 meters to over 2 meters. Golden fur sprouted all over his body, and his muscles swelled, he looked like a raging beast.
He roared, "Go! No one is allowed to attack!"
But even with his Martial Spirit Avatar, Zhao Wuji was still no match for the hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape. Within moments, he was sent flying again.
The Titan Giant Ape, holding Xiao Wu, turned and walked away, clearly heading deeper into the Star Dou Forest.
Yang Xiong glanced at the group and said, "Recover quickly. I'm going after the Titan Giant Ape and Xiao Wu."
Before Zhao Wuji could respond, Yang Xiong's figure flashed, disappearing in the same direction as the ape.
The rest of the group looked battered and miserable. Tang San, in particular, had just launched a fierce attack and suffered a backlash from the Titan Giant Ape's roar. He was clearly injured.
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