After a moment of thought, Chen Feng made up his mind. He would attempt to absorb the Lightning Saber-Toothed Leopard's soul ring, even though it exceeded the usual age limit.
The Titan Giant Ape had just passed through. Its lingering aura still blanketed the area, a deterrent strong enough that no other soul beast would dare approach for a while.
But if he waited too long, that safety window might close.
Chen Feng was never one for indecision. Once resolved, he swiftly finished off the unconscious leopard, sat down cross-legged, and began the absorption process.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Star Dou Great Forest…
"No! Xiao Wu—!!"
Tang San staggered to his feet through sheer will, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth.
"Xiao San, don't be reckless!"
Zhao Wuji climbed up from the dirt nearby, equally battered and bleeding.
Just moments ago, the king of the forest, the Titan Giant Ape, had suddenly appeared and taken Xiao Wu.
Zhao Wuji tried to intervene but was utterly powerless, let alone the others.
"Oscar! If you still see me as a brother, give me one of your Mushroom Sausages!"
Tang San's eyes were bloodshot, his expression terrifyingly cold.
Oscar could feel the storm inside him, but still tried to dissuade him:
"Xiao San, listen to Teacher Zhao. Don't act rashly!"
"Oscar, I know exactly what I'm doing.
If someone dear to you were taken, what would you do?
Even if there's only a sliver of hope, I have to try.
Please, I'm begging you."
Oscar glanced over at Ning Rongrong, then sighed.
"Fine…"
As a man, he understood Tang San's feelings all too well.
If Ning Rongrong had been taken, he would've done the same, even if he was only a Support-type Food System soul master.
"Thanks," Tang San said as he swallowed the mushroom sausage.
A pair of ethereal wings burst from his back, and he rose into the air.
"Tang San! What are you doing?!" Zhao Wuji shouted, stunned.
"I'm sorry, Teacher Zhao. But even if Xiao Wu is already dead, I have to find her—at least her body."
With that, Tang San flapped his wings and soared off in the direction the Titan Giant Ape had gone.
"Seven Treasures Bright! Second: Speed!"
Ning Rongrong's crisp voice rang out as a brilliant light descended upon Tang San, instantly boosting his flight speed.
"Go, Tang San. I support you. You have to bring Xiao Wu back—she's my sister, too."
She didn't notice Zhao Wuji's expression behind her, dark as thunderclouds.
"You… you all…"
Zhao Wuji was fuming to the point of being speechless.
Do any of you have a damn clue how dangerous this forest is?!
Oscar gave an awkward smile.
"Teacher Zhao, you've seen how desperate Tang San is. Even if we hadn't helped, he'd have run off on foot.
I understand his feelings.
If you must blame someone, blame me."
"Blame?! Forget blaming! You, give me one of those damn sausages too!"
Zhao Wuji roared with fury, but beneath it was a heavy sense of responsibility that silenced everyone.
"If we're throwing caution to the wind, then let's all go.
Anyone who doesn't want to risk it, get out of this forest now."
The force behind his words shook the whole group.
"Tch. Teacher Zhao, that's kidnapping…"
Ma Hongjun grumbled.
Before Zhao Wuji could explode again, Dai Mubai scoffed.
"Tch. I knew you'd complain, Fatty. With your fondness for brothels, how would you understand emotional attachment?"
"Screw you! Don't act all righteous, Dai Mubai! You're no saint either—don't think I forgot about you bagging twins. You're even worse than me!"
"Uh…"
Dai Mubai was momentarily speechless and awkwardly glanced at Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing crossed her arms and glared daggers at him.
Zhao Wuji yelled again:
"Enough! Those who want to rescue her, move out!
Those who don't, I won't stop you!"
With that, he ate a mushroom sausage and launched himself skyward, chasing after Tang San.
The others exchanged glances, and all chose to follow.
Deep in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Tang San leaned against a tree, panting heavily.
The Mushroom Sausage's effect only lasted one minute, and he'd flown several kilometers before landing.
The rest of the way, he relied on his Purple Demon Eye to track the Titan Giant Ape's trail.
It drained him.
He was exhausted.
If a soul beast appeared now, it would spell disaster.
After scanning the terrain, Tang San sat down and pulled out a water flask from the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges, gulping it down.
No one knew if a soul beast would appear.
He just wanted to recover some soul power before continuing.
Rustle… rustle…
A faint sound reached his ears.
It was like leaves brushing against each other, but oddly heavy.
At the same time, a foul, rotten stench began to waft through the air.
Tang San rose cautiously, turning to look behind him.
Then he saw it.
A massive, black spider, hanging upside-down between two ancient trees.
Its body was nearly two meters in diameter, with razor-sharp legs embedded in the bark.
Viscous liquid dripped from its fangs.
On its lower abdomen…
A pale, human-like face stared directly at Tang San with eight cold, black eyes.
"Man-Faced Demon Spider!"
Tang San gasped. He recognized it immediately.
A creature nicknamed the butcher of weak soul beasts—a predator so sinister, even soul beasts loathed its existence.
According to legend, the Man-Faced Demon Spider didn't kill prey quickly.
Instead, it immobilized them and slowly drained their marrow, leaving them to die in endless agony.
Far more horrifying than death itself.
Swish—!
The Man-Faced Demon Spider lunged, its sharp limbs cutting the air as it charged.
Tang San rolled aside just in time, activating Blue Silver Grass.
A web of thick, blue vines shot out, entangling the spider's grotesque body.
Only during this pause did Tang San notice something critical:
The spider had only four legs left.
The other four had been cut clean off, leaking a foul, black blood.
Thank the heavens it's injured, Tang San thought.
Otherwise, I'd already be dead.
"Screeee—!"
Frustrated at missing its prey, the spider became agitated.
Even with only four legs, it still moved shockingly fast.
A flash of black light appeared in Tang San's hand—the Clear Sky Hammer materialized, radiating immense pressure.
He was prepared. The moment it lunged again, he'd strike back with everything he had.
But then…
From nearby, a rhythmic set of footsteps echoed.
Tap. Tap. Tap…
The moment the Man-Faced Demon Spider heard them, its body froze—as if a rat had seen a cat.
It even started trembling slightly.
"Tzing—!"
In a blur of motion, a blue figure streaked across the clearing.
Like lightning, a blinding sword light sliced through the air—
—and in a single instant, it severed the spider's remaining four legs clean off!