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At this moment, deep within the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest—
"Er Ming, stand guard outside for now. I'll ask Da Ming to help me conceal the aura of a soul beast from my body."
Xiao Wu leapt off the shoulder of the Titan Giant Ape and landed steadily by a lake.
Er Ming was none other than the Titan Giant Ape.
Hearing Xiao Wu's words, it nodded with human-like understanding, then turned to patrol the surroundings to prevent any other soul beasts from disturbing them.
Suddenly, the lake began to boil, and a colossal ox head emerged from beneath the water's surface.
It was a Sky Blue Bull Python, with the head of a bull and the body of a python, its entire form shimmering with a cyan hue.
Its massive body, stretching hundreds of meters long, radiated a pressure so overwhelming it was difficult to look directly at it.
Yet Xiao Wu showed no fear and stepped forward. "Da Ming, are you alright?"
"Sister Xiao Wu, you're back? Did you need me for something?"
The Sky Blue Bull Python spoke in human language, clearly familiar with Xiao Wu.
After all, Xiao Wu's true identity was that of a 100,000-year-old soul beast in human form.
She didn't beat around the bush. "Da Ming, do you have a method to hide the soul beast aura from my transformed body?"
"Sister Xiao Wu, has a Titled Douluo set their sights on you?" Da Ming asked with concern.
If she truly had been discovered, it would be impossible for her to escape.
After all, she was currently only a twenty-ninth-level Grand Soul Master.
Xiao Wu nodded, then shook her head. "There's a Titled Douluo stationed at the academy where I'm cultivating in the human world. I haven't been discovered yet, but I'm worried that I might be, so I came to ask you."
In truth, she was simply blinded by love. Tang San's words—"Then they'll have to step over my dead body first"—had thoroughly captivated her.
Da Ming's enormous pupils contracted as he tried to reason with her.
"Sister Xiao Wu, since there's a Titled Douluo nearby, you should leave the human world and focus on cultivating safely here in the forest."
"Why try to conceal your soul beast aura and cultivate right under the nose of a Titled Douluo?"
But Xiao Wu's mind was filled with Tang San. She shook her head and replied softly, "If I stay in the forest forever, what would be the point of having transformed at all?"
"Besides, if I can hide my soul beast aura from that Titled Douluo, I might have a better environment for cultivation in the human world."
There was truth in her words.
At Shrek Academy, where Lan Minghua resided, other Titled Douluo might not dare to investigate recklessly.
Seeing Da Ming hesitate, Xiao Wu pressed again. "Da Ming, just tell me—is there a way to hide my aura or not?"
"There is. But it takes a heavy toll on me, and I'll be weakened for a while. Still, for Sister Xiao Wu, I'm willing to do it."
The Sky Blue Bull Python was like a slavish admirer; he would do his utmost to satisfy any of Xiao Wu's desires.
Although he'd guessed things wouldn't be so simple, he was still willing to give unconditionally.
Even if the method would leave him weakened, he would help Xiao Wu.
Without hesitation, Xiao Wu leapt onto the Sky Blue Bull Python's head, and the two of them submerged into the depths of the lake together.
Beneath the lake was a barrier that completely cut off all sound and energy fluctuations.
No one could sense what was happening underwater, and they couldn't sense anything from outside either.
Meanwhile, the Titan Giant Ape patrolled its territory, driving out ignorant soul beasts.
Suddenly, it shuddered violently, feeling itself locked on by a powerful presence.
That aura carried the unmistakable scent of death!
The Titan Giant Ape roared anxiously, its eyes wide as it looked around in panic.
At the outer edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, Lan Minghua hovered mid-air, the corner of his mouth curling into a faint smile.
"Don't blame me, little ape. Your future brother-in-law asked me to kill you, so I have no choice but to send you on your way."
Zhao Wuji and the others stared at Lan Minghua without blinking, nervously swallowing hard.
Lan Minghua slowly raised one hand, aiming at a certain spot deep within the forest.
Suddenly, golden light burst from his entire body, so brilliant it rivaled the sun and made it nearly impossible to keep one's eyes open.
Then, he slammed his palm down toward that location!
With a wave of his hand, an immense aura exploded forth.
Clouds in the sky scattered under an invisible force, and a massive golden palm, large enough to blot out the sun, descended from the heavens.
As it fell, the compressed air screamed with piercing shrieks.
The Titan Giant Ape stared blankly at the descending golden palm, frozen in place.
Even before it landed, the intense shockwave swept through the forest below.
Countless towering ancient trees were uprooted and hurled into the air.
Smelling death, the Titan Giant Ape ran frantically, but it quickly realized it couldn't escape the range of the attack.
"ROAR!!"
Unwilling to die like this, it let out an earth-shattering roar.
The sound was so loud that even Zhao Wuji and the others at the forest's edge could hear it clearly.
However, Xiao Wu and Da Ming, deep underwater, had no idea what was happening outside.
Lan Minghua chuckled softly and pressed his hand down again.
The golden palm accelerated as it cut through the air, as if it sought to suppress all of creation.
The Titan Giant Ape stood up on its hind legs, pounded its chest in fury, then raised both arms high, attempting to block the lethal strike.
But it was all in vain.
The golden palm crashed down with unstoppable force, encountering no resistance whatsoever.
A deafening boom erupted in the forest, and the Titan Giant Ape was instantly reduced to a pile of meat pulp.
Even its hundred-thousand-year soul bone was crushed to dust.
Tremors rippled through the ground, and Zhao Wuji and the others struggled to keep their balance.
Lan Minghua waved a hand, dispersing the incoming shockwave. With another casual gesture, he summoned the Titan Giant Ape's mangled remains from the forest depths.
He tossed the pile of flesh to the ground and stared curiously at Tang San.
Tang San stood stunned, unable to speak as he stared at the familiar mess of meat.
The mighty king of the forest, the Titan Giant Ape, had been killed in a single blow!
Not only Tang San, but Zhao Wuji and the others were also dumbfounded, their faces etched with disbelief.
"So this is Brother Hua's true strength? The Titan Giant Ape couldn't even withstand a single move!"
Zhao Wuji recalled the battle between Lan Minghua and Tang Hao that night—clearly, Lan Minghua had been holding back.
Dragon Duke and Serpent Lady appeared frozen in place by some unseen force.
The once-vigorous Dragon Duke now trembled like a candle in the wind.
His eyes bulged so wide they looked like they might pop out of their sockets.
Serpent Lady's face was ghostly pale, drained of all color.
Her lips quivered uncontrollably, her few remaining teeth clattering together with audible clicks.
Lan Minghua descended from the sky and said to Tang San, "So, you said I couldn't beat this little ape?"
Tang San collapsed to the ground, unable to comprehend the sheer power Lan Minghua possessed.
Suddenly, a horrifying thought struck him, and he screamed as if he'd lost his mind, "Xiao Wu! Don't tell me Xiao Wu died too!"
Zhao Wuji was stunned. With such a powerful attack, even he would be reduced to dust—let alone a mere Grand Soul Master like Xiao Wu.
The others stared at Lan Minghua in terror, awaiting his answer.
Lan Minghua didn't have a habit of landing treacherous blows, so he said nonchalantly, "Didn't I already tell you? She's fine. She'll probably be back soon."
No one dared to say a word—whatever he said was law.
Lan Minghua knew they were misunderstanding him but couldn't be bothered to explain.
After all, if Xiao Wu didn't return, he really would become the "rabbit" killer.
He didn't dwell on it. Instead, he turned to Dragon Duke and Serpent Lady.
"So, are you two still planning to fight over that Phoenix-Tailed Crest Serpent?"
(End of Chapter)