Chapter 333
All Beasts Retreat!
Titan Giant Ape Erming raced through the dark depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, its movements incredibly fast yet with an unbelievable precision and coordination.
Its enormous body weighed more than a mountain, and each time it landed, it caused the earth to tremble and left deep craters, but its route was as clear as a map that had long been imprinted in the depths of its soul.
Towering ancient trees, gnarled vines, and craggy rocks all become negligible obstacles in its presence.
It did not rampage recklessly, but rather demonstrated the unparalleled control the king of the forest had over this land.
Each leap lightly over or skillfully bypasses obstacles, and the massive body displays astonishing agility in the dense forest, completely disproportionate to its size.
Each burst of power allows it to instantly traverse a distance of 100 meters, leaving behind only a wrecked path plowed open by the violent airflow.
Wherever it passed, all was silent. Whether it was a hunter lurking in the shadows or a group of soul beasts dwelling in the treetops, anyone who sensed the terrifying aura sweeping in like a landslide or a tsunami would be utterly terrified.
The deep roar of the beast instantly turned into terrified whimpers, and the sounds of flapping wings, fleeing, and rustling branches intertwined to create a chaotic prelude to their escape.
All the spirit beasts, regardless of their level, were moving away from this invisible path of death as quickly as possible, and no one dared to stop the King of the Forest from advancing.
Erming's enormous, amber eyes were fixed on the distance ahead, filled with an urgent longing to return home.
At this moment, sitting upright on its broad, platform-like right shoulder is Xiao Wu.
Unlike the panic she felt when she was gripped by the giant before, she was now sitting quite calmly.
The terrifying speed brought by Erming's enormous body did not cause her the slightest sense of turbulence, as if an invisible force was supporting her and isolating her from all shocks.
A strong wind whistled past her, blowing her long pink hair and revealing her pretty face, which was filled with deep worry.
She would anxiously turn back from time to time, looking in the opposite direction from which the Titan ape was running—that was where the camp was, the direction where her companions were.
Each time he turned back, the worry in his eyes deepened.
"Erming, stop! This is it! We can't go any further!"
Xiao Wu's voice was urgent as she forcefully patted Er Ming's neck, which was as hard as rock.
"I have to get back as soon as possible! They must be frantic! Erming, you...you really shouldn't have rushed out to find me like this!"
A miraculous scene unfolded.
Upon hearing Xiao Wu's words, the Titan Ape, which was as large as a moving mountain, actually slowed down and its massive body came to a steady stop amidst a tooth-grinding screech of tree trunks rubbing together.
It even lowered its enormous head slightly, carefully crouching down, its huge forelimbs supporting it on the ground, lowering its broad shoulders very close to the ground, its movements so gentle that they seemed incongruous with its terrifying appearance.
Xiao Wu gracefully leaped off its shoulder and landed on the ground covered with fallen leaves.
Erming raised its enormous head, and its huge yellow crystal eyes, which were enough to terrify any soul beast, now revealed an almost childlike innocence, even with a hint of grievance. It let out a low "whimper" and shook its huge head gently, as if explaining or admitting its mistake.
Seeing Erming like this, Xiaowu's anxiety and resentment dissipated, leaving only deep helplessness.
She sighed, took a few steps forward, and reached out to stroke Erming's nose, which was so close to hers and as rough as rock. Her voice softened considerably.
“Erming, I know you're worried about me. But today was so sudden, I didn't have time to explain. I kept telling you not to hurt anyone, not to hurt anyone… Even though you didn't hurt them in the end, taking me away like this, they must think… think I'm in grave danger…”
Erming seemed to fully understand Xiaowu's words. Its lantern-sized eyes shone gently, and it made a low, soothing gurgling sound in its throat. It extended its huge fingers with sharp claws and very carefully touched Xiaowu's arm with the softest part of its fingertips, conveying its apology and reassurance.
Xiao Wu looked up at Er Ming's huge eyes, which were full of human emotions.
"Erming, how is Daming?"
Erming nodded immediately, his movements so large that they created a small breeze that stirred up Xiaowu's clothes.
It conveyed the message "everything is fine" through its eyes.
"That's good."
Xiao Wu breathed a slight sigh of relief, but her eyes immediately hardened again.
"I must get back as soon as possible; I can't delay any longer. However..."
She changed the subject, her gaze sweeping across the dark forest around her.
"Now that you've brought me out, this is a good opportunity. I'll get rid of my third spirit ring here. That way, I won't have to find an excuse to act alone next time, and I won't have to save them from risking their lives to hunt spirit beasts for me again."
She looked at Erming with clear and earnest eyes.
“I’m sorry, Erming. Although I won’t help them hunt soul beasts to obtain soul rings, as their partner, I can’t stop them from hunting soul beasts either. This is how human soul masters cultivate, and it’s also the rule of this world… at least for now.”
Her tone carried a subtle complexity, as Lin Xia's earlier words about the survival of soul beasts quietly surfaced in her mind.
The Titan Giant Ape Erming shook its massive head again, seemingly unconcerned about Xiao Wu's subsequent words about humans hunting soul beasts.
For it, as long as Xiao Wu is safe and willing to stay in the forest, that's all that matters.
It let out a low growl, its voice not loud, but containing an absolute majesty that came from its bloodline and from the king of the forest.
The low growl spread like an invisible ripple, instantly reaching a kilometer away!
"Roar—Buzz—!"
In an instant, all the soul beasts within a thousand meters of Erming and Xiaowu, regardless of their strength or how deeply they were hidden, were as if they had been awakened from the most terrifying nightmare!
From the grass, tree hollows, and streams... countless soul beasts burst out in terror, letting out shrill screams and mournful cries, and frantically fleeing in the direction away from the source of the sound!
The leaves danced wildly, and the ground trembled, as if a small-scale soul beast tide had occurred.
In just a few breaths, the area was completely cleared away, leaving only the whistling of the wind through the treetops and an atmosphere of absolute, deathly silence and submission.
At the command of the King of the Forest, all beasts fled in terror!
Xiao Wu knew time was of the essence and no longer hesitated. She took a deep breath, as if to absorb the rich life force of the forest into her body. She walked to a relatively flat clearing in front of Er Ming, sat down cross-legged, and turned her back to Er Ming's protective figure, which stood like a mountain.
Her movements became unusually solemn and mysterious.
He made a strange orchid-shaped hand seal with each hand—his right palm facing up, resting steadily on his right knee, as if holding an invisible bright moon.
His left hand is held upright in front of his chest, with his fingertips slightly bent, as if he is picking flowers or forming a mudra.
Her back was ramrod straight, and she entered a state of ethereal concentration. (End of Chapter)