Showdown, Titan Ape

Chapter 34 Showdown, Titan Ape

Encountering a suitable soul beast for Dai Mubai in the border area between the outer and middle perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest was an unexpected bonus; the next target was Ma Hongjun's Crimson Swan.

The Red Swan, also known as the Flame Swan or Crimson Flame Swan.

Legend has it that the Honghu is the son of the phoenix and possesses the bloodline of a divine beast. The Crimson Honghu, in addition to this, possesses the ability of fire, making it one of the most suitable soul beasts for Ma Hongjun.

By the campfire, Chi Ping explained to his juniors the spirit beasts they were about to hunt.

"According to intelligence, there is a crimson lake about a hundred miles deep in the Star Dou Great Forest. Some people have seen many crimson swans there, which should be a colony of crimson swans. Hong Jun will most likely obtain his third spirit ring there."

"Does it have to be the Crimson Swan?" Tang San asked, puzzled. "I remember that Crimson Swans are very united. Attacking just one will result in being hunted down by the entire clan. Isn't that too dangerous?"

"There's no other way. Hongjun needs the Crimson Swan to enhance his martial soul bloodline and take another step towards becoming a true divine beast, the Phoenix. The sooner his bloodline martial soul is improved, the better, and the Crimson Swan is one of the most suitable soul beasts for him."

"Should we come along too?" Ning Rongrong asked, but then immediately began to explain, "I'm not scared, I'm just worried that I'll hold you back."

Chi Ping shook his head and said with a smile, "Of course we students wouldn't be asked to do anything. Even if Mu Bai and I cooperated fully, it would be difficult to deal with a group of soul beasts. It was Teacher Zhao who took action."

"Can he control it?" Xiao Wu asked, her expression conflicted. "I mean, won't Teacher Zhao kill the entire swan flock?"

Chi Ping: "What are you thinking? Teacher Zhao is very sensible. Besides, the Crimson Swan is a powerful soul beast clan; they probably even have ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts. Hong Jun's future soul rings are very likely to be obtained from this clan, so how could they possibly kill them all?"

"Don't you think this is too cruel...?"

The others looked at Xiao Wu with strange expressions.

Zhu Zhuqing said, "What's so cruel about Soul Masters hunting Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings? Besides, Soul Beasts can also kill Soul Masters. It's a matter of you killing me and me killing you. Both sides risk their lives on the battlefield, and let strength determine life and death. It's fair, and there's nothing cruel about it."

Dai Mubai nodded. "That makes sense."

Tang San chimed in, "Xiao Wu probably meant we shouldn't kill indiscriminately. A Soul Master only needs a maximum of nine Soul Beasts in their lifetime. But how many Soul Beasts does a Soul Master have to hunt in their lifetime? Not to mention others, even on our journey, we'll encounter some ten-year and hundred-year Soul Beasts that attack us, and we won't be able to resist attacking them. Even if we show mercy and don't kill them, those who make a living by hunting Soul Beasts won't stop, and the number of kills will increase exponentially. If this continues, the Soul Master profession may one day reach a point where there are no Soul Beasts left to use."

Xiao Wu nodded repeatedly.

Chi Ping shook his head. "Indiscriminate killing is indeed wrong. But your statement is also biased."

Soul beasts grow much slower than soul masters, but soul masters are far fewer in number. Even fewer soul masters make a living by hunting soul beasts; the number of soul beasts hunted by a soul master might not even equal the number of soul beasts killed in infighting. Although we collectively refer to soul beasts as soul beasts, they themselves may not see it that way. If a blue-water crocodile and a flame swan encounter each other, who would consider the other a companion?

Chi Ping changed the subject, "What you're worried about is indeed a problem. Soul Masters are backed by civilization, so their development speed will inevitably far exceed that of scattered soul beasts. In a few hundred or a few thousand years, the number of Soul Masters will definitely increase greatly, and their strength will also improve significantly. That's when Soul Masters should start considering the issue of soul beast continuation."

However, it's not a bad thing to think about the future now, as it's better to be prepared. But this is a problem we can't change. Unless one day Soul Masters don't need Soul Rings anymore, or Soul Rings don't have to rely entirely on Soul Beasts to obtain, such as when we can condense Soul Rings ourselves.

Xiao Wu's heart tightened.

Ma Hongjun shrugged. "How could that be!"

"Why is it impossible?" Chi Ping retorted.

Ma Hongjun thought and thought but couldn't come up with a solution, so he could only say, "Isn't this something everyone knows? Why are there so many 'whys'?"

"But before I discovered intuition and qi, everyone believed that these two powers didn't exist. So why couldn't a genius more talented than me come up with the answer to this question?" Chi Ping said with a smile. "I'm not some insurmountable ideal."

Everyone fell silent.

Chi Ping wasn't in a hurry. He waited until everyone had processed what he had just said before speaking again, "This problem is too far removed from our current situation. What we should be doing now is improving ourselves, whether it's cultivation or knowledge. However, this doesn't stop us from thinking about this in our spare time. It's always good to think more; maybe we'll come up with some good ideas. It's not just about Soul Masters condensing Soul Rings; it can also be about other aspects."

Chi Ping looked at Oscar and Ning Rongrong, "For example, how to create your own soul skills so that support soul masters can protect themselves in front of battle soul masters."

—The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is a purely supportive sect that has long relied on external retainers to maintain its status and often shows concern for Ning Rongrong…

Then he looked at Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, "And also governing the country and its people, and developing the nation."

—From Xingluo City, surnamed Dai and Zhu, a white tiger spirit cat…

Then he looked at Tang San and Xiao Wu, "and the restoration of the sect..."

—A powerful inherited soul skill, yet it begins with a work-study student…

Chi Ping paused for a moment, then said uncertainly, "Um... hiding your identity, seeking revenge or something?"

—Lacking common sense, of mysterious origin, and with a particular sympathy for spirit beasts…

Ma Hongjun was a little confused and asked, "Brother Ping, why are you saying all this? What does it have to do with us?"

Chi Ping shook his head and chuckled, "Maybe it's okay, but some things are better said openly. Keeping them bottled up will cause problems. Alright, if you can't hold on any longer, you can go to the tent and sleep for a while. Don't worry, I'll keep watch tonight."

—There are too many flaws!

Chi Ping's words left everyone present feeling uneasy. Now that they had a way out, they all took their leave and retreated into their tents.

"Uh...do I have to go back to the tent too?" Ma Hongjun scratched his head and asked sheepishly.

Chi Ping laughed and said, "Go ahead, it's alright."

……

The next day, Shrek and his group continued their journey, but it was clear that the trainees in the group were emotionally unstable.

"Xiaoping, Fatty, what's wrong with them?"

During the lunch break, Zhao Wuji called Chi Ping and Ma Hongjun to his side and asked them in a low voice.

"I don't know, Ping said a few things to them last night and that's how it ended up."

Zhao Wuji looked at Chi Ping.

Chi Ping said, "Our Shrek Academy now has eight students, a number we've never had before. Does Teacher Zhao know what special significance this number holds?"

Zhao Wuji thought for a moment and said, "Hmm... can we form a team?"

Chi Ping nodded and said with a smile, "That's right. Teacher Zhao, you know about the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, right? We've met all the requirements to participate."

Zhao Wuji was even more puzzled. "Does this have anything to do with your manipulation of their mentality?"

"Mu Bai, Zhu Qing, Rong Rong, Xiao San, and Xiao Wu all have somewhat complicated backgrounds. Xiao Ao has feelings for Rong Rong, but you should have heard of the rules of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. These things will become knots in their hearts. The Soul Master Competition will be their opportunity to resolve these knots. I need to break down these knots and make them truly united."

Zhao Wuji suddenly realized, "Alright, it's good that you know what you're doing, but remember to keep it within limits, don't capsize."

Chi Ping smiled and said, "I know what I'm doing."

The camp returned to calm, but everyone's mind was in turmoil.

Suddenly, Chi Ping and Oscar felt a chill run down their spines.

Something's up!

"Everyone, stick close to Teacher Zhao!"

The two voices struck everyone's hearts like heavy hammer blows, and they instinctively moved closer to Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji stared intently at the calm forest and asked seriously, "What happened?"

Oscar: "I don't know!"

"A huge threat, but no danger to life." (Ikehira)

Zhao Wuji was greatly surprised. "How big?"

"Countless times larger than the Dragon King and Snake Queen! A titled beast, or a 100,000-year-old soul beast!" Chi Ping's gaze remained fixed, his martial arts uniform transforming into light armor. His tone was extremely grave. "Be prepared, don't make the first move! Rongrong, buff Teacher Zhao! Xiao Ao, restore Rongrong's soul power!"

Chi Ping and Oscar's condition was too abnormal, so Ning Rongrong dared not be careless and immediately used her soul skill.

"The seven treasures transform into crystal, possessing two attributes: first, power! Second, speed!"

"I have a big sausage!"

The others also used their Martial Souls to possess their bodies, their gazes fixed intently on the direction Chi Ping and Oscar were staring at.

The air seemed to freeze, and the heavy sounds of heartbeats and breathing fell like giant hammers.

Before long, Zhao Wuji seemed to have noticed something as well, and his mood became even heavier. "Everyone, get behind me. If anything happens later, don't worry about me. Just leave here immediately and get out of the Star Dou Great Forest first. Xiaoping, Mubai, while I'm gone, I'll entrust the responsibility of protecting everyone to you."

Apart from Oscar and Ike, most of the others were completely baffled.

Dai Mubai sensed the heavy sense of death in Zhao Wuji's words, and his heart sank even further.

"The other party has no intention of killing, so perhaps we can avoid a conflict! Teacher Zhao, no matter what happens later, don't say a word! And don't make a move! Leave it to me!" Chi Ping stood at the front, not moving.

"I'm the teacher!" Zhao Wuji was furious!

"I'm confident!" Chi Ping said without turning around. "Trust me."

Zhao Wuji remained silent, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.

"When we get back, I'm going to spank you until your butt is swollen!"

After an unknown amount of time, in the direction everyone was watching, the two large trees slowly parted to the sides, and a huge figure silently emerged.

Upon seeing this enormous creature, everyone held their breath.

Everyone finally understood what Chi Ping and the other two were worried about.

That was a mountain-like presence!

It resembled both an ape and a chimpanzee, with lantern-sized eyes that gleamed with a golden luster, and its jet-black fur that shimmered with a metallic sheen in the sunlight.

This behemoth's body was incredibly robust, to an unbelievable degree! Not only was its body enormous, but every part of it was covered with powerful muscles more terrifying than granite, protruding like small hills.

This enormous creature moved without making a sound, not even a breath!

"Titan Ape!"

Chi Ping and Tang San recognized the enormous creature almost simultaneously, their hearts heavy.

The power of the King of the Forest is self-evident, and the cultivation level of the one before us is at least ten thousand years! The Peerless Dragon and Snake couple can use the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, and their combat power is comparable to that of a Title Douluo, but in front of this person, they are probably no match for him!

Before Zhao Wuji could lose control, Chi Ping stepped forward to face the Titan Ape, saying, "Respected King of the Forest, we have no intention of offense. If this is your territory, we are willing to withdraw immediately. We will fulfill any request you may have!"

Chi Ping's actions startled everyone.

Even Zhao Wuji was extremely nervous about the Titan Giant Ape, yet he dared to approach!

It was precisely because of this action that Zhao Wuji no longer dared to act rashly.

However, the Titan Ape ignored Chi Ping and made a simple action that made everyone's hearts jump to their throats.

It's a step forward!

"Erming! Don't hurt them, take me with you!"

In a corner where no one was watching, Xiao Wu frantically winked at the Titan Ape.

Upon receiving the message, Titan Giant Ape Erming roared, slapped Chi Ping aside, and approached the crowd with lightning speed. He punched and sent many people flying, including Zhao Wuji, who activated his Martial Soul True Body when he saw the situation was not good. Then he grabbed Xiao Wu from the crowd and disappeared in a flash.

Chi Ping's soul transmigrated, so he knew the original plot, but fifteen years had passed, and his memories were completely blurred. Now, he can basically be considered as if he had never seen the plot.

(End of this chapter)