Chapter Seventy-Eight: Walking Side by Side, Hand in Hand

"Fifth Soul Skill, Nether God Obliteration!"

This was Xiao Yu's fifth soul skill, acquired from a thirty-thousand-year-old strong-attack soul beast. Its power was immense.

Sword light flickered, and a silver-fanged wolf, whose cultivation exceeded ten thousand years, was sliced into fragments before him.

“Huff, huff, huff!”

Having dealt with the last soul beast pursuing him, Xiao Yu stopped in place, gasping for breath.

Ye Lingling hurriedly summoned her martial soul. White, petal-shaped light slowly merged into Xiao Yu’s body, restoring his soul power and healing his wounds.

Now, only Xiao Yu, Ye Lingling, Xue Qinghe, and Xue Ke remained. All the guards Xue Qinghe had brought with her had perished at the jaws of the soul beasts, sacrificing themselves to protect her and Xue Ke.

“Brother, those soul beasts shouldn’t follow us anymore, right?” Xue Ke, still shaken, asked Xue Qinghe anxiously.

“They shouldn’t.” Xue Qinghe comforted Xue Ke, then cast a resentful glance at Xiao Yu. She wasn’t foolish—she had no enmity with the Sky Azure Bull Python, so why should it go to such lengths to kill her? The two kings of the forest, the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape, were closely related. The Sky Azure Bull Python had stirred up such a commotion, yet the Titan Giant Ape had never appeared. Even with just a bit of reasoning, she could deduce that the Titan Giant Ape must have died at Xiao Yu’s hands. That’s why the Sky Azure Bull Python was so desperate to kill him; she was merely collateral damage.

Sensing Xue Qinghe’s gaze, Xiao Yu dared not meet her eyes. He knew that Qian Renxue must have realized who the culprit was.

This woman could be astonishingly naïve, but when sharp, she could outwit anyone.

Just as Xiao Yu was inwardly complaining about Qian Renxue, his hundred-thousand-year spiritual skull suddenly sent him a warning.

“Not good, there are more soul beasts!”

Without time to think, Xiao Yu pulled Ye Lingling back several steps.

Xue Qinghe, startled by Xiao Yu’s shout, instinctively pulled Xue Ke back as well.

Bang!

As the four retreated, a massive black shadow leapt from afar, showering the ground with shattered stones.

“Titan Giant Ape!” Xue Qinghe exclaimed. Upon closer inspection, she added, “Its cultivation should have surpassed forty thousand years, nearing fifty thousand!”

She glanced at Xiao Yu, “Is this one related to that hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape?”

Xue Qinghe was right—this Titan Giant Ape was indeed distantly related to the rogue rabbit’s sworn brother, Er Ming, the hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape. Among the ten-thousand-year soul beasts gathered by the Sky Azure Bull Python, this was the strongest.

Hundred-thousand-year soul beasts had gained intelligence. The Sky Azure Bull Python knew that Xiao Yu must have a Title Douluo by his side. From the start, it orchestrated a small-scale beast tide to occupy the Title Douluo, deliberately leaving a weak point in the encirclement so Xiao Yu would notice and break out in that direction. The Titan Giant Ape lay in ambush ahead, waiting for him.

Damn, who would have thought soul beasts understood tactics?

Seeing the Titan Giant Ape, clearly waiting for some time, Xiao Yu cursed inwardly. With nearly fifty thousand years of cultivation, even a Soul Douluo wouldn’t want to face it directly.

Suddenly, Xiao Yu turned, activating the hundred-thousand-year skull’s skill—Death Stare. His eyes unleashed a powerful mental shock, aimed straight at Xue Ke.

Caught off guard and only a Grand Soul Master, Xue Ke couldn’t withstand the attack and immediately fainted. Xiao Yu swiftly stowed her away into his Wishful Treasure Pouch.

Xue Qinghe was stunned, “What are you doing?”

“The Titan Giant Ape has nearly fifty thousand years of cultivation, possessing the strength of a low-level Soul Douluo. My chances alone are slim!”

Xiao Yu gripped his Nether King Sword, facing the charging Titan Giant Ape. He said in a deep voice, “Now there are no people from the Heaven Dou Empire at your side. No need to keep up your disguise—help me!”

Only then did Xue Qinghe realize. Though she was annoyed by Xiao Yu’s command, she understood that soul beasts cared nothing for human factions. To survive, she had to fight alongside Xiao Yu and defeat the Titan Giant Ape before them.

The Six-Winged Angel martial soul possessed her. Bathed in golden light, Qian Renxue lifted the disguise effect of her skull, revealing her true form. Two pairs of pristine white wings unfurled from her back. Two yellow, two purple, and two black soul rings rose gently around her.

Seeing Xue Qinghe’s sudden transformation, Ye Lingling was dumbfounded. What was going on? The Crown Prince of Heaven Dou Empire was a woman!

“Lingling, support us first. I’ll explain everything once we’re safe!” Xiao Yu’s voice sounded in her ear. Ye Lingling quickly recovered, summoning her Nine-Hearted Begonia. The Sacred Heart Domain spread out, a pale violet light enveloping Xiao Yu and Qian Renxue.

“A domain!” Qian Renxue instantly sensed Ye Lingling’s domain. She herself possessed an innate domain, so the feeling was familiar.

Even more astonishing was Ye Lingling’s two yellow and two purple soul rings. Qian Renxue had assumed Xiao Yu came to the Star Dou Forest because Ye Lingling was breaking through to the Soul Sect, but now it seemed she was here for her fifth soul ring.

While Qian Renxue was momentarily distracted, Xiao Yu had already reached the Titan Giant Ape, launching his third soul skill—Gale Shadow Break. He shot forth like a black meteor, his sharpened blade pointed directly at the beast.

The Titan Giant Ape roared, raising its stone-like fist and slamming it fiercely toward Xiao Yu.

With a thunderous crash, sword and fist collided. Xiao Yu was sent flying, only barely managing to steady himself after a long tumble. Blood welled in his throat, but he forced it down.

The Titan Giant Ape did not retreat, but a visible wound appeared on its fist, oozing dark purple blood down its muscular arm.

“Roar!” Though it was a mere scratch, the Titan Giant Ape was enraged. Its lantern-sized eyes filled with cold fury. With a growl, a ring of earthy yellow energy surged toward Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu’s expression changed; he had no time to think. He unleashed his fourth soul skill, Nether Sword Thousand Decisive Strikes. Layer upon layer of sword shadows shot from his back, clashing with the Titan Giant Ape’s energy wave.

At that moment, Qian Renxue arrived, immediately activating her fifth soul skill—Sacred Sword. A longsword formed from divine fire appeared in her grasp. Like a golden bolt of lightning, she struck the Titan Giant Ape’s flank.

Bathed in golden light, Qian Renxue raised her Sacred Sword high and stabbed fiercely at the beast’s vulnerable spot. In an instant, her blade pierced its tough hide. Intense energies—divine, radiant, fiery, and judgmental—rushed into the Titan Giant Ape’s body.