[After losing the bet, Meng Yiran and the others leave. Once Oscar absorbs his third spirit ring, everyone assumes the situation is over. However, in the original story, Tang San happens to break through to level 30 around this time, which happens later in the day than it does now.]
[So, they continue searching for a suitable spirit beast for Tang San. Not long after, the Forest King, the Titan Giant Ape, appears!]
Upon reading this, Xiao Wu's heart skipped a beat. Why would Er Ming appear on the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest? Wasn't he supposed to be in the core area? Could it be that he sensed her presence and came from the core?
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged worried glances. The thought of the Titan Giant Ape appearing in the outskirts terrified them. They knew how dangerous it was. The other female protagonists, reading this, were also concerned about the dangers Su Ming and the group might face. However, given Su Ming's calm demeanor in his diary, they assumed he had things under control.
A Titan Giant Ape with a few ten thousand years of cultivation could rival an ordinary Titled Douluo. From what they knew, this Titan Giant Ape was a 100,000-year spirit beast, likely as powerful as a level 95 Titled Douluo!
And with its special abilities, even a regular level 95 Titled Douluo wouldn't be able to defeat it.
Ju Douluo and Ghost Douluo: "Who are you hinting at here?"
Ning Rongrong began communicating with the other two girls through the diary.
Ning Rongrong: "Xiao Wu, since you're also a 100,000-year spirit beast from the Star Dou Forest, do you know this Titan Giant Ape?"
Zhu Zhuqing: "Yeah, Xiao Wu, do you know it?"
Xiao Wu: "I do. The Titan Giant Ape is my little brother, Er Ming."
Xiao Wu: "I think he must have sensed my presence, which is why he came to the outskirts. Just stay alert and don't get involved. If Su Ming is so calm, it means Er Ming won't harm any of you."
Hearing Xiao Wu's reassurances, the two girls felt a bit more at ease. They figured if Zhao Wuji and the others wanted to fight, they could. Ning Rongrong would provide some buffs and pretend to help. Zhu Zhuqing, on the other hand, preferred to retreat. She knew they weren't a match for the Titan Giant Ape, and her attacks would barely scratch it. If she accidentally provoked the creature, things could turn deadly, and she had no desire to die.
Meanwhile, Bibi Dong pondered as she read the diary: "Xiao Wu is also a 100,000-year spirit beast from the Star Dou Forest, and so is this Titan Giant Ape. Could they possibly know each other? Otherwise, why would a 100,000-year spirit beast suddenly appear in the outskirts?"
[The appearance of the Titan Giant Ape surprised everyone, especially Zhao Wuji, who broke out in a cold sweat.]
[The real reason the Titan Giant Ape appeared on the outskirts was because it sensed Xiao Wu's presence. After all, it had been a long time since Er Ming saw his sister Xiao Wu, so it rushed over eagerly.]
[In the original story, Zhao Wuji was also terrified of the Titan Giant Ape but still activated his Martial Soul True Body to cover the others as they retreated. Despite his efforts, Xiao Wu was eventually captured by the Titan Giant Ape and taken away.]
[Honestly, I don't think Zhao Wuji was truly trying to protect Tang San and the others. He was just trying to save his own life.]
This statement piqued the interest of the female protagonists. Was Zhao Wuji protecting the students just to save himself?
Teachers protecting their students was supposed to be part of their responsibility. Why did Su Ming suggest otherwise?
[Think about it: Shrek Academy has been around for years, with a total of over 40 students. Graduating from the academy requires meeting two conditions.]
[First, reaching spirit power level 40 before the age of 20. Second, earning the Silver Spirit Badge at the Suotuo Great Spirit Arena.]
[But has anyone noticed that, apart from us new students, there are no senior students at the academy? The academy is poorly resourced, so where did all the previous students go? Did they all break through to level 40 before 20 and graduate with the Silver Spirit Badge?]
[I don't believe it. In the future, in the original story, only one former student, Qin Ming, is mentioned, and he teaches at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. No other former students ever appeared again. It's like they just vanished.]
[So, I'm more inclined to believe that the majority of these 40-something students likely died in the Great Spirit Arena or while hunting spirit beasts!]
These words left all the female protagonists deep in thought. Indeed, Shrek Academy only had these few new students, and not a single senior student over 20 years old was ever seen. Achieving level 40 before the age of 20 was extremely difficult.
Even in well-resourced spirit academies like Spirit Hall Academy or other top-ranked academies, it was rare for students to reach level 40 before 20.
And Shrek Academy had no resources. So where did those students go? They couldn't have all graduated. The only other possibility was that most of them had died!
They likely perished in various accidents, and the academy's teachers had failed to protect these talented students.
Thinking this over, Bibi Dong felt infuriated. Shrek Academy's entrance requirements were incredibly strict, and those who entered were at least of genius level. But they were carelessly wasted. If those students had joined Spirit Hall, they could have achieved great things!
The three Shrek girls, reading Su Ming's deductions, were also deeply disturbed. Where had all the senior students gone?
Before departing, Flender had said that unless something unexpected happened, the group of eight students would have to hunt their own spirit beasts. The teachers would only watch from the sidelines to prevent emergencies.
But what if an extreme danger occurred, and the teachers couldn't save them in time?
The three girls exchanged nervous glances, their hearts racing uncontrollably.
In Heaven Dou City's Blue Tyrant Academy, Liu Erlong was similarly shocked as she read the diary. She couldn't believe this was true. Su Ming's words were only speculation, but could Flender's Shrek Academy really be like this?
In her Blue Tyrant Academy, where most students were commoners, whenever a student needed to hunt for a spirit beast, a group of powerful teachers would accompany them. The teachers would do the hunting to ensure the students' safety, even if it meant sacrificing some combat experience. At least, this reduced the risk of losing lives.
Combat experience could be gained by sparring with spirit beasts of a similar level.
Typically, a spirit beast needed for a spirit ring was stronger than the spirit master hunting it. Letting a spirit master hunt their own beast was a risky approach.