Seeing the colossal beast, everyone finally understood why Zhao Wuji had been so tense. This towering creature, as large as a mountain, was none other than the king of the forest—the Titan Giant Ape!
For Su Ming, this was also the first time he had faced such a massive entity, feeling the overwhelming pressure of a hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast up close. It was indeed formidable. If it weren't for his Kamui Space ability, he wouldn't have been able to remain so calm. After all, even with his Wood Release technique, it was unlikely he could repel the Titan Giant Ape at this stage.
Unlike Zhao Wuji, who was filled with anxiety, Xiao Wu didn't feel scared when the Titan Giant Ape appeared. Instead, she felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity and warmth.
Su Ming leaned closer to Xiao Wu and whispered, "Xiao Wu, could it be that this hundred-thousand-year-old Titan Giant Ape sensed your aura and came here to find you?"
Xiao Wu was a bit puzzled. After all, the system had already concealed her spirit beast aura, so why would Er Ming suddenly show up? How could he have known she was here? Surely, he wasn't just wandering near the forest's outskirts and happened to sense her "human" aura? Could the system's skill have failed? Unable to figure it out, she quietly replied to Su Ming, "Yes, I know him. This Titan Giant Ape is my little brother; he's probably here to find me."
Even though Su Ming was obviously asking a question he already knew the answer to, Xiao Wu still explained her relationship with the Titan Giant Ape.
Su Ming continued, "He must have missed you. After sensing your presence in the forest, he rushed over. Soon, he'll probably take you away. You should tell him to take me along too."
Feigning curiosity, Xiao Wu asked, "Why, brother?"
Su Ming replied mysteriously, "Just tell Er Ming to take me with you, and you'll understand later."
Xiao Wu nodded, realizing Su Ming didn't want to reveal his full strength in front of so many people. He was probably planning to train with Er Ming.
Su Ming indeed wanted to spar with Er Ming and meet Da Ming and Er Ming. In the original story, both of them had been alive and well but ended up becoming spirit rings for Tang San. Every encounter seemed to be "by chance," just in time for Tang San to benefit. Da Ming and Er Ming weren't inherently evil; if they had been, they wouldn't have let a titled Douluo leave alive after challenging them in the past.
Zhao Wuji, staring at the massive figure before him, couldn't stop trembling. Cold sweat ran down his back as he stammered, "It's the king of the forest, the Titan Giant Ape!"
Zhao Wuji found himself caught in a dilemma. If he fought, he might die, but if he fled, his reputation would be ruined. His only option was to buy time, defend against the Titan Giant Ape for a few moments, and give Su Ming and the others a chance to escape. If they managed to get away, he might survive. What Zhao Wuji didn't know was that the Titan Giant Ape, as a hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast, had a gravity domain that could completely neutralize his own gravity suppression. If the Titan Giant Ape wanted, no one would be able to escape.
In the original story, the Titan Giant Ape ignored the group because it was focused on Xiao Wu, and Zhao Wuji's full-strength attack, even with his spirit avatar, was nothing more than a tickle to the giant beast.
Even the usually composed Tang San recognized the beast instantly. The Titan Giant Ape was a dominant presence in any spirit beast forest, and by Tang San's estimate, this one had already reached the hundred-thousand-year level.
His teacher had told him about a strong titled Douluo who once challenged a Titan Giant Ape and was utterly defeated. Only through some stroke of luck did the Douluo manage to escape with his life.
A hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape had power comparable to a level 95 or 96 titled Douluo, and their strongest member here was Zhao Wuji, just a Spirit Saint—no match at all! It was said that only one person in history had ever killed a Titan Giant Ape, while most others who had encountered one perished.
Tang Hao: Why not just say my name?
Zhao Wuji, deciding to try diplomacy first, addressed the giant ape, "Respected king of the forest, we mean no offense. If this is your territory, we will leave immediately."
Given the ape's immense size, Zhao Wuji was sure it could understand him, though he had no idea if his words would have any effect.
The Titan Giant Ape, however, paid no attention to Zhao Wuji. Its gaze was fixed directly on Xiao Wu, standing beside Su Ming.
Xiao Wu transmitted a message to Er Ming, "Er Ming, when you find an opportunity, take me away. Also, the person next to me is my brother from the human world. Bring him along too, got it?"
Er Ming nodded his giant head, though he was confused. Why did Xiao Wu want him to take this weak human along? Wouldn't that reveal her identity as a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast? But since Xiao Wu asked, he would obey. Thinking wasn't his strong suit anyway—he'd leave the complicated stuff to Da Ming.
Xiao Wu added, "Also, the two girls behind me are my good friends in the human world. Don't harm them. Make sure they leave safely, okay?"
The Titan Giant Ape dumbly nodded again. It seemed Xiao Wu had made a lot of friends during her time away from the forest.
"As for the others, it doesn't matter what happens to them. Oh, and that fat guy over there—his martial spirit is a mutated Evil Fire Phoenix. When we first met, he had inappropriate thoughts about me, and I had to beat him up."
"But I still can't stand him, so find a chance to cripple him!"
Xiao Wu had long wanted to cripple Ma Hongjun but felt it wouldn't be appropriate for her to do so, given her and Su Ming's current status as students at Shrek Academy. Su Ming had his own plans, and she couldn't stir up trouble.
However, being in the Star Dou Forest now, with only Su Ming, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing aware of her connection to the Titan Giant Ape, she could act without worry.
No one would ever guess that Ma Hongjun's crippling would be orchestrated by Xiao Wu through the Titan Giant Ape.
Su Ming, standing nearby, couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth. Though he hadn't intercepted Xiao Wu's message to Er Ming, her subtle glances toward Ma Hongjun told him the fat guy was about to suffer!