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The Titan Ape seemed to grow bored of playing and tossed Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun aside, retreating deep into the forest with Xiao Wu.
"Xiao Wu!" Tang San's eyes turned a purplish-red, his chest heaving rapidly.
He had pushed the limits of the Purple Demon Eye, but the Titan Ape's speed was simply too fast. In just a few breaths, it had vanished beyond the range of his vision.
"We're finally saved," Oscar sighed in relief, then shot Ning Tianchen a grateful look.
In a critical moment like that, standing by each other—this was what true friendship meant.
Tang San, driven to madness, approached Oscar. "Xiao Ao, make me a flying mushroom sausage. I need to go save Xiao Wu."
"Tang San, this isn't wise. This is the Star Dou Great Forest. Flying recklessly through the forest will easily attract attacks from other spirit beasts." Oscar refused his request.
Ning Tianchen, his expression grave, said, "Xiao San, Xiao Wu has already been taken. We can't afford to lose anyone else. Let's first find Teacher Zhao and wait for him to wake up. Besides, Xiao Wu might not be in danger. Perhaps the Titan Ape will release her soon."
Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai were lying on the ground groaning in pain, and the Shrek team's situation was indeed dire.
However, Tang San seemed indifferent to the others' fates and stubbornly demanded the sausages from Oscar.
Oscar glanced at Ning Tianchen, seeking his opinion.
If they didn't let Tang San chase after them, that Human-Faced Demon Spider would remain lurking in the shadows.
After some thought, Ning Tianchen decided to follow Tang San and chase after it.
Only by finding that Human-Faced Demon Spider could they possibly intercept its Eight Spider Lances soul bone.
Once Tang San obtained the flying mushroom sausage, he immediately consumed it. Wings sprouted from his back, and he took off in pursuit of the direction the Titan Ape had disappeared.
"Xiao Ao, Rongrong, you two go find Teacher Zhao first," Ning Tianchen instructed before stepping onto his Seven Kill Sword and following after Tang San.
"Sigh, what a mess," Oscar muttered under his breath.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai writhing in pain on the ground, but he made no move to help them.
Dai Mubai's white training uniform was soaked in yellowish liquid, emitting an unbearable stench.
Ma Hongjun was no better.
Zhu Zhuqing shot him a disdainful glance before turning and heading in the direction Zhao Wuji had been thrown.
"Let's go find Teacher Zhao first," Ning Rongrong suggested, and Oscar readily agreed.
---
Ning Tianchen followed closely behind Tang San, his gaze warily scanning their surroundings.
In the original timeline, the Human-Faced Demon Spider had used up all three of its silk-shooting opportunities, which allowed Tang San to turn the tide and defeat it.
Now, whether Meng Yiran could find this Human-Faced Demon Spider was still uncertain.
Just as he was pondering, a web suddenly shot toward their position from nearby.
"First Soul Skill: Azure Dragon Break!"
With a single slash of his sword, Ning Tianchen lost his support and slowly descended back to the ground.
Realizing they were under attack by a spirit beast, Tang San immediately landed beside him. The two stood back-to-back, their eyes darting around cautiously.
"Is it the Human-Faced Demon Spider?" Ning Tianchen asked.
Tang San glanced at the web stuck nearby and nodded. "It's the Human-Faced Demon Spider, but it's already used one of its webs. Tianchen, let's deal with it together, then we'll go save Xiao Wu."
Ning Tianchen said nothing, his sharp gaze sweeping the area.
The Human-Faced Demon Spider was a formidable hunter, capable of appearing in the most unexpected places.
"It's over here!" Tang San suddenly shouted.
Under his control, Blue Silver Grass erupted from the ground, binding the Human-Faced Demon Spider tightly.
The spider's legs, sharp as blades, effortlessly sliced through the grass.
Ning Tianchen turned to face it, taking in its appearance.
"This is a two-thousand-year Human-Faced Demon Spider. Is this the one that gave Tang San the Eight Spider Lances?" Ning Tianchen couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt.
This spider hadn't yet used all three of its silk-shooting abilities, differing slightly from the original timeline.
Regardless, preventing Tang San from obtaining its spirit ring was the priority.
---
Meanwhile, after receiving treatment from Oscar and Ning Rongrong, Zhao Wuji gradually regained consciousness.
"Great, Teacher Zhao is finally awake! Hurry, let's go save Tianchen Gege!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed, her joy quickly giving way to anxiety.
The nights in the Star Dou Great Forest were perilous. If Ning Tianchen and Tang San encountered danger…
However, Ning Rongrong hadn't considered the presence of the Titan Ape.
A ten-thousand-year spirit beast appearing near the forest's edge exerted a bloodline-level pressure that drove weaker spirit beasts away.
To "rescue" Xiao Wu, the Titan Ape had even cleared out the surrounding powerful spirit beasts.
Thus, as long as they didn't venture too far, Ning Tianchen and Tang San wouldn't encounter any spirit beasts older than five thousand years.
Zhao Wuji was still somewhat dazed, clearly having taken quite a beating. "Rongrong, what are you talking about? What happened to Ning Tianchen?"
"Teacher Zhao, Xiao Wu was captured by the Titan Ape. Tang San chased after her to rescue her, and Tianchen followed to ensure Tang San's safety." Oscar, ever calm, recounted the events that transpired after Zhao Wuji had fallen unconscious.
As Zhao Wuji gradually came to his senses, he abruptly stood up. "Oscar, why didn't you stop them? Ugh, everyone gather your things and hurry after them."
Zhao Wuji felt a pang of regret.
How would he explain to Grandmaster Flender if the Shrek Academy lost three outstanding students?
But as he stood up, he only saw Ning Rongrong and the others. Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun were nowhere to be found.
"That perverted tiger and fatty are still lying over there," Ning Rongrong pointed behind her.
When Zhao Wuji saw the yellowish stains covering the two, he immediately grew exasperated.
However, the priority was to find Ning Tianchen and Tang San, so he refrained from lecturing them.
---
After battling the Human-Faced Demon Spider for the duration of an incense stick's burn, Ning Tianchen and Tang San gradually gained the upper hand.
Seizing an opportunity, Ning Tianchen acted decisively.
Lifting the Seven Kill Sword above his head, his arm muscles bulged slightly. "Heavy Sword Technique."
"Tianchen, wait! I need its spirit ring!" Tang San urged, his voice tense.
However, Ning Tianchen paid no heed. The Seven Kill Sword came crashing down heavily onto the Human-Faced Demon Spider.
The next moment, a purple spirit ring floated out of its body.
Only then did Ning Tianchen ask, "Xiao San, what did you say earlier?"
After the battle, Tang San had gradually calmed down and now spoke with regret, "I broke through to Level 30 during the fight. Unfortunately, you were faster."
Ning Tianchen shrugged and explained, "Xiao San, this is a two-thousand-year Human-Faced Demon Spider. Even if you had killed it, you wouldn't have been able to absorb its spirit ring."
Tang San didn't know how to differentiate the age of a Human-Faced Demon Spider, but after hearing Ning Tianchen's explanation, he realized this spider's age was indeed too high.
"I'm curious—since you're a plant-type soul master, wouldn't absorbing a plant-type spirit ring be better than a Human-Faced Demon Spider's?" Ning Tianchen feigned confusion.
Without seeing Xiao Wu, Tang San remained anxious and briefly explained, "My teacher once said that a plant-type martial soul can absorb animal-type spirit rings. My first two spirit rings were both animal-type, and they've proven to be quite powerful."
"Do you believe that too?" Ning Tianchen countered.
Tang San wasn't in the mood to respond and brushed off the question with a vague reply.
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