Chapter 23: Bridget's Choice, the Titan Ape Trapped with Nowhere to Flee

Brigitte’s words were clear to Di Tian, but now, only someone with cultivation spanning over eight hundred thousand years could afford the cost of two hundred thousand years of cultivation.

After some thought, Brigitte decided to take Di Tian’s place. With a determined gaze, she said, “Let me do it. I have over five hundred thousand years of cultivation, and I am imbued with the purest life force of nature itself. My power is the most suitable for this.”

“No, this is a consequence of my own misjudgment, and it is my responsibility to bear it. I cannot let you sacrifice your cultivation,” Di Tian refused Brigitte’s proposal. He had earned his rightful place as the supreme ruler of the Starry Forest not by letting others take the fall for him.

“But this is the best solution. It’s settled then. I’m not skilled in combat, so even if I lose some cultivation, it doesn’t matter. Besides, I trust you can protect me!” Brigitte smiled gently at Di Tian, her soft eyes shining with unwavering resolve.

Di Tian knew her mind was made up and that no words of his could change it. He reluctantly nodded in agreement.

Looking at Brigitte’s gentle smile, Di Tian solemnly promised, “Since you have decided, I will not stop you. But I swear, I will protect you at all costs!”

...

Two days passed. Qian Renxue and her team had obtained their soul rings and were on their way out of the Starry Forest.

During those two days, Qian Renxue had waited in vain for Qian Wenyu to join them. However, given Wenyu’s unparalleled defense, she was not worried about her safety.

After everyone had secured their soul rings, Qian Renxue led her team to the small town where they had stayed before entering the forest, intending to wait for Qian Wenyu there.

Meanwhile, Qian Wenyu sat astride the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix, which exuded the aura of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. No reckless soul beast dared approach them on their leisurely journey through the Starry Forest.

Qian Wenyu was not yet ready to leave. She still had the Titan Giant Ape on her mind—the one who had escaped and wasted her Celestial Star Chain. She was determined to capture him again, no matter what, or she would suffer a great loss.

“Heh heh heh, with the divine power my master has replenished for me, Titan Giant Ape, let’s see how you escape this time,” Qian Wenyu chuckled.

Hearing her strange laughter, the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix silently mourned for the Titan Giant Ape. If the young lady was laughing like that, there was no way the ape would get away.

They wandered the Starry Forest all day. When night fell, Qian Wenyu’s external spiritual energy finally detected the Titan Giant Ape’s location.

“Ha ha ha, finally found you. Nine Nether, full speed ahead!”

“Hold tight,” the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix warned, and they sped toward the target Qian Wenyu shared.

At the same time, the Titan Giant Ape caught sight of Xiao Wu and was intent on taking her away, unaware that Qian Wenyu was already in pursuit.

The sudden appearance of the Titan Giant Ape plunged everyone from Shrek Academy into grave peril. Unaware of Xiao Wu’s identity, they desperately tried to stop the ape from abducting her.

Yet with their power, they were no match for a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. Even though the Titan Giant Ape was severely injured by the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix, it was too much for a soul emperor accompanied by a few soul lords and grand soul masters to handle. They couldn’t even withstand one slap from the ape.

Having been companions with the Titan Giant Ape for a hundred thousand years, Xiao Wu immediately recognized that “Er Ming” was gravely wounded. Confused, she wondered why he was injured and why he had come to find her in such a state.

Where was “Da Ming”? Why hadn’t he stopped “Er Ming”?

These questions weighed heavily on Xiao Wu, filling her with a deep unease as her concern for Da Ming and Er Ming reached its peak.

While Xiao Wu hesitated, the Titan Giant Ape struck Zhao Wuji and Tang San aside and seized Xiao Wu in its hand.

Coming to her senses, Xiao Wu looked anxiously at the ape and asked, “Er Ming, what happened? Why are you so badly hurt? And where is Da Ming?”

“Sis Xiao Wu, there’s no time to explain. They’re coming after us. We must run now,” the Titan Giant Ape transmitted urgently into her mind, his voice filled with desperation.

Sensing Qian Wenyu and the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix closing in, the ape panicked. Holding Xiao Wu tightly, he fled without hesitation.

“Boom!”

Just moments into the escape, a colossal rock spear, like a pillar holding up the sky, crashed down before the Titan Giant Ape with a deafening roar.

Terrified, the ape immediately threw Xiao Wu toward Tang San and the others.

“They’re coming. I can’t run anymore. Sis Xiao Wu, you must escape!” he shouted.

Still trying to process the situation and wondering who “they” were, Xiao Wu was caught safely by Tang San.

At that moment, Qian Wenyu and the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix arrived at the ape’s location.

Zhao Wuji stared wide-eyed at the massive soul beast and exclaimed, “Another hundred-thousand-year soul beast!”

Oscar noticed Qian Wenyu beside the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix and asked uncertainly, “That hundred-thousand-year soul beast seems allied with the blonde girl. It probably won’t attack us, right?”

“Maybe…” Tang San was less optimistic, recalling how close they had come to offending her not long ago.

Zhao Wuji was stunned and asked Ning Rongrong, “You seem to know that girl. Who is she, that she can command a hundred-thousand-year soul beast?”

Ning Rongrong was equally shocked, hearing none of Zhao Wuji’s question. She had never heard of a Celestial Star Saintess of the Spirit Hall commanding such a powerful soul beast. This was new information, and very significant at that!

“Last time you got lucky escaping. This time, let’s see where you run,” Qian Wenyu said coldly, standing atop the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix, her gaze fixed on the trapped Titan Giant Ape.

The ape was crushed under the overwhelming pressure exerted by the Nine Nether Azure Phoenix. Knowing he was cornered, he refused to give up and prepared to self-destruct just like the Azure Bull Python, determined to make the humans and the hundred-thousand-year soul beast pay dearly.

Qian Wenyu snorted coldly. “Still wanting to self-destruct? Do you think I’m that foolish? Would I give you a second chance with the same trick?”

With a graceful wave of her hand, Qian Wenyu unleashed a Celestial Star Chain.

This time, her divine power was at full capacity, and she activated the chain without the complex delay she had before.