"Titan Giant Ape… and the Sky Azure Bull Python!"
Yue Guan's gaze locked onto the massive soul beast with a bull's head and serpent's body in the center of the lake. His voice was grim.
"They're really here… I didn't expect this."
Ghost Douluo was cloaked in black mist, clearly having activated his martial soul, eyes sharp with vigilance.
"His Lordship is still on the way…"
Feeling the overwhelming soul power radiating from the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python, Yue Guan's brows furrowed deeply.
"Old Ghost, if it comes to a fight, you hold that one off, I'll deal with the Titan Giant Ape—just buy time until His Lordship arrives!"
He shot a glance toward Ghost Douluo, indicating his target was the one in the center of the lake.
Both soul beasts before them were clearly over 100,000 years old. Even at Rank 95, Yue Guan had no confidence in taking down the Titan Giant Ape in a one-on-one.
Ghost Douluo, despite having reached Rank 96, was up against the more oppressive presence in the lake's center. He wouldn't fare much better.
Normally, the two of them would've turned tail and run the moment they spotted these beasts—then called in reinforcements to deal with them later.
But nearby lay Fire Meow Meow, grievously wounded. If they fled now and she died as a result, how would they face their lord?
"Got it. Be careful."
Ghost Douluo nodded, ready to spring into action.
"Humans! Get off my territory! Or leave your lives behind!"
The Titan Giant Ape paused its assault. Despite its brutishness, it wasn't dumb.
These two humans might not be stronger than him, but they weren't far off.
At full strength, he could probably take down one of them—but injured as he was, and with Da Ming facing two foes on his own, it wasn't looking good.
"Give her to us and we'll leave."
Yue Guan pointed at the blood-soaked but still barely standing Fire Meow Meow and said calmly.
"Oh? You think you can negotiate with me? You little—cough!"
The Titan Giant Ape puffed up to intimidate them, pounding its chest out of habit—but forgot that its torso was scorched black. The punch made it wince in pain and cough violently.
"You can't stop us from leaving. All we want is her. How about it?"
Yue Guan nearly laughed out loud. This dumb brute must've taken quite a beating from their lord's beast companion.
"Hmph! You dare to demand a soul beast from us, human? Have you lost your mind?"
Mist exhaled from the Sky Azure Bull Python's nostrils. Its lantern-sized eyes fixed on Yue Guan.
These humans must have been drawn by the commotion and set their sights on the injured lion when they arrived.
Sure, soul beasts fought each other all the time—but humans? They wanted to take soul rings and bones to strengthen themselves?
Then keep hunting us after growing stronger?
In your dreams!
"Big bro, no more talking! Let's fight!"
The Titan Giant Ape roared in rage, abandoning Fire Meow Meow and charging straight at them.
"Old Ghost—now!"
Yue Guan roared, "Seventh Soul Skill: Martial Soul True Body!"
"Seventh Soul Skill: Martial Soul True Body!"
Both activated their true forms instantly—this was no time for half-measures.
ROAR!!
MOOOO!!
Beast roars echoed as humans and soul beasts clashed in a ferocious battle. Soul power raged across the Lake of Life, whipping up towering waves.
Moments later, the Chrysanthemum-Ghost duo retreated, supporting each other, their soul ring glows dim and flickering, their energy nearly depleted.
Ghost Douluo in particular looked pale as a sheet, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth.
"Chrysanthemum… what now? We can't win…"
Ghost Douluo spat out a mouthful of clotted blood, eyes fixed grimly on the massive forms of the beasts.
"Damn it! Once we get back, we're gathering every asset we have. These two are going to pay!"
Yue Guan gritted his trembling arm, still shaking from taking a direct blow from the Titan Giant Ape. His insides felt like they'd been turned upside down.
"But why hasn't His Lordship arrived yet? If this drags on any longer… we might not make it out alive—cough!"
"…To hell with it. That's His Lordship's beast. We won't let her die here!"
Ghost Douluo's eyes hardened. Seeing the now-weak and swaying Fire Meow Meow, he clenched his jaw and charged again.
"Huo—Fire Meow Meow! What happened to you?!"
"Fire Meow Meow!!"
Worried voices called out as several figures emerged from the ruined woods—at the lead was none other than Aether.
Paimon and Yu Keke froze as they reached the edge of the great lake, stunned by the spectacle.
But the shock turned to panic when they saw Fire Meow Meow standing there, drenched in blood. Had she not been upright, they would've thought she was dead.
How could they not be terrified?
"Thank the gods—His Lordship is here!"
"Finally…"
The two Douluo—Chrysanthemum and Ghost—breathed a sigh of relief at Aether's arrival.
As they looked back at the two 100,000-year soul beasts, their eyes were filled with glee.
Tough guys, huh?
Against him?
You're about to learn the meaning of a dimensional beatdown!
"Fire Meow Meow, please… don't scare me like this…"
Yu Keke rushed to her companion's side. Looking up at her bloodied form, her tears streamed down like a broken dam.
Fire Meow Meow had always been by her side—and seeing her like this was unbearable.
"Rrrgh…"
Seeing Yu Keke cry, Fire Meow Meow panicked and tried to lower her massive head to comfort her—but even lowered, it was still like a mountain looming overhead.
"Traveler, quick! Come look at Fire Meow Meow!"
Paimon flailed beside her, completely at a loss.
"What the hell happened? Did you three fight those two?"
Aether walked over with Zhu Zhuqing. He immediately noticed the two soul beasts, especially the Titan Giant Ape—burnt black like charcoal.
With Fire Meow Meow injured like this, it wasn't hard to guess what had gone down.
"Rrgh… My Lord… the Lightning Mink… for Miss Keke…"
Fire Meow Meow, seeing Aether, finally allowed her massive form to shrink—revealing a long, two-meter weasel pinned beneath her.
She had taken the Lightning Mink down during the chaos, using the fight between the Douluo and soul beasts as cover.
Now that she had shrunk, she could no longer hold herself up. She collapsed onto the Lightning Mink's back.
Seeing her lose consciousness, the Lightning Mink's eyes gleamed. In a flash, it turned into a blur, trying to flee.
"…Sigh. You could've just reported back after spotting it. Why insist on showing off?"
Aether waved his hand.
The escaping blur instantly froze mid-air. The Lightning Mink reappeared—unconscious, having been casually slapped out by Aether.
He knelt beside Fire Meow Meow, raised his hand, and a stream of glowing red light gathered at his fingertip, flowing into her body like a lifeline.
_
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