The Titan Giant Ape’s furious roar made everyone instinctively pale, forcing them to release their martial souls and summon their soul rings defensively.
At the same time, countless pairs of angry and resentful eyes turned toward the mysterious man who had activated his Martial Soul True Body.
No one had expected this turn of events.
They’d been betrayed.
He was just a quasi-Titled Douluo—yet he’d had the gall to provoke the ruler of the Star Dou Forest, the Titan Giant Ape!
The Heaven Dou Empire’s squad leader looked especially pale, his body trembling, cold sweat dripping down his forehead.
Even without turning around, he could feel the countless glares behind him, sharp as needles—some of them radiating outright murderous intent.
He stared blankly at the mysterious man now clad in white dragon scales, despair welling up in his heart.
“Damn it!
If I’d known you were just showing off, I would’ve distanced myself the moment we got here!”
Now it was too late. The reckless boasting had provoked the Titan Giant Ape beyond reason!
Lin Fan, watching all this, could barely keep from laughing. He quietly tugged Davis a few steps further back.
No particular reason—just that he had met the Titan Giant Ape before in the Star Dou Forest. And not on good terms.
He’d even seriously injured it once.
If the ape recognized him now… things could get ugly.
His gaze then shifted to the blue crystal floating beneath the Titan Giant Ape.
For some reason, it felt strangely familiar.
Lin Fan frowned. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t recall where he’d seen that glowing blue crystal before.
But it had to be special—after all, it was what was keeping the Titan Giant Ape levitating in midair.
More importantly, the ape’s sudden explosive growth in strength clearly had nothing to do with the surrounding world.
Lin Fan could sense no abnormality in this space. The air contained no unusual spiritual fluctuations, and there were no traces of heavenly materials or spiritual treasures nearby.
Nothing, except… that blue crystal.
It had to be the key.
“So that’s why both empires mobilized…
They must’ve thought there was some rare treasure hidden in this place.”
He chuckled coldly.
“Clever plan.
Too bad you brought the wrong cards to the table.”
Lin Fan’s expression turned sharp as he looked at the enraged Titan Giant Ape, still radiating terrifying might.
“ROAAAAR!!!”
A molten, earthy glow suddenly surged over the Titan Giant Ape’s body like flowing magma. Its frame seemed to expand even further, towering like a demonic god that blotted out the sky, radiating an oppressive aura that made the very air tremble.
“HAHAHAHAHA! Now this is getting interesting!
Dumb monkey! Today, I—He Long—shall carve you apart and make you my ninth hundred-thousand-year soul ring!”
The mysterious man charged forward, showing no fear. His soul power burst out like multicolored flames, swirling with violent force.
Lin Fan was stunned.
“I’ve seen foolish people… but not this foolish.”
Couldn’t he feel how the Titan Giant Ape’s power completely overshadowed everyone present?
And yet he was charging in?
Lin Fan began to wonder how this idiot had even reached the level of quasi-Titled Douluo.
Maybe… Heaven Dou didn’t bring him here as a trump card—but as a sacrifice?
While everyone stood stunned, He Long’s eighth soul ring lit up with full force!
“Dragon’s Roar Over the Heavens!”
“AOOOO—!!!”
A resonant dragon cry erupted from He Long as the white dragon avatar behind him grew more solid. His eyes gleamed with battle intent, dragon-like claws shimmering with power as he slashed directly toward the Titan Giant Ape!
“Foolish human! COURTING DEATH!!”
The Titan Giant Ape roared back, eyes ablaze with fury. Its massive fist crashed down like a falling meteor—
BOOM—!!
A massive shockwave blasted outward, shaking the entire battlefield.
Lin Fan narrowed his eyes, shaking his head slowly.
The thick stench of blood flooded the air before the smoke had even cleared.
Everyone’s expressions turned grim.
Whoosh!
As the dust dispersed, the Titan Giant Ape’s towering, violent figure came back into view.
As for the once-cocky He Long…
He was now just a pile of mangled flesh and bone, crushed beneath the Titan Giant Ape’s feet.
Blood still dripped from the ape’s massive, clenched fist.
A mocking sneer twisted the Titan Giant Ape’s face.
“ROAR!!! HUMAN—DIE!!”
“You beast! Don’t get cocky!”
A sharp, scolding voice suddenly interrupted the Titan Giant Ape’s triumphant roar.
Everyone turned in surprise.
In just a few breaths, he was already at the front—facing off against the Titan Giant Ape directly.
“Greetings, Poison Douluo!”
The Heaven Dou Empire squad leader’s face lit up with joy as he bowed respectfully toward the old man.
“Hmm. Good, I arrived just in time.
You all withdraw. This is beyond what you can handle,” Poison Douluo said, his eyes narrowing at the Titan Giant Ape.
He recognized it instantly.
The Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape—the overlords of the Star Dou Forest—were names known across the entire continent.
But what puzzled him now was:
“Why… is the Titan Giant Ape here in the Sunset Forest?”
What’s more—this version of the ape exuded a pressure so great that Poison Douluo instinctively sensed danger.
It felt like a direct confrontation would definitely leave him injured, if not worse.
The oppressive aura only intensified as the ape focused its killing intent.
The Heaven Dou members quickly bowed again before retreating, visibly relieved.
Poison Douluo then turned to the Star Luo Empire team.
“You too. Leave. Reinforcements are coming.
This is not your fight.”
The Star Luo squad leader breathed a sigh of relief, bowed deeply, and left with his team.
Davis glanced at Lin Fan, but seeing no reaction from him, he stayed.
“Your Highness…?”
“You all go ahead.
I have my own mission here—
And with this expert guarding me, I’ll be fine.”
****
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