The Titan Giant Ape roared, desperately trying to rush to the aid of its brother, with whom it shared a bond closer than flesh and blood. However, more Undead army and Undead Witches swarmed it like maggots to a wound, using their decaying bodies and sharp claws to relentlessly entangle it. No matter how madly it raged, it could not immediately break through the wall of flesh and blood piled up by the undead.
Pzzzzh!
A bone-chilling, teeth-grinding sound of tearing clearly reached every corner of the battlefield.
Following immediately was a heartbreaking, distorted shriek of pain and despair from the Azure Bull Python, Da Ming.
The destructive power of the Death Knight's cluster charge was terrifying. The sharp lances effortlessly pierced through the unarmored inverse scale, and horrifying Death energy, like a bursting dam, instantly flooded its massive body, frantically destroying all life force.
The Azure Bull Python, fell!
Its enormous green body convulsed violently a few times before finally sagging powerlessly, crashing heavily onto the frozen lake surface and scattering ice shards everywhere.
Having witnessed its brother's tragic death firsthand, the cord of reason in the Titan Giant Ape, Er Ming's mind, snapped completely.
It plunged into absolute, reckless madness.
Blood-red light burst from its body. It had begun to burn its precious Life Essence, in exchange for a short-term explosion of power.
"ROAR—!!"
Accompanied by an earth-shattering roar, an unprecedented, terrifying power erupted from its body, forcibly shaking off and shredding all the surrounding undead that were grappling with it.
Its bloodshot eyes locked onto the distant instigator—Huo Yuhao.
The massive fist clenched again. This time, what it condensed was no longer pure strength, but a will to destroy everything, bought with its burning life.
With this final strike, it intended to drag the human who brought them death into a mutual demise.
The colossal, sky-obscuring fist, carrying a terrifying might capable of changing mountains and rivers, smashed down ferociously.
The pressure wave from the fist compressed the air, generating a sharp explosion. The ground beneath began to crack inch by inch.
However, facing this blow, which would make any Title Douluo blanch, there was no sign of panic on Huo Yuhao's face.
He didn't even retreat half a step, remaining calmly in place, the ever-approaching shadow of death reflected in his blood-colored eyes.
In this moment of extreme peril!
A petite figure appeared instantly, like a ghost, in front of Huo Yuhao.
Compared to the Titan Giant Ape's mountain-like fist, the figure was as tiny as an ant.
But she didn't hesitate for a moment. A small, delicate fist, seemingly as tender and white as jade, calmly but firmly swung out to meet the world-destroying giant fist.
The two fists, completely disproportionate in size and scale, collided fiercely in the next instant.
There was no imagined deadlock, only... overwhelming destruction.
BOOM—!!!
At the center of the collision, the space suddenly developed countless black cracks, as if it were a shattered mirror.
An indescribable, terrifying punch force, capable of piercing the void and shattering mountains and rivers, roared outwards like an invisible, furious dragon, originating from that delicate fist.
The punch force easily penetrated the fist aura condensed by the Titan Giant Ape's burning life, pierced its indestructible hide and muscle, and even more directly and cruelly... punched straight through its still wildly beating heart.
Only then, with power rapidly draining from its body and consciousness blurring, did the Titan Giant Ape finally clearly see who the person was that had blocked it and delivered the fatal blow.
That exquisite face, that familiar yet slightly strange aura...
"Xiao Wu... Sis?!"
The Titan Giant Ape, Er Ming, widened its lantern-like pupils, which were filled with disbelief, bewilderment, and a deep-seated grief and pain of being betrayed by the one closest to it.
"Wh... why..."
It used its last shred of strength to utter a weak question, filled with confusion and indignation.
Then, its massive body stiffened abruptly. All signs of life instantly ceased, and its voice cut off.
When the terrifying shockwave from the collision finally dissipated, and the smoke and dust slowly settled.
The Titan Giant Ape's mountain-sized body had lost all radiance of life. Like a collapsing pillar of jade and gold, it crashed down onto the ground with a rumble, kicking up a cloud of dust and proclaiming the absolute fall of a forest overlord.
The two great overlords of the Star Dou Great Forest, the 100,000-year Soul Beasts, the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python, both perished in this battle.
Two circles of blood-red, terrifyingly pulsating 100,000-year Soul Rings slowly floated up from their still-warm corpses. The brilliant and tragic light was particularly dazzling, filled with an indescribable desolation and sorrow.
Huo Yuhao slowly exhaled a mouthful of blood-tinged stale air. Continuously commanding such a large army of undead at high intensity and maintaining his Spiritual Detection Sharing had heavily drained his spiritual power, and his face was slightly pale.
But when he looked at the two floating 100,000-year Soul Rings, symbols of immense power, his eyes were filled with fervent anticipation.
He didn't delay, immediately sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to fully adjust his state, preparing to absorb the hard-won 100,000-year Soul Rings.
Meanwhile, Xiao Wu, who had personally killed the Titan Giant Ape, stood blankly, looking down at her own fist, which was still fair, tender, and seemingly harmless.
She had merely acted instinctively, wanting to protect Huo Yuhao. Her body had reacted faster than her mind.
Even now, that devastating power seemed to linger on her fingertips.
She raised her head, her gaze blankly sweeping over the two lifeless, colossal bodies of the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python, and the two Soul Rings emitting ominous red light.
The inexplicable sense of closeness that had been lingering in her heart not only failed to disappear the moment the two great Soul Beasts died, but instead transformed into an inexpressible, heavy, and almost suffocating sorrow and guilt. It instantly submerged her heart like an icy tide.
She subconsciously gripped her chest tightly, as if enduring intense, wrenching pain there.
Her eyes, nearly identical to the Xiao Wu of this era, were now filled with endless bewilderment, confusion, and a deep anguish that she herself could not comprehend.
She had killed it... but why did her heart hurt so much? It felt as if... she had lost something critically important.
This sudden, heavy emotion created a violent conflict with the blank parts of her memory, plunging her into an unprecedented state of chaos.
While Huo Yuhao sat cross-legged, his Soul Power surging fiercely as he fully absorbed the blood-red, terrifyingly energetic 100,000-year Titan Giant Ape Soul Ring.
Bei Bei, Tang Ya, and the serene Jing Yuan retreated to a slightly cleaner and more open space a short distance away to wait quietly.
Tang Ya quietly nestled beside Bei Bei. Although her memory was still sealed by the Holy Spirit Sect's sinister and venomous methods, her eyes were sometimes vacant and bewildered, and other times showed the innocent naiveté of a child unfamiliar with the world. Yet, her near-instinctual dependence and closeness to Bei Bei, stemming from the depths of her soul, had not changed in the slightest.
Her slender, pale fingers unconsciously and tightly clutched the corner of Bei Bei's clothes, turning slightly white, as if it were the only piece of driftwood she could grasp while drowning—a heartbreaking fragility.
Bei Bei gently held Tang Ya's shoulder, which was much thinner than he remembered. A heavy, unyielding layer of deep worry and heartache shadowed his handsome face.
He instinctively pulled Tang Ya closer to his embrace, as if doing so could dispel the suffering she endured.
He turned his head slightly to the side, looking at the exceptionally refined and detached Jing Yuan beside him, whose golden eyes were deep, as if the world's affairs did not concern him. With a trace of tremor and earnestness, he asked in a low voice:
"Sir Jing Yuan, you are highly knowledgeable and understand the arcane. Do you know if Tang Ya still has any hope of recovering? Is the potent toxin planted by the Holy Spirit Sect truly unsolvable?"
Jing Yuan's gaze calmly swept over Tang Ya's slightly pale but still beautiful face. A flash of understanding and pity crossed his golden eyes, which seemed capable of discerning the workings of the world.
He did not directly answer Bei Bei's question but explained in a measured tone:
"The toxin she is afflicted with is no ordinary matter; it is extremely difficult to deal with. This toxin is not a common external substance, but has become deeply entangled with this girl's own flesh, her Martial Soul, and even her soul's fundamental essence. It is symbiotic, yet parasitic, constantly drawing life sustenance from her. It can be described as sharing prosperity and sharing loss."
Upon hearing this, Bei Bei's body trembled slightly. He instantly grasped the cruel truth implied in Jing Yuan's words, his face instantly growing even darker, his voice turning rough:
"Are you saying... the toxin in Tang Ya's body is so closely intertwined with her own Life Essence that it's inseparable?"
"Indeed."
Jing Yuan slowly nodded, his voice still steady, yet every word hammered at Bei Bei's heart.
"This toxin is extremely insidious and malicious. It has long since invaded her limbs and veins, penetrated deep into her bone marrow, and permeated the depths of her soul. To some extent, it has even twisted itself into a distorted balance that maintains her current fragile state of life."
"If one were to forcefully remove it using an overbearing, aggressive external method, it would be akin to applying a temporary fix while causing severe self-harm. The moment the toxin leaves her body, it would likely forcibly draw away the little Life Force she has left, which has already been riddled by the toxin's long-term erosion. At that point, even with divine power, she might not survive for more than three to five days."
Jing Yuan's words were calm and emotionless, yet they were like a bucket of ice water poured over Bei Bei's head, instantly sinking his heart into the abyss. He felt cold all over, his face pale as paper.
He instinctively gripped Tang Ya's cold little hand even tighter, his fingers trembling slightly from the excessive force.
Since finding Tang Ya, he had been this way, guarding her side every moment, as if afraid that he might lose her again if he wasn't careful, if he blinked. The fear of losing her again after having regained her had nearly become a demon in his heart.
"Is there... truly no solution at all? Why must Heaven be so unfair to Tang Ya..."
Bei Bei's voice was low, carrying a despairing hoarseness, as if he were asking Jing Yuan and simultaneously questioning fate.
Jing Yuan pondered slightly, a flash of thought crossing his golden eyes. He then spoke again, his voice soft, yet offering a faint glimmer of hope:
"A solution is not absolutely impossible. The key lies in balance and substitution. If a method can be found, at the moment the toxin is being cleared from her body—or rather, the instant the toxin is removed—a vast and potent power of Life Essence can be instantly injected into her body, precisely filling the life deficit that will inevitably occur from the toxin's departure, perhaps... she can seize a sliver of hope for survival."
He paused slightly, looking at the light that abruptly flared in Bei Bei's eyes, and then shook his head gently, adding.
"However, a natural treasure capable of replenishing or even reconstructing the Life Essence in an instant is exceedingly rare in the world, something one can only stumble upon by chance. Its preciousness goes without saying."
Just as the two were conversing, the chaotic and heart-pounding Soul Power fluctuation around Huo Yuhao, not far away, slowly receded like a tide, gradually returning to calm.
The blood-red 100,000-year Soul Ring, which had been suspended around him and exuded a suffocating pressure, had been perfectly integrated into his body, showing no sign of rejection.
He slowly opened his eyes. A sharp light flashed in their depths, and his already powerful aura was now several times denser and more solid. Clearly, this breakthrough was highly successful, and his strength had greatly advanced.
He stood up, his gaze immediately and anxiously directed toward where Bei Bei and Tang Ya were, and he quickly walked over.
Evidently, even during the perilous and critical moment of fully absorbing the Soul Ring, he had always kept a thread of his mind focused on the situation here.
For Huo Yuhao, who possessed the Herrscher of Reason's core and whose Spiritual Power level far surpassed the ordinary, multitasking was not difficult.
Although the residual soul-will of the Titan Giant Ape during the absorption of the 100,000-year Soul Ring was violent, fierce, and extremely troublesome, it quickly crumbled and was completely absorbed under the suppression and cleansing of his vast, ocean-like, steel-solid Spiritual Power.
Coupled with the formidable physical quality brought by being a Twin Martial Soul holder, his absorption process was much faster than that of ordinary Soul Masters.
As for the precious Soul Bone that the Titan Giant Ape would inevitably yield, he planned to absorb and integrate it later when he had free time.
"Senior Brother Bei Bei, Sir Jing Yuan."
Huo Yuhao approached and greeted them, then his gaze gravely settled upon Tang Ya, whose eyes were still naive and bewildered.
"I have also been thinking about Teacher Tang Ya's problem. Sir Jing Yuan's analysis coincides with my own judgment. The key to detoxification truly lies in how to supplement the Life Essence that will inevitably be severely depleted."
Huo Yuhao's gaze rested on Tang Ya. He naturally did not want to see Tang Ya perish like this.
Tang Ya was one of the few people who had been genuinely kind to him, a warmth he had truly felt.
Even with his second personality currently dominating the body, that recognition and faint bond originating from the depths of his memory had not completely vanished.