During the previous week, Zhu Hao had perfected his system of comfortable cultivation. By day, he reclined on Ah Yin's large, soothing leaves, spinning fantastical tales of cosmic pigs and brave plant spirits, thereby securing a steady influx of Energy from her captivated attention and subsequent vitality rewards. By night, he nestled securely in Yan Rou's warm arms, passively absorbing the precious Experience Points that flowed with her maternal affection.
However, the laws of spiritual economy were strict: the experience gained from Yan Rou's hugs had become progressively meager, a mere trickle compared to the initial rush. The Pig God's charm is high, but the system favors novelty, I see, Zhu Hao mused.
Nevertheless, the grind paid off. After a full week, Zhu Hao had accumulated over 980 Experience Points, placing him tantalizingly close to the Level 4 breakthrough. Excited beyond measure, he knew he needed just one final, decisive kill to push him over the edge.
He ventured out immediately. A rather plump, unsuspecting Four-Eyed Cat Owl flitted lazily through the forest canopy.
Zhu Hao's eyes lit up. Eight golden, razor-sharp wings snapped into existence behind him.
Whoosh!
A blinding golden light flashed—the pure, kinetic fury of the Flying Eight Wings at maximum thrust. The golden aurora streaked across the sky, and before the owl could register danger, the golden light had already sliced through its neck.
Splat!
Blood sprayed, the Four-Eyed Cat Owl gave a final, desperate twitch, and tumbled to the ground with a soft thud.
Soul Beast Defeated: Four-Eyed Cat Owl (600 years)
Energy +40
Experience +40
New Magical Power Assimilated: Four-Eyed Cat Pupil (Backpack)
"Yes! Just what I needed!"
With the additional 40 Experience Points, Zhu Hao's meter finally broke the one thousand mark. He could now level up! His little heart beat a frantic, joyful rhythm.
"Little one, you're living a very comfortable life, aren't you?"
The voice was a deep, mocking bass, like a huge temple bell being struck. The ground shuddered violently, and the leaves scattered as a truly enormous, ape-like monster materialized in front of Zhu Hao.
Zhu Hao craned his neck, looking up at the Titan Giant Ape—Er Ming. Compared to the colossal figure, Zhu Hao was less than an inch on a ruler, easily small enough to be crushed under one of the ape's massive toes. The ape's lantern-sized eyes were fixed on him with cold, possessive malice.
"And what exactly are you looking at, big fellow?" Zhu Hao challenged, puffing up his chest. The ape was clearly looking for trouble, and since the Level Up notification was already pending, Zhu Hao felt fearless.
"Little guy, you've got guts! Grandpa Titan will teach you some manners today!"
The Titan Ape was beyond furious. Not only was the small creature unafraid, but he dared to speak so rudely. The memory of Zhu Hao being cuddled by Xiao Wu for the past week boiled his blood. This was a challenge to his entire standing as the King of the Forest!
Er Ming roared, clenching a fist the size of a carriage and driving it toward Zhu Hao.
"Is Lord Pig afraid of you?"
Zhu Hao moved in a blinding, golden flash, appearing as a streak of light aimed straight at the Titan Ape's neck.
CLANG!
The Flying Eight Wings swept across the ape's hide, generating a loud, metallic shriek that echoed across the forest. Zhu Hao reappeared behind the Titan Ape, his body vibrating slightly from the impact.
The Titan Ape cautiously touched its neck with a hand the size of a barn door. It felt wet, sticky, and there was a strange, dull pain.
"You actually hurt me? What kind of demonic skill is that?!" Er Ming was truly shocked. His defense was legendary; even the strongest Titled Douluo in the human world struggled to break his skin. Yet, this tiny, golden peanut had managed to draw blood!
"What a horrifying defense!"
While Er Ming was shocked, Zhu Hao was equally horrified. He knew the absolute sharpness of the Flying Eight Wings—it was his strongest piercing attack. Yet, it had only managed to scratch the Titan Ape's skin.
This means, Zhu Hao calculated grimly, even if this brute stood still and let me hit him continuously, I couldn't finish the job. My current Level 3 strength is insufficient to bypass his natural defense.
BOOM! BOOM!
The Titan Ape pounded its chest with its fists, generating a sound like a peal of thunder. A powerful, terrifying aura expanded, causing trees to sway violently and countless weaker soul beasts to flee. The full, undisputed power of the Forest King was unleashed. He had underestimated the enemy once, but he wouldn't do it again. He needed to utterly crush this insolent rival.
"The Power of the Earth!"
The Titan Ape roared, slamming his fists down. The surrounding soil cracked, the ground buckled, and a massive pressure descended. The air around Zhu Hao seemed to solidify as a crushing wave of gravity bore down on him.
"Gravity has increased and is pressing down on space! Master Pig's speed is critically restricted!" Zhu Hao's eyes narrowed. The Titan Ape had learned from their brief encounter and was intelligently countering his main advantage: speed.
"Follow the Laws of Heaven and Earth!"
Zhu Hao immediately activated his magical power, his figure swelling rapidly, though he wisely stopped at a height of about three meters—larger, stronger, but still fast and agile. Compared to the 60-meter-tall Er Ming, he still looked like a determined toddler.
SWISH!
The next moment, a pitch-black fist, faster than sound and radiating terrifying power, rushed toward him. The speed and force were enough to shatter mountains.
Boom!
The giant fist connected, and the three-meter golden figure of Zhu Hao shattered instantly.
Er Ming did not celebrate. He recognized the illusion immediately. His massive fist rotated downward, slamming into the earth. There were suddenly a dozen identical Zhu Haos surrounding him, all using the magical Phantom Clone!
Er Ming couldn't discern the real one from the fakes, so he opted for pure area damage.
CRASH!
The huge fist impacted the ground, and the earth groaned. The resulting force exploded outward, causing the ground to erupt. Soil and rock flew everywhere, and a deep crater, ten meters deep, instantly formed.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Zhu Hao's illusionary figures exploded one by one, leaving only the real one. The shockwave of pure kinetic energy, however, was still hurtling toward him. Under the Titan Ape's amplified gravity field, Zhu Hao had no hope of dodging the remaining blast.
"Vajra Indestructibility!"
With no other choice, Zhu Hao activated his ultimate defense. His entire body became enveloped in a pure, searing golden light, transforming him into a seemingly solid, small golden ingot. Every single golden hair seemed to harden, radiating a sense of immortality and eternity.
BOOM!
The energy aftermath struck. A force akin to a freight train slammed into his chest.
With a loud thwack, Zhu Hao was instantly thrown backward, skidding dozens of meters. His internal organs shook, and his blood surged uncomfortably, but his skin was unbroken.
"As expected of the Titan Ape, the King of the Forest. What monstrous power!" Zhu Hao settled himself, secretly appalled.
If he hadn't activated Vajra Indestructibility, he would have been critically injured, if not dead.
"It seems that with my current Level 3 strength and various magical powers, I can only barely contend with the Titan Ape. Defeating him is impossible," he concluded.
Zhu Hao looked at the Light of the Pig God panel. His mind was set.
"System: Upgrade!"
The next moment, a vibrant, life-affirming green light, like a long river of concentrated spiritual essence, enveloped Zhu Hao. His aura exploded upward, skyrocketing like a missile leaving the atmosphere.
Under the nourishing, potent force of the Level Up:
His flesh smoothed, becoming jade-like and denser, thrumming with raw power.
A faint golden sheen appeared deep within his bones, strengthening them to an impossible degree, carrying a palpable sense of eternity.
He felt his mind clear, his body lighten, and his connection to the Laws of Heaven and Earth deepen significantly.
"Breakthrough?!"
The Titan Ape stared, his huge eyes wide with incredulity. Not only had this tiny menace survived his full-power assault, but he was now enveloped in a breakthrough light!
"What kind of Soul Beast is this? The way it breaks through is utterly unique! And why does it always happen right when I have him cornered?!" Er Ming was a cocktail of fury and profound confusion. Zhu Hao's bizarre fighting style and endless array of skills made him feel like he was fighting a swarm of ants that kept evolving into gods.
The Titan Ape, despite his rage, refrained from attacking. As the undisputed King of the Forest, Er Ming held a measure of pride. He had come to defeat Zhu Hao fairly, not to cheap-shot an opponent during a critical, sacred moment of evolution.