Chapter 33: King of the Forest – Titan Giant Ape (Finale)

"Roar!"

Dark energy surged violently as the Titan Giant Ape rampaged forward, its eyes gleaming with savage ferocity. The fact that Chen Xiaoming remained unscathed had placed immense pressure on the beast—especially when those nine hundred-thousand-year soul rings shimmered around him. Each one was a symbol of a blood feud.

A black aura flashed across the Titan Giant Ape's body. At the same time, Chen Xiaoming suddenly felt his body grow heavy, as though it had been filled with lead.

Domain—Gravity Control Domain!

Chen Xiaoming frowned. It seemed the Titan Giant Ape was finally going all out, even unleashing its domain—its ultimate trump card.

The Gravity Control Domain allowed the Titan Giant Ape to manipulate gravity at will. It could increase or sharply decrease gravitational force in any given area.

And at this moment, it had chosen to increase the gravity acting upon Chen Xiaoming—tenfold, in an instant!

The entire battlefield grew dense with an overwhelming force, and the air itself seemed to press down with suffocating intensity, locking the space around Chen Xiaoming in place.

Step.

The Titan Giant Ape leaped into the air, swinging its colossal fist. The surrounding earth-elemental energy converged into the strike, causing a faint glow to radiate from its knuckles.

This punch was several times more powerful than before!

A cunning glint flashed through the Titan Giant Ape's massive golden-crystal eyes. Its devastating fist generated a deafening sonic boom in midair.

He, the King of the Forest—the Titan Giant Ape, was about to show off!

Chen Xiaoming, who had remained motionless until now, calmly lifted his gaze. He watched the incoming punch that blotted out the sky, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes.

"Enough playing around. Time to get serious."

His voice was calm, yet unwavering.

The Titan Giant Ape's eyes flickered with disdain.

Hah! Already beneath my fist, and still acting tough? It thought smugly. Let's see how long that arrogance lasts!

Ding!

A crisp sound rang out as Chen Xiaoming's ninth soul ring shone brilliantly beneath his feet. The crimson glow burst forth, sending waves of immense soul power across the battlefield. The ground caved in as countless thick branches erupted from below, growing wildly.

The Azurewood Tree Martial Soul in Chen Xiaoming's right hand emitted a gentle radiance.

The ninth soul ring fused into the Azurewood Tree, sending out a crimson streak of light that shot straight toward the rapidly expanding branches.

In the blink of an eye, the countless branches pulsed with light. Originally simple and unadorned, they now bore crimson patterns, their surfaces gleaming with an unyielding metallic sheen.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The branches surged forward toward the Titan Giant Ape. Four of the thickest ones shot straight for its limbs!

The Titan Giant Ape, still midair, focused its gaze. The moment Chen Xiaoming activated his ninth soul ring, the beast instantly realized the danger. With a furious roar, it unleashed a shockwave of black energy, activating its Gravity Control Domain to press down on the four approaching branches.

The dark energy clashed against the incoming branches, slowing them slightly—but only for a moment before they regained their momentum.

Meanwhile, the four thickest branches, initially aimed at the Titan Giant Ape's limbs, had indeed been affected by the Gravity Control Domain, causing their speed to drop drastically.

Seeing his domain take effect, the Titan Giant Ape's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Its descending fist accelerated.

"Go."

Chen Xiaoming flicked his fingers lightly. The Azurewood Tree Martial Soul shone brilliantly once more, launching another streak of crimson light. This time, however, a faint silver shimmer intertwined with the red glow.

The light split into four beams midair, instantly fusing with the restrained branches.

A split second later, a silver shimmer flickered across the struggling branches—then vanished.

And in that instant, they appeared directly in front of the Titan Giant Ape!

As if bypassing space itself, the branches ignored the Titan Giant Ape's Gravity Domain, leaving it utterly unprepared.

Its massive fist twitched, trying to swing, but the branches had already coiled around it! The other three wrapped around its legs and remaining arm.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Four resounding explosions echoed as the branches pulled apart its limbs instantly, preventing it from exerting any force.

More branches seized the opportunity, lashing toward its limbs to reinforce the hold, then coiling around its waist and head.

Despite being the thinner ones, these branches were still two meters thick.

In mere moments, the Titan Giant Ape was completely bound, suspended in midair.

A massive wooden pillar rose from the ground, and as the branches tightened, it secured the Titan Giant Ape firmly against it.

The Ninth Soul Skill was not just for defense.

World Tree Descent, as Chen Xiaoming's ninth soul skill and a hundred-thousand-year soul ring ability, was nothing short of formidable.

It had once withstood Tang Hao's Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer.

And in offense, it possessed the power to restrain even the strongest of foes.

Looking at the Titan Giant Ape, now tightly bound and howling in fury, yet utterly unable to break free, Chen Xiaoming shook his head.

I told you not to show off, but you just had to.

Well? Feeling humiliated now?

Sigh...

Showing off is an art. If you don't have the strength, don't try to fake it.

A wooden pillar rose beneath Chen Xiaoming's feet, lifting him steadily until he was face-to-face with the Titan Giant Ape.

"Roar…!"

A deafening roar erupted as a terrifying shockwave surged through the air. Chen Xiaoming took an involuntary breath—his face instantly darkened, turning pitch black like coal. His body wavered slightly, and he reached up with his right hand to rub his temples.

That hit a little too hard.

With a casual wave of his hand, countless branches shot forward, sealing the mouth of the Titan Giant Ape before it could take another breath.

Taking a deep breath, he listened as the system's notification chimed in his ear. He steadied himself and turned his gaze toward the Titan Giant Ape.

The massive beast, now unable to open its mouth, could only glare at him with those huge topaz-like eyes. Apart from rage and unwillingness, no other emotions flickered within them.

Chen Xiaoming studied it for a moment before shaking his head. What a troublesome creature.

It was also a hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast, yet when he thought back to his own days as one, he had been so much more...civilized. Aside from occasionally sparring with soul masters who came looking for trouble—and courteously sending them on their way to the afterlife—he had always been a peaceful soul beast.

But this Titan Giant Ape? Why was it so damn aggressive?

Violence never solves anything! Impulsiveness is the real enemy here! One wrong move, and things could escalate beyond control.

Glancing at the struggling Titan Giant Ape behind him, Chen Xiaoming frowned. He had been too focused on the fight and showing off earlier, but now came the real problem—what was he supposed to do with this big guy?

Kill it? But he didn't need a soul ring. Just for a hundred-thousand-year soul bone?

His body shivered slightly at the thought. Given that he had once been a soul beast himself, he wasn't keen on the idea. Besides, a mere soul bone probably wasn't worth as much as the Titan Giant Ape's pure bloodline essence.

"Forget it, forget it. That fight wasn't even satisfying. Next time, if we get the chance, let's have a proper battle deeper in the forest."

Stretching lazily, Chen Xiaoming found himself lacking any real desire to kill this big oaf. He turned to leave, pausing only to glance back at the still-furious Titan Giant Ape. A chuckle escaped his lips.

"Don't worry about Xiao Wu. I won't harm her."

With that, he tapped his foot lightly against the ground, his figure flickering as he moved in the direction of Tang San and the others.

The vines binding the Titan Giant Ape slowly unraveled. Its enormous eyes flickered with confusion, but before it could dwell on it, Chen Xiaoming's voice echoed from the distance—

"Big guy, remember—if you ever want to take human form, come find me. I'll take care of you!"

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