179 Chapter 177.

"Ahhhhhhh!" Er Ming suddenly roared, startling the Azure Sky Bull Python, who questioned him immediately in concern, "Er Ming, what's wrong? Isn't he..."

"No, brother, I feel incredible," Er Ming interjected, his tone conveying utmost comfort.

The Azure Sky Bull Python was left speechless, while Wang Feng watched attentively as the golden light enveloped Er Ming's hands, visibly restoring the wounds at an astonishing rate. In mere moments, the wounds had vanished entirely, leaving no trace of their existence.

"As I suspected, Golden Lotus's healing prowess surpasses my expectations. It's not merely a conventional healing ability, it can even mend these unique wounds caused by the God Killing Spear," Wang Feng thought, relieved.

After all, they were all born from Chaos Green Lotus, indicating a natural affinity between them. As his soul power levels increase, his abilities will naturally strengthen.

Upon the Titan Giant Ape's complete recovery, it regained its robust appearance. "Let's continue our sparring for another three rounds!" the Titan Giant Ape challenged Wang Feng as soon as he recovered. 

"Now that I can recover, I don't need to worry about getting hurt. Rest assured, I won't cause you any harm."

Wang Feng pondered silently, acknowledging Er Ming's battle maniac nature. Meanwhile, the Azure Sky Bull Python expressed gratitude to Wang Feng. Wang Feng smiled in response, waving his hand. "It's no trouble. I was responsible for the injury and besides, Xiao Wu and I are friends."

With a slight shift in his thoughts, Wang Feng considered the opportunity presented by encountering Da Ming and Er Ming. Why not utilize this time to practice in the Star Dou Great Forest for a few months? Battling against Er Ming, even if he couldn't win, would provide a target for honing his skills and stimulating his potential. Moreover, Er Ming now wouldn't fight him with the intent to kill, making him the ideal sparring partner.

With this in mind, Wang Feng addressed the Titan Great Ape with a smile, "Alright, I might stay in the Star Dou Great Forest for a few months. If you wish to spar with me, feel free to come. Just remember not to take it too seriously."

The Titan Giant Ape's joy was evident as it nodded eagerly in agreement.

This little hooman could withstands his attacks well, so he's eager to spar.

Of course, it's also great to have someone to play with! 

Wang Feng noticed that Er Ming was similar to Xiao Wu, although appearing ancient and might have lived for a long time, their mentality was akin to a sixteen or seventeen-year-old child. In contrast, the Azure Sky Bull Python seemed much more mature.

Observing silently, the Azure Sky Bull Python refrained from commenting further.

Over the remaining months, Wang Feng continued to cultivate in the Star Dou Great Forest, alternating between sparring with the Titan Giant Ape and practicing to enhance his soul power.

Five months later, at the center of the Star Dou Great Forest, by the lake.

"Come out, Fengzi! I'm ready to take you on today!" The Titan Giant Ape's roar echoed across the lake.

For him, the past half-year had brought no significant changes.

At that moment, the Azure Sky Bull Python also emerged from the lake and murmured, "Er Ming, he's gone today."

Upon hearing this, the Titan Giant Ape was left stunned.

Because at this time of day, he would typically come to challenge the little hooman, it could be said that he had fought throughout more than half of the Star Dou Great Forest. This half-year period also marked the peak of his performance in combat.

As Er Ming reflected on the past six months, he sensed a slight improvement in his strength and fighting capability.

"But how and why did he leave?" Er Ming sat down, his tone tinged with melancholy. "I haven't managed to defeat him in the past six months."

"You couldn't have defeated him anyway," the Azure Sky Bull Python remarked.

The Titan Giant Ape, frustrated, pounded the ground with both fists, creating two pits. 

"I didn't dare to use my full strength... Yet, it seems I still couldn't harm him. Brother, do you think he's truly human? Why does he seem more resilient to blows than us soul beasts? Even compared to soul beasts of tens of thousands years old, he appears to endure better."

The Azure Sky Bull Python fell silent for a moment, withholding any response.

In the past six months, that human teenager had brought him an abundance of surprises. His martial skills, soul abilities, combat expertise and rate of growth all surpassed the Azure Sky Bull Python's expectations. Initially, the boy had proposed letting Er Ming use his full strength within the gravity field. A month ago, he was defeated by Er Ming and couldn't rise. Even the most aged soul beasts, between eighty to ninety thousand years old, would be left incapacitated when Er Ming fully exerted his gravitational force using his domain. 

Er Ming seldom employed the Gravity Domain against human soul masters, barely opening it, until he fought with the young man for the first time.

However, by the second month, the young man began progressing swiftly. He could even maneuver freely within Er Ming's gravity domain, even using it against Er Ming himself. Eventually, Er Ming's gravitational domain seemed ineffectual against him. The Azure Sky Bull Python even tried using his Slowing Domain, but to no avail.

Over the six months, while the boy couldn't defeat Er Ming, he managed to endure increasingly longer in battle. Later on, Er Ming even had to utilize 70% to 80% of his strength to prevail over the boy. Initially, the Azure Sky Bull Python scolded Er Ming for harming the boy. However, the boy insisted that he had requested it.

"But he seems to be just a forty-fifth-level human soul master." the Azure Sky Bull Python pondered, feeling perplexed. Were young human beings already this formidable? If so, what would be the fate of soul beasts in the coming years? It took roughly 80% of the strength of Er Ming to defeat only a forty-fifth-level human soul master.

"By the way, he also left you a gift," the Azure Sky Bull Python interjected, retrieving a massive, thick, ten-meter-long rod from the lake.

"What's this?" The Titan Giant Ape's eyes gleamed as he examined the imposing rod, adorned with intricate engravings and a weathered appearance, exuding an irresistible allure to him instinctively.

"This is a colossal piece of black gold metal he discovered in the lake, then he collaborated with me to polish and carve it into this shape." the Azure Sky Bull Python explained. "He said he wanted to surprise you with it."

With a flick of its tail, the Azure Sky Bull Python tossed the stick to the Titan Giant Ape.

The Titan Giant Ape leaped up and caught the stick with his hands. In that moment, he was overwhelmed with excitement, as if he was destined to wield the staff and play with it in. With roaring enthusiasm, he wielded the stick with the finesse of a master, casting rainbow-like shadows and exuding a soaring momentum.

"Fun, fun, this is so fun! I love this gift!" The Titan Giant Ape exclaimed joyfully, bouncing around and causing the ground to shake with his exuberance.

The Azure Sky Bull Python watched in astonishment. Sensing Er Ming's aura surge as he held the stick, it was evident that his strength would improve a notch with the use of this staff weapon. Could it be that mastering the art of wielding a staff was innate for him? How did the boy know?

"Brother, did Fengzi name this stick?" the Titan Giant Ape roared with glee.

"He did." the Azure Sky Bull Python replied.

"What's it called?"

"It was initially named the Golden Cudgel but he then changed it to the Sky Rod. You can choose."

"The Sky Rod! I love it!"

Heaven Dou City.

Shrek Academy.

Grandmaster stood in the room, gazing out the window into the distance. Beside him, Flender and Liu Erlong also stood silently.

"Xiaogang, these children have recently reached level 40. It's time for us to take them to obtain their fourth soul rings," Flender remarked suddenly. "Have we received any news from Xiaofeng yet?"

Five months had passed since Wang Feng had ventured into the Star Dou Great Forest alone to obtain his fourth soul ring. This fact was known only to the Grandmaster.

But for over five months, news of Xiao Feng's disappearance couldn't stay hidden. Flender and Liu Erlong also inquired about it, as did Tang San and the others from Grandmaster.

Grandmaster shook his head, remarking, "No, but Xiao Feng assured us he'd return when the time was right. Let's refrain from searching or csuing any unnecessary worry."

Upon hearing this, Liu Erlong abruptly rose, her brow furrowed. "I suggested a month ago that Flender and I should search together for him. His fourth soul ring must also be around 30,000 years old! Making him, just a level forty Soul Ancestor to take on a 30,000-year-old Soul Beast, how challenging and hard is that?"

Flender frowned repeatedly. 

"His third soul ring should be around 30,000-year-old as Xiao Feng claimed, came from a severely injured Mysterious Thorns Black Turtle he slew under the supervision of Sword Douluo. The second ten thousand years soul ring was for saving the Ice Emperor Lizard's offspring, after which the soul beast let him absorb willingly... How can his luck be so poor this time?"

Zhao Wuji also grew concerned upon hearing this. During their time in the Star Dou Great Forest, Xiao Feng was once captured by the Titan Giant Ape, barely managing to come back alive. Despite the peril, he seized a tremendous opportunity and obtained a 30,000-year soul ring. They were all aware of this.

"But how could he come across such an opportunity again?" questioned the Grandmaster with a sigh.

"It's not a matter of trust. Xiao Feng can handle Dugu Bo's two attacks, and his strength rivals that of a Soul Emperor of over sixty rank. His physical prowess even surpasses Zhao Wuji's!" 

"But do you realize the dangers lurking in the Star Dou Great Forest? Sure, taking down a 10,000-year Soul Beast might not be too hard for him. But what if he gets surrounded? What if he encounters Soul Beasts of 50,000 or 60,000 years? Or worse, what if he faces seven or eight 10,000-year Soul Beasts?" she continued, causing even the Grandmaster to furrow his brow.

Indeed, Liu Erlong's concerns mirrored the Grandmaster's own worries. The Star Dou Great Forest remained perilous. While Wang Feng could handle ordinary ten-thousands year soul beasts and maybe even those of 20,000 years, the challenges grew significantly at 30,000 and 40,000 years. Encountering beasts of fifty or sixty thousand years would likely prove fatal, and facing those of seventy or eighty thousand years meant certain death.

"Moreover, you've been deceiving the children, claiming Wang Feng went into seclusion for half a year. It's been almost that long now and he's still not back now." Flender whispered, highlighting a more pressing issue.

"What should we tell them?" he pondered, the seriousness of the situation sinking in. Tang San and the others believed Xiao Feng had merely gone into seclusion.

As they anxiously deliberated, a guard entered the room, breaking their discussion.

"Master, a letter for you." the guard announced.

Grandmaster, taken aback, accepted the letter and swiftly perused its contents. A smile gradually spread across his face.

"Very well, gather them all together. In half a month, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament commences. Let's aim for each of them to acquire a soul ring before it starts." the Grandmaster declared, bringing a sense of hope to their uncertain situation.

...

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