Ten Thousand Beast Platform, the core zone!
Many Soul Masters came together in groups, scanning everything around them with excited expressions...
One of them exclaimed, "So this is the core zone of the Ten Thousand Beast Platform? I really don't understand why the Spirit Pagoda classified this area as forbidden. The soul beasts here seem far more real!"
Another one chimed in, "Yeah, yeah! That soul beast that just attacked me... I almost thought it was real!"
"Regarding the forbidden zone, haven't you heard what the Spirit Pagoda staff said? This core area supposedly has Ancient Fierce Beasts—the Azure Oxpython and Titan Ape! Soul Masters who saw them back then nearly peed their pants in fear!"
"No way! No matter how realistic, it's still just virtual, isn't it?"
"Is it possible that the soul beasts in this core zone actually exist in reality? Hahaha, just kidding! Soul beasts wouldn't willingly be kept in captivity by us humans."
"Since we're here anyway, those Spirit Pagoda staff can't stop us. Get ready to start hunting soul beasts!"
With that, they began searching for soul beasts nearby and started hunting them indiscriminately...
In just over ten minutes, several soul beast corpses were already lying silently on the ground. Bright red blood trickled out of their wounds...
This only made the Soul Masters even more excited...
"Killing these soul beasts and seeing them bleed like this... The level of realism is worlds apart from the Spirit Ascension Platform!"
"I've decided! From now on, I'll keep coming to the Ten Thousand Beast Platform. The joy of hunting soul beasts freely is absolutely wonderful!"
"Since it's all virtual anyway, why don't we kill every soul beast in the core zone? What do you all think?"
Just then, one of the Soul Masters rubbed his eyes in disbelief and pointed at a glowing bone on the ground...
He cried out, "Look! Is that... a soul bone?"
Without hesitation, his gaze blazing, he quickly picked it up...
After carefully examining it, he laughed heartily, "A... soul bone! Hahaha! It's actually a soul bone!!"
However, the other Soul Masters looked at him with disdain and skepticism...
They scoffed, "Dream on. That soul bone is fake; you can't take it out of the Ten Thousand Beast Platform anyway!"
"Exactly! These soul bones dropping from soul beasts must be here just to enhance the realism!"
"Let's keep searching for more soul beasts. This is getting more exciting!"
The first Soul Master tried to explain, "I'm telling you, this is a genuine soul bone!"
Yet none of them chose to believe him.
This made his expression darken instantly. Internally, he fumed, "Hmph! A bunch of fools. Even with a real soul bone in front of them, they can't recognize it!"
Oh well, perhaps it's not so bad if only I know the truth...
At that moment, the entire ground began to tremble violently, and an enormous figure exuding an aura of terror emerged from the forest...
At a glance, it was hundreds of meters tall!
It was none other than the Titan Ape!
Its eyes glared down at the humans below, and it growled coldly, "Foolish humans, this is not a place for you. Get out!"
The Soul Masters' legs began trembling, but their faces showed not a trace of fear...
To their minds, virtual soul beasts couldn't inflict real physical harm!
"This... is the legendary Titan Ape? And it can even speak human language? So the core zone really does have such creatures!"
"If we kill it, will we get some rewards from the Spirit Pagoda?"
"Of course we will! Otherwise, there'd be no point in having such a terrifying soul beast recorded here on the Ten Thousand Beast Platform!"
"Everyone hold your ground! It's just virtual. Even if we're no match for it, at worst, it'll kick us out of the Ten Thousand Beast Platform. There's no real danger to our lives!!"
The Titan Ape felt deeply insulted. It spoke in an icy tone, "It seems you all have a death wish!"
The lead Soul Master, summoning courage from who knows where, yelled upwards, "Just because you can speak human words, you really think you're an Ancient Fierce Beast? You're nothing but a collection of programmed data!"
The moment these words left his mouth, the Titan Ape's murderous intent nearly solidified, dying the surroundings in a crimson haze...
Without hesitating further, it extended its massive right arm and slammed it toward the Soul Masters below...
An overwhelming sense of danger enveloped them, and the Soul Masters immediately retreated frantically...
.....
Days passed in a blur, and the forging room remained utterly silent...
A worried Xie Xie couldn't hold back any longer and knocked on the door of the forging room...
"Tap, tap, tap."
"Wulin, you've been completely silent. You're not dead in there, are you?"
But there was no answer. Helpless, he was forced to push the door open and step inside...
What greeted him was Tang Wulin collapsed on the ground, seemingly in a brief state of unconsciousness...
He immediately rushed to his side and slapped him across the face several times, shouting, "Wulin! Wulin, are you okay?"
The stinging pain on Tang Wulin's cheeks woke him up instantly. He smiled wryly, "Stop hitting me! I just overexerted my spiritual power and need some rest."
Xie Xie helped him up and patted his chest, "You scared me to death! I thought you really died in there!"
Tang Wulin shot him a glare, "I'm already a Title Douluo. Do you really think I'd die so easily?"
Of course, he knew Xie Xie was just concerned about his safety.
Xie Xie glanced at the tools on the forging table and asked curiously, "Wulin, over the past few days, have you been attempting Heavenly Forging?"
Tang Wulin also turned his gaze to the forging table, and his expression grew serious. "Mm... Heavenly Forging... It's even more challenging than I imagined. I now understand why President Zhen Hua fell unconscious from it!"
He thought to himself that to succeed in Heavenly Forging, he would likely still need guidance from Zhen Hua!
Hearing this, Xie Xie proudly teased, "So, no progress at all, huh? While you've been stuck in forging these past few days, I managed to advance one level in Soul Power!"
Tang Wulin felt exasperated. "You took a few months to advance just one level in Soul Power, and you're proud of that?"
Xie Xie retorted without hesitation, "Bullshit! It takes others at least half a year, sometimes even years, to improve by one level! I'm only slow because I'm comparing myself to freaks like you guys!"
He wasn't wrong. Each of the Shrek Seven Monsters possessed extraordinary talents, which made Xie Xie appear average in comparison.
Tang Wulin raised his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. I won't argue with you. Has President Zhen Hua woken up yet?"
Xie Xie dropped his playful demeanor. "Yes, he's awake, but strangely, he looked pretty grim."
"Do you know why?"
"Not really. But President Zhen Hua did say to find him after you leave the forging room."
"Alright, I'll head over right now!"
Xie Xie held onto Tang Wulin's arm and sheepishly said, "Wait... Wulin, could you do me a favor and ask President Zhen Hua to—"
Before he could finish, Tang Wulin flatly refused, "No!"
"I haven't even said it yet!" Xie Xie clenched his teeth.
"Knowing you, you're probably asking him for help with Heavenly Forging, right? Too bad for you. His last Heavenly Forging session was the final one." Tang Wulin smirked coldly...
His intention exposed, Xie Xie immediately wore a frustrated expression. "Fine, fine. Get out of here already. Just learn Heavenly Forging as soon as you can, then make something for this great lord!"
...