"Er Ming, something's coming."
The great ape stopped cursing when it heard the ox-headed beast speak. After sensing the disturbance for a moment, it turned toward the forest.
"ROAR!"
A deafening lion's roar echoed through the trees. The great ape looked around, startled—but saw no trace of any creature.
"Monkey… we… meet again."
Just as confusion crept across its face, a tender, childish voice rose from beneath its feet. The suddenness startled it into stumbling back—only then did it see the source.
"A hundred-thousand-year soul beast…? I've never seen you before!"
The Titan Giant Ape instinctively loosened its grip, allowing the soul beast it held to flee and take cover behind it.
"You… don't recognize me. But I… still remember you."
With those words, Fire Meow Meow's body swelled in size, stopping only when it reached the ape's waist—its most powerful form now fully unleashed.
Soul beasts' sizes generally increase with age, though the rate of growth differs between species.
Take the Soft Bone Rabbit for example—after a hundred thousand years, it's only a little bigger than an average rabbit. But beasts like Fire Meow Meow and the Titan Giant Ape grow much larger and more powerful as they age.
The Titan Giant Ape, true to its name, stood like a mountain. Fire Meow Meow wasn't far behind. Though its height only reached the ape's waist, its body was broad and massive, cloaked entirely in blazing flame.
Standing side by side, Fire Meow Meow's flame-wreathed figure radiated a presence even stronger than the towering Titan.
"You… You're that lion?!"
The Titan Giant Ape—called Er Ming by the ox-headed creature—suddenly recalled. This was the same lion who had once tried to reach the Lake of Life, seeking the acknowledgment of that mysterious being to break through.
Back then, he'd been in a foul mood. If the lion hadn't run fast enough, he would've crushed it on the spot.
But now, it had broken through the hundred-thousand-year limit?
"That's right. Hand over the Lightning Mink… or you die."
Fire Meow Meow glanced at the ape, the creature behind him, and the massive bull's head emerging from the lake. Its gaze remained calm.
"Pah! You think breaking through means you can beat me?"
The ape's rough voice boomed. "Still, since you've hit the hundred-thousand mark, you're qualified to join us. I'll accept you… for now."
Then it grinned, cracking its knuckles.
"But first, let me show you what it means to respect your elders!"
As soon as he finished, the ape's mountain-like body stomped down. The earth trembled. Then, with a great leap, it hurled a massive fist toward Fire Meow Meow's head.
The feline twisted aside at the last second, dodging the crushing blow. Flames surged across its body as it lunged, jaws bared, aiming for the ape's throat.
The ape's punch crashed into the ground, gouging a crater. Before it could rise, Fire Meow Meow was already on top of it.
"Gravity Domain!"
Er Ming roared. A formless force erupted, distorting the space around him. Mid-pounce, Fire Meow Meow's body stalled ever so slightly.
But that fraction of a second was enough. For a hundred-thousand-year soul beast like Er Ming, it was all the time he needed.
A colossal fist slammed into Fire Meow Meow's belly, sending it flying like a ragdoll. It crashed through tree after tree before finally tumbling to the forest floor.
"Ha ha ha! How's that? My fist hard enough for you?!"
The Titan Giant Ape beat its chest with both fists, laughing maniacally.
"ROAR!"
A furious roar erupted in response. A blazing fireball soared from the woods, slamming into the ape's chest and driving it back several steps before it finally steadied itself.
Its chest now charred black, the scent of scorched flesh filled the air.
"You bastard! A sneak attack?!"
With a roar of rage, Er Ming dove back into the forest, locking into fierce combat with Fire Meow Meow.
Two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts battling—it was a scene of sheer devastation. In mere moments, the trees around the Lake of Life were nearly all flattened. Black smoke curled into the sky.
BOOM!!!
The fight raged on until finally—a tremendous splash. The lake surged violently, waves crashing high.
"Damn lion! I'm half-cooked over here!"
The Titan Giant Ape doused himself in water, howling in pain and fury.
"ROAR!!"
Fire Meow Meow reappeared, eyes blazing as it bellowed again. But its flames had noticeably weakened, and blood dripped from its claws.
"Big Brother… this thing's fire is strange. Too strong…"
The ape's entire body was scorched. As the water hit his wounds, he gritted his teeth from the searing pain.
Though the flames had been extinguished, the burning sensation still lingered—like it had sunk into his very bones.
"It seems to have just advanced. No awakened domain yet, and it still hurt you this badly…" The ox-headed creature's voice rumbled from the lake. "That little lion's talent is rare indeed. Er Ming, you misjudged it before."
"Well, its flames weren't this scary back then…"
Er Ming muttered bitterly through clenched teeth.
Back then, it wasn't just his temper—this lion had declared it would one day rule the forest. Naturally, that had rubbed him the wrong way, so he'd taught it a lesson.
Who'd have thought it would one day grow strong enough to go toe-to-toe with him?
He hadn't gone all-out… but the injuries were very real.
"I'm taking it. You can't stop me."
Fire Meow Meow stepped forward, cold eyes sweeping over the beasts in the lake before walking toward the trembling Lightning Mink.
"…You're getting ahead of yourself."
The ox-headed creature finally moved. Its calm voice carried weight. A formless domain spread across the area—and Fire Meow Meow visibly slowed down.
A column of water shot up from the lake and crashed down on Fire Meow Meow before it could react, smashing it into the ground and leaving a deep crater.
Compared to the Titan Giant Ape, this bull-headed beast was on an entirely different level.
Fire Meow Meow could hold its own against Er Ming, but against this creature—it was utterly outmatched.
Part of it was the wounds it had already suffered, but more than that—it felt the threat of death in this opponent's strike.
"…Ganging up on me now?"
Fire Meow Meow staggered to its feet again, blood trickling from its mouth.
"Tch. Weren't you so bold earlier? Why don't you run your mouth again?"
The Titan Giant Ape sneered. Ignoring its own injuries, it lumbered ashore, step by step approaching Fire Meow Meow.
Each step left a deep footprint—his Gravity Domain activated once more.
_
Please support my patreon, patreon. com/TravelerDouluo
And get early access to my 80 advance chapters.