The Star Dou Great Forest was like a giant beast, swallowing everyone whole.
The two women who had been supporting Ye Qiu finally released him.
"Stop!"
Zhao Wuji, who was walking at the front, raised a hand.
Everyone stopped as he said.
Zhao Wuji's expression was serious as he emphasized a few things again.
"Listen up, all of you. Once inside, you are not allowed to leave within twenty meters of me. If you encounter any soul beasts, do not attack without my order! Do you understand?!"
"Understood, Teacher Zhao!"
Ma Hongjun and the others had come along before and were quite clear about these things.
"Ning Rongrong, Oscar, you two come to my side."
The support-type soul masters in the group naturally deserved special care, since they didn't have much offensive power.
After entering the forest, they hadn't walked far before the sunlight disappeared.
The group's formation also changed.
Dai Mubai and Tang San were responsible for clearing the way.
The Purple Demon Eye had a wide field of vision, and its tiger claws were like cutting vegetables.
Zhao Wuji sat in the middle, flanked by Ning Rongrong and Oscar.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ma Hongjun were on the flanks.
As for Xiao Wu, she seized the opportunity to snuggle up to Ye Qiu.
The two were at the very back of the group, whispering sweet nothings to each other.
Zhao Wuji's eyelids twitched uncontrollably at the sight.
However, they didn't stray more than twenty meters from him, so he didn't say anything.
Oscar seemed quite excited throughout the journey.
After all, he was about to obtain his long-awaited third spirit ring.
The upper limit for a person's third spirit ring is generally 1700 years.
The outer area is mostly inhabited by 1000-year spirit beasts, with 1000-year spirit beasts appearing only occasionally.
The mixed zone is an area where 1000-year and 10,000-year spirit beasts coexist.
Spirit rings can't be judged solely by their age; suitability is also crucial.
Along the way, the group encountered quite a few 100-year spirit beasts, some living in groups and others alone.
Zhao Wuji didn't order any attacks, simply continuing their advance by taking detours.
In their search for a suitable spirit beast for Oscar, the group was nearing the boundary between the outer and mixed zones.
1000-year spirit beasts were becoming more common.
It was already noon, and everyone was getting a little tired.
"Alright, everyone stop and rest for half an hour!"
Zhao Wuji understood that the further they went, the greater the chance of encountering danger.
Therefore, he let everyone rest before entering the mixed zone.
"Ye Qiu, give me a sip!"
"Slow down~"
Ning Rongrong sat down next to Ye Qiu, leaned on his shoulder, and snatched the water bottle he had just put in his mouth.
Xiao Wu leaned on the other side, munching on the carrot Ye Qiu had prepared for her. Zhu
Zhuqing was more reserved, sitting down next to Ye Qiu and leaning against the same tree trunk.
Oscar was distributing sausages to the others.
His food was indeed quite good; Ye Qiu had tried it, but the soul curse was thought-provoking.
Ignoring Tang San and Dai Mubai's hatred towards him, Ye Qiu secretly activated his martial soul, glancing back in the direction he had come from from time to time. Ma Hongjun patted his chest, then rubbed his hands together and chuckled. "Stop arguing! Zhu Zhuqing, look at it now !" "It's here!" The Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent was fast; before Zhao Wuji could ask again, it was already at the foot of the tree! As Zhu Zhuqing spoke, she leaped down from the tree. Her first spirit ring lit up, and her claws gleamed coldly as she stabbed down at the blood-red crest. Just as she had said, it had a body over seven meters long with a large crest on its head. It moved quickly, dodging Zhu Zhuqing's Netherworld Thrust, which struck its body with a muffled thud. Its body sank slightly. Tang San also seized the opportunity to activate his first spirit skill, Entanglement. Blue Silver Grass grew wildly beneath the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent, binding it tightly. In desperation, it spat out a mouthful of seven-colored mist towards Zhu Zhuqing. Dai Mubai's eyes lit up, and he was about to rush over when Ye Qiu's voice rang out. "Zhu Qing! This snake isn't poisonous!" Zhu Zhu Qing, who was trying to dodge, paused and immediately extended her claws to continue attacking the large snake. "You! Be careful." Dai Mubai's expression changed. But Zhu Zhu Qing ignored him; she unconditionally trusted Ye Qiu. "The Seven Treasures are famous, first for strength, second for speed!" Ning Rongrong also reacted in time, and the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda appeared in her hand, two streams of light flying towards Zhu Zhu Qing. Her body suddenly became much lighter, and her strength was also abundant. The only yellow soul ring under her feet flashed.
Only when he saw that the person was still silently following him did he feel relieved.
Taking the water bottle back from Ning Rongrong, Ye Qiu also drank a few mouthfuls.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and used the Blue Silver Emperor's soul skill to relieve her fatigue.
Seeing Dai Mubai's still persistent attitude, Ye Qiu felt a mischievous urge.
Suddenly, he handed the water bottle in his hand to Zhu Zhuqing beside him.
"Zhuqing, would you like some?"
"Hmm~"
Although she had prepared water in her soul tool, she didn't refuse.
Her cold expression softened slightly, and she took a few sips without any disgust.
*Pfft!
* Dai Mubai's tiger eyes glared, and the sausage in his hand was crushed to pieces.
...
After resting for half an hour,
Zhao Wuji's gaze suddenly became sharp and fierce.
He stood up abruptly, and at the same time, he called out to the others.
"Everyone stand up, something is approaching this way!"
Hearing his voice, everyone reacted immediately.
In perfect unison, Ye Qiu and the others protected Ning Rongrong and Oscar in the middle.
Ye Qiu also glanced in that direction, a hint of surprise appearing on his face.
Then, a faint smile appeared.
"Zhu Zhuqing! See what it is!"
Hearing Zhao Wuji's command, Zhu Zhuqing remained silent.
Sharp claws extended from her hands, and the straight trees were like flat ground to her.
In a few breaths, she was already on a tree branch.
"It's a flying snake, about three meters off the ground, with a large, blood-red crest on its head and a fan-shaped tail!"
Based on Zhu Zhuqing's description, Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up.
His voice was excited.
"It's a Phoenix-tailed Crested Serpent! Its crest has many uses! Oscar, you're in luck!"
"How long is this Phoenix-tailed Crested Serpent, and what color are its wings?" Tang San was also somewhat surprised by Oscar's luck; this kind of soul beast was extremely rare.
Zhu Zhuqing replied, "Pale red wings, about seven meters long!"
"Great, Oscar! This is exactly a thousand-year-old Phoenix-tailed Crested Serpent, its cultivation should be around 1500 years!"
Tang San thought for a moment, then confirmed.
Although Yu Xiaogang's theoretical knowledge of cultivation was a complete mess, he had indeed taught Tang San a lot about soul beasts.
Or rather, he had encouraged him to read quite a few books.
Oscar's peach blossom eyes lit up, and a sly smile immediately appeared on his face. "Then I'll have to trouble you all later!"
"No problem! We came all this way just to help you, kid, right? You can treat me to a few meals later!"
Another move, Netherworld Thrust
, pierced through the seven-colored mist and lightly brushed against her jade face; as expected, there was no discomfort.
On the head of the Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Serpent, the blood-red cockscomb, which was larger than its head, suddenly lit up.
The considerable energy stored inside was released, and its speed and strength began to increase.
Its slippery body, covered with fine scales, could not be pierced by the barbs on Tang San's Blue Silver Grass.
It quickly escaped and dodged Zhu Zhu Qing's attack.
"Second, first soul skill, Phoenix Reborn! Phoenix Fire Line!"
Fatty Ma Hongjun immediately attacked, his second soul skill increasing the intensity of his flames by thirty percent.
A scorching phoenix fire line shot out from his mouth towards the Phoenix-tailed Crested Serpent.
Ma Hongjun's aura seemed to have a slight suppressive effect on the Phoenix-tailed Crested Serpent.
The serpent's body stiffened, and it even fell quite a bit.
In just a moment, it was about to dodge again.
"Second soul skill, White Tiger Blazing Light Wave!"
Dai Mubai spat out a milky white beam of light, also attacking it.
"Hiss~"
Fatty's scorching flames burned a large wound on the tail of the Phoenix-tailed Crested Serpent.
It twisted its body wildly, making it impossible for Zhu Zhuqing to lock onto it.
Ye Qiu looked at Xiao Wu, who was not very interested beside him, and the icy power gathered at his fingertips dissipated.
He sighed inwardly. Anyway, with Zhao Wuji, the Soul Saint, here, there was no need for him to interfere.
Instead, he took her small hand and smiled knowingly at her.
Xiao Wu wrapped her arms around his, her gloomy expression easing considerably.
Seeing the Phoenix-tailed Crested Serpent about to escape, Zhao Wuji finally made his move.
"Fifth Soul Skill, Gravity Compression!"
"Fourth Soul Skill, Location Tracking!"
A pressure from all directions pinned the Phoenix-tailed Crested Serpent in place. With
a Soul Saint's intervention, there was no reason to let a thousand-year-old soul beast escape.
Zhao Wuji's fourth soul ring flew out from under his feet, instantly encircling the serpent.
His body leaped into the air, quickly appearing beside the serpent, his giant hand, now transformed into a bear's paw, directly grasping the Phoenix-tailed Crested Serpent.
"Great! It's done!"
Oscar, sporting a stubble, now displayed the demeanor of a fourteen-year-old boy,
jumping up excitedly.
"Alright, hurry up and kill it, its spirit ring is yours!" Zhao Wuji grinned, surprised that the soul hunt had gone so smoothly.
He pulled a dagger from his waist and tossed it to Oscar.
"Just stab it through the soft flesh under its comb, and you'll reach its brain!" Tang San instructed from the side.
He was not only skilled at identifying spirit beasts and their age, but also had a deep understanding of their weaknesses.
"Thanks, Xiao San!"
Oscar thanked him, excitedly drawing his dagger, his hands trembling slightly.
Xiao Wu rested her forehead on Ye Qiu's shoulder, not daring to look any longer.
Just as Oscar was about to stab it and succeed, an old, hoarse voice suddenly rang in everyone's ears.
"Stop!"
Whoosh!
From the direction the phoenix-tailed crested snake had come from, two figures, one old and one young, flew out.
When they landed, spirit rings had already risen beneath their feet.
Both of them were women.
The older one looked to be in her sixties or seventies, her white hair tied up with a hairpin, and although her face had many wrinkles, she had a very good complexion.
His cloudy eyes gleamed with a sharp light as he scrutinized the group before him.
He held a three-meter-long snake-headed cane, and six standard-equipped spirit rings danced beneath his feet.
Beside him stood a beautiful girl of about sixteen or seventeen.
She had short, black hair that reached her ears, and wore a sleek black, form-fitting outfit that tightly hugged her well-developed body. Her slender, long legs appeared quite tall.
Her large, deep brown eyes were fixed intently on the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent that Zhao Wuji held in his hand.
In her right hand, she also held a snake-headed cane, though only a little over two meters long, and two yellow spirit rings danced beneath her feet.
Tang San and the others were initially startled by the six spirit rings on the newcomer's body, but then regained their composure upon seeing Zhao Wuji beside them.
Zhao Wuji, however, was not as calm. Having roamed the world for decades, he naturally guessed the newcomer's identity.
Ye Qiu, as if he had expected this, stood firmly in place.
Zhu Zhuqing and the others who had just attacked hadn't even retracted their soul rings yet, so the old woman easily saw through their soul power levels.
She wasn't entirely calm either, her expression changing slightly.
She had thought it would be a simple matter, but she hadn't expected a Soul Saint-level expert to appear in the outer area of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The children around her shocked her even more.
They were all younger than her granddaughter, but their cultivation was by no means weak; not only was one white-haired child about to break through to Soul Venerable, but two were already three-ring Soul Venerables.
Realizing she had encountered a tough opponent, she didn't want to waste any more time and directly introduced herself.
"Respected Soul Saint, I am Chao Tianxiang. May I ask your honorable name?"
"Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang!" Zhao Wuji replied with an "
I knew it!" Snake Granny smiled politely, inwardly relieved; having a name made things easier!
"Hehe, please excuse my rudeness. I am honored by the respect of my friends in the Soul Master world who have bestowed
upon me this title. But I am unworthy to accept it in front of you!" "Snake Granny, stop with the empty pleasantries. Your title of Peerless Dragon and Snake is not for nothing. You and I are both old hands. I am... Immovable King Zhao Wuji! Just say what you have to say!"
Zhao Wuji didn't take these words seriously. The Snake Granny's lover was a Soul Douluo named Meng Shu, also known as Dragon Lord.
Not to mention that their combined Dragon and Snake attack could fight a Title Douluo, Dragon Lord alone was beyond his ability to withstand.
He was merely a Soul Saint, and he knew his own limitations. Otherwise, he would have died several times over!
The Snake Granny's expression changed slightly, and she became somewhat worried. "So you are the famous Immovable King in the Soul Master world!"
Zhao Wuji looked a little embarrassed. He did have some reputation, but it was all bad.
If anyone else dared to say that, he would have already slapped them with a bear paw.
But the Dragon Lord and Snake Lady were practically inseparable, so the Dragon Lord was definitely nearby!
He didn't want to make a move unless absolutely necessary!
The Snake Lady was also adept at reading people, so she didn't say anything more and went straight to the point.
"I'm a bit older than you, so I'll take the liberty of calling you Brother Zhao! Brother Zhao, you can't kill this Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent!"
"Why! Do you want to steal it?" Oscar couldn't hold back anymore; this concerned his third soul ring.
"You're the ones who stole it from me!"
The girl behind the Snake Lady pointed her snake-headed cane at Oscar, her face filled with anger.
"Yiran!" The Snake Lady gave her granddaughter a look, telling her to calm down.
"Haha. Little brother, don't be impatient. You can see the wounds I made with my snake-headed cane on the snake's belly and under its wings."
Zhao Wuji frowned, and after examining it, he found it to be as she said.
But he couldn't just give up like that.
"Well, Brother Zhao, could you please do me a favor and return this soul beast to my granddaughter? I will remember this kindness forever and repay it in the future!"
The Snake Granny finally revealed her true intentions.
"Sister Chao, this is putting me in a difficult position. My student also happens to need a third soul ring!"
Zhao Wuji sneered inwardly. He, the Immovable King, wasn't one to be taken advantage of.
"What's so difficult about it? This soul beast originally belonged to us. If we hadn't injured it first, you wouldn't have been able to capture it so easily! Return it to me now, or I won't be polite!"
As she spoke, she raised her snake-headed cane again, her phoenix eyes narrowing in anger.
"Brother Zhao, is there really no room for negotiation?" The Snake Granny's face darkened.
She knew very well that if it weren't for the intimidating reputation of the Peerless Dragon Snake, the Immovable King would have already killed them both!
"I'm afraid I can't comply! I think Sister Chao should leave quickly while it's still early!"
Zhao Wuji's expression was somewhat helpless, but he was secretly pleased.
He suddenly remembered that many of his students had impressive backgrounds!
"Grandma! I must have this soul beast!" Meng Yiran said anxiously. Soul hunting was no child's play.
Finding a soul ring that suited one was not an easy task.
Chao Tianxiang understood this as well, and after a moment's hesitation, she spoke again.
"Brother Zhao, since both sides contributed to capturing it, why don't we follow the rules of the Soul Master world and have this young man and my granddaughter have a Soul Battle to decide the ownership of this Soul Beast? What do you say?"
Zhao Wuji sighed helplessly.
"I'm sorry, I can't agree."
"Zhao Wuji, are you just playing games with me, or are you taking advantage of my husband not being around!"
Chao Tianxiang's face darkened. She had already backed down enough, but he still wouldn't budge!
"Hehe... Sister Chao, how could I dare to deliberately play games with you? It's just that my student... he's a Food-type Soul Master!"
Zhao Wuji told her that Oscar was a Food-type Soul Master.
This surprised Chao Tianxiang again; she wondered where he had found so many monsters.
She had never seen a Food-type Soul Master cultivate so quickly.
With so many people, wasn't there a single normal one?!
"Teacher Zhao, why don't I take Xiao Ao's place? I'm level 29 right now!"
Just when the situation reached a stalemate, Tang San stepped forward.
But his movement also brought Ye Qiu, who was standing behind him, into Meng Yiran's view.
Ye Qiu's lips curled into a faint smile as he held Xiao Wu's hand and quietly ate his melon.
Meng Yiran's heart skipped a beat. Holding her snake-head cane, she couldn't take her eyes off him for a moment.
His shoulder-length, azure blue hair was the color of the sky, shining brightly even in the dark forest.
His eyes were like clear lake water, or distant starry skies, deep and captivating.
His face was handsome and elegant, with distinct lines and three-dimensional features. His skin was as smooth as silk, and his fair complexion further accentuated his blue eyes.
They were so bright that they made her heart feel cheerful.
He was tall and upright, with a straight back and broad shoulders, yet his figure was both graceful and powerful.
Dressed in a white, fitted outfit embellished with silver threads, she reflected a faint halo in the dim light, appearing both hazy and remarkably noble.
Her smile, though somewhat casual, still gave Meng Yiran a warm, comforting feeling.
Meng Yiran's heart pounded.
Ye Qiu, however, cast a questioning glance at her.
Zhao Wuji and Chao Tianxiang had already discussed things, so why was this girl staring at her blankly?
His gaze made Meng Yiran's breath catch in her throat; she almost dropped her snake-headed cane, her face flushing red.
"Yiran, Yiran? Yiran!"
Chao Tianxiang called several times without response, then turned around curiously and patted her granddaughter's shoulder.
"Ah!? Grandma! What's wrong?"
Meng Yiran looked away, her heart still racing, stealing glances at Ye Qiu every now and then.
She felt she was falling in love!
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"No! I'm fine," Meng Yiran gently shook her head, taking several deep breaths.
She dared not look at Ye Qiu again.
"Don't worry, Grandma has already discussed it with Brother Zhao. As long as you defeat this young man named Tang San, the Phoenix Tail Crested Serpent is yours!"
Chao Tianxiang and Zhao Wuji shared the same idea.
Chao Tianxiang wanted to quickly get back the Phoenix Tail Crested Serpent from Zhao Wuji and end this matter.
Zhao Wuji also wanted to resolve the issue as soon as possible, not wanting to wait for the Dragon Duke to arrive, at which point the situation would be beyond his control! Ma Hongjun also shouted. "Yiran, go!" Chao Tianxiang urged. Amidst Tang San's anticipation, Meng Yiran only gave Tang San a cold glance. Turning her head, she took her grandmother's hand and pointed at Tang San with her snake-headed cane. "Grandma, I don't want to fight him!" "Hmm? Why?" Chao Tianxiang looked at her in confusion. "Don't you want the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent anymore?" "Of course not! He's too ugly! I... I want to fight him." Meng Yiran blushed slightly, pointing her snake spear at Ye Qiu, who was watching the show opposite her. Her eyes darted away, not daring to look directly at him. "Too ugly!?" Tang San's face darkened, feeling a little uncomfortable. He then felt extremely insulted! Ye Qiu, on the other hand, broke out in a cold sweat. Zhu Zhuqing and the other two girls looked at each other with deep resentment. They had noticed Meng Yiran's strange gaze earlier. Xiao Wu even gripped her arm tightly. Chao Tianxiang also looked at the young man in front of her strangely. Even her eyes flashed with a hint of amazement. Seeing her granddaughter's shy appearance, she, as someone who had been through it all, understood the girl's thoughts. Zhao Wuji and the others also looked at Ye Qiu with some oddities. "Ahem~ Miss Meng, my soul power is already level thirty-four!" Ye Qiu coughed twice, a look of deep embarrassment flashing across his face. He hadn't even activated his martial soul yet! Are there so many people in this world obsessed with looks? Wishing everyone a pleasant life! (End of Chapter)
So, after Tang San stepped forward, the two immediately
agreed on the solution!
Tang San stepped forward and stood beside Meng Yiran.
Two yellow spirit rings appeared beneath his feet, and his Blue Silver Grass unfurled, swaying around him.
"Miss Meng, my name is Tang San, my spirit is Blue Silver Grass, and I am a level 29, two-ring Battle Spirit Master. Please enlighten me!"
"Go, Tang San!" Oscar cheered him on from the sidelines; this was crucial for his third spirit ring!