Two elite Spirit Beasts that once roamed a certain territory in the outer circle died in such a suffocating manner.
Two purple spirit rings appeared on their corpses.
"That was a pretty good fight. The past two months of training weren't for nothing."
"The cultivation of these two Spirit Beasts is still a bit high for you right now. You should recover a bit before absorbing their spirit rings."
Su Ran was quite satisfied with Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong's performance. He had initially estimated that they would win with great difficulty.
Although both of them had used all their trump cards, and Zhu Zhuqing even used the Hidden Weapon Ghost Shuttle that he had only taught her for self-defense these past two days, neither of them suffered too serious injuries.
"Yes!"
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were also somewhat excited.
They actually defeated two Spirit Beasts approaching three thousand years of cultivation!
Although these two Spirit Beasts hadn't reached three thousand years of cultivation, their high quality meant their combat power was actually stronger than that of ordinary three-thousand-year Spirit Beasts.
A quarter of an hour later.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong both decisively delivered the finishing blow, then sat cross-legged and began to absorb their third spirit ring.
Su Ran leaned against a nearby large tree, protecting them.
Time passed little by little.
Expressions of pain slowly appeared on Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong's faces.
Their brows were tightly furrowed, and their complexions were tense.
This was caused by the power contained within the spirit ring expanding the Spirit Master's Meridians. The higher the cultivation, the more turbulent this surging power would be throughout the body. If it exceeded the Spirit Master's physical load, it could even lead to meridian ruptures and bleeding from the seven orifices.
However, with the protection of the Ten Yama Halls and Golden Bell Cover, Su Ran was not worried that Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong would be in mortal danger.
Sure enough, when Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong reached a certain level of pain.
Boom~
A muffled groan came from within both girls.
Above Zhu Zhuqing's head, the Hell Civet moved, the Ten Yama Halls appeared, and a Yama Evil Aura spread out, protecting her heart Meridians.
Golden light also appeared on Ning Rongrong's body, shaped like a Golden Bell, indestructible. Her bones and blood vessels became extremely tough.
"Third spirit ring absorption progress: 90%"
"Almost done!"
Su Ran looked up, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
He was somewhat looking forward to what Zhu Zhuqing's third Spirit Ability would be.
"Who's there?"
Just then, there was a sudden stir in the jungle, and a sound came, drawing Su Ran's vigilance.
A large snake with a red crest on its head and red wings was violently slammed onto the grass a hundred meters away, covered in blood.
It was accompanied by two voices, one rough and one elderly.
"Respected Spirit Saint, we attacked this Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent first. You cannot snatch it from us."
"Big Sister Chao, the Spirit Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest are unowned. There's no such thing as first come, first served. Besides, we didn't see you when we made our move, and my student really needs it. There's no way I can give it to you. Little Ao, go finish it off."
"You dare!"
"Big Sister Chao, this Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent was almost killed by me. It rightfully belongs to us. If Big Sister Chao is not convinced, you are welcome to fight me for it. We will follow the rules of the Spirit Master's world."
"You—"
The old woman was furious with the big man.
Just by hearing their voices, Su Ran understood the situation and couldn't help but sigh.
Sometimes, fate is something you just can't avoid.
The people from Shrek Academy were still fighting Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang over the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent.
To be honest, Su Ran wasn't interested in this Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent; its cultivation was too low.
But disturbing his disciples while they were absorbing their spirit rings was unacceptable.
"Everyone, my students are absorbing spirit rings here and need peace and quiet. Please move your dispute elsewhere."
Su Ran stood in the tree, his voice faintly reaching them.
"Who's there?"
"Your words are unreasonable, Your Excellency. The land in the Star Dou Great Forest is unowned. We can be wherever we want to be. You can only blame yourself for choosing a poor Breakthrough location for your students."
"Hiding your head and tail, do you dare show yourself and face me?"
Zhao Wuji said irritably.
Some time ago, he was severely injured by that beastly teacher from Peach Garden Academy. He had just recovered from his injuries and was in a very bad temper, looking for a fight to vent his frustration.
From the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent being covered in blood, its body flattened from the beating, and on its last breath, one could tell it was Zhao Wuji's doing.
While he felt good speaking his mind, Xiao Wu, a little slow to realize, muttered:
"This voice, it sounds familiar, and it's very pleasant."
"Pleasant voices all sound similar. There are only so many types of human vocal cords."
Tang San's expression changed; he was a bit more perceptive than the others: "Teacher Zhao, that voice seems to be…"
"What? Does Teacher Zhao still want to spar?"
Indeed, a graceful young man, dressed in clear cloud-white robes and wearing a dragon-patterned peach blossom mask, moved. In just a breath's time, he leaped onto a thick branch of a large tree nearby.
He quietly looked down at them from above.
On the left were two people, one old and one young, both women. The elder was Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang, appearing to be sixty or seventy years old, with neat white hair, yet her spirit was extremely vigorous, her complexion as rosy as a baby's. Her right hand held a three-meter-long snake-head staff, and six spirit rings pulsed up and down around her body as she confronted Zhao Wuji.
Following the old woman was a beautiful young girl, Meng Yiran, with short, ear-length hair, sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in a neat, tight-fitting outfit that perfectly accentuated her well-developed figure. Her deep brown eyes were fixed on the heavily injured Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent opposite her, a look of indignation on her face.
On the right, naturally, were the members of Shrek Academy.
Upon seeing the newcomer's attire, Zhao Wuji's arrogant demeanor instantly vanished, his fierce expression immediately turning obsequious:
"So it's Teacher Su Ran from Peach Garden Academy. My apologies, my apologies. It was Zhao's rudeness. We will leave this place now."
Cold sweat had already appeared on Zhao Wuji's forehead.
He considered himself to be above average among Spirit Saints, but he had been badly beaten by this young Spirit Saint.
He really didn't want to admit that his Vigorous Vajra Bear was like a cotton bear with holes in front of him.
Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang and Meng Yiran on the left both looked at Su Ran with some surprise.
Meng Yiran's brown eyes were wide with shock. Who was this person? Why was he wearing a mask?
His demeanor seemed quite good, but he looked quite young. Why was this Zhao Wuji somewhat afraid of him?
Could he, at such a young age, possess power beyond a Spirit Saint?
"Wait."
"Zhao Wuji, you cannot take the Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent."
"You are called Teacher Su Ran, aren't you? This old woman asks you to arbitrate. This Phoenix-Tailed Crested Serpent was chosen by this old woman first for my granddaughter Meng Yiran. It still bears the wounds I inflicted. It was just a moment of carelessness that allowed it to escape, and when I pursued it, they severely injured it. I see that this Zhao Wuji has some reverence for you. Please, be the judge for this old woman and my granddaughter!"
Chao Tianxiang slightly cupped her hands towards Su Ran, her attitude quite respectful.