Soul Hunting, Third Brother Takes the Lead

The next day, Zhao Wuji woke everyone up one by one early in the morning and urged them impatiently:

"Why is every last one of you so lazy? The earlier we go Soul Hunting, the better. Get up, all of you!"

Everyone rubbed their sleepy eyes, got dressed, and set off. Before long, the group reached the entrance to the Star Dou Great Forest, ready to head in and hunt for Soul Beasts.

On the way, Dai Mubai acted completely out of character. For once, he didn't throw a tantrum, and, disregarding the humiliation he had suffered the day before, he actually struck up a conversation with Zhu Zhuqing:

"Zhu Zhuqing, I was wrong yesterday. I shouldn't have gotten angry and shifted the blame. Please don't be mad at me anymore, okay..."

His expression was fawning, but a hint of coldness could be seen in his eyes.

Zhu Zhuqing took the opportunity to relent. Her expression softened, and she nodded slightly.

Dai Mubai's eyes lit up, and he grew even warmer in conversation. Zhu Zhuqing nodded repeatedly, seemingly having forgiven him.

But whenever Dai Mubai tried to make physical contact, she always avoided him without a trace.

Impatience flashed across Dai Mubai's face, only to vanish in an instant. He became even more eager to talk to her.

Ma Hongjun secretly gave Dai Mubai a thumbs-up, then turned to Jiang Qin and Oscar.

"Boss Dai's got some skills, huh? Even someone as cold and aloof as Zhu Zhuqing let him sweet-talk her around."

"At this rate, they might even be holding hands today. Zhu Zhuqing's so indifferent, I bet she's still a virgin, huh? Hehe..."

As Ma Hongjun spoke, a lecherous grin spread across his face again. He couldn't get through three sentences without talking about what was below the belt.

A smile appeared at the corner of Jiang Qin's mouth, but he didn't respond.

He naturally knew whether Zhu Zhuqing was really "cold and aloof."

Oscar, meanwhile, had all his attention fixed on Ning Rongrong and hadn't listened to Ma Hongjun's prattle at all.

As they ventured deeper, the scenery of the Star Dou Great Forest began to change.

The low shrubs and ordinary poplars were gone. The deeper they went, the taller and denser the trees became, their crowns blotting out the sky and joining together dozens of meters overhead.

The surroundings grew ever more secluded and eerie. Every now and then, they could hear the low growls of wild beasts and the shrieks of birds of prey overhead.

Zhao Wuji's expression turned serious. He slowed his pace, his tiger eyes carefully surveying the surroundings, not daring to be careless in the slightest.

"Everyone, pay attention. We've entered the depths of the forest. Watch your step and keep an ear out for movement behind you. Be extremely careful!"

It was no wonder Zhao Wuji was so cautious. Even someone as strong as him, a level seventy-six Battle Soul Emperor, couldn't claim to be completely safe in the depths of the forest.

The Soul Beasts here were no longer the ordinary ones in the outskirts that were a few decades or centuries old. Thousand-year Soul Beasts appeared from time to time, and Zhao Wuji had even sensed the faintest trace of a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast just now.

Tang San's eyes had long since turned purple, and he had already begun scanning with his Purple Demon Eye. Today was his best chance to turn his fortunes around!

He had to make a big impression in front of everyone! When the tiger doesn't show its might, do you really take me, Tang San, for Little Scumbag?!

Everyone's expressions turned grim. Though they usually joked and laughed, not one of them dared joke at a time like this. They all widened their eyes, watching for any movement around them.

The group traveled another few hundred meters when a low growl suddenly came from the dense woods ahead and to their left.

They looked over and saw a huge serpent about ten meters long. Strangely, it had an enormous fleshy crest atop its head, just like a rooster's comb.

Tang San's eyes lit up. All those days I spent reading the Soul Beast illustrated guide weren't wasted! He was just about to speak.

He knew all too well what this Soul Beast could do. It was extremely well suited to Oscar's attributes!

"Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent!"

Everyone turned toward the voice. It was Jiang Qin who had called out its name.

Tang San was furious. He couldn't help stamping his foot in secret, his eyes blazing as he stared fixedly at Jiang Qin.

To an onlooker, his eyes would have looked more like a serpent's than the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's own... vicious and venomous.

Jiang Qin turned to Oscar. "Little Ao, this Soul Beast is very suitable for you. It's exceptionally fast, and it has wings on its back. If you use it as your third Soul Ring, you might even gain a flight-type Soul Skill!"

Without waiting for him to reply, he turned to Zhao Wuji and strongly recommended it. "Teacher Zhao, let's go with this one. It's an excellent match for Little Ao's Martial Soul."

Zhao Wuji knew a little about the grudges among them. He couldn't help thinking more highly of Jiang Qin and thought:

I always thought Jiang Qin was a promising kid, but that old fellow Flender just wouldn't listen and wouldn't let him train with the others. No, when we get back this time, I have to talk him into letting Jiang Qin join the training, no matter what.

Zhao Wuji nodded. "Jiang Qin is right. Little Ao, let's go with this one."

Oscar looked at Jiang Qin with a complicated expression, unable to keep from recalling the day he had framed him.

Not only had Jiang Qin refrained from taking revenge, he had even repaid resentment with kindness!

Tears filled Oscar's eyes. He excitedly seized Jiang Qin's hand. "Jiang Qin, no, Brother Jiang, you're such a good person!"

"Not only do you bear me no grudge, you're even helping me like this. I was such a bastard before!" As he spoke, he slapped himself hard across the face several times.

"You're so much better than certain people who say one thing and mean another, who are two-faced, who help on the surface but are as sinister as a damp, slimy insect in secret!"

Oscar grew even more moved and took a few veiled swipes at someone.

As soon as he said that, everyone present, Xiao Wu included, turned their gazes toward Tang San with peculiar expressions.

Tang San was so angry he wanted to cough up blood. Damn it, when was I ever not genuinely trying to help you?! How have I become the target of everyone's arrows now?!

No, I have to step up and show what I can do today! Otherwise, how am I supposed to get by at Shrek Academy from now on?!

Just then, Zhao Wuji began laying out their strategy. "Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, you two cover the flanks and be ready to strike at any moment."

"Oscar, Jiang Qin, Ning Rongrong, you'll provide support from the rear."

"The main attack will be handled by..."

Before he could finish, Tang San's eyes lit up, and he cried eagerly, "Me, me, me! Teacher Zhao, I'll be the main attacker!"

Tang San was a control-type Soul Master, and Zhao Wuji had originally planned to have him control the battlefield from the center while Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun led the attack. But seeing how eager he was, Zhao Wuji didn't have the heart to dampen his enthusiasm.

"Since Tang San is so eager, let's do this: Tang San will be the main attacker, and Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun will assist him!"

Tang San smiled to himself at that, then shot Jiang Qin a challenging glance, as if to say, Just watch me!

I'm the true child of fortune!

Jiang Qin was somewhat puzzled. As far as he remembered, he hadn't even spoken to Tang San today, had he?

Is there something seriously wrong with him?

As luck would have it, just as Zhao Wuji finished making his arrangements, the huge serpent, as if it had understood human speech, flexed its massive body with agility. Its wings stirred up a cloud of dust, and it shot straight at Tang San like a bolt of lightning!