Chao Tianxiang

The old woman showed no fear under everyone's gaze. She even wore a proud expression.

She tapped her Serpent Cane lightly against the ground, and in an instant, six Soul Rings appeared and circled around her.

Her looks were ordinary, but she carried herself with immense confidence, as though she paid the few people before her no mind at all.

The girl beside her, however, was beautiful, with delicate features and an air of innocent vivacity.

Though Zhao Wuji was rash, he saw that this mere level-sixty Soul Emperor dared to act so arrogantly and realized she likely had something to fall back on.

Zhao Wuji cupped his fists and said formally, "Esteemed lady, surely you saw it too. This Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was killed by my disciple, so the Soul Ring should rightly go to him. What you're saying is rather against the rules, isn't it?"

Zhao Wuji did not dare act too arrogantly. He truly could not get a read on the old woman, so he merely sounded her out rather than refusing outright.

Oscar, meanwhile, was somewhat displeased. He could have killed the great serpent with a single stroke and absorbed its Soul Ring. Being stopped at this moment was like being brought to the brink and denied release, and he felt truly miserable.

He grumbled, "Exactly! I was just about to absorb the Soul Ring. Isn't it a bit unreasonable for you to pull this now, ma'am?"

Zhao Wuji did not stop Oscar from speaking. His eyes narrowed; he wanted to test the old woman's reaction.

He wanted to see whether she truly had the strength or was merely bluffing.

If she was only putting on airs to scare them away, she was looking down on him, Zhao Wuji, far too much.

The old woman seemed to have noticed Zhao Wuji's intentions. She smiled and pointed with her cane.

"Am I being unreasonable? Boy, take a good look. I was the one who injured this great serpent. Look closely-there are still two wounds on its back that I gave it!"

She spoke with utter confidence, as though it really were true.

Everyone was taken aback. Zhao Wuji was the first to step forward. With a flick of one hand, seemingly intent on displaying his strength, he easily flipped the nearly ten-meter-long serpent over. A close look revealed two wounds, just as she had said.

His expression shifted between light and dark. It really was true.

Chao Tianxiang had noticed Zhao Wuji's action. She gave a cold snort.

"Though I am old, I have some standing in the jianghu. I am not someone petty scoundrels can bully!"

"My name is Chao Tianxiang!"

At those words, Zhao Wuji's expression changed at once, and he immediately adopted a different attitude.

"Are you Senior Chao Tianxiang, the Snake Granny of the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny, who have long been famous in the jianghu?"

Only then did Chao Tianxiang nod, her expression softening.

"Indeed, I am!"

Zhao Wuji's expression grew grave. The Dragon Duke and Snake Granny were a pair of fearsome renown in the jianghu, and they had made their names even before the Golden Iron Triangle.

If it were Snake Granny alone, that would be manageable, but Zhao Wuji knew that the Dragon Duke and Snake Granny were like Jiao and Meng, never apart-where one went, the other followed almost like a shadow.

Since Snake Granny had appeared here and was so fearless, the Dragon Duke must be nearby too; he simply had not shown himself.

Zhao Wuji hurriedly cupped his fists.

"I am Zhao Wuji. I have long admired your great name, Senior, and am fortunate to meet you today. You truly are extraordinary."

Chao Tianxiang had naturally heard of Zhao Wuji as well, and when people traveling the jianghu exchanged names, they naturally had to show each other some respect.

"So it's Brother Zhao. I haven't heard news of you in the jianghu for some years. And now you're..."

Chao Tianxiang spoke politely, but her snakelike eyes never left the beast for a moment.

Zhao Wuji picked up the thread. "Ah, I've become a teacher, though I'm hardly worthy of the post. I'm here taking my students Soul Hunting, you see. And now this has happened..."

Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up as he realized there was still a chance to argue for it.

Chao Tianxiang said nothing, merely fixing her eyes on the wounds on the great serpent. Her meaning was clear.

The pleasantries are over, but I won't yield an inch on this great serpent. I'm merely showing you respect by not falling out with you right away.

And that was precisely where the greatest difficulty lay. The wounds on the great serpent could not be faked; she really was the one who had injured it...

But Tang San struggled so much against an injured Soul Beast and was gravely wounded himself. Honestly...

Zhao Wuji thought as he watched Tang San struggling over there.

Wait, Tang San, gravely wounded?

Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up, and he immediately spoke.

"Senior Chao, it's true that this great serpent was your prey, but look at our student. He was badly hurt fighting it too. Even his clothes are torn..."

Zhao Wuji pointed casually, and Chao Tianxiang looked in that direction. Sure enough, Tang San's clothes were in tatters all over, especially around his backside, where there were several bloody marks.

Tang San could not even stand and was there gasping and hissing for breath.

Chao Tianxiang frowned. To force the issue now seemed a little too heartless.

That student really did seem badly hurt.

Oscar's eyes lit up too. He could see Chao Tianxiang's hesitation, and hesitation meant there was a chance of compromise!

Perhaps there was still a chance to get the Soul Ring!

Chao Tianxiang considered her wording carefully and was just about to speak when Tang San's voice came first.

"Teacher Zhao, I'm not seriously hurt. I'm fine!"

Under everyone's astonished gazes, Tang San actually forced himself to his feet!

Everyone's eyes filled with shock and confusion. They could not understand what Tang San was trying to do.

Jiang Qin, however, saw what Tang San meant. In fact, it was simple when laid bare: the crux of it was showing off.

Tang San's personality was simple. He kept a low profile on the surface, but was essentially ostentatious; he simply preferred to show off in a more subtle way.

He had endured the hardship earlier, refusing both everyone's help and Jiang Qin's healing pill. Wasn't it all for the sake of showing off?

Didn't he just want to show everyone what he could do?

Now Zhao Wuji had said he was gravely wounded. Didn't that single statement wipe out all the effort he had put into showing off?

Then what was the point of him trying so hard?

Tang San could not stand it, so he came right out and contradicted him!

"Teacher Zhao, I may look badly hurt, but actually it's nothing serious at all. That lousy serpent was nothing special. I took care of it without any trouble."

After saying that, as if afraid Chao Tianxiang would not believe him, he pulled two Hidden Weapons from his pocket and sent them whizzing toward the trees at the side.

Zhao Wuji was so angry he could almost laugh. He shouted sternly, "Tang San, what are you playing the hero for? Sit down, now!"

He was truly furious. I spent all that time dancing around the issue and saying nice things, and finally found a way to play up our plight. She might have relented if her heart softened.

Great. Now you've said you're fine. Aren't you handing her ammunition on a platter?

Sure enough, the moment Tang San finished speaking, Chao Tianxiang's deeply furrowed brows smoothed out. With the hint of a smile, she said:

"Brother Zhao, your disciple doesn't seem to be in nearly as bad a state as you said. Judging by those moves, I doubt it would be an exaggeration to say he's as vigorous as a dragon and a tiger, would it?"