Thousand-Year Phoenix Tail

"Xiao, you lead the team," Dai Mubai suggested.

Su Xiao thought for a moment. "Let Xiao San do it. His knowledge of soul beasts is more solid, and he can help us avoid a lot of trouble."

Ning Rongrong leaned over and asked, "What about you, Xiao-ge? Aren't you and Tang San both Master's disciples?"

"Uh..." Su Xiao scratched his head awkwardly. "I only learned the basics. Whenever Teacher taught soul beast theory, I went to keep Xiao Bai company."

Tang San took command and assigned roles. "Xiao, you and I will clear the way together. It's safer than having Zhu Zhuqing scout alone."

Su Xiao nodded in agreement, and the two brothers took the lead while everyone else carried out their respective duties.

At the back of the group, Yu Xiaogang and the other two saw how orderly the team was and felt greatly reassured.

Suddenly, Zhu Zhuqing, whose senses were sharper, warned them, "Something is approaching!"

Tang San turned and gave Zhu Zhuqing a look. She immediately activated Martial Soul Possession and used the speed advantage of an agility-type Soul Master to scout ahead.

"It's a soul beast! It's flying three or four meters above the ground, and it's very fast!" Zhu Zhuqing relayed.

Tang San asked, "What does it look like?"

"Six to eight meters long. Long and narrow." Zhu Zhuqing continued tracking it.

Tang San stroked his chin in thought. "A snake-type soul beast?"

"It's a snake. It has pale red wings and a red head—no, it has a crest on its head!" Zhu Zhuqing described.

Tang San clapped excitedly. "That's it! A Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent between thirteen hundred and eighteen hundred years old. Its attributes and age are perfect for Oscar!"

Not far away, Yu Xiaogang nodded repeatedly as well. "Oscar is quite lucky. Phoenix-tail Crested Serpents are very hard to find."

"Since Xiao San knows this soul beast so well, you'll hunt it together," Flender declared.

"Everyone, get into ambush positions!"

Under Tang San's arrangements, everyone lay in wait along the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's path, waiting for it to approach.

"Fatty, your Phoenix Martial Soul has a certain suppressive effect on snake-type soul beasts. Narrow its range of movement further," Tang San commanded.

Using the tall trees, Ma Hongjun leaped into the air and activated Martial Soul Possession, already making the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent fearful.

"Phoenix First Soul Skill, Phoenix Firewire."

Ma Hongjun breathed out flames, driving the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent into Tang San's encirclement.

"Blue Silver Grass First Soul Skill, Bind."

Tang San used Blue Silver Grass to wrap around the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's tail, but the soul beast twisted a few times and broke free.

"Its scales are too slippery! Don't let it escape!"

Standing high above them, Su Xiao condensed a giant crossbow from Soul Power in his hand. It was transformed through the Holy Light Divine Dragon Transformation.

He fired several arrows of light, but the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent suddenly accelerated and dodged every one of them.

"Rongrong, boost me!" Su Xiao shouted.

"Seven Treasures, Named: Second, Speed." A streak of light entered Su Xiao's body.

Su Xiao used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and with Ning Rongrong's thirty-percent speed boost, he could barely keep up with the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

"Damn it, still not fast enough." Just as Su Xiao blamed himself, a black shadow passed him.

It was Zhu Zhuqing.

"First Soul Skill, Hell Stab!"

Zhu Zhuqing blocked the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent in midair, the sharp claws in her hands already poised to strike.

Just then, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent spat out a cloud of rainbow-colored mist, instantly enveloping Zhu Zhuqing.

"Zhuqing!" Dai Mubai roared.

He activated Martial Soul Possession and rushed into the air at once, like a white tiger leaping through the forest.

Dai Mubai caught Zhu Zhuqing in midair. He was also right beside the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent; one hard punch would have been enough to kill the soul beast.

"Dai Boss, calm down. That mist isn't poisonous!" Su Xiao reminded him.

Dai Mubai realized he had not struck the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's vital point, so he sent the soul beast crashing to the ground with a vicious punch.

By then, the paralysis in Zhu Zhuqing's body had already worn off. She looked at Dai Mubai with a flushed face.

Before they landed, Zhu Zhuqing broke free from Dai Mubai's arms. There was clearly still a barrier between them.

Tang San seized the opportunity from the ground and used Blue Silver Grass to bind the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent from every angle.

"Fatty, keep suppressing it! This snake is way too slippery." Tang San's mind was entirely focused on the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. "Xiao, watch your strength. Just knock it out."

Tang San called out for a long time but received no response from Su Xiao.

"Xiao! Xiao!"

"Hm?"

Only then did Su Xiao come back to his senses. He had been too caught up in Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's sweet moment and had completely forgotten that the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent still had not been dealt with.

"For the one you love, please be strong!" Zhu Zhuqing tried hard to maintain her cold demeanor, but her flushed cheeks betrayed her.

Su Xiao transformed the giant crossbow into a hammer and brought it down on the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's vital point, knocking the slippery soul beast unconscious.

"Done."

Seeing that Su Xiao and the others had handled things well, Yu Xiaogang and the other two came over and carefully inspected the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

Flender took out a small knife and handed it to Oscar. "Stab it beneath the fleshy crest. It will pierce its brain. This soul ring is yours."

Oscar gripped the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's head. "Please become a part of my strength."

Just as Oscar was about to strike, a pink blade shaped like a tongue shot out from nearby, aimed directly at him.

"You dare ambush Shrek?"

Su Xiao swung the Holy Light Divine Dragon Whip that he had yet to retract, transforming it into a golden longsword and striking the blade solidly.

"Ah!" A scream rang out from nearby.