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Seeing that it was about time, Zhao Wuji used his booming voice to wake everyone still lost in their dreams. Ning Rongrong and Oscar in particular—like Shi Yi had been as a working stiff in his previous life, getting up early was an unbearably painful thing for support-type Soul Masters. Even during breakfast, the two were still groggy.

During breakfast, Ma Hongjun seemed to have forgotten his conflict with Shi Yi because he had not eaten the night before, and he wolfed down his food. Dai Mubai, meanwhile, silently spooned food into his mouth with a dark expression. Everyone else remained fairly calm, as though nothing had happened yesterday.

Soon, everyone polished off their breakfast. After leaving the town, they picked up speed under Zhao Wuji's lead. The Star Dou Great Forest was already close, and Oscar looked quite excited. He was also looking forward to seeing what kind of Soul Skill his Third Soul Ring would bring him.

Shi Yi was also eagerly awaiting the appearance of that Man Faced Demon Spider.

Before long, they entered the forest. The towering trees were at least twenty meters tall, and this was only the outermost area. The dense forest had no paths at all, with layers upon layers of shadows obscuring its true depths.

As they reached the forest, the air became even more pleasant, as though the temperature had dropped by several degrees. The refreshing sensation, carrying the moist fragrance of earth, constantly stimulated everyone's senses of smell.

Tang San looked at Shi Yi with some confusion. "Senior Disciple Brother, aren't you summoning Little Ant?"

Shi Yi shook his head slightly and said meaningfully, "As a Food System support Soul Master, Oscar can absorb any Soul Beast with particularly distinct traits, provided its cultivation is suitable. Little Ant can explore forests, but Xiao Ao has no clear target. There is no need to deliberately search for one for him. Xiao San, sometimes what you choose for yourself may not be as suitable as what you happen to encounter, much less what someone else chooses for you."

Tang San nodded slightly at that, while Dai Mubai snorted disdainfully. "Making a mystery out of nothing."

Shi Yi paid no attention to Dai Mubai's words. Instead, he turned to Zhu Zhuqing and smiled lightly. "Zhuqing, do you think I'm right?"

Hearing the double meaning in Shi Yi's words, Zhu Zhuqing nodded without hesitation. Over the past few days, Dai Mubai had left her with an utterly terrible impression: arrogant, insecure, self-indulgent, and depraved. She even wondered whether coming here at the risk of her life had been a mistake.

"You..." No matter how slow Dai Mubai was, he understood what Shi Yi meant. He flew into a rage, yet could not organize any words to refute Shi Yi. So he chose the method he was best at.

The instant white light flared around Dai Mubai, Zhao Wuji erupted with an even more powerful aura and effortlessly dispersed the Soul Power Dai Mubai had gathered.

"Xiao Bai, have I been giving you too much face?" Zhao Wuji stared at Dai Mubai and said flatly.

"Teacher Zhao..." Dai Mubai's face darkened. He opened his mouth, but did not know what to say.

When Dai Mubai remained silent, Zhao Wuji turned his gaze to Shi Yi and said irritably, "You settle down too."

Shi Yi nodded with a smile.

Zhao Wuji felt that this was quite a headache. A trace of helplessness flashed through his eyes as he looked at Dai Mubai. Why did you have to provoke him? You couldn't even scrape together a coherent paragraph with everything in that brain of yours, yet you insist on arguing with him. If I weren't here, you could still settle it with your fists. But with me here, aren't you just putting me over the fire? Still, this kid isn't easy to deal with either. Everything he says leaves himself a way out. If I weren't here, he probably wouldn't have asked that little cat such a question.

At that moment, Zhao Wuji was also cursing Flender inwardly for being a bastard. It was bad enough that he let someone in through the back door, but the kid was also a huge problem.

To be fair, Zhao Wuji was extremely protective of his own. He had known Dai Mubai longer and was naturally more biased toward him. If someone had stabbed at his sore spots the way Shi Yi had, he would have been unable to resist throwing hands too. What they did in private was beyond his control, but in front of these children, he had to act like a proper teacher.

"Let me make this clear to you little brats. Whatever grudges you have in private, settle them after we return. Or you can go to the Great Soul Arena yourselves. But while you're in front of me, Zhao Wuji, you'd better behave yourselves. Understood?" Zhao Wuji shouted at the group.

"Understood," everyone hurriedly answered.

Zhao Wuji swept his gaze over them. Once he saw that everyone was ready, he waved his hand. "Keep moving!"

This time, Zhao Wuji used a simple and brutal method: he separated the two of them. To deliberately keep Dai Mubai and Shi Yi apart, he had Dai Mubai walk at the front with Tang San while he personally accompanied Shi Yi at the rear of the group.

After entering the Star Dou Great Forest, Xiao Wu was the most excited of all. She did not seem to think this was a dangerous place in the slightest, skipping and hopping about with indescribable delight. Zhao Wuji frowned at the sight, but since Xiao Wu did not exceed the limits he had set, he did not say anything.

The terrain within the Star Dou Great Forest was extremely complicated. There were no paths in the forest at all, so naturally, the job of clearing the way fell to Dai Mubai and Tang San.

Their Martial Souls were both well-suited to the task. Blades sprang from Dai Mubai's tiger palms, and as he swung both hands, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass leaves sliced apart the thorns ahead of them without slowing the group's progress in the slightest.

After traveling for around two hours, it was already noon.

Over those two hours, they had encountered quite a few Soul Beasts, but most were only ten-year or hundred-year Soul Beasts. They generally avoided them rather than engaging in direct conflict. Occasionally, some foolish ones came looking for death, and Dai Mubai's tiger palms disposed of them as though venting his frustrations, leaving his sleeves and hands stained crimson.

This slaughter along the way made Xiao Wu frown deeply. After Dai Mubai casually killed a ten-year Spirit Rabbit, Xiao Wu finally could not hold back any longer. The moment she opened her mouth, she dropped a bombshell. "Didn't you just get humiliated by that dead bastard? Why take it out on these weak Soul Beasts? No wonder Zhuqing doesn't like you."

Everyone looked at Xiao Wu in surprise. Tang San inwardly cried that things were bad, while Shi Yi watched Xiao Wu with amusement. Naturally, he understood why Xiao Wu had picked a fight with Dai Mubai. Even Ning Rongrong, who had suffered at Dai Mubai's hands before, admired Xiao Wu's courage at this moment.

Dai Mubai looked at Xiao Wu, cold light blazing in his eyes. This time, however, he did not act impulsively. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Zhao Wuji, while Tang San hurriedly pulled Xiao Wu behind him.

Zhao Wuji frowned as well. He looked at Xiao Wu and Tang San, releasing the aura belonging to a Soul Saint as he said flatly, "Didn't I tell you to behave? Are you challenging my authority?"

"It's because he keeps killing those weak Soul Beasts," Xiao Wu said, now realizing something was wrong and speaking with insufficient confidence.

"Xiao Bai is clearing the way. What does that have to do with you?" Zhao Wuji asked Xiao Wu flatly.

He could not discipline Tang San with Tang Hao backing him, but was a Soul Saint really incapable of handling this little brat?

"Xiao Wu, stop talking. Hurry and apologize to Teacher Zhao and Mubai," Tang San said to Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu pursed her lips. "Sorry."

Seeing how unwilling Xiao Wu was, Zhao Wuji said flatly, "Keep apologizing until Xiao Bai is satisfied."

Tang San's expression changed slightly. His words no longer carried the respect from before. "Teacher Zhao, Xiao Wu has already apologized. Isn't this going too far?"

At that moment, Zhao Wuji profoundly understood what Shi Yi had told him that morning. Clearly, in Tang San's heart, this little girl carried more weight than he did as a teacher.

Zhao Wuji's expression shifted, and seven Soul Rings slowly appeared before everyone.

"Boy, this has nothing to do with you. Is it really so difficult for this little girl to apologize to someone? Or do you think a Soul Saint like me is easy to bully? Are you treating my words like passing wind?" Zhao Wuji said to Tang San flatly.

Tang San's face turned solemn. He looked at Zhao Wuji without saying anything, merely summoning his Martial Soul.

"Do you think I'm joking with you?" Zhao Wuji said flatly.

As he spoke, Zhao Wuji's Fifth Soul Ring lit up instantly. Tang San was immediately crushed by immense Gravity, with no room to move at all. Strands of pain appeared on his formerly calm face.

"I was just playing with you earlier, and you thought you could really withstand a Soul Saint's Fifth Soul Skill? Little brat, I'll say it one more time. Apologize to Xiao Bai." Zhao Wuji slowly walked past Tang San and spoke flatly to Xiao Wu.

"Xiao San!" Seeing Tang San's condition, Xiao Wu hurriedly said to Dai Mubai, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Teacher Zhao."

Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and the others could not bear to watch. Dai Mubai said nothing. Seeing that it was about enough, Zhao Wuji withdrew his Soul Power. Tang San immediately collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, and Xiao Wu hurriedly helped him up.

Seeing Tang San in that state, a trace of venom flashed through Xiao Wu's eyes, but she did not dare reveal it no matter what.

Tang San gasped heavily, looking at Zhao Wuji with dark eyes, but he said nothing. He knew very well that he was still too weak.

As his Senior Disciple Brother, Shi Yi said nothing as he watched the scene. He knew that Xiao Wu's mouth would get her into trouble sooner or later. He had never ignored Xiao Wu's insults because he had a good temper, nor because he was cowardly. He simply wanted Xiao Wu to develop this habit, the habit of having others indulge her. Then, sooner or later, she would encounter someone like Zhao Wuji, someone who would not put up with her.

"Listen up. If anyone causes trouble again, get the hell out of Shrek. Rest where you are!" Zhao Wuji said flatly to everyone.

Shi Yi took out some drinking water he had brought with him and handed it to Zhao Wuji with a smile, as though saying, See? I was right.

Zhao Wuji accepted the waterskin and glared at Shi Yi irritably. Even he had to admit that Shi Yi was indeed very accurate when it came to judging people.

Shi Yi then took out several steamed buns left over from breakfast, warmed them with Soul Power, and ate them together with Oscar's sausages.

Just as everyone had rested for around half an hour, Zhao Wuji suddenly turned his gaze in one direction.

Zhao Wuji shouted, "Everyone up! Something is approaching at high speed."

At once, everyone released their Martial Souls, Zhao Wuji included.

The rustling sound grew louder and louder. Even Oscar and Ning Rongrong, who were support Soul Masters, could clearly sense how swiftly the unknown creature was approaching.

"Zhu Zhuqing, see what it is," Zhao Wuji ordered in a deep voice.

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing. She silently leaped upward, claws extending from her hands. As though walking on level ground, she swiftly climbed a nearby tree and looked toward the source of the sound.

Very soon, Zhu Zhuqing's cool voice came from the tree. "It seems to be a flying snake, but it cannot fly high. It can only move forward about three meters above the ground. It has a fleshy crest on its head, larger than its head itself, bright red like blood. Its tail is unusual, shaped like a fan."

Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up. "It's a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. This Soul Beast is quite rare. The fleshy crest on its head has many wondrous uses. Oscar, you're in luck. Unfortunately, we don't know how many years of cultivation this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent has. Zhu Zhuqing, keep an eye on its direction. Report to me immediately if anything changes."

"Yes. It's coming toward us quickly, but it seems to be having some trouble maintaining its balance."

After what had just happened, Tang San naturally began slacking off. Although Shi Yi knew this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was suitable for Oscar, he still asked Zhu Zhuqing, "How long is this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent? What color are its wings?"

Zhu Zhuqing answered, "Its wings are pale red. It is roughly six to eight meters long."

Shi Yi recited mechanically, "This is a thousand-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. Pale red wings are the sign that it has evolved for a thousand years. Judging by its length, six to eight meters, its cultivation should be between thirteen hundred and eighteen hundred years. Oscar, it is perfect for you."

"Really? But what is this Soul Beast's defining trait? Is it the fleshy crest Teacher Zhao mentioned?" Oscar asked Shi Yi.

Shi Yi smiled. "Have you seen many snakes that can fly? If I'm not mistaken, this Soul Ring can grant you the ability to fly."

Everyone looked at Shi Yi in surprise. Oscar's eyes were filled with excitement, and his peach blossom eyes immediately lit up. "Xiao Yi, you're an encyclopedia of the Martial Soul world. Amazing, truly amazing."

"Impossible! Martial Souls without flight abilities can hardly gain the ability to fly. Among support Soul Masters, a flight skill generally only appears at the Sixth Soul Skill or above. How could Oscar gain flight from his Third Soul Ring?" Ning Rongrong said to Shi Yi.

"Although Food System Soul Masters belong to the category of support Soul Masters, they are completely different from ordinary support Soul Masters. Normally, support-type Martial Souls have their own inherent traits. Like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, no matter what Soul Rings are added, it cannot gain a flight skill, because its Martial Soul traits determine that. But Food System Soul Masters are different. After absorbing Soul Rings, Food System Soul Masters often absorb the traits of the Soul Beasts and form abilities from them. Flight is this snake's greatest trait," Shi Yi explained flatly.

"What if Oscar doesn't gain flight?" Ning Rongrong countered.

"I can only offer an opinion. As for how to choose, that depends on Oscar himself," Shi Yi said flatly.

"I believe in Xiao Yi," Oscar said softly to Shi Yi.

Hearing a man say those words made Shi Yi feel uncomfortable all over. A look of disgust appeared on his face as he moved away in revulsion.

Oscar seemed to understand Shi Yi's meaning as well. A trace of discomfort flashed through his peach blossom eyes, and he also shifted away in disgust.

"Enough talking. It's here!"