Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent

"Zhu Zhuqing, go scout it out."

Zhao Wuji gave the order in a deep voice. Aside from Zhao Xuan and himself, Zhu Zhuqing was the fastest one here. The dean had also said from the start that neither he nor Zhao Xuan was allowed to act casually.

"Understood."

Zhu Zhuqing answered softly in her cool voice, then vanished from where she stood. With the Hell Spirit Cat as her martial soul, she was completely at home in this forest.

She nimbly climbed a nearby ancient tree and poked her head out to look toward the source of the noise.

Though the forest floor was thick with shrubs and covered in thorns, the view from above was fairly open. Her line of sight was not especially clear, but with a cat's vision, she was barely affected.

Zhu Zhuqing quickly described everything she saw, and Tang San's eyes gradually lit up as he analyzed it below.

"Oscar, this spirit ring suits you perfectly!"

"A Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent? It should provide a soul skill that boosts speed. It really is a good fit for Oscar. Still, Tang San, your analysis was quite thorough."

Zhao Wuji looked at Tang San in surprise. Along the way, whenever they encountered a Spirit Beast, Tang San could swiftly determine its abilities and age. That amount of knowledge was terrifying.

"Of course! Do you even know whose student Tang San is?"

Zhao Xuan curled his lip at the side. As the disciple of the continent's foremost theorist, the Grandmaster, it would be absurd if Tang San did not know such things.

And if they were talking about terrifying reserves of knowledge, the Grandmaster was the truly terrifying one. Tang San probably did not even possess half of his teacher's knowledge, since the Grandmaster had devoted his entire life to theoretical research.

"Hm? Right, who is Tang San's teacher?" Oscar asked curiously.

"Stop talking. If you keep this up, your spirit ring will run away," Zhu Zhuqing said with a frown as she stood in the tree, watching the group below chatter endlessly.

Everyone below snapped awake and looked somewhat embarrassed. But Tang San quickly said, "Wait. Fatty, pay attention and use your martial soul to suppress the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. Snakes fear birds the most."

"Ning Rongrong, boost us!" Zhao Xuan suddenly glanced at Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong froze, then immediately revealed a delighted expression. "All right."

"Seven Treasures Produce Glazed Tile. First: Speed! Second: Strength!"

Seven rays of multicolored light fell upon every Shrek Academy student except Oscar and Ning Rongrong. Everyone immediately felt as though they were floating on air.

"Having buffs really does feel different." Zhao Xuan sensed the abundant strength coursing through his body. He felt like he could even wrestle Zhao Wuji now.

"It's here!"

Zhu Zhuqing's cool voice came from above. Then she transformed into a black shadow and dove toward the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

At that moment, everyone saw the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. Despite its massive body, it glided lightly through the air.

Zhu Zhuqing was incredibly fast. Empowered by her First Soul Skill, Hell Stab, she was nothing more than a black blur shooting toward the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. Yet it was worthy of being a thousand-year Spirit Beast. Even in its panic, it instinctively twisted its head and sprayed out a cloud of seven-colored mist.

"Don't panic, it's not poisonous!"

Zhao Xuan grabbed Dai Mubai, who had been about to rush forward. This guy really was blinded by concern. Tang San had clearly explained it just moments ago.

At that moment, Ma Hongjun completed his possession, and the aura of the Evil Fire Phoenix instantly spread outward. Startled, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's body sank, nearly falling from the air.

At the same time, the Blue Silver Grass on the ground began growing wildly. Blades that had once been frail instantly wrapped around the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's body.

The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent writhed, but could not break free for the moment.

"Phoenix Rocket!" Hermione's eyes lit up. She hurriedly waved the wand in her hand and activated her Second Soul Skill.

A swath of scarlet rockets, trailing brilliant tail feathers, shot toward the restrained Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. Unable to resist, it took the entire barrage of Phoenix Rockets head-on.

Seeing this, Tang San quickly released the Blue Silver Grass's restraints. With a bang, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's massive body crashed to the ground. A faint scent of smoke still clung to it, left behind by Hermione's Phoenix Rockets.

Zhao Xuan crouched down and poked the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's body with a branch. The creature was half-dead now, barely breathing.

"Can this thing be eaten?" Zhao Xuan asked Tang San beside him.

Tang San paused, then considered it seriously. "It does not possess poison-type abilities itself, so it should be edible."

"It is edible? Good. Once Oscar obtains the spirit ring, we'll cook it."

Zhao Xuan stood and looked at the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's several-meter-long body. It would be a waste not to eat so much meat.

"Hm? Xiao Wu, what's wrong?"

Suddenly, Zhao Xuan noticed that Xiao Wu, who had been silently standing behind the others, seemed somewhat off.

Xiao Wu's face was a little pale, and her eyes held a trace of pity as she looked at the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

Seeing that Xiao Wu did not look well, Tang San, ever the doting brother, had already gone over to her. "Xiao Wu, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Xiao Wu lowered her head. Her large eyes were filled with pity as she asked in an almost pleading tone, "Do we have to hunt Spirit Beasts?"

Tang San glanced at the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, then sighed softly. "The strong devour the weak. That is the law of nature. If we were not strong enough, we would be the ones lying there."

For some reason, Zhao Xuan suddenly felt that something was strange. He glanced at Xiao Wu, then shook his head.

"Oscar, hurry up. Better not let anything unexpected happen."

Zhao Wuji handed Oscar a small dagger. Oscar was naturally overjoyed; after all, this would be his third spirit ring.

Ma Hongjun said sourly from the side, "What are you panicking for? Didn't someone say this morning that he wanted to sleep and did not want a spirit ring?"

"Enough, Fatty! Oscar is a Support System soul master, yet he has already broken through level thirty. When will you finally break through?" Dai Mubai laughed as he scolded him, giving Ma Hongjun a smack on the head. He knew the kid was jealous.

"If my martial soul did not have a flaw, I'd definitely be level thirty already," Ma Hongjun protested stubbornly.

Oscar chuckled but did not reply. In any case, he was about to become a level-thirty Soul Elder.

Just as Oscar was about to deliver the final blow to the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, a hoarse shout suddenly rang out.

"Stop!"

At that moment, an unexpected change occurred!