After the voice fell, two figures came rushing from the direction the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent had flown. One was an old woman, and the other a youthful, beautiful girl.
Everyone looked over. The old woman had a head of white hair and appeared to be around sixty or seventy, yet her complexion was rosy, with barely any wrinkles on her face.
She held a Snake Head Staff, while six Soul Rings rose and fell around her body.
The other girl had a slender figure. Her fitted outfit tightly outlined her well-developed body, and she also held a Snake Head Staff. However, she had only two Soul Rings.
Seeing that the old woman was merely a Soul Emperor, everyone could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. Yet immediately afterward, surprise rose in their hearts. They had not expected to casually encounter a Soul Emperor-level expert in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Little did they know that while they were shocked, the rushing old woman's heart also sank. Although Zhao Wuji had yet to use Martial Soul Possession, she could already sense the Soul Power fluctuations emanating from within him. He was at least a Soul Emperor, perhaps even a Soul Sage, she guessed.
Zhao Wuji glanced at the Snake Head Staff and frowned slightly. His tone suddenly became much gentler. "May I ask what you need?"
At the same time, Zhao Wuji released his Soul Rings at the appropriate moment. Seven Soul Rings slowly rose from beneath his feet, and a wave of Soul Power naturally spread outward.
In the world of Soul Masters, strength was the best way to speak.
Sure enough, upon seeing Zhao Wuji's seven Soul Rings, the old woman's pupils suddenly contracted. Her attitude immediately softened considerably as she said quietly, "Hello, esteemed Soul Sage. Could you give this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent to this child?"
As she spoke, she stepped aside to reveal the girl behind her. The girl was staring curiously at the Shrek group with dark brown eyes.
"Boss Dai, this girl's even prettier than that one from Canghui." Ma Hongjun stared at the girl with shining eyes, practically drooling.
"Don't cause trouble. This situation isn't simple," Dai Mubai warned in a low voice.
"What's so complicated about it? The other side only has a Soul Emperor." Ma Hongjun curled his lip and glanced at the old woman.
"If she were just an ordinary Soul Emperor, would Teacher Zhao need to waste his breath?!" Dai Mubai could not help rolling his eyes.
Ma Hongjun froze, then quickly shut his mouth. Right, if she really were only a Soul Emperor, would Teacher Zhao, with his temper, bother talking nonsense with them?
Zhao Wuji gave Oscar a look, signaling him to wait, before asking the old woman, "Why?"
"Because we were the ones who discovered this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent first and began hunting it. This little thing was simply too slippery, so we let it escape through a momentary lapse."
Hearing that, Tang San subconsciously crouched down to inspect the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. A look of surprise then appeared between his brows, and he quietly gave Zhao Wuji a meaningful look.
Zhao Wuji understood. But if he let someone take away the prey those little brats had worked so hard to capture with just a few words, then he, Zhao Wuji, would be too embarrassed to remain at Shrek Academy.
"May I ask for your honored name, Senior?" Zhao Wuji asked coldly.
The old woman's expression gradually stiffened. She knew that today's matter would likely not be settled peacefully.
"This old woman is Chao Tianxiang. By the kindness of friends in the Soul Master world, I am known as the Snake Dowager. My husband is named Meng Shu, known as the Dragon Duke. We came to the Star Dou Great Forest this time to obtain a third Soul Ring for my granddaughter. I ask that you please show mercy and grant us this favor."
Zhao Xuan narrowed his eyes. This old woman was probably not easy to deal with. Judging by Teacher Zhao's expression, there seemed to be something he feared. It was likely related to that Dragon Duke.
Sure enough, after hearing Chao Tianxiang's words, Zhao Wuji's expression visibly darkened. He held back the somewhat anxious Oscar and said in a deep voice, "So it is the Snake Dowager of the Peerless Dragon Snake. My apologies for failing to recognize you."
Chao Tianxiang offered a graceful salute. "Not at all. I still do not know your name, Sir."
"Zhao Wuji."
"Zhao Wuji? Could you be Zhao Wuji, the Immovable Bright King? I was wondering where such a young Soul Sage had appeared from." The Snake Dowager's expression changed again, and she smiled bitterly.
Although she was wary of Zhao Wuji, the Snake Dowager was not afraid of him. She immediately got to the point. "I am somewhat older than you, so I will take the liberty of calling you Brother Zhao. Brother Zhao, this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent is extremely important to my granddaughter. She has reached level thirty, and her Martial Soul is also a Snake Head Staff. We were the ones who discovered this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent first, but carelessly allowed it to escape. Could Brother Zhao do us a favor and yield this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent to us? There will certainly be generous repayment in the future."
Zhao Wuji chuckled. "Big Sister, that won't do. Someone here has also just broken through level thirty, and those little ones captured it themselves. It wouldn't be right for me to ask them to give it up."
"What a terrible excuse. You just don't want to return it, do you?! Those few could capture a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent? I doubt they've even reached Soul Grandmaster level."
The girl beside Chao Tianxiang spoke in dissatisfaction. Even she had needed others' help. How could these teenagers capture a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent?
"Yiran!"
Chao Tianxiang pulled the girl back. Naturally, she did not believe Zhao Wuji would lie about something like this. She gave the Shrek group a surprised look and spoke.
"You mean someone here has broken through level thirty?" Though she asked this, her gaze unconsciously fell upon the oldest-looking Dai Mubai.
After all, the Shrek group was simply too young. Most of them looked only twelve or thirteen, while Dai Mubai alone appeared somewhat older.
Even so, Chao Tianxiang still found it unbelievable. Could this boy, who looked fifteen or sixteen, truly possess greater talent than her granddaughter?
The corner of Zhao Wuji's mouth lifted. "If Senior does not believe it, seeing is believing. Shrek members! Release your Soul Rings!"
At Zhao Wuji's command, all nine members of Shrek released their Soul Rings. In an instant, ring after ring of Soul Rings appeared as though they cost nothing.
Chao Tianxiang and the girl immediately widened their eyes, as if they had witnessed something utterly unimaginable.
How was this possible?
Soul Grandmaster, Soul Grandmaster... Soul Elder! Soul Elder!
Among these nine children, seven were actually Soul Grandmasters! And the boy she had assumed had broken through level thirty, along with another even younger boy, were actually Soul Elders?!
She could not believe it, but the facts left her no choice. Every boy and girl here possessed greater talent than her granddaughter. One would have been understandable, but this was an entire group!
Chao Tianxiang's face was filled with bitterness as she sighed. "Your academy truly has talents gathered like clouds."
"Ha ha, not at all, not at all..." Zhao Wuji sounded humble, but his expression was incomparably proud.
"Child, how old are you?" Chao Tianxiang suddenly asked Zhao Xuan.
"I turned twelve a few months ago," Zhao Xuan answered indifferently. Tang San had been born in January, and he was born five months later. By calculation, he had only been twelve for two months.
"Twelve?"
Chao Tianxiang's entire body trembled, and the girl beside her also became much more dejected, clearly having suffered a heavy blow.
After taking a deep breath, Chao Tianxiang's eyes filled with deep wariness. Once this group of boys and girls matured, they would at least become Soul Sages, perhaps even Titled Douluo.
She gave Zhao Xuan a deep look, but she still did not want to give up so easily. After all, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent truly suited her granddaughter.
"Then who is the one who broke through level thirty?" Chao Tianxiang's attitude became even gentler.
"Oscar, come out."
Zhao Wuji grabbed Oscar from behind him and dragged him out. This fellow had been afraid a conflict would break out, so he had hidden himself in the back long ago.
Oscar was dragged out and gave an awkward laugh. "Greetings, Senior Snake Dowager."
Although the boy before her looked somewhat strange, with excessively thick hair, Chao Tianxiang could still tell at a glance from her experience that he was not actually very old.
Chao Tianxiang nodded, then proposed to Zhao Wuji, "Since we cannot settle this ourselves, why not leave it to the juniors to resolve?"
"What do you mean?" Zhao Wuji's expression became somewhat strange.
"They are both stuck at level thirty. Let them spar and decide the winner," Chao Tianxiang explained. In her view, her proposal was fair.
"Ahem." Zhao Wuji coughed twice.
"Big Sister Chao, I'm afraid that cannot be done as you wish."
Chao Tianxiang frowned, a trace of anger appearing on her face. She suddenly slammed her Snake Head Staff against the ground.
Bang!
"Zhao Wuji! Do you think I'm easy to bully just because my old man isn't here?"
"It's not like that, Big Sister Chao! This student of mine is a Support System Soul Master." Zhao Wuji chuckled awkwardly, looking embarrassed.
"What?!" Chao Tianxiang was stunned again.
Before you continue