Strange Mandala Snake

Long Jie handed Dugu Yan a thousand gold coins, and she watched the seven of them leave with a baffled expression.

"Why does this feel so strange?"

A strange feeling rose within her, but Dugu Yan said nothing more and turned to leave.

Long Jie led the Blue Tyrant Team, and once again they settled comfortably into the Rose Hotel.

"Brother, brother, why did you borrow money from that woman? Are you two close?" Little Wu hurried after Long Jie and asked curiously.

"Close? No, we're not. Why?" Long Jie answered truthfully. He had only met Dugu Yan today. How could they possibly be close?

"Then why was she willing to lend you money?" Little Wu was utterly confused. This was a thousand gold coins—she had lent it to him just like that?

"And... with so much money, how are you going to pay her back, Brother?"

Long Jie smiled. "Pay it back? Why should I pay it back? I borrowed this money with my own ability. Why should I return it?"

No money, only one life.

Besides, Long Jie had considered it before borrowing the money. Dugu Yan was the granddaughter of the Blue Phosphor Douluo and a member of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. Would she be short on such a small amount of money?

Obviously not.

So I'm not paying it back.

"You're really something, Jie Ge!" Ning Rongrong laughed and stepped forward to pat Long Jie on the shoulder. "Next time, I'll borrow money from you too, and I won't pay you back!"

"That really won't be necessary." Long Jie smiled helplessly. Did she take him for a sucker?

No one was borrowing money from him. Absolutely impossible!

After returning to their rooms, the seven of them tidied up briefly and prepared to sleep. At that moment, the sky suddenly darkened, and a large group hurried back from the Star Dou Great Forest.

Three hours earlier.

Star Dou Great Forest.

"Little San, look! That soul beast ahead!" After several days of travel, the Shrek group was still in the Star Dou Great Forest.

Suddenly, Yu Xiaogang looked ahead excitedly. A massive Mandala Snake was coiled there.

"The patterns on this Mandala Snake are extremely deep in color. It's definitely over a thousand years old. Little San, it can serve as your soul ring!" Yu Xiaogang said excitedly.

The enormous Mandala Snake was coiled before a flower. Its terrifying face gazed gently at a Mandala flower, like a man loving his beloved.

But it did not know that the peaceable creature had already caught the attention of the Shrek group.

Looking at the Mandala Snake, Tang San's heart stirred. He had decided—this would be his Third Soul Ring. "Teacher, keep an eye on it. Don't let it get away!"

"Don't worry. We're here!" Zhao Wuji declared confidently.

Tang San took a deep breath, calming himself before slowly stepping forward.

His footsteps were exceptionally light. Soul Power gathered in his hands, and he moved lightly with Mysterious Step. Before long, he reached the Mandala Snake's back, yet the great snake showed no reaction at all.

"Die!"

With Long Jie's previous example in mind, Tang San acted cleanly and decisively this time. The Storm Pear Blossom Needle appeared in his hand. With a twist of his wrist, he activated the Storm Pear Blossom Needle.

A mass of pear blossom needles shot out like raindrops, instantly striking the Mandala Snake. The Mandala Snake did not even have time to react before it fell to the ground.

Even at death, its gaze remained fixed tenderly on the Mandala flower. Its massive body fell from midair, about to crush the flower. At the very last moment, the Mandala Snake had one final burst of life and used its last strength to shift its body aside.

Watching the Mandala flower sway in the wind, the Mandala Snake slowly closed its eyes. Perhaps dying like this was acceptable too.

Its life force faded bit by bit. As the Mandala Snake closed its eyes for the last time, a human appeared in its vision.

That human's large foot came down mercilessly upon the Mandala flower. Beneath that foot, the Mandala flower was destroyed, its life extinguished.

In an instant, the Mandala Snake's eyes turned dull. Terrifying fury surged through it, but it had already lost its life force. Even its rage could not ignite.

In the end, its life faded away, and a Purple Ring rose up. A trace of red floated within the Purple Ring, as though showing the fury the Mandala Snake had felt before its death.

"Strange. Why is there red in this Mandala Snake's soul ring?" Faced with his own soul ring, Tang San examined it very carefully and naturally noticed the issue.

Yu Xiaogang stepped forward to take a look, his brows furrowing as well. "That shouldn't be possible. This Mandala Snake is only about a thousand years old, not even two thousand. How could it have red in it?"

He looked at Tang San and said, "To be safe, perhaps we shouldn't take it?"

"No!" Tang San shook his head. They had already troubled Yu Xiaogang and the others for so long just to obtain his soul ring. How could he be willing to trouble them again?

"This is the one. It should just be a minor issue. It won't be a problem!"

After saying that, Tang San sat down cross-legged and began absorbing the soul ring.

Yu Xiaogang wanted to stop him, but he did not know how.

"Let's hope nothing happens!" Yu Xiaogang watched Tang San nervously. All they could do now was hope nothing went wrong!

Tang San sat cross-legged on the ground and began absorbing the soul ring. The Mandala Snake's soul ring energy entered his body bit by bit, and Tang San felt delighted. It seemed everything was going smoothly.

But then, a wave stirred within his consciousness, startling Tang San.

A black-red serpent appeared within Tang San's consciousness, staring at him with murderous intent.

Tang San was startled. Wasn't this the Mandala Snake he had killed? Why was it here? Shouldn't it be dead?

Filled with terror, Tang San found that the great serpent had no intention of wasting words with him. It opened its huge mouth and lunged to swallow him.

"Will Tang San be all right?" Meng Yiran looked at Tang San with concern. Sweat covered his forehead, and no one knew what torment he was enduring.

"I don't know either!" Yu Xiaogang frowned. It seemed the accident had indeed occurred. Tang San's condition did not appear good.

A Purple Ring with red in it had only ever indicated one possibility: a soul ring close to ten thousand years old. Only then would red appear.

But seeing this on a thousand-year soul beast was absolutely abnormal. The question now was how they could help Tang San.

As Yu Xiaogang pondered this, the ground suddenly shook, startling everyone.

"What's going on?"

"What happened?"

Everyone was greatly alarmed. Could the Star Dou Great Forest have earthquakes too?

Zhao Wuji frowned and scanned the surroundings. Soon, he spotted a figure charging toward them from afar, covering hundreds of meters per second.

In the blink of an eye, it was already not far from them.

"Not good! Watch out for a soul beast!"

"Roar!" A gigantic ape charged over and threw a punch without a word. Its enormous fist descended from the sky, instantly attacking the Shrek group.

Zhao Wuji hurried forward. Immovable Bright King Golden Body activated instantly, golden light flashing across his entire body as he pushed his defenses to their limit.

But even so, the ape did not spare him a second glance.

One punch. Just one punch, and Zhao Wuji was sent flying.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM

That terrifying punch tore through the air and landed squarely on Zhao Wuji's face!!!