Fear Bear

Having successfully defused the crisis, Ning Rongrong's "status" rose accordingly.

Qiangu Changkong could not help teasing, "Once Miss Rongrong steps in, no matter who it is, they have to keep their distance."

Such flattery pleased Ning Rongrong. She straightened her chest and nodded in satisfaction.

Yet she also had her doubts.

Ning Fengzhi had warned her that unless absolutely necessary, she must never reveal who her father was.

Wu Qi's earlier whisper in her ear had told her to do the exact opposite.

Fortunately, Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang was deeply wary of her background. If the other party had been an enemy of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the outcome might have been entirely different.

Facing her confusion, Wu Qi explained, "Let me ask you this: is the Dragon Snake Family strong or not?"

The Overwhelming Dragon Snake Couple's Martial Soul Fusion Skill rivaled that of a Title Douluo. Under their leadership, the Dragon Snake Family had expanded rapidly in recent years and had become the number one family in Barack City.

There was no doubt about the Dragon Snake Family's strength.

Wu Qi continued, "The Dragon Snake Family's next step is to compete for a place among the Seven Great Sects."

The Seven Great Sects were divided into the Upper Three Sects and the Lower Four Sects. Across the Douluo Continent, their influence was extraordinary, and countless talented youths would do anything to join them.

Though the Dragon Snake Family's current influence was not weak, compared to the Seven Great Sects, it was utterly insignificant.

"In terms of foundations, the Dragon Snake Family is far inferior to the Seven Great Sects. If they want to compete for a place among the Lower Four Sects, their family must expand again. Offending the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect at this time would be a devastating blow to them."

"Moreover, the current Seven Great Sects do not want their positions to be easily replaced. Naturally, they will suppress the Dragon Snake Family, this potential threat."

"Besides, the Rock Antelope Sect and Sparrow Bee Sect have risen rapidly in recent years. They are also potential rivals of the Dragon Snake Family."

The Dragon Snake Family could only advance or fall back. The Seven Great Sects wanted to absorb or eliminate them, while powerful contenders for the Seven Great Sects, such as the Rock Antelope Sect and Sparrow Bee Sect, wanted to crush them completely.

Under such circumstances, the Dragon Snake Family absolutely could not afford to offend others lightly. On the contrary, they needed to win over the support of many small and medium-sized families.

Furthermore, there was a gap in their younger generation, which was itself a massive hidden danger.

Once the Overwhelming Dragon Snake Couple died, the family would not even have anyone capable of carrying the banner.

In the original timeline, when Meng Shu saw the talents of the Shrek Seven Devils, his attempts to recruit them were not empty words. He truly wanted to bring talented youths into the family.

Unfortunately, aside from Oscar and Ma Hongjun, everyone among the Shrek Seven Devils had deep backgrounds. There was simply no way for him to make a move.

Upon hearing this, Qiangu Changkong suddenly understood. "No wonder Snake Granny wanted Meng Yiran to meet talented youths at the Soul Master Tournament. So the Dragon Snake Family wants to recruit a gifted live-in son-in-law to develop their family."

Wu Qi nodded and turned his gaze toward Ning Rongrong. "Rongrong, it is good that you have such caution. You can use your status to pressure the Dragon Snake Family, but when facing other families, it is best to restrain yourself."

In the blink of an eye, a day had passed.

Under Zhao Wuji's lead, the Shrek Six Devils entered the Soul Beast Forest.

Unlike the original timeline, they did not encounter the Overwhelming Dragon Snake Couple, yet they still obtained a Soul Ring from a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent for Oscar.

After learning Ning Rongrong's identity, Snake Granny feared that experts from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were nearby and immediately withdrew from the Soul Beast Forest.

Only after reuniting with Dragon Duke Meng Shu did she enter the forest again.

By the time Oscar finished absorbing his Soul Ring, it was already evening. Seeing that Xiao Wu and Tang San had reached Soul Power Level 29, Zhao Wuji had them speed up their breakthroughs and obtain all their Soul Rings in one go before returning to the academy.

When they had set out, Flender had instructed him to keep the children in the Star Dou Great Forest for a while longer.

Tang San and Xiao Wu being able to break through during this time was truly double good fortune.

It would fulfill Flender's instructions and save them another trip next time.

That night, just as in the original timeline, the Titan Giant Ape appeared and took Xiao Wu away.

Tang San disregarded everything and chased after it like a madman.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the forest.

Wu Qi and the other two were some distance away from the Shrek Six Devils and were not affected by the Titan Giant Ape.

At this moment, they had already found the Fear Bear's territory.

Looking at the Fear Bear in the distance, its body a full five meters long as it slept soundly, Wu Qi pulled the two of them back a hundred meters.

"Our luck is good. Those ten thousand Gold Soul Coins were not wasted." Qiangu Changkong could not help feeling excited.

Wu Qi lowered his hand and arranged their tactics. "Changkong, stay by Rongrong's side later. Rongrong, boost me. I'll deal with it alone, and Changkong, watch for the right moment to finish it off."

Ning Rongrong was somewhat worried. "Brother Wu Qi, can you really handle it alone?"

For an early-stage Soul Elder to fight a sixteen-hundred-year Soul Beast was extremely difficult. He might not even be a match for the Soul Beast.

One had to know that Soul Beasts possessed physiques far beyond those of human Soul Masters. There was no advantage in confronting one head-on.

There were only three of them, and the Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest were extremely hostile toward human Soul Masters.

The upcoming battle would create no small commotion. Once Soul Beasts surrounded them, Ning Rongrong would undoubtedly die without anyone protecting her.

Besides, the winds in the forest were strong tonight, and Wu Qi's strength had improved.

Fighting a sixteen-hundred-year Soul Beast alone would not be a bad trial for him.

"Miss Rongrong, do as Brother Wu says. Later, you absolutely cannot move more than five meters away from me. Otherwise, I won't be able to support you immediately."

Ning Rongrong nodded earnestly.

It was foreseeable that if this Soul Hunting trip went smoothly, when she returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in the future, she was certain Ning Fengzhi would view her in a new light.

"Seven Treasures Emerge from Glaze, Seven Treasures Have Renown: first is strength, second is speed."

Seven-colored light entered his body. Wu Qi swiftly summoned his Martial Soul, leaving an afterimage in the air as he charged toward the Fear Bear at incredible speed.

He moved so fast that the sound of air tearing rang crisply through the night.

The Fear Bear's ears twitched lightly, and it immediately woke up.

It climbed to its feet. Upon seeing the human figure, it bared its fangs and claws, scraped its hind legs against the ground, and actively charged toward him.

The Fear Bear's claws were incomparably sharp. If its bloodline improved by another level, it would become the legendary Grizzly Claw Bear!

"Big idiot, the sky isn't your territory."

Phoenix Wings flapped, and Wu Qi's speed increased again. Just as the fear claws were about to fall, his body dove sharply, evading the attack.

At the same time, Crane Cloud Wings emerged. Under the moonlight, the sharpened wings glinted with icy points of light.

Wu Qi swiftly turned sideways, and one sharp Wing Blade easily sliced through the fur on its abdomen.

The Fear Bear howled in pain and crashed to the ground.

Wu Qi hovered in midair and crooked a finger at it. "Big idiot, we're taking your Soul Ring!"

Provoked, the Fear Bear lost its mind and leaped at him again.

A sixteen-hundred-year Soul Beast possessed very low intelligence. It did not even realize that it had already fallen into its opponent's trap.

The sky was Wu Qi's main battlefield. Every time the Fear Bear leaped at him, new wounds appeared on its body.

In the distance, Ning Rongrong watched the scene and could not help clicking her tongue. "This thing is way too stupid, isn't it?"

Qiangu Changkong laughed loudly. "It's good that it's stupid. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to take it down."

After a pause, he added, "Rongrong, boost me later. I'll go harvest that thing."