After the incident with Canghui Academy, almost everyone at Shrek Academy was injured, except for Ning Rongrong. Tang San and Xiao Wu were in especially bad shape.
There was no choice but to rest for a few more days. After obediently paying for the damage to the hotel, they set off for Star Dou Forest.
As soon as they entered Star Dou Forest, Zhao Wuji released the pressure of a Soul Saint, keeping low-level Soul Beasts from approaching.
Xiao Wu, however, seemed gloomy. She asked the others from Shrek Academy, "Do we really have to hunt Soul Beasts?"
Everyone except Tang San and Yu Xiaolong looked at her as if she were an idiot.
In his previous life, Yu Xiaolong had been a devoted admirer of Tang San and Xiao Wu, so he naturally knew Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. He said nothing.
As a reborn God King, Tang San also knew Xiao Wu's true identity. He hurried over to comfort her. "Xiao Wu, we're only hunting evil Soul Beasts."
Hearing this, Dai Mubai stepped forward at once. "That's not necessarily true, Xiaosan. Soul Beasts aren't divided into good and evil. Soul Masters hunt them to obtain Soul Rings—that's only natural."
Ma Hongjun chimed in from the side. "If you ask me, there aren't any good Soul Beasts. Take the lowliest of them all, the Soft Bone Rabbit. They mate at the drop of a hat and can have several litters a year, with several babies in each litter. You can tell they're no good."
At Ma Hongjun's words, Xiao Wu sprang up, furious.
"Ma Hongjun, you're the one who's no good! Your whole family's no good!"
"If the Soft Bone Rabbits want to have babies, let them! What's it to you?"
"You fat bastard!"
As the saying went, don't hit someone in the face or expose their shortcomings. Still, Ma Hongjun had said all that right in front of the Soft Bone Rabbit matriarch. No wonder twelve-year-old Xiao Wu had gotten so worked up.
Everyone at Shrek Academy was stunned by Xiao Wu's tirade. Was all this really necessary over a lowly Soft Bone Rabbit?
Tang San hadn't thought much about Xiao Wu being the matriarch of the Soft Bone Rabbits. But after hearing Ma Hongjun's words, he suddenly felt as if a vast green prairie had appeared over his head—one that stretched beyond the horizon.
When Ma Hongjun heard Xiao Wu's tirade, he immediately fired back.
"Xiao Wu, who do you think you are to talk to me like that?"
"What's it to you if I say the Soft Bone Rabbits are a nuisance?"
"Could it be that your Martial Soul is a Soft Bone Rabbit, and you're as promiscuous as they are?"
"No way!"
After hearing Ma Hongjun's words, everyone at Shrek Academy cast Tang San a sympathetic look.
Xiao Wu was so furious she was practically on fire.
"Ma Hongjun, Sister Xiao Wu is going to kill you!"
But Zhao Wuji slapped Xiao Wu aside.
"What are you making such a fuss about? Ma Hongjun isn't wrong."
"Star Dou Forest is full of danger. Hurry up and find a Soul Beast suited to Oscar, then let's get out of here."
Dai Mubai chimed in, too. "That's right. Fatty's got it right. There's no need to get so worked up over a lowly, promiscuous Soul Beast like the Soft Bone Rabbit."
Ning Rongrong added, "The Soft Bone Rabbit really is lowly and promiscuous. The whole continent agrees on that. Ma Hongjun isn't wrong."
Oscar, Ning Rongrong's devoted admirer, quickly agreed. "That's right, Rongrong. I think so too."
Even Zhu Zhuqing, normally as cold as ice, nodded.
Seeing that everyone agreed,
"You, you..."
She was just about to cry when Zhao Wuji slapped her again.
"Keep moving. Enough with the nonsense."
Just then, Yu Xiaolong hurried to Xiao Wu's side. "It's okay, Sister Xiao Wu. I understand. I believe the Soft Bone Rabbit is a good Soul Beast."
"Xiaolong!" Xiao Wu threw herself into Yu Xiaolong's arms and burst into tears.
Seeing this, Tang San suddenly wondered if Ma Hongjun might actually be right.
Zhao Wuji couldn't stand the sight of Xiao Wu acting so pitiful and lost his temper again. He yanked her out of Yu Xiaolong's arms and raised a palm as big as a fan toward her face.
Slap, slap. Slap, slap.
"Why are you crying? You think you're the one who's wronged?"
Seeing the murderous look in Xiao Wu's eyes, Zhao Wuji grew even angrier. He had already disliked the way Xiao Wu behaved at Shrek Academy. On top of that, she had talked back to him just before they set out, and now this.
Zhao Wuji hurled Xiao Wu away. She crashed through nineteen trees before finally coming to a stop.
Tang San thought, This won't do. I can't let my Xiao Wu get hurt.
But, unusually, he didn't say, "How dare you hurt my Xiao Wu? You've earned your death."
Seeing his goddess Xiao Wu get hurt, Yu Xiaolong immediately stopped Zhao Wuji.
"Teacher Zhao, please calm down. Xiao Wu didn't mean it. We should focus on finding a Soul Beast for Oscar."
When Zhao Wuji saw that the young master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was pleading for her, he knew he had to grant him that favor.
"I'll let it go for your sake, Xiaolong."
"Thank you, Teacher Zhao."
Then Yu Xiaolong got a few sausages from Oscar and fed them to Xiao Wu.
Seeing her eat a sausage, Tang San wondered why she was so practiced at it.
With the incident over, everyone from Shrek Academy continued searching for Oscar's third Soul Ring.
Suddenly, Tang San spotted a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent flying toward them. Wasn't this Oscar's third Soul Ring from his previous life? It had come at just the right time.
"Xiao'ao, your third Soul Ring is right here."
"Boss Dai, this thousand-year-old Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent is perfect for Xiao'ao. Let's take it down for him."
"Sure."
"First Soul Skill—Blue Silver Entanglement."
"First Soul Skill—White Tiger Intense Light Wave."
"First Soul Skill—Nether Hundred Claws."
The three attacks only left the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent slightly injured. They hadn't caused any real damage.
"Third Soul Skill—Thunder Fury."
Yu Xiaolong's third Soul Skill finally wounded the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent badly.
Xiao Wu perked up her rabbit ears and eagerly came over to Yu Xiaolong. "Xiaolong, you're amazing! You're even stronger than Brother San."
Seeing this, the others all praised Yu Xiaolong as well.
Tang San thought, Yu Xiaolong, how dare you steal my limelight? You've earned your death.
While everyone was praising Yu Xiaolong, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent suddenly sped up and tried to escape, but Zhao Wuji grabbed it.
"Nice try. You thought you could get away right under my nose?"
"You should all learn from Xiaolong. He was already a Soul Elder when he first enrolled."
With that, Zhao Wuji tossed the barely breathing Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent at Oscar's feet.
"Oscar, hurry up and finish off this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, then absorb your third Soul Ring."
Oscar didn't waste time. He took out a dagger and was about to stab the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out. "Stop!"
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