Meng Yiran

As a woman herself, she hated nothing more than the lewd, flippant remarks of someone like Ma Hongjun. Liu Erlong's actions had undoubtedly given them a chance to vent their anger.

Xiao Wu's praise softened Liu Erlong's expression a little. She patted Xiao Wu on the head. "If you run into someone like that again, don't hold back. Strength is the best argument."

With that, she quickened her pace and entered the hotel.

After booking rooms, everyone went back to their own rooms to rest.

The next morning.

Xu Yuan and his group got ready and gathered outside the hotel.

Liu Erlong had changed into a snug outfit suited for action, her long hair tied up in a high ponytail.

"Is everyone ready?" Liu Erlong asked, her gaze sweeping over them.

Xu Yuan and the others nodded to show they were ready.

"Let's go!"

The streets gradually grew lively. Early risers began streaming back and forth, hawkers' cries rising and falling amid the chatter, filling the air with the bustle of everyday life.

But Xu Yuan and his group had no time to pay attention to any of that. Their focus was on the road ahead and on Liu Erlong's occasional explanations of the precautions they needed to take in Star Dou Forest.

The moment they stepped into Star Dou Forest, the noise of the outside world fell away. Only flecks of sunlight filtering through the leaves and the faint roars of beasts in the distance remained.

The air suddenly grew damp, carrying the mingled scents of rotting leaves and soil. Fallen leaves covered the ground so thickly they reached their ankles, rustling softly underfoot.

"Stay alert." Liu Erlong lowered her voice, her keen eyes sweeping over their surroundings. "From here on, danger could lurk with every step."

Xu Yuan and the other six nodded to show they understood, watching their surroundings warily.

Xu Yuan released his Blue Silver Emperor, sensing the area through it.

God King Tang San had taught him this method just the night before.

"Twenty-seven meters southeast, there's a nest of ten-year Thorn Serpents hiding beneath the brush. Their presence is faint." Xu Yuan closed his eyes, his voice steady. "Fifty meters northwest, there's a century-old Wind Eagle in an old oak tree, preening its feathers. It doesn't seem hostile for now."

Hearing Xu Yuan's report, Liu Erlong gave a slight nod, thinking what a remarkable talent he had. He had managed to develop ordinary Blue Silver Grass to such an extent.

Liu Erlong led the way, her violet eyes glinting as she drew on years of experience roaming Soul Beast forests to steer them around areas where danger might lurk.

"There's a stretch of swamp fifty meters ahead." Liu Erlong suddenly stopped and pointed to a patch of seemingly level grass on their front left. "It's all muck beneath the grass. We'll be in trouble if we sink in. We'll go around."

Everyone followed her lead and turned right. Fallen leaves grew sparse beneath their feet, replaced by moss-covered rocks.

Time passed quickly, and soon it was noon.

That morning, Xu Yuan and his group had fought all kinds of Soul Beasts.

They let most of them go, but they dealt with every Soul Beast that tried to kill them.

Xu Yuan and his group found a place to rest and eat lunch.

"Hmm?"

Just then, Xu Yuan sensed a Soul Beast flying toward them.

It was a snake-like Soul Beast with a bright red fleshy crest larger than its head. Its body was six to eight meters long, and its tail was fan-shaped.

Xu Yuan noticed its pale-red wings. After thinking for a moment, he recognized the Soul Beast.

It was a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

This Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was a thousand-year Soul Beast.

But why was it flying straight toward them?

At the thought, Xu Yuan controlled the Blue Silver Grass around them, intending to stop the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

The Blue Silver Grass shot forward like nimble ribbons, following Xu Yuan's will. It wove a net in midair and dropped it over the diving Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

The thousand-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent clearly hadn't expected to be intercepted. Its scarlet crest jerked upward, its fan-shaped tail thrashed behind it, and its pale-red wings beat faster as it tried to break through the Blue Silver Grass.

But the serpent failed to break through. The Blue Silver Grass bound it tightly as it writhed violently. Its scarlet crest flushed even brighter with rage, and its piercing cries rang through the forest.

Its scales scraped against the Blue Silver Grass with a harsh rustling sound. Its pale-red wings beat in vain, only tightening the vines around it.

Hearing the commotion, the others turned toward the sound and saw the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

Tailong looked at it in surprise. "A Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, of all things."

He knew that Phoenix-tail Crested Serpents were very rare, and that many Soul Masters with snake-type Martial Souls favored them.

Jiang Zhu, Huang Yuan, and Jing Ling also examined the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent with curiosity.

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing glanced at it, then went back to their lunch. Neither of them was interested.

Xu Yuan walked over to the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent and noticed it was injured.

"Wait. Don't let it go."

A girl's voice rang out just as Xu Yuan was about to release the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

Following the voice, Xu Yuan saw a sixteen-year-old girl approaching with an elderly woman.

The girl had a pair of large brown eyes and a well-proportioned figure. She was dressed in a snug outfit that traced the alluring curves of her chest. Her slender waist swayed with the distinctive rhythm of a snake.

Her face bore a snake-like, seductive charm, and she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Xu Yuan looked at the girl and asked, "Who are you?"

The girl introduced herself. "Hello, my name is Meng Yiran. The Soul Beast you caught was my target. Thank you for helping us catch it."

Xu Yuan waved a hand. "It was no trouble. It's yours, so go ahead and kill it."

A flicker of surprise crossed Meng Yiran's eyes. She hadn't expected Xu Yuan to agree so readily.

The elderly woman was also somewhat surprised. She glanced at Liu Erlong and recognized her.

"Thank you, young friend. My name is Chao Tianxiang. If you ever need help, you can come to me," Chao Tianxiang said gratefully.

Xu Yuan waved a hand and introduced himself.

Meng Yiran took out a dagger and killed the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent with a single stroke.

A purple Soul Ring floated up from the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's body and hung in midair.

Meng Yiran sat down and began absorbing the thousand-year Soul Ring.

Chao Tianxiang stood guard beside her, preventing anyone from disturbing Meng Yiran.

If anyone interrupted Meng Yiran, she could suffer anything from severe injury to death on the spot.

Xu Yuan returned to his place and continued eating his dry rations.

He couldn't help thinking of the plot in the novel Douluo Continent.

He remembered that in the novel, the Shrek Academy group caught a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent and shamelessly tried to claim it for themselves.

Later, when they learned Chao Tianxiang's identity, they didn't dare take the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent by force and instead competed for it.

Xu Yuan was curious about what Soul Beast Oscar would get now that the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was no longer available.