Meng Yiran

As a woman herself, she detested the frivolous and crude remarks of Ma Hongjun most of all; Liu Erlong's actions had undoubtedly vented some frustration on their behalf.

Liu Erlong's expression softened under Xiao Wu's praise, and she patted the girl's head. "In the future, when you encounter people like that, there is no need to be polite. Strength is the best argument."

Having said that, she quickened her pace and entered the hotel.

After checking into their rooms, everyone went to their respective quarters to rest.

The next morning, at dawn.

Xu Yuan and his group finished their preparations and gathered at the hotel entrance.

Liu Erlong had changed into a tight-fitting outfit convenient for movement, her long hair tied into a high ponytail.

"Are you all ready?" Liu Erlong scanned the group.

Xu Yuan and his companions nodded, indicating they were prepared.

"Let's move!"

The streets were gradually becoming lively; early-rising pedestrians began to weave back and forth, and the sounds of hawking and conversation rose and fell, filled with the atmosphere of daily life.

However, Xu Yuan and his group had no heart to pay attention to these things; their focus was entirely on the road ahead and the precautions regarding the Star Dou Forest that Liu Erlong would occasionally explain.

The moment they stepped into the Star Dou Forest, the clamor was cut off, leaving only the dappled sunlight filtering through the branches and the faint, distant roars of beasts.

The air suddenly became humid, permeated with the scent of rotting leaves and soil, and the fallen leaves underfoot were thick enough to submerge their ankles, emitting a soft rustling sound with every step.

"Stay sharp." Liu Erlong's voice dropped a few notches, her gaze sweeping sharply across the surroundings. "From here on, every step could lead to danger."

The seven of them nodded to show they understood, watching their surroundings with vigilance.

Xu Yuan released his Blue Silver Emperor, sensing the situation around them through the plant.

This method was something God King Tang San had taught him just last night.

"Twenty-seven meters to the southeast, there is a nest of ten-year Thorn Serpents hiding under the bushes; their aura is very weak," Xu Yuan said with his eyes closed, his voice steady. "Fifty meters to the northwest, there is a century-old Wind Eagle on an old oak tree, grooming its feathers; it currently shows no hostility."

Listening to Xu Yuan, Liu Erlong nodded slightly, thinking to herself that Xu Yuan's talent was truly exceptional to have developed ordinary Blue Silver Grass to such a degree.

Liu Erlong walked at the very front, her purple eyes flashing with light, relying on her years of experience venturing into soul beast forests to constantly avoid areas where danger might lurk.

"There is a swamp fifty meters ahead," Liu Erlong suddenly stopped, pointing to a seemingly flat patch of grass to their front-left. "It's all silt under the turf; it'll be troublesome if you sink in. Walk around it."

The group followed her instructions and turned to the right, where the fallen leaves underfoot gradually became sparse, replaced by rocks covered in moss.

Time passed quickly, and soon it was noon.

Throughout the morning, Xu Yuan and his group had engaged in battles with various soul beasts.

The vast majority of the soul beasts were let go by Xu Yuan and his team, but those that attempted to kill them were all dealt with.

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

"Hmm?"

Just at this moment, Xu Yuan sensed a soul beast flying toward them.

It was a serpentine soul beast with a bright red fleshy crest on its head larger than its own head, its body length between six and eight meters, and its tail shaped like a fan.

Xu Yuan noticed the soul beast had pale red wings, and after a moment of recollection, he identified it.

It was a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

This Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was a thousand-year soul beast.

However, why was this soul beast flying toward them?

Thinking of this, Xu Yuan controlled the surrounding Blue Silver Grass, intending to intercept the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

The Blue Silver Grass moved like agile green ribbons, extending rapidly according to Xu Yuan's will, weaving into a dense net in mid-air to shroud the diving Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

This thousand-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent clearly had not expected to encounter an interception; its crimson crest jerked upward, its fan-shaped tail lashed out violently behind it, and its pale red wings accelerated suddenly, attempting to break through the obstruction of the Blue Silver Grass.

But the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent did not break through; it was wrapped tightly by the Blue Silver Grass, its snake body twisting violently, its crimson crest growing even more vivid with rage, and sharp hissing sounds echoed through the forest.

Its scales rubbed constantly against the Blue Silver Grass, emitting a harsh rustling sound, and its pale red wings flapped in vain, only causing the tangled vines to tighten further.

The others heard the commotion and looked toward the sound, seeing the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

Tailong looked at the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent and said with some surprise, "It's actually a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent."

He knew that this type of soul beast was extremely rare, and many soul masters with snake-type martial souls favored them.

Jiang Zhu, Huang Yuan, and Jing Ling also curiously sized up the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing glanced at it and continued eating their lunch; the two of them were not interested.

Xu Yuan walked up to the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent and, upon inspection, discovered that it had wounds on its body.

"Wait, don't let it go."

Just as Xu Yuan intended to release the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, the voice of a young girl rang out.

Following the direction of the voice, Xu Yuan saw a sixteen-year-old girl and an old woman approaching.

The girl had a pair of large brown eyes, a perfectly proportioned figure that was developed just right, and she wore a tight-fitting outfit that outlined the moving curves of her chest, her slender waist swaying with a rhythm unique to snakes as she moved.

Her face carried a serpentine charm, truly a stunning beauty.

Xu Yuan looked at the young 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 capture it."

Xu Yuan waved his hand and said, "It was a small effort. Since it belongs to you, go ahead and kill this soul beast."

Upon hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Meng Yiran's eyes, as if she had not expected Xu Yuan to be so straightforward.

The old woman was also somewhat surprised; she glanced at Liu Erlong and recognized her.

"Many thanks, young friend. My name is Chao Tianxiang; if you ever have any trouble in the future, you can come find me," Chao Tianxiang said, thanking Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan waved his hand dismissively and then introduced himself.

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

A purple soul ring drifted out from the body of the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, hovering in mid-air.

Meng Yiran sat on the ground to absorb this thousand-year soul ring.

Chao Tianxiang stood guard by Meng Yiran's side to prevent anyone from disturbing her.

If someone were to interrupt Meng Yiran, she would be severely injured at best, or die on the spot at worst.

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

He could not help but recall the plot from the Douluo Continent novel.

He remembered that in the novel, the group from Shrek Academy had caught the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent and shamelessly tried to forcibly claim it.

Later, upon learning of Chao Tianxiang's identity, they dared not seize it by force and instead used a competition to try and obtain the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

Xu Yuan felt a bit curious, wondering what soul beast Oscar would obtain now that the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was gone.