"Wait!"
Suddenly, a loud shout rang out beside them. Before its owner even arrived, a Serpent Cane shot toward Feng Xinglie.
"First Soul Skill: Collapsing Ape Giant Arm!"
Faced with the lightning-fast attack, Feng Xinglie's pupils contracted. He turned without hesitation to block it. With a wet splat, the sharp tip of the Serpent Cane sank straight into his hill-like arm.
"Who goes there?!"
Seeing Feng Xinglie injured, Zhao Wuji immediately stepped in front of the others and summoned his Martial Soul, the Great Strength Vajra Bear. The seven Soul Rings that appeared beneath his feet were just in time for Chao Tianxiang, hurrying over, to see them.
"A Soul Sage?!"
Chao Tianxiang was startled. She hadn't expected there to be an expert here. Although her husband, Dragon Duke, was nearby, she was only a Soul Emperor and had Meng Yiran with her, so naturally she didn't want to start a conflict.
"It's all a misunderstanding. I'm Chao Tianxiang, and I'm helping my granddaughter hunt for a Soul Ring. The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent on the ground is the prey we've been chasing for a long time. Just now, I saw this young man about to strike a killing blow, and in my haste, I hit him a little too hard."
After briefly explaining what had happened, Chao Tianxiang smiled and pointed at Feng Xinglie.
"Yiran, shouldn't you thank this young man for helping you catch the Soul Beast?"
Feng Xinglie's mouth twitched as he listened. As the saying went, an old ginger was spicier. Her words sounded polite, but she'd directly framed it as him helping her catch the Soul Beast, which meant its Soul Ring naturally belonged to Meng Yiran. He didn't mind, though. As long as Oscar didn't absorb it, he was fine with anything. Since they had this in mind, he didn't mind doing them a favor and building a good relationship. With that thought, he immediately released his Soul Skill, pulled the Snake Lance out of his arm, wiped off the blood, then respectfully returned it to Chao Tianxiang with both hands.
"Senior, you're too kind. I was the one who acted rashly and nearly killed the Soul Beast you were hunting. Please forgive this ignorant junior. I apologize."
"Uh... It's all right, it's all right. It was just a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding..."
When it came to fighting, Chao Tianxiang feared no one. Her Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Dragon Duke had power comparable to that of a Titled Douluo. But now, the odds were clearly in her favor, and the junior she'd injured in a sneak attack was apologizing to her so respectfully. Her old face turned red instead. Looking at the wound still bleeding, she felt a little embarrassed.
"Ahem... You not only helped us, young man, but you're also not holding it against this old woman for injuring you. I'm truly ashamed. How about this: consider us indebted to you. If you run into trouble in the future, just give the names of Dragon Duke and Snake Crone. If it's something you can't handle, you can come to us anytime."
"Thank you, Senior. But this young lady looks exceptionally gifted. She's so young and already needs a thousand-year Soul Beast's Soul Ring. Perhaps her future achievements will surpass yours. When that day comes, I'll have to ask her for help."
"Hahaha, you smooth-tongued little rascal..."
The martial world wasn't all about fighting and killing; it was about human dealings. Feng Xinglie's praise of Meng Yiran had hit just the right note with Snake Crone. Her beloved granddaughter surpassing her in achievement? If that day really came, the old couple would be over the moon. Feng Xinglie looked all the more agreeable to her.
"Wait. Since this Soul Beast came to us on its own, it belongs to us."
Suddenly, a voice rang out at the wrong moment. Everyone turned around to see Tang San speaking with righteous indignation.
"My friend has already reached level thirty in Soul Power and needs a Soul Ring too. This Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent is a perfect fit, both in age and in its traits. Besides, it might have gotten far away if we hadn't been here. So this Soul Beast should be ours!"
The friendly atmosphere instantly turned tense. Looking confused, Snake Crone turned to Feng Xinglie, only to see him covering his face with his hand, looking so embarrassed he couldn't bear to watch. She immediately understood what was going on.
"I never would've guessed. They came from the same academy, yet one is sensible and polite, while the other is so... Heh."
Under Chao Tianxiang's mocking gaze, Zhao Wuji privately blamed Tang San for being too blunt. But Immovable Wisdom King, who always did as he pleased, still intended to secure this suitable Soul Ring for his student.
"Senior, the Soul Beasts in Star Dou Forest belong to no one. Whoever gets one claims it. You needn't make sarcastic remarks. I, Zhao Wuji, won't give up something that's already in my hands."
As the tension between the two sides mounted, Feng Xinglie had already lost interest. That palm strike of his hadn't been an ordinary attack. The poison from Poison Hand had already seeped through the wound and was eating away at the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's life. He'd played the good guy, and all he had to do now was stall a little longer. It didn't matter who won. Compared to this, he was more concerned about the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast that would show up soon—the Titan Giant Ape. He discreetly scanned the area, keeping an eye on what was happening nearby.
"Young man? Young man?"
"Huh? What can I do for you, Senior?"
Chao Tianxiang's call brought Feng Xinglie back from his thoughts.
"Nothing. We're at an impasse over this Soul Beast, so I was thinking of having you spar with my granddaughter, Meng Yiran. Whoever wins gets it."
"Senior... I don't think that's appropriate..."
Shouldn't she have asked Tang San to fight? How had he ended up dragged into it when he'd just been standing off to the side? Feng Xinglie gave a wry smile and shook his head again and again.
"It's all right. Don't worry; just fight with all you've got. Out of everyone here, you're the only one this old woman trusts."
"That's not what I mean, Senior."
Feng Xinglie was helpless. Four Soul Rings—yellow, purple, black, black—rose beneath his feet.
"I've already reached level forty-nine. I might not be a suitable opponent for Miss Meng Yiran."
"What?!"
Chao Tianxiang looked down at the terrifying Soul Ring Configuration that went far beyond anything she'd thought possible, then up at Feng Xinglie's youthful face. Her voice began to tremble.
"Y-you... those Soul Rings..."
Chao Tianxiang couldn't understand why a genius like him would be staying at an academy like this.
"But if you're looking for someone to spar with, Senior, I do have a good candidate. I'm honored that you trust me, and the person I'm recommending is a friend I trust as well."
As he spoke, Feng Xinglie stepped over to Zhu Zhuqing and introduced her.
"Zhu Zhuqing is an Agility Attack System Battle Spirit Master. Through constant hard training, she's just recently broken through to level twenty-eight. Besides, it's more suitable for two girls to spar with each other."
"Like I said, I trust you. It's just that my granddaughter has already reached level thirty, so this young lady might be at a disadvantage."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't pay attention to what Chao Tianxiang said. She simply looked at Feng Xinglie with some surprise. Two levels apart was nothing—she'd be willing to fight even if the gap were bigger, if Feng Xinglie needed her to. She just couldn't figure out why he wanted her to step in now. When she looked up, she met only a gentle but resolute gaze.
"Do your best. I believe in you."
"Mm..."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded firmly, then walked forward and stopped in front of Meng Yiran.
"Please."
Before you continue