Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent (Part 1)

Dense claw shadows fell like a rainstorm, covering the soft armor seams between the head and torso of the Iron-back Centipede.

Although the accuracy of individual claws was slightly off, the continuous, relentless barrage eventually tore through that thin layer of defense.

"Squelch!"

Dark green blood sprayed outward.

The Iron-back Centipede let out a shrill, miserable hiss.

Its body writhed frantically a few times before it slammed heavily onto the ground, twitching until it stopped moving altogether.

The entire process took no more than three breaths.

Zhu Zhuqing retracted her stance and stood still, her expression devoid of the slightest ripple.

She looked back at Lei Xiang, who was still frozen in place; her eyes held no emotion, yet they were more wounding than any accusation.

Li Moyue hurried over, patting her chest as she gasped for air.

"That—that was too close! Senior Brother Lei, are you alright? Why didn't you dodge just now?"

Lei Xiang snapped back to reality, his face flushing red and then turning pale.

He looked at the corpse of the Iron-back Centipede on the ground, then at the indifferent Zhu Zhuqing, and the humiliation and fear that had been building for days erupted in an instant.

"I don't need your fake kindness!"

He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, and roared at Zhu Zhuqing.

"Who asked you to save me? I could have handled it myself!"

Li Moyue was startled by his outburst and hurriedly grabbed his arm.

"Senior Brother Lei, don't be like this. Zhuqing was only trying to save you..."

"Get lost!"

Lei Xiang shook her hand off, his eyes bloodshot as he glared at Zhu Zhuqing.

"I know you look down on me! Just because I lost to you last time? Do you have to show off at every turn!"

Zhu Zhuqing watched him quietly, ignoring his hysterical roaring entirely.

Only after he finished shouting did she speak calmly, her voice as cold as ice.

"If you want to die, do it on your own; don't drag us down with you."

This sentence was like a sharp blade, piercing through the last of Lei Xiang's self-esteem. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, nothing came out.

He merely glared fiercely at Zhu Zhuqing, turned around, and walked to the front of the group, moving forward without a word.

Li Moyue looked at Lei Xiang's back, then at Zhu Zhuqing, sighed helplessly, and hurried to catch up.

Zhu Zhuqing stood where she was, watching the backs of the two.

She knew very well that in the Star Dou Great Forest, any minor mistake would implicate the entire team.

If she had been a step slower just now, Lei Xiang would already be food for the Iron-back Centipede.

In the shadows of the trees in the distance, Lang Taihui took in everything.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"To strike with such decisiveness and ruthlessness, killing an Iron-back Centipede with the strength of a near-level 30 Soul Elder in three breaths."

"Her movements are sharper than they were a week ago, not even a speck of blood staining her; her speed and explosive power have also increased significantly."

"Did she take the Soul Ascension Pill that Miss Hu gave her?"

"Her soul power aura is indeed around level 25, but this sudden surge in explosive power is definitely not something that can be brought about by a mere increase in soul power."

"According to Li Moyue's reports, all she has done these days is meditate and cultivate in her room during the day and go out for weighted running at night."

"Could such a clumsy method really have such a great effect? It's simply laughable."

"This Zhu Zhuqing must be hiding some secret."

Lang Taihui knew every move Zhu Zhuqing made like the back of his hand.

Since Hu Liena had entrusted the person to him, he would naturally keep a close watch.

And from the very beginning, the one responsible for the close-range surveillance was not Lei Xiang, but the seemingly harmless Li Moyue.

He then looked at Lei Xiang, a trace of cold disgust flashing in his eyes.

Ever since that kid lost to Zhu Zhuqing that day, he had become absent-minded.

He had thought that letting him cool off for a few days would help him recover, but he hadn't expected him to be so hopeless.

His temperament was shattered by a single failure, to the point where he couldn't even manage the most basic reaction; he was a waste after all!

He had tarnished the reputation of his master, the Nether Demon Wolf Lang Taihui, for nothing!

Watching the three-person team move into the distance, Lang Taihui finally stepped out from behind the tree, his gaze falling on the corpse of the Iron-back Centipede on the ground.

"Hm?"

Lang Taihui suddenly frowned, his gaze falling upon the corpse of the Iron-back Centipede.

There was a deep, bone-reaching laceration on the creature's abdomen, the edges of the wound shimmering with an eerie purplish-black hue.

This was not the result of toxic erosion, but rather appeared to have been corroded by some kind of chilling, sinister power.

This wound was certainly not caused by Zhu Zhuqing.

In other words, this Iron-back Centipede had not been launching an active assault just now; it had been fleeing in a panic.

What concerned him even more was a faint, lingering aura on the corpse—cold, bone-piercing, and carrying an indescribable sense of malice.

In the blink of an eye, it dissipated into the forest breeze, as if it had never existed at all.

"Are there other soul masters hunting nearby?"

Lang Taihui pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

The outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest was a common place for soul masters to frequent; such a minor episode was hardly surprising.

He flicked his sleeves, stopped dwelling on it, and quickened his pace to catch up with the team ahead.

The real main event still lay in the valley of the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

"We're here."

Li Moyue lowered her voice, spread out the Martial Soul Hall reconnaissance map, and placed her fingertip on a marked location.

"According to the intelligence, the valley ahead, filled with red wildflowers, is the nest of the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent."

Zhu Zhuqing followed the direction she pointed and indeed saw a valley lying in the open space ahead.

The valley was densely packed with unknown red wildflowers, their petals as rich and vibrant as blood, appearing somewhat demonic under the shroud of the forest mist.

It was precisely because these flowers were nourished by the excrement of the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent that they grew so lushly.

The three of them crouched low, cautiously approaching the valley, and hid behind a giant boulder to observe while holding their breath.

Before long, a pale red serpentine soul beast slithered out from the flower beds.

Atop its head sat a bright red fleshy crest larger than its own head, so red it seemed as if it might drip blood.

Its tail fanned out, and a pair of pale red wings, thin as cicada wings, fluttered gently on its back, allowing it to hover slowly about three meters off the ground—this was their target.

The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent!

The soul power fluctuations of this snake were steady and heavy, several times stronger than the eight-hundred-year-old Iron-back Centipede from earlier.

"It's the one, around eleven hundred years of cultivation."

Li Moyue confirmed in a low voice, her tone trembling slightly; she was clearly very nervous.

Do not underestimate this three-hundred-year gap.

Among hundred-year soul beasts, this was equivalent to a span of four minor ranks.

Yet among thousand-year soul beasts, every hundred years represented a chasm that was difficult to cross.

Following the common knowledge that soul beasts inherently possess a physical advantage over soul masters of the same level, a fourteen-hundred-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent had enough strength to crush an ordinary level 31 Soul Elder.

Moreover, the Iron-back Centipede from earlier had been fleeing while already wounded, which was the only reason she had been able to take advantage of it.

The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent before them was in perfect condition, and its speed was top-tier.

If there were even the slightest flaw in their coordination, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Zhu Zhuqing withdrew her gaze and looked at the two people beside her.

Lei Xiang remained tight-faced, his eyes darting away; he clearly hadn't recovered from his loss of composure earlier.

Li Moyue was clutching the hem of her clothes, her expression nervous yet filled with a hint of anticipation.

She took a deep breath, having already made her decision.

"I need to know your martial souls and soul skills; tell me now."