Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent (Part 2)

Lei Xiang frowned immediately upon hearing this, just about to retort, but was forced to swallow his words by Zhu Zhuqing's icy gaze.

Her tone was as cold and hard as iron, leaving no room for negotiation.

"You should know what this mission signifies."

"If you want to live, cooperate."

"If you want to die, charge in now; I won't stop you."

Lei Xiang's face turned a shade of green, then white.

He might not be fond of Zhu Zhuqing, but he dared not gamble with his own life and future.

In the Martial Soul Hall, disciples who failed their missions were no different from trash.

Zhu Zhuqing's heart was actually beating slightly faster.

This was the first time she had issued orders in such a forceful tone; though she was usually cold and taciturn, she had never been this aggressive.

But she was very clear on one thing now.

In a world where the weak are prey to the strong, lukewarm discussions would not earn concerted effort.

Only by pinning life, death, and stakes out in the open could she force fools to put away their useless pride.

Li Moyue was stunned for a moment, then nodded hurriedly.

Although her voice still stuttered slightly, she tried her best to speak clearly.

"M-my Martial Soul is the Ghost Vine, a control-support hybrid."

"My first Soul Skill, Ghost Vine Entanglement, can form a vine wall for defense or short-term binding."

"My second Soul Skill, Parasite, infuses the vines with paralytic toxins; it can drain the enemy's soul power and transfer it to teammates."

After she finished, she looked at Lei Xiang with eager eyes.

Lei Xiang gritted his teeth and spoke unwillingly.

"Martial Soul: Mad Shadow Wolf, agility-attack type."

"First Soul Skill: Violent Wind and Rain, a combo attack."

"Second Soul Skill: Berserk World, boosts all personal attributes, lasting for ten breaths."

Zhu Zhuqing ignored his resentment, her gaze returning to the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent circling in the valley.

Her brain raced, instantly formulating a complete tactical plan.

The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent had top-tier speed, but its flight altitude was limited, and the soft armor on its belly was a fatal weakness.

The base of its crest was the core of its soul power; severing it would cause it to lose most of its strength instantly, but it would also trigger a death-throes frenzy.

Its seven-colored poisonous mist had a wide range but spread slowly, allowing for evasion by utilizing the terrain.

Li Moyue's vine wall was just enough to take one head-on collision.

While the Parasite toxin couldn't kill it, it would significantly slow its speed, and the drained soul power could replenish their consumption.

Lei Xiang's Berserk World could temporarily grant him the physique of a power-attack type, allowing him to withstand a frontal impact.

But the ten-breath time limit had to be strictly managed; even one breath over would lead to a backlash.

That two-meter-wide stone crevice on the left was the key!

Luring it inside would completely restrict its flight advantage in the narrow space, forcing it to the ground.

As for the contingency plan...

Zhu Zhuqing's fingertips tightened slightly.

She pulled back her thoughts, her words short and forceful, without a single wasted syllable.

"Li Moyue, stand by on the left flank. Use the vine wall to block the first collision, and wait for my command to use Parasite."

"Lei Xiang, activate Berserk World and take the impact head-on."

"I will lure it into the stone crevice on the left."

"Do not act until I give the command."

Before the words had even faded, the first Soul Ring beneath Zhu Zhuqing's feet suddenly lit up, and her figure shot toward the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent in the valley like a pale purple bolt of lightning.

"Hell Stab!"

The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent whipped its head around, its scarlet vertical pupils locking onto the incoming figure.

With a flap of its wings, it dodged the attack while opening its maw to spew a massive cloud of seven-colored mist.

Wherever the mist passed, even the green grass withered and turned black instantly.

"Moyue!"

Zhu Zhuqing shouted.

"First Soul Skill: Ghost Vine Entanglement!"

Li Moyue reacted immediately, and several thick Ghost Vines burst from the soil, weaving into an airtight green wall in front of Zhu Zhuqing.

The colorful, dense mist collided with the vine wall, emitting a sizzling sound of corrosion as the vines blackened and withered at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Just then, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent took advantage of the cover provided by the poisonous mist and swooped down at a low altitude.

With a whistling sound, its tail lashed out fiercely toward Zhu Zhuqing.

"Berserk World!"

Lei Xiang let out a low roar, his body covered in gray-black wolf fur as his frame surged in size. He lunged forward, crossing his arms to take the blow head-on.

"Bang!"

With a dull thud, Lei Xiang's feet plowed two deep furrows into the ground.

Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, but he had managed to withstand the strike.

"Now! Parasite!"

Zhu Zhuqing shouted sharply.

A Ghost Vine, as thin as a strand of hair, shot out silently and pierced the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's seven-inch mark.

Pale purple paralytic toxin spread rapidly, and combined with the soul power extraction effect of the Parasite Soul Skill, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's movements slowed down by a noticeable beat.

"Go!"

Zhu Zhuqing turned and bolted toward the stone crevice on the left.

The intense pain caused by the Parasite toxin draining its soul power made the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent instinctively lock its hatred onto Zhu Zhuqing, who had attacked first and posed the greatest threat.

It hissed, shook off Lei Xiang, and gave chase relentlessly.

The narrow stone crevice effectively restricted its flight.

It was forced to lower its altitude, slithering along the ground in pursuit, leaving the soft armor of its underbelly completely exposed.

"Lei Xiang, use Violent Wind and Rain on its belly!"

Lei Xiang gritted his teeth and charged forward, his claws whistling with sharp wind as he frantically raked at the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's belly.

Pale red blood sprayed out, and the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent writhed in agony.

The snake's tail swept horizontally, slamming into Lei Xiang and sending him flying into a giant boulder, where he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Second Soul Skill: Hell Hundred Claws!"

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes as her second Soul Ring lit up.

Dense claw shadows fell like a rainstorm onto the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's belly, tearing open a wound deep enough to reveal bone.

Taking advantage of the moment it stiffened in pain, Zhu Zhuqing leaped into the air.

She condensed sharp soul power claws in her hands and slashed at the base of the cockscomb crest on its head.

"Puchi!"

Bright red blood geysered into the sky as the massive crest fell to the ground.

The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent let out a shriek of extreme misery, yet it did not die immediately.

Just as the intelligence report had stated, it had entered a berserk state!

The poisonous mist it spat out was several times darker in color.

The remaining Ghost Vines were instantly corroded into ash.

Li Moyue was unable to dodge in time; her arm was clipped by the snake's tail, leaving a wound deep enough to see bone.

"Zhuqing!"

Li Moyue screamed.

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze hardened; instead of retreating, she advanced.

Using the stone wall to rebound, her body traced a strange arc in the air.

Avoiding the poisonous mist, she once again condensed her soul power claws and thrust them fiercely into the torn wound on the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's belly, shredding its heart.

"Hiss!"

The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent twitched in agony a few times before its massive body slammed heavily onto the ground, falling completely still.

"We did it! We actually did it!"

Li Moyue shouted in pleasant surprise, clutching her bleeding arm as she nearly burst into tears.

Lei Xiang leaned against the boulder and slowly stood up.

The effects of Berserk World had faded; he was completely drained, his face as pale as paper, his forehead drenched in cold sweat.

He looked at the snake carcass on the ground, then at Zhu Zhuqing standing before the stone crevice, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

If not for Zhu Zhuqing's precise commands just now, given his previous state, he would truly have become the snake's food.

Zhu Zhuqing stumbled as she landed.

A long gash had been carved into her left arm by the snake scales, and blood dripped from her fingertips onto the ground.