Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent

Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent

"Well... it seemed like they were all eavesdropping yesterday, and they misunderstood a few things."

Just as Gu Yi was feeling puzzled, Zhu Zhuqing also came out of her room and explained somewhat awkwardly.

"..."

Gu Yi was speechless. Seriously, why were these people eavesdropping on others instead of sleeping in the middle of the night?

"My fault. It seems they misunderstood you." Zhu Zhuqing looked at Gu Yi with a hint of apology on her face.

Gu Yi did not think it was a big deal. They could just clear things up later.

He smiled and shook his head, then wrapped an arm around Zhu Zhuqing's slender waist and said softly, "It's fine. I don't care what they think. Caring about you is enough."

At those words, Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face instantly turned bright red. She gently pushed Gu Yi away and snapped coyly, "Pervert."

With that, she hurried downstairs as well.

Gu Yi smiled helplessly at the sight.

But suddenly, Ma Hongjun poked his head out from behind him. Grinning wickedly, he gave Gu Yi a thumbs-up.

"Brother Yi, amazing! I really learned something."

Gu Yi gave a bitter smile, said nothing, and quickly headed downstairs.

Ma Hongjun hurried after him. "Don't walk so fast, Brother Yi. Teach me another move or two."

The group did not linger long at the inn. After gathering together, they continued running toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

After resting for the night, everyone was full of energy. In a little over an hour, they arrived at the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

As the largest Soul Beast Forest on the continent, the place was filled with towering trees that pierced the clouds. Before they had even entered, fresh air rushed toward them. Roars of soul beasts occasionally echoed from within the forest, making it seem exceptionally mysterious.

"Alright! Stop!"

Before the forest, Zhao Wuji spoke.

At his words, everyone stopped and quickly gathered around Zhao Wuji.

"The Star Dou Great Forest is complicated. This is different from the Soul Beast Forests raised by the empire. Thousand-year and even ten-thousand-year soul beasts might attack you at any time. So once we enter the forest, none of you are to leave my side. Especially you two, Oscar and Ning Rongrong."

"And without my orders, no one is allowed to attack a soul beast. Understood?"

Zhao Wuji's expression was extremely stern as he spoke. Everyone listened attentively and responded in unison.

"Understood!"

Only then did Zhao Wuji nod in satisfaction. He waved his right hand forward. "Move out!"

After entering the Soul Beast Forest, the group's formation changed slightly. Tang San stayed at the rear, while Gu Yi and Dai Mubai took the lead.

The forest was filled with thorns and shrubs, with no paths at all. Thus, Dai Mubai was mainly responsible for clearing the way, while Gu Yi kept watch beside him.

Thanks to his martial soul's claws, Dai Mubai completed the task with ease.

But suddenly, a group of pink scorpion soul beasts blocked their path. They lay motionless on the ground, as though they had not noticed the group.

Their numbers were terrifying. With one glance, the two of them saw that the entire path ahead seemed to be covered in them.

Looking at the scene before him, a gleam flashed through Dai Mubai's eyes. His left hand had already slipped into his pocket, clutching a small jar filled with special powder.

If I quietly sprinkle the Beast Attracting Powder on him now, then...

No. These soul beasts can't hold him. I need to wait for something else. Dai Mubai, don't rush. There'll always be a chance.

Thinking this, Dai Mubai withdrew his left hand.

Gu Yi did not pay much attention to his movements. After pondering for a moment, he gestured for Dai Mubai to circle around them from the right.

Dai Mubai said nothing and silently continued clearing the way ahead.

The group walked for more than two hours, but even by noon, they had yet to find a suitable soul beast.

"Alright! Rest for now. Suitable soul beasts aren't so easy to find." Seeing that everyone had been tense for quite some time, Zhao Wuji signaled for them to take a break.

No one objected. They began resting where they stood, eating the sausages Oscar had prepared in advance and the drinks they carried with them to quickly recover their strength.

They were still in the outer region, where the soul beasts were generally weaker. To find a thousand-year soul beast, they would need to venture deeper.

But that would also increase the danger of their search, so everyone had to remain in peak condition.

Hmm, it should be soon, right?

According to the original story, that Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent should appear soon. Then Snake Woman and Meng Yiran will show up.

Leaning against a massive tree, Gu Yi pondered quietly.

He was not particularly concerned about either the soul beast or Snake Woman. Meng Yiran, on the other hand, gave him a headache.

She was also on the Goddess List arranged by the system. Gu Yi was now considering how he could squeeze some gains out of her.

Even a mosquito was still meat. As long as he could gain 5% favorability, Gu Yi would be satisfied.

But she had not appeared much in the original story, and Tang San was the only one who had interacted with her. For the moment, Gu Yi truly could not think of a way to gain her favor.

Forget it. I'll take it one step at a time. There'll always be an opportunity.

Gu Yi let go of the matter. It was best to let everything take its natural course. Besides, there would be other targets for him to squeeze later.

The forest was so vast. If this tree would not do, there were plenty more.

As Gu Yi was thinking, Zhao Wuji and Tang San suddenly stood up. They both looked in the same direction.

"Get up! Something's coming!" Zhao Wuji shouted.

The moment he spoke, everyone instantly released their martial souls and tacitly surrounded Ning Rongrong and Oscar in the middle. Even Zhao Wuji was no exception.

"Zhu Zhuqing, go take a look. What is it?" Zhao Wuji ordered in a deep voice.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded and swiftly leaped into the air. The claws in her hands silently extended as she climbed up the trunk to the top of the tree.

Enhanced by her martial soul, her vision had become exceptionally sharp. She immediately saw what was making the noise.

"It's a flying snake. It has a bright red fleshy crest on its head and a fan-shaped tail," Zhu Zhuqing called down to the group.

At her words, Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up. He looked happily at Oscar and laughed. "Kid, you're in luck. That's a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, a very rare soul beast. It's just a shame we don't know its age."

"Zhu Zhuqing, keep an eye on its direction and report to us at all times."

"Yes! It's flying rapidly toward us. It seems to be fleeing from something terrifying, and it looks injured."

The moment Gu Yi heard those words, he was certain. This was the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent being hunted by Snake Woman and the others. Everything matched.

He quietly activated his Third Soul Skill, flashing instantly to Zhu Zhuqing's side, then looked behind the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

Sure enough, around two thousand meters behind it, two human figures were rushing in their direction.

"Finally."