Instant Kill Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent

Zhu Zhuqing observed carefully:

"It can only fly about three meters above the canopy. It has a fleshy crest on its head that looks larger than its head itself, bright red like blood, and its tail is a distinct fan shape."

Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up: "It's a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. It's a very rare Soul Beast. Oscar, you're in luck!"

"Zhuqing, what about its wing color and body length?"

Zhu Zhuqing's voice drifted down from the canopy:

"The wings are pale pink, and the body length is between six and eight meters."

Tang San immediately interjected:

"The pale pink color is the sign of a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent evolving to the thousand-year level. A body length of six to eight meters means its age is between 1,300 and 1,800 years. Furthermore, it is non-venomous, and its greatest trait is its speed."

"Oscar, it's perfect for you!"

Oscar was thrilled and looked at Xia Yan: "Xia Yan, can I absorb it?!"

Tang San's expression stiffened instantly.

Xia Yan pondered:

"After this year of training, combined with the high quality of your Martial Soul, the age of the Soul Ring you can absorb can indeed exceed the 1,760-year limit for a third Soul Ring. However, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent is a rare Soul Beast; it will most likely grant you high-speed flight, and it is a very rare group-flight soul skill."

"My advice is, rather than searching for a common-quality Soul Beast just for a bit more age, you should choose this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. It suits you very well."

Zhao Wuji spoke up:

"Decide quickly, it's about to run away. It won't be easy to encounter this kind of Soul Beast again."

Just as they were speaking, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was about to fly over their heads.

Oscar panicked: "Don't let it go!"

"That's the one!"

"I'll absorb it, I'll absorb it!"

Zhao Wuji gave the order: "Alright, get ready immediately. That's the one."

Hearing this, everyone immediately summoned their Soul Rings, yellow and purple light vibrating.

Zhu Zhuqing's cat tail flicked nimbly behind her: "I'll go intercept it."

But Xia Yan jumped onto the canopy in a few steps and stopped her:

"No need, leave it to me."

Do they really need a team fight to deal with a Soul Beast under two thousand years old?

Before anyone could react, he had already rushed up, summoned the Demon Suppressing Pagoda, and released his second and third Soul Rings.

His arms were imbued with Light Power.

His speed was so fast that his body became a blur.

The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, which had been fleeing for its life, was startled by the sudden appearance of Xia Yan and swerved sharply to the left to escape.

It was a Soul Beast with extreme speed, but Xia Yan was faster.

A lightning-fast fist appeared in an instant, punching through its massive lower jaw. The nearly eight-meter-long Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was knocked unconscious immediately.

Its body, moving at several meters per second, suddenly lost all momentum.

With a thud, it fell from the canopy.

It crashed directly onto the ground that Dai Mubai had cleared, landing right in front of everyone:

"Boom..."

The ground shook slightly, and broken branches and leaves fell along with it.

"..."

"..."

Ma Hongjun and the others were stunned, their gazes slowly shifting from the unconscious, heavily injured Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent on the ground to the landed Xia Yan.

The latter looked relaxed, as if he had just returned from a casual stroll.

This... is this even human?!

A two-thousand-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, dealt with just like that?!

Among those present, Zhu Zhuqing, who was still standing on the canopy, covered her mouth with trembling eyes, unable to believe what she was seeing.

She had clearly seen just now that Xia Yan's second Soul Ring... was also purple!

It was a thousand-year Soul Ring!

The second Soul Ring is also a thousand-year one?!

How is that possible?!

Xia Yan landed lightly: "Stop looking at me, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent is on the ground."

The group finally snapped back to their senses.

Ma Hongjun stepped forward, his hand trembling as he reached out to touch the creature. The scales of the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent were hard and smooth, and its wings were larger than his entire body...

This... this is the true strength of Brother Xia Yan!

Zhao Wuji handed over a dagger. "Little Oscar, hurry up and do it, lest any accidents occur."

"Stab it into the brain, right beneath the fleshy crest."

He glanced at Xia Yan, feeling equally stunned. This was the first time he had witnessed Xia Yan fighting a soul beast with his own eyes.

The result was even more extreme than his most radical expectations.

He had assumed it would take Xia Yan at least ten seconds to resolve the fight, but if one only counted the time spent in action, it hadn't even taken a second. Even counting from the moment he reached the treetop, it was less than five seconds!

"Oh, oh..."

Oscar took the dagger with both hands, his expression dazed. He had yet to fully recover from the shock of seeing the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent brought down.

It was too terrifying!

Just as he was about to strike, a hoarse, sharp shout suddenly rang out: "Stop!"

The group was startled and turned to look.

Less than fifty meters away on their left stood an old woman and a young girl, six soul rings pulsing around them.

The old woman leaned on a three-meter-long serpent-headed cane. She appeared to be in her sixties or seventies, her hair gray but neatly combed. Though her face was lined with wrinkles, her complexion was ruddy and she looked full of vigor.

The six soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, purple, black—belonged to her.

The girl in purple beside her looked to be nearly fifteen or sixteen. With neat short hair and striking features, she held a serpent-headed cane over a meter long.

Her brown eyes were fixed intently on the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent on the ground.

Judging by her expression, she was full of hostility toward the Shrek group.

Zhao Wuji raised an eyebrow, and seven soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—surged into view. A mere Soul Emperor dares to threaten me?

However, he couldn't shake the feeling that the serpent canes in their hands looked familiar.

Standing before the Shrek group, he crossed his arms, his attitude unexpectedly gentle:

"Is there something you need?"

When Serpent Granny saw that Zhao Wuji was a Soul Saint, her momentum instantly withered. Damn it, how could there be a Soul Saint in the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest?

Beside her, Meng Yiran subconsciously grabbed the hem of Serpent Granny's robe.

Serpent Granny immediately put on a gentle face and cupped her hands. "Respected Soul Saint, this old woman is Chao Tianxiang, and this is my granddaughter, Meng Yiran. We were the ones who discovered that Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent first."

Zhao Wuji's heart sank.

No wonder they looked familiar. It's the Serpent Granny Chao Tianxiang of the Peerless Dragon and Serpent.

He inadvertently scanned his surroundings. The Dragon Duke and Serpent Granny were never apart; if Serpent Granny was here, the Dragon Duke couldn't be far behind...

Zhao Wuji wore a gentle smile and returned the salute. "So it is the senior Serpent Granny of the Peerless Dragon and Serpent. This junior is Zhao Wuji..."

Serpent Granny's face twitched. Damn it, I actually ran into this troublemaker.

The Immovable Bright King Zhao Wuji had been famous for decades, known for the fact that he dared to provoke even the Martial Soul Hall and still manage to escape.

"I wouldn't dare. I was wondering how I could run into such a young Soul Saint—it turns out to be the Immovable Bright King Zhao Wuji. I have long admired your name..."

The opening was decent enough. Although both were cursing each other internally, they maintained the necessary social graces.

The atmosphere remained quite harmonious.

However, behind them, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others were all bewildered, unable to understand why the usually tough Zhao Wuji had suddenly become so amiable.

Was the opposition that strong? And who were the Peerless Dragon and Serpent?

Seeing that the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent had been severely wounded, Serpent Granny didn't want to drag things out, so she said in a friendly tone:

"I am a bit older than you, so I will take the liberty of calling you Brother Zhao.

"Brother Zhao, my granddaughter has just reached level thirty, and we were the ones who first discovered this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent and wounded it. Look, there are two wounds on its flank that we left behind.

"I didn't expect it to escape, and running into Brother Zhao and his group during the pursuit was truly an accident.

"Could I ask Brother Zhao to do us a favor and return this soul beast to us? This old woman will certainly keep this kindness in mind and will surely repay it in the future."

Oscar became anxious immediately. This is my snake.

You want to snatch my snake?!

"Teacher Zhao..."