The Divine Realm's core had been destroyed? Huo Yuhao? That name stirred something in his heart.
The Great God Circle had collapsed, and the gods had been reborn. It seemed things were gradually getting interesting.
The next day.
At noon.
The Shrek group hurried through the dense forest, stepping over damp, fallen branches.
Zhao Wuji and Flender walked at the front, their brows knitted tightly. They were clearly still troubled by their tight finances.
But Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun, who followed behind them, looked quite different from usual. Their frivolous grins were gone, replaced by an easygoing air that seemed at odds with their age.
All three of them carried memories from after becoming gods, so they naturally knew what Oscar should choose for his third Soul Ring.
That thousand-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent possessed both speed and defense, perfectly making up for the Sausage Martial Soul's weakness as a support-oriented ability. It had also been the key to Oscar's breakthrough to Soul Elder in his previous life.
If Ye Zhiqiu hadn't injured them a few days ago and delayed their journey, they should have intercepted the Soul Beast first.
"We're almost there. It's just ahead, by that Rock Slope!" Oscar said in a low voice, his eyes gleaming with confidence.
His memories from after becoming a god were crystal clear. He could even recall the exact spot where the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent had appeared.
Once he claimed this Soul Beast, his third Soul Skill would take shape, and his strength would make a qualitative leap.
Dai Mubai nodded, a cold glint flashing in his Evil Eye.
"Relax. With Hongjun and me here, that slippery snake won't get away."
Ma Hongjun clenched his fists too. Flames from his Phoenix Martial Soul flickered faintly in his palms; he was clearly ready for battle.
But when they rounded a bend in the mountain, the sight before them made Oscar's pupils shrink. The color drained from his face in an instant.
On the Rock Slope stood two figures beside the corpse of a fiery-red serpent.
The serpent was ten meters long, with a brilliant comb on its head. It was the very target of their journey.
The thousand-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent!
A fist-sized Soul Ring slowly rose from the serpent's brow, glowing with the rich purple hue unique to a thousand-year Soul Ring. A girl in a green dress absorbed it with steady composure.
Beside the girl stood an old man and an older woman.
The old man's hair and beard were white, and he held a snake-shaped staff. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's. The old woman wore a gray robe, her face lined with wrinkles, and faint fluctuations of Soul Power surrounded her.
They were none other than the famous Dragon Duke Meng Shu and Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang, along with their granddaughter, Meng Yiran!
"No—!"
A heart-wrenching howl rang out inside Oscar. As though all the strength had been ripped from his body, he staggered backward two steps, silently crying out again and again, That's mine! That's my Soul Ring!
He could hardly believe that after losing just one day, someone had beaten him to the opportunity he'd had in his previous life!
Without this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, he would have to find another Soul Beast for his third Soul Skill. That would waste a great deal of time, and he might not find anything nearly as suitable.
In his previous life, this serpent had been waiting for him to claim it. How had Meng Yiran suddenly taken it from him?
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun's expressions darkened too. They knew how important this Soul Beast was to Oscar. They exchanged a glance, each seeing the gravity of the situation in the other's eyes.
But Dragon Duke and Snake Granny were far stronger than they were. Even with memories from after becoming gods, they were only around level thirty, Soul Elders, and stood no chance against them.
Zhao Wuji and Flender also took in the situation, their expressions instantly turning complicated.
They had heard plenty about Dragon Duke and Snake Granny. Around the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest, the two were practically untouchable.
They exchanged a glance, both seeing the wariness in the other's eyes.
Zhao Wuji stepped forward, forced a smile, and clasped his hands in greeting. "Dragon Duke, Snake Granny."
Flender hurriedly chimed in. "We didn't expect to run into you two here. What a pleasure."
Dragon Duke Meng Shu glanced at them and snorted through his nose, clearly not taking the two Soul Saints seriously.
Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang folded her arms, her expression indifferent. "Oh? Flying Horn Flender, and... Zhao Wuji? I never expected you, the Fierce God, to be hanging around with Flender."
Zhao Wuji let out an awkward laugh, not daring to respond.
Their strength was lacking right now. They had no grounds to challenge these two seniors.
Just then, Meng Yiran slowly opened her eyes.
She had just finished absorbing the Soul Ring. Her face was a little pale, but her delicate features still held their charm.
The thousand-year Soul Ring's energy had caused her aura to surge, lending her a lively air.
She raised her head and looked over the Shrek group. When her gaze landed on Fu Qin, toward the back of the party, her eyes suddenly lit up.
Fu Qin stood beside Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu, tall and straight, with handsome features and a calm, steady air.
Unlike Dai Mubai's swagger, Oscar's lecherous look, or Ma Hongjun's foolishness, Fu Qin possessed a gentle, refined bearing that seemed to conceal a sharp edge. It instantly caught Meng Yiran's attention.
Seeing such a handsome, remarkable young man in the middle of nowhere made Meng Yiran's heart skip a beat.
With Dragon Duke and Snake Granny backing her, Meng Yiran had always been willful and bold. She immediately walked straight up to Fu Qin, her steps light as a lotus flower. Looking up at him, she asked in a clear, bell-like voice, "Hey, what's your name?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly across the area. Everyone's gaze snapped toward Fu Qin, and the atmosphere turned delicate in an instant.
Tang San, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun exchanged glances, a knowing glint in their eyes.
Well, well. Meng Yiran had taken a liking to Fu Qin!
All four of them carried memories from after becoming gods, and each had their own little scheme in mind.
They'd disliked Fu Qin for a long time.
If they could win Meng Yiran over and make her Fu Qin's girlfriend, she would not only draw Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu's attention away from him, but also let them use Dragon Duke and Snake Granny's influence as protection. It would be killing two birds with one stone!
The four exchanged glances and reached an unspoken agreement.
Tang San spoke first, a warm smile on his face, though his tone carried a deliberate note of matchmaking.
"Miss, his name is Fu Qin. He's twelve years old, and his Martial Soul is a benignly mutated Mind Glove. He's already a level thirty-four Soul Elder. Most importantly, he's single—he doesn't have a girlfriend."
As soon as he finished, Dai Mubai chimed in.
"That's right! Brother Fu Qin is a genius from Shrek Academy. He's powerful, and his character is beyond reproach!"
Oscar forced a smile, swallowing the pain of losing the Soul Ring. "You have a good eye, miss. Brother Fu Qin is definitely someone worth entrusting yourself to!"
Ma Hongjun nodded vigorously beside them. "Right, right!"
The four of them chimed in one after another, as if they were trying to sell Fu Qin off.
But the moment they finished speaking, a sweet yet furious voice rang out.
"Who said he was single!"