"That's a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, probably between twelve hundred and eighteen hundred years old. Oscar, it'd be perfect for your third Soul Ring!"
After Zhu Zhuqing finished reporting the snake's features, Tang San reached his conclusion.
"Fatty! Snakes fear birds. You're up!"
Tang San gave the order. The Shrek Seven Devils had already begun to work together.
"Seven Treasures Famous, Second: Speed!"
Ning Rongrong had recovered from her earlier disappointment and joined the fight.
Against a thousand-year Soul Beast, the Seven Monsters could only stand a chance by fighting together.
[Kid, let's end this boring farce!]
"Second Soul Skill, Ice Scorpion Pincer!"
Nobody noticed that Murong Ci had already darted forward, an Ice Jade Scorpion's phantom behind him, his pincers charged and ready to strike.
Murong Ci thrust straight at the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's fleshy comb.
He held nothing back with that Ice Scorpion Pincer. It pierced straight through, and blood gushed out. The serpent was left with barely a breath in it.
However, with the system's help, Murong Ci didn't reveal his heaven-defying pair of purple Soul Rings. As the system put it, he still had someone to show off against later.
Zhao Wuji had been about to step in, but when he saw the outcome, he couldn't help staring in shock.
This guy... had some real skill.
Murong Ci casually grabbed the dying Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent and tossed it to Oscar. Then he returned to the tree and closed his eyes to rest.
"Thanks, brother," Oscar murmured, gratitude and admiration in his eyes.
As far as everyone understood, Tang San was the most exceptionally gifted among them. But now this guy had displayed strength several times greater than Tang San's?
There was always a taller mountain beyond the mountain.
Ning Rongrong couldn't help walking over. "Murong Ci, I had no idea you were this amazing. What I said before was just anger talking. And my dad pressured and tempted me, so..."
"But, young lady, your eyes betrayed you. Back then, your gaze was calm, without a trace of feeling."
"I should thank you for kicking me out of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. That's what allowed me to have such an opportunity."
Ning Rongrong stared at him blankly. A tear welled at the corner of her eye, but determination soon replaced it.
"You're stronger than me now, but I'll catch up to you one day!"
Murong Ci froze. It seemed Shrek's training had made her less overbearing. At least, she seemed to resent him a little less.
Though he didn't hate her that much anyway. He had lived with her family for six years, and giving him a four-hundred-year Soul Beast as a parting gift had been more than generous.
Just as Oscar was about to deliver the final blow to the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, a shout stopped him.
"Stop!"
Then an old woman appeared with a young girl.
"We were the ones who hunted this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent first. You only got it because you happened to find it after we did."
The old woman was Chao Tianxiang, Snake Granny of the Peerless Dragon Snake couple. The young girl beside her was Meng Yiran.
The two sides then introduced themselves. To Murong Ci, of course, it was all just pleasantries.
"Brother Zhao, do any of your disciples have what it takes to absorb a thousand-year Soul Ring?"
Zhao Wuji didn't beat around the bush. He immediately had everyone release their Martial Souls.
Chao Tianxiang's expression darkened. In her mind, her granddaughter was an unquestionable genius.
Yet none of the Shrek Seven Monsters were below Soul Grandmaster, and all of them were younger than her granddaughter. That made her feel rather awkward.
[Just wait. This classic scene from the original story won't change. It's also your perfect chance to show off.]
Sure enough, Chao Tianxiang proposed a one-on-one match, asking Oscar to fight Meng Yiran. But Zhao Wuji explained that Oscar was a food-type Soul Master.
Chao Tianxiang was already imagining Oscar joining her clan and helping her granddaughter in the future.
She was about to try to recruit Oscar when a sudden voice cut in.
"I'll fight in Oscar's place. I'm a level-thirty Battle Soul Master too. A fair one-on-one match—I won't bully you."
It was Murong Ci, of course. As soon as he finished speaking, he released his Martial Soul, and two purple Soul Rings appeared around him.
As expected... a configuration this heaven-defying would be shocking anywhere.
Everyone present was stunned. His First Soul Ring was purple?
Even a monster couldn't be this strong, could it? Shrek's principle was to accept only monsters, not ordinary people.
But in front of Murong Ci, those so-called monsters were nothing but ordinary people—perhaps even worse than ordinary.
Ning Rongrong swallowed nervously. She knew that the gap between her and Murong Ci would only grow wider from then on.
She hoped Murong Ci would forgive her and return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Even...
Her cheeks flushed slightly, while Oscar beside her looked dejected.
Chao Tianxiang was so stunned she could barely speak. She knew her granddaughter had no chance against this young man. Two yellow Soul Rings against two purple ones was nothing but asking for a beating.
"Very well, then. I'll let you have this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. But, young man, who taught you? What sect are you from?"
"I don't have a master, and I haven't joined a sect. I'm studying at Blazing Fire Academy right now. I came to hunt for my third Soul Ring on my own, ran into Senior Zhao, and joined them."
Chao Tianxiang's eyes lit up a little. "Since you don't belong to a sect, after you graduate from the academy, would you be willing to..."
"No. I like being on my own, free and unrestrained. As for sects and the like, I've given up hope."
Before Chao Tianxiang could finish, Murong Ci cut her off, crushing Ning Rongrong's last bit of hope as well.
With that, Chao Tianxiang didn't linger. She took Meng Yiran and continued searching for a Soul Ring.
Just as Oscar began absorbing his Soul Ring, Tang San let out a surprised exclamation and sat down to meditate.
Before long, Oscar finished absorbing his Soul Ring, and Tang San stood up too.
He told everyone the good news: he had also reached level thirty and could absorb a third Soul Ring.
And so, the group's journey through Star Dou Forest entered a new stage.
"System, didn't you tell me to look for the Demon Eye Magic Tree? Why are we following them?"
[Let's tag along for a bit. You're not in a hurry to go back. What, missing Huo Wu?]
"What else? It's been strange without her these past few days."
[Just wait. It'll happen soon. And weren't you looking forward to letting me take over? That's coming soon too.]
Letting it take over? Murong Ci thought for a moment, then finally remembered that they would encounter Titan Giant Ape here.
"System, you mean you want me to fight Er Ming, the Titan Giant Ape?"
[That's right. But you won't be the one fighting. I will. I'll let you see the power of Yongzhen in the future. Besides, though the cooldown is a month, you won't run into any powerful enemies over the next month, so we can have some fun.]
They searched for a Soul Beast for Tang San. The search lasted all afternoon.
Night fell. The group put up their tents and went back to rest. Murong Ci, however, was still staring blankly at the moonlight, lost in thought.
"Brother Murong, what are you thinking about?"
It was Tang San.
Murong Ci came back to himself, his thoughts wandering. Tang San wasn't all that bad at this point.
"I was thinking about... Spirit Hall. I want to join Spirit Hall one day. It's a sacred place for Soul Masters."
Tang San nodded slightly, clearly agreeing.
"Spirit Hall gives Soul Masters a monthly stipend and even awakens Martial Souls for commoners for free. It's a wonderful organization," Murong Ci continued.
"Mm, you're right. Unfortunately, my teacher won't let me join Spirit Hall. I guess that means we won't be fighting side by side in the future?"
[Is the host getting all worked up because of Tang San?]
"A little. He doesn't seem that bad right now."
[He's thinking about how to get rid of you. You're not a Shrek student, and you openly said you want to join Spirit Hall. Naturally, he trusts Gangzi. Gangzi advised him not to join Spirit Hall, so he knows that, at least as far as Gangzi is concerned, Spirit Hall isn't a good place. It's only natural that he thinks you might not be a good person either. On top of that, you haven't exactly treated Ning Rongrong well. He's already decided you're an enemy.]
"..."
"Fine, I guess I gave him too much credit. Tang Buddha is still Tang Buddha."
"Do you think we'll become enemies, Tang San?" Murong Ci suddenly asked.
Tang San's eyes flickered away for a moment.
"Maybe. Everyone has their own aspirations, and no feast lasts forever. We'll see what happens."
Tang San said this with a calm heart, but then the system's voice sounded in his mind.
[Character: Tang San. Inner thoughts: He sees right through everything. This man has already earned a death sentence.]
At that moment, Zhao Wuji suddenly released his Martial Soul. The Vajra Bear instantly enveloped him.
Zhao Wuji growled toward the people inside the tents.
Everyone burst out of their tents at once and readied themselves for battle.
In the distance, a colossal shadow, as vast as a mountain, emerged...