Red-Feather Snake

The Shrek Seven Monsters began slowing down, carefully observing the soul beasts around them.

"Keep heading deeper into the outer region. The soul beasts here are too young for you. There's no need to waste time here," Tang Xuan said. Most of the soul beasts in this area were hundred-year soul beasts. Occasionally, a few just over a thousand years old appeared, but none met Tang Xuan's requirements. His expectations for the Seven Monsters went far beyond that.

At his words, the Seven Monsters picked up their pace and continued forward. As they ventured deeper, the surroundings changed. The vegetation grew increasingly dense and tall. Although they had yet to encounter any soul beasts, the atmosphere had become so oppressive that it made their hair stand on end.

Tang Xuan extended his spiritual power to scan their surroundings. It could cover any spot within a ten-li radius, allowing him to know everything within that range like the back of his hand. He swept the area and soon discovered something.

"Everyone, stop! Take cover. Something's coming." At his words, everyone leaped into the undergrowth to hide. Zhu Zhuqing jumped onto a tree trunk to observe the situation.

A few minutes later, everyone sensed something approaching. From the sound, it seemed to be darting rapidly through the forest, drawing closer and closer.

"It's a flying snake with a fleshy crest on its head. Its whole body is crimson, and it's flying two or three meters above the ground," Zhu Zhuqing reported from the tree trunk. Tang San activated his Purple Demon Eye and instantly saw what was approaching.

"It's a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, about fifteen hundred years old. This kind of soul beast is very suitable for Oscar. Everyone, get ready." The Seven Monsters prepared to hunt it.

Zhao Wuji patted Oscar and said with a smile, "To think it's a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent! Oscar, you lucky brat!" Although the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was not the finest snake-type soul beast, it was one of the best choices for a food-type soul master like Oscar. Tang Xuan stood nearby, smiling without a word.

Oscar smiled and rubbed his head. "Sorry for the trouble, everyone. Once I get my third soul ring, I'll treat you all to a taste of my soul skill."

But just as everyone was about to strike, Tang Xuan spoke. "Xiao San, let this little snake pass. It's still too green. The big prize is behind it!" Everyone froze at his words. A fifteen-hundred-year soul beast was too green? What kind of logic was that? And what big prize could be following it?

Tang San examined the area again with his Purple Demon Eye. Sure enough, something else was chasing the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. No wonder it was racing forward so frantically.

"Xiao Xuan, I'm not picky. I think this one's already pretty good," Oscar whispered to Tang Xuan. Watching a soul beast that was practically in his mouth fly away before his eyes, he felt it was a real shame.

Tang Xuan patted his shoulder, signaling him to calm down.

"Xiao Ao, don't rush. Let this one go. There's an even better one behind it."

"Really?" Oscar looked at Tang San in disbelief.

"Xiao Ao, there really is a better one behind it." It's just a little unusual. Tang San looked at Tang Xuan. He truly had no idea what Tang Xuan was thinking.

Hearing that an even better soul beast was coming, Oscar immediately said, "All right, I'll listen to Xiao Xuan and take the one behind it."

"The soul beasts are coming!" Zhu Zhuqing signaled.

"Everyone, get ready," Dai Mubai said.

The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent rapidly approached their position, and the creature pursuing it was actually another snake. It was more than twice the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's size, also had a pair of wings, and was covered in crimson scales. The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent in front swiftly passed Tang Xuan and the others. Perhaps because it was so intent on catching its prey, the snake behind it failed to notice them either. It continued charging straight ahead in close pursuit. It was even faster than the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent and was already about to catch up.

"Second soul skill, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!"

"First soul skill, Phoenix Fire Line!"

"Seven treasures turn, glazed tiles emerge. First: Strength! Second: Speed!" Two yellow soul rings shone around the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in Ning Rongrong's hand.

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, their two assault fighters, struck swiftly, cutting off the pursuer's path. The snake was highly alert. Sensing their attacks, it instinctively retreated, but the aftershocks still injured it.

"Second soul skill, Netherworld Hundred Claws!" In that instant, Zhu Zhuqing's attack arrived silently as well. With Ning Rongrong's enhancement, she had become even faster. A single strike pierced one of the snake's eyes. Blinded in one eye, it began lashing out wildly in every direction, trying to break free. Its tail swept toward Zhu Zhuqing, who flipped away to dodge. It began spraying liquid from its mouth in all directions, forcing its attackers to retreat at once.

"That liquid isn't poisonous." Hearing Tang San's words, Dai Mubai charged forward and sent the snake flying with a punch.

"First soul skill, Entanglement!" Tang San activated his soul skill and dragged the snake back.

"First soul skill-Strangulation!" The Blue Silver Grass wrapped around the snake instantly tightened, pinning it firmly to the ground. At first, it had been too fast for Tang San to control effectively, allowing it to dart about wildly. Now it could no longer escape.

"Second soul skill, Soul Devouring!" Tang San followed with the second form of his second soul skill, one of the soul skills he had developed through years of exploration. Soul Devouring could not only consume a soul beast's soul power, but also drive the toxins contained in the Blue Silver Grass into its body. The areas constricted by the grass had already turned a blackish blue. Its poison had seeped through the snake's scales. The snake's vitality was slowly draining away, and its struggles grew weaker and weaker.

"Second soul skill, Desire-Flame Phoenix!" Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Flame engulfed the snake.

"Fatty, won't your flames burn through Xiao San's Blue Silver Grass and let it escape?" Dai Mubai asked worriedly. Ma Hongjun rubbed his head and replied uncertainly, "They probably won't."

"Besides, Third Brother's Blue Silver Grass is immune to fire! And we already beat that snake until it stopped struggling. How could it still run? Once the flames die out, Xiao Ao should be able to absorb its soul ring."

Dai Mubai thought that made sense. There was no need to worry too much. He walked over to Tang San and the others, and they waited together for the flames to die out. But just as everyone lowered their guard, the snake that should have been trapped in the flames suddenly broke free of the Blue Silver Grass. Its wings beat desperately as it fled into the distance.

"Oh no! The soul beast's escaping!" Oscar cried out, having kept his eyes on the situation the entire time.

Tang San immediately activated his Blue Silver Grass, hoping to restrain it again, but it was too late. The grass could not begin to match its speed, and even Zhu Zhuqing failed to catch up.

"It's over! The duck already in my mouth has flown away!" Oscar dropped onto his backside and wailed. But just as everyone thought the soul beast had escaped, two white flashes suddenly appeared, severing one of its wings and its tail. Losing its balance, the snake crashed into a tree and fell to the ground, writhing in agony. The Seven Monsters looked toward the source of those flashes. Tang Xuan and Zhao Wuji stood on the huge branch of a towering tree, watching them.

"What are you standing around for? Go check whether that snake's dead!" Zhao Wuji barked. The Seven Monsters snapped out of their daze and ran toward the snake. Tang Xuan and Zhao Wuji jumped down from the tree and followed.

Tang Xuan had launched that attack. Seeing the soul beast about to escape, he had raised his hand and released two streaks of sword energy. No matter how fast the snake ran, it could not outrun his sword energy. He had gravely wounded it with ease.

The snake was still struggling on the brink of death, its remaining body rolling ceaselessly across the ground. Bright red blood poured from its cleanly severed wounds, staining the soil beneath it.

Not daring to delay again, Oscar drew a dagger and stabbed into its lower jaw. Tang Xuan noticed Xiao Wu turning away nearby. She had not taken part in the hunt either. He could not blame her; watching others kill her own kind was truly cruel. Oscar brought his blade down, and a purple soul ring rose, marking the end of a life.

"Brother, can Xiao Ao absorb this three-thousand-year Red-Feather Snake's soul ring?" After pondering for a long time, Tang San finally asked.

"What? Three thousand years!" Everyone cried out together. Oscar turned to Tang Xun. "Xiao Xuan, are you trying to get me killed? I'm not as freakish as you!" Most soul masters' third soul rings were only around fifteen hundred years old. Not everyone could be as freakish as Tang Xuan and Tang San. Even Zhao Wuji frowned in confusion, unable to understand Tang Xuan's intentions. Facing their puzzled gazes, Tang Xuan said calmly, "After these three months of special training, during which each of you took twelve Body Tempering Pills, your physiques have improved tremendously. The age of the soul rings your bodies can handle should rise accordingly." He glanced at everyone and continued, "Besides, when you absorb your soul rings, I can help you, allowing you to absorb older ones."

Those words left everyone utterly overwhelmed with shock.

As he spoke, Tang Xuan took a white medicine bottle from inside his robes, poured out a pill, and handed it to Oscar.

"This is a Fourth-Grade Soul-Congealing Pill. It can protect your soul from harm while you absorb a soul ring, reduce the impact of the soul beast's soul power, and make absorption less difficult." Everyone stared at the tiny pill in Oscar's hand with burning eyes.

"Brother Xuan, that's a real treasure!" Ma Hongjun said excitedly. Zhao Wuji also marveled, "The world is vast, and there's no end to its wonders. I never imagined something like this existed."

"Even with a pill's assistance, it ultimately comes down to your own physique. You've already built a solid physical foundation, and now you have the pills to help you as well. That means my requirements for all your soul rings will be much higher than those for ordinary soul masters. For example, your third soul rings must be at least two thousand years old!" Tang Xuan's words dragged everyone out of their daydreams.

"Xiao Xuan, do you mean we all get one?" Dai Mubai asked.

Tang Xuan smiled. "Of course."

"Xiao Ao, take the pill and start absorbing the soul ring immediately. Delay breeds trouble," Tang Xuan instructed. Oscar nodded and immediately swallowed the Soul-Congealing Pill. Sitting cross-legged on the ground, he drew the Red-Feather Snake's soul ring toward him. The deep purple ring hovered above his head, and its power began pouring into his body. Absorbing a soul ring was actually no easier than hunting a soul beast. It was a painful, grueling process that could not be rushed. This three-thousand-year soul ring still posed a considerable challenge for Oscar. Sweat covered his forehead, and his expression twisted in pain. Everyone silently broke into a cold sweat for him. Tang Xuan summoned the Godslayer Sword and flicked his sword fingers, sending it plunging into the Red-Feather Snake's body. Until a soul ring was absorbed or dissipated, it remained connected to its original body. Tang Xuan first devoured part of the Red-Feather Snake's power to ease the pressure on Oscar. The snake's body visibly shriveled, as though it had been dead for a long time. At first, everyone was baffled by Tang Xuan's actions, but the horrifying sight of the snake rapidly withering left them stunned. Tang Xuan ignored their astonished gazes. Thanks to what he had just done, the pressure on Oscar had clearly lessened, and his absorption of the soul ring began to stabilize. With a thought, Tang Xuan recalled the Godslayer Sword.