Zhao Wuji still shook his head and said to Oscar and the others, "It's settled. We'll help Oscar obtain his Soul Ring first, then immediately withdraw from the Star Dou Great Forest and wait for Chen Xuanqing on the outskirts. Everyone, proceed carefully and stay safe."
Tang San nodded helplessly at his words, left with no choice but to agree.
After making certain that the group from Shrek Academy was no longer following him, Chen Xuanqing suddenly felt an urge to turn the tables and follow them.
"They followed us for so long. Let's see if we can cause them some trouble and wreck their plans," Chen Xuanqing whispered to Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing beside him.
A mischievous gleam flashed through Xiao Wu's eyes. Covering her mouth as she giggled, she said, "Brother Xuanqing, you're so naughty! I love it."
Xiao Wu's coy voice was sweet and captivating, brimming with admiration and affection for Chen Xuanqing.
Zhu Zhuqing stood quietly to one side, watching the two conspire and silently mourning the fate of the Shrek Academy group.
Thus, the three quietly changed direction and began trailing the group from Shrek Academy instead, carefully keeping their distance to avoid being noticed.
As time passed, they had followed them for roughly four hours.
By then, the sun had climbed to its zenith, bathing the earth in golden light.
During those four hours, the trio encountered quite a few low-level Soul Beasts. Most were weak ten-year or hundred-year Soul Beasts.
They generally chose to avoid them rather than clash with them directly.
However, Chen Xuanqing's powerful aura terrified the surrounding Soul Beasts, so very few dared approach of their own accord to court death.
Just as everyone was advancing cautiously, fully focused, Zhao Wuji suddenly shouted from the front, his voice booming like thunder through the silent forest: "Stay alert! Something's approaching!"
His voice was filled with vigilance and tension. Clearly, he had already sensed something.
Tang San and Dai Mubai reacted almost simultaneously, moving in perfect unison to shield Oscar and protect the team's support Soul Master.
Ma Hongjun swiftly moved to one side, ready to respond to any sudden development.
Everyone released their Martial Souls at once, and waves of powerful auras spread through the forest. Even the ever-composed Zhao Wuji revealed his Martial Soul, the great strength vajra bear.
A rustling sound drew steadily closer from the distance, the unknown creature's speed of approach enough to set their hearts pounding.
Even Oscar, a support Soul Master, could clearly sense the rapidly approaching threat.
He gripped his staff tightly, his palms slightly sweaty and his eyes shining with resolve.
Standing to one side, Chen Xuanqing curled his lips into a teasing smile. "Looks like we're in for a good show."
Although Chen Xuanqing's voice was quiet, it sounded particularly jarring in the tense atmosphere.
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing grew interested as well, staring at the figures ahead with curiosity and anticipation gleaming in their eyes.
As the rustling drew closer and closer, a peculiar creature gradually came into view.
It was a flying serpent, its body forming an elegant curve and its scales shimmering faintly in the sunlight. It did not fly very high, only moving forward about three meters above the ground.
Its most striking feature was the fleshy crest on its head, blood-red and seemingly larger than the head itself.
Its tail was unusual too, spreading out in the shape of an enormous fan.
The instant Zhao Wuji saw the serpent, a flash of delighted surprise crossed his eyes.
He said excitedly, "It's a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent! This kind of Soul Beast is quite rare. The fleshy crest on its head has many remarkable uses. This will be a tremendous prize for you. Unfortunately, I don't know how many years of cultivation this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent has."
Tang San calmly observed the serpent, a shrewd gleam in his eyes.
After only a brief glance at the serpent, Tang San had reached a conclusion. He said confidently, "This is a thousand-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. Its pale-red wings mark a thousand years of evolution. Judging by its body length, it should be between six and eight meters long, so its cultivation should be between thirteen hundred and eighteen hundred years. Oscar, this serpent is just right for you."
At Tang San's words, Oscar's alluring eyes immediately lit up. "Tang San, you're truly a walking encyclopedia of the Martial Soul world! Amazing, absolutely amazing."
"Hey, Oscar, stop piling on the flattery," Zhao Wuji interrupted with a wave, his eyes fixed on the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent nearby.
"To save everyone some time, I'll deal with this little snake myself!"
As Zhao Wuji finished speaking, his third Soul Skill, Gravity Enhancement, and his fifth Soul Skill, Gravity Compression, erupted into action.
Zhao Wuji brought his hands together, and an invisible force instantly spread outward, enveloping the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent as it glided through the air.
Its once-agile body now seemed trapped in a mire. Its speed plummeted, and its graceful flight became a stumbling descent until it fell helplessly from the sky.
At the sight, Zhao Wuji darted forward and appeared where the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was about to land.
He reached out with his large hand and seized the serpent at its vital spot behind the head. The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent instantly became unable to move, only managing faint hisses.
He then raised it before him and flicked its fleshy crest with his other hand. Faced with the brute force of the great strength vajra bear, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was knocked unconscious on the spot.
Had Zhao Wuji not needed to keep it alive, that single flick would have been more than it could withstand.
Then Zhao Wuji casually tossed the thousand-year Soul Beast at Oscar's feet.
Delight flashed in Oscar's eyes, and he hurriedly flattered him. "Teacher Zhao, your prowess is truly unmatched! This thousand-year Soul Beast is practically a toy in your hands!"
Ma Hongjun, standing nearby, could not resist teasing him. "All right, all right, Oscar, stop kissing up and hurry up and absorb the Soul Ring! Keep dawdling, and you'll praise this Soul Beast straight into the sky!"
At his words, Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Zhao Wuji all clutched their bellies with laughter, the atmosphere between them becoming relaxed and cheerful.
Zhao Wuji drew a sharp dagger from his waist and handed it with a smile to the visibly excited Oscar, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
"The longer the night, the more dreams can haunt it. Do it now." As he spoke, Zhao Wuji pointed to a vital spot on the Soul Beast's head and explained in detail, "Thrust in here, just below its fleshy crest, and you'll pierce its brain precisely. Then this Soul Ring will be yours."
Oscar carefully accepted the dagger, his eyes gleaming with excitement and anticipation.
At that moment, the thousand-year Soul Beast looked utterly helpless before him, like a lamb awaiting slaughter, powerless to resist.
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