Shrek, Haunting Him Still!

Tang Tianlin recognized the Soul Beast at a glance. It was a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, roughly a thousand years old.

Wait...

Tang Tianlin raised his brows slightly.

A Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, a thousand years old, fleeing with serious injuries... surely it couldn't be such a coincidence?

At that thought, Tang Tianlin narrowed his eyes slightly and released a trace of Dragon Might toward the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent.

The next second, the fleeing Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent shuddered violently. Its wings froze in midair, and its entire body plummeted straight down, leaving it completely unconscious.

Tang Tianlin withdrew his Dragon Might, his expression indifferent.

The instant the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent hit the ground, a tall, slender figure in black darted out of the woods.

It was Zhu Zhuqing.

Noticing the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent suddenly fall, she knitted her willow-leaf brows slightly and was about to go down to investigate.

Just then, she happened to catch sight of a figure nearby out of the corner of her eye.

Black hair, black eyes, a tall build, and a noble aura.

"Senior?"

Zhu Zhuqing froze in place, her mind utterly blank.

"Everyone, fucking hurry up! Don't let that beast get away!"

Suddenly, a deep, powerful voice rang out behind her.

Then several figures emerged one after another.

It was Zhao Wuji.

Zhao Wuji's face was pale, and a thick layer of bandages wrapped his chest. The Shrek students followed behind him.

Among them were Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.

Unlike their lively selves the day before, both now looked pale and listless.

Zhao Wuji spotted the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent lying on the ground. His face lit up, and he hurried forward to examine it.

The serpent's body was still warm, and its scales were intact. It had merely fainted, presumably falling from the air after something frightened it.

"As long as it's not dead."

Zhao Wuji breathed a sigh of relief.

They had searched for most of the day before finding a Soul Beast suitable for Oscar. If it escaped just like that, who knew how many moons would pass before they found another suitable one?

Besides, he was still injured.

"Oscar, hurry over and finish this..."

Before Zhao Wuji could finish, he caught sight of a figure he would never forget for the rest of his life.

It's him!

Zhao Wuji's eyes widened, cold sweat pouring down as his short, stocky body began trembling uncontrollably.

Fucking hell, the Star Dou Great Forest was so vast! Why did we have to run into this god of calamity?!

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun followed Zhao Wuji's gaze. A chill ran down their spines, and their legs shook.

Had their legs not lost all strength, they would have dearly loved to turn around and leave that very instant.

"S-Senior, long time no see. Have you been well?"

Zhao Wuji forced himself to speak, his tone fawning.

Hearing himself addressed as "Senior," Tang Tianlin frowned slightly.

He was only sixteen this year. Being called "Senior" by someone several twelve-year cycles older than him always felt somewhat strange.

Just then, Tang San and Xiao Wu noticed the commotion and came over to investigate.

"Why is it you lot again?"

Xiao Wu planted both hands on her hips and demanded indignantly.

Yanyan was at a critical stage of absorbing her Soul Ring. These people showing up here definitely meant no good.

Zhao Wuji gave an awkward smile and bent at the waist, adopting an exceedingly humble attitude:

"Sorry. We were chasing this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent and ended up here, inadvertently disturbing you all. Please accept my apologies."

"We'll take this beast away right now. We absolutely won't disturb any of you."

With that, he lifted his eyes to signal Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun to step forward.

"Well..."

Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun exchanged a glance, neither daring to approach.

Without Tang Tianlin's permission, they did not dare move a muscle.

"Wait!"

Just then, an aged yet vigorous voice came from deep within the woods.

Immediately afterward, two figures passed through the dense bushes, appearing one after the other.

In front was an elderly woman, her silver hair pinned up with meticulous care and a serpent-headed staff in her hand.

Following behind her was a short-haired girl of about fifteen or sixteen. Her features were rather striking, and her pale purple fitted outfit perfectly accentuated her curvaceous figure.

Seeing more people arrive, Zhao Wuji immediately grew wary.

Soul Masters burning, killing, and plundering one another during Soul Hunting was a common occurrence.

Moreover, the serpent-headed staff in this person's hand gave him an extremely familiar feeling.

Chao Tianxiang surveyed their surroundings, her gaze pausing briefly on Zhao Wuji.

A Soul Saint, injured. Nothing to worry about.

Her eyes swept over Tang San and Xiao Wu, and she nodded slightly. Merely Soul Elders.

Finally, her gaze settled on Tang Tianlin.

In an instant, every hair on Chao Tianxiang's body stood on end. Her Martial Soul trembled frantically within her, and cold sweat trickled down her forehead.

"Grandma?"

Noticing something amiss with her grandmother, Meng Yiran asked quietly.

Chao Tianxiang did not answer. She merely pulled her granddaughter farther behind her and, ignoring Zhao Wuji entirely, addressed Tang Tianlin with a light smile:

"Young friend, my name is Chao Tianxiang. This Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent is prey I have been pursuing for three days."

"It still bears the wounds I left on its abdomen and wings. I hope you can accommodate us, young friend."

Hearing this, Zhao Wuji's expression shifted.

No wonder her Martial Soul had felt somewhat familiar. She was actually the legendary Peerless Dragon Granny.

Under ordinary circumstances, he would not have feared Chao Tianxiang alone.

But now he was injured and had a group of students with him. He truly did not wish to make an enemy of someone like her.

After all, if Snake Granny was here, Dragon Duke was surely nearby.

Yet the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent lay right there on the ground, Oscar's third Soul Ring within reach.

He had spent ages chasing this beast into this area with great difficulty. With success so close at hand, how could he willingly yield it to someone else?

At that thought, Zhao Wuji steeled himself and said, "Senior Chao Tianxiang, surely that isn't quite right?"

"We've also been chasing this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent for a long time and put in considerable effort. This student of mine happens to need his third Soul Ring as well."

"When it comes to ownership, we should have a share in this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent too."

"On what grounds?!"

Meng Yiran stepped forward angrily. "We clearly found this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent first! And now you barge in halfway through and want a share of the feast? Where in the world would you find such an easy bargain?"

Being contradicted to his face by a young girl darkened Zhao Wuji's expression.

Normally, with his temper, how could he tolerate a junior speaking to him like that?

But today he was in the wrong to begin with, and with Tang Tianlin present, he could only force himself to swallow his anger.

"Enough."

Tang Tianlin suddenly spoke. "Since Granny Snake found this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent first, it naturally belongs to her."

Chao Tianxiang's face lit up at his words. Solemnly cupping her fist, she said, "You judge wisely, young friend. You have my thanks."

She had already prepared for the worst.

After all, although Zhao Wuji was injured, he was still a Soul Saint, and he had numbers on his side.

If they truly fought, she would most likely have to give way with her granddaughter in tow.

Meng Yiran was stunned for a moment too, then smiled. "Thank you, big brother!"

At that moment, her favorable impression of Tang Tianlin soared.

He was handsome and reasonable, goodness knew how much better than that dark-faced brute.

"Teacher Zhao..."

Watching the Soul Ring that had been within his grasp about to slip away, Oscar could not help growing anxious.

"Shut up. If we lose this Soul Ring, can't we just find another?"