Tang San first analyzed the logic and advantages of their formation, then explained the Soul Beasts and small animals they had encountered along the way.
By the time he finished, Oscar and Ma Hongjun were gazing at him with faces full of admiration.
How old was Little San? Yet when he analyzed those small animals and Soul Beasts, he listed their details as though counting treasures in his own home.
Ning Rongrong felt the same. She knew most of this came from the comprehensive guide to Soul Beasts and Soul Ring theory Li Changsheng had given him, but being able to recite it backward was no small feat.
"Third Brother is amazing, hehe!"
Xiao Wu watched Tang San speak with easy confidence, a silly grin on her face and laughter in her eyes.
Tang San did not speak loudly, but the entire team could hear him. Even Zhao Wuji at the rear glanced at him in surprise before finally turning his gaze toward Li Changsheng beside him.
"Tang San really does credit to your teaching. Coming back to the Star Dou Great Forest is like coming home for him!"
Zhao Wuji could not come up with particularly cultured words, but this praise alone was enough to show his recognition of Li Changsheng.
Li Changsheng merely smiled faintly. Tang San really did work hard at his studies.
"Roar!!"
"Something's happening! Stay alert!"
Just then, a cry came from the air not far away, and Zhao Wuji immediately ordered everyone to stay on guard.
"Little Qing, sorry for the trouble, but take a look!"
Thud! Thud!
Zhu Zhuqing abruptly pushed off with her feet. With Hell Civet possessing her, she flashed repeatedly between the tall trees.
"It's a Soul Beast, a snake-type Soul Beast! It has pale red wings, a red crest, and a fan-shaped tail!"
"A snake, pale red wings... it's a Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent! And judging by Little Qing's description alone, its age should be somewhere around thirteen hundred to eighteen hundred years! If Little Ao can kill it, its Soul Ring will very likely grant a flight-type Soul Skill!"
"Little San, you're incredible! What are we waiting for? Let's hunt it!"
Zhao Wuji walked up beside Tang San and clapped him on the shoulder, speaking with satisfaction. "Good lad. Since you know so much about it, you'll command this hunt!"
"Understood!"
"Fatty, your Martial Soul is Evil Fire Phoenix, so it has some suppressive effect on the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. Rongrong, give Little Qing a boost. Mubai, adapt as needed!"
"Haha, here I come!"
"Martial Soul Avatar Armor, possess!"
As Martial Soul Avatar Armor covered both his arms, Ma Hongjun leaped up. Red light flashed in his eyes, and scorching fireballs kept gathering in his mouth.
Bang, bang, bang!
Several fireballs all skimmed past the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent and struck the trees, while the serpent seized the opportunity to fly skyward.
"Uh... a mistake, just a mistake!"
"Seven treasures turn, bringing forth glazed light. First: strength!"
Whoosh-
Pink light shot straight into Zhu Zhuqing's body. Her Soul Mark flashed, and her sharp claws gleamed coldly.
"Hell Stab!"
Zhu Zhuqing shot into the air. "Get down here!"
"Hiss, hiss!"
Unexpectedly, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent suddenly turned its head and spat a cloud of seven-colored mist from its mouth. Zhu Zhuqing instantly lost her strength and fell toward the ground.
"Zhu Zhuqing!"
Dai Mubai could spare no thought for anything else. After activating White Tiger Possession, he climbed a nearby tree, then lunged toward Zhu Zhuqing and caught her in his arms.
"Thank goodness, I caught her!"
"It's fine. The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent isn't venomous, but it has a numbing effect. Little Qing should only be temporarily paralyzed."
After explaining, Tang San looked toward the sky. The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent had not fled outright. After knocking Zhu Zhuqing down, it had assumed these people's simulated strength was relatively weak and had begun considering killing them instead.
Upon hearing that the mist was not poisonous, Dai Mubai instinctively glanced at Zhu Zhuqing in his arms.
She was looking at him shyly, a faint blush coloring her pretty face.
"Ahem!"
Dai Mubai hurriedly helped Zhu Zhuqing stand, then walked aside on his own. Their relationship was still strained, and it would be bad if he made her dislike him even more.
"If you really care, don't give up."
Just then, Zhu Zhuqing spoke softly from nearby, though she did not face Dai Mubai and instead spoke with her back to him.
"You..."
Watching her retreating back, Dai Mubai's lips curved upward slightly. Yes, I have to persevere. I won't give up!
"Then let me do it!"
Martial Soul Avatar Armor, possess!
As deep blue Martial Soul Avatar Armor covered his entire arm, Tang San released his Blue Silver Grass.
"Go! Split!"
The Blue Silver Grass in midair suddenly divided into several strands, then continuously interwove into a great blue net.
"Blue Silver Strangulation Net!"
"Hiss, hiss!"
The completely unprepared Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent was caught outright. Strengthened by three life-type Soul Beasts, the Blue Silver Grass displayed its toughness at that moment.
"Drain!"
Firmly ensnared, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent had no ability to resist. The Blue Silver Grass touching it continuously drained its stamina until it lost the ability to fly and crashed heavily to the ground.
"Finally dealt with it!"
"Little San, you really came through! Your Blue Silver Grass is seriously strong!"
Dai Mubai raised his thumb without hesitation. It was not that he had not considered attacking, but the snake's surface looked extremely smooth, making it very difficult to catch without killing it.
It was the same principle as picking up a bar of soap soaked in water.
"Not bad. I thought I'd have to act myself. It's good that you could handle it yourselves!"
"Catch. Stab down through its crest, and you can destroy its entire brain for a one-hit kill."
Zhao Wuji stepped forward to examine it and discovered that the snake had actually been knocked unconscious by its fall from the sky. He picked it up and tossed it to Oscar.
At those words, excitement flashed in Oscar's eyes. His Third Soul Ring!
Drawing a dagger, Oscar aimed at its skull and was about to stab down.
"Stop!"
Just as the dagger was about to descend, an old woman's voice rang out, forcibly bringing Oscar's hand to a halt.
"Who's there!"
Zhao Wuji stepped forward to shield Oscar, staring solemnly at the dense woods nearby.
Before long, two figures, one old and one young, slowly emerged.
Upon seeing their faces, Tang San blurted out, "Snake Granny of the Peerless Dragon Snake?!"
"What?"
"Oh? You recognize this old woman?"
Zhao Wuji glanced at Tang San in astonishment. How did this kid know everything? Had she not admitted it, Zhao Wuji really would not have recognized her.
"Ahem, just luck, just luck."
"So it's Snake Granny. I am the Immovable Wisdom King, Zhao Wuji. My respects!"
Damn it, this fellow doesn't look as though he plans to return that snake!
Seeing Zhao Wuji firmly blocking Oscar, Snake Granny's heart sank. He clearly had no intention of returning the Soul Beast.
"We've been pursuing this Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent for a long time too. Its belly still bears the wounds we left!"
"Would you be willing to return it to us?"
At those words, Li Changsheng walked beside Zhao Wuji and said calmly, "Senior Snake Granny, even without us, whether you could have caught it is still unknown. But now we've caught it, and the wounds you left are also there. Why not follow Soul Master rules and let it duel your granddaughter?"
As Li Changsheng spoke, he pointed at Luo Sanpao by his feet.
"Huh?! You want me to fight a dog? Are you mad?"
Before Snake Granny could speak, Meng Yiran objected first. Making her fight a dog-what was that if not an insult?
"This is my Martial Soul. Although my cultivation is at Soul King level, I won't use any Soul Skills and will fight you with combat techniques alone. How about it?"
Soul King?!
Snake Granny could not help looking Li Changsheng over. She discovered that he was outrageously young, seemingly not even twenty-five. Had he already reached Soul King cultivation?
Even so, she did not agree with Li Changsheng's suggestion and insisted:
"You're going too far. According to Soul Master rules, that young fellow should fight my granddaughter!"
"That won't really work, will it? He's a Food System Soul Master!"
Another level-thirty Food System Soul Master?
What academy is this, with so many geniuses?
Snake Granny could no longer remain calm. This Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's age was just right for a Third Soul Ring. How old was Oscar, to have already reached level thirty? And he was a Food System Soul Master at that.
"Ahem!"
Just then, Li Changsheng suddenly coughed a few times and signaled Zhao Wuji with his eyes. The latter immediately understood.
"Never mind all that. Let this kid fight your granddaughter! If he wins, it's ours. If he loses, it's yours!"
Zhao Wuji pulled Tang San out and shoved him toward Meng Yiran.
"You!"
"Fight! Soul Master rules!"
Zhao Wuji looked like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, leaving Snake Granny speechless. She could only let the two of them fight.
"Tang San, don't use your third Soul Skill, lest this senior call it unfair."
"Understood!"
Standing opposite Tang San, Meng Yiran licked her lips. The Serpent Cane in her hand radiated dazzling light.
As two yellow Soul Rings appeared beneath Meng Yiran's feet, Tang San likewise began summoning his Martial Soul across from her.
"Martial Soul Avatar Armor, possess!"
Sky-blue armor encased his entire arm. Blue Silver Grass floated around him like willow fluff, with two Soul Rings, one yellow and one purple, hovering nearby.
"A thousand-year Second Soul Ring? And what is that armor? Why do his Soul Rings look like that?"
At last, they noticed what they had overlooked. Why did Tang San's Martial Soul have a different style from Meng Yiran's?
"I haven't summoned my Third Soul Ring. In the interest of fairness, please begin!"
"Hmph!"
Meng Yiran showed no hesitation, leveling her Serpent Cane and charging straight at Tang San.
"First Soul Skill, Snake Blade!"
The Serpent Cane flicked its forked tongue and thrust toward Tang San.
He did not dodge. Turning his palm over, he coated it in milky-white light.
"Mysterious Jade Hand!"
He seized the snake's tongue, and no matter how Meng Yiran tugged, she could not pull it back.
"What kind of bizarre skill is this?"
"Blue Silver Thread Pull!"
While his opponent could not break free, the Blue Silver Grass beside Tang San instantly caught Meng Yiran. Using its pulling force, he rushed straight toward her, charging far faster than Snake Lance could retract.
Bang!
A single kick sent Meng Yiran flying.