Early the next morning, when dawn had barely broken, everyone from Shrek finished packing and set off on time.
The group walked through the morning dew. About an hour later, a lush sea of forest stretched before their eyes, its edges nowhere in sight-they had arrived at the Star Dou Great Forest.
Once they stepped inside, cool, damp air washed over them, dispelling the fatigue of their journey. Ancient trees towered overhead, their thick branches crisscrossing and blotting out the sky and sun. Sunlight could only filter through gaps in the leaves, scattering tiny, dappled patches of light and shadow. The roars of Soul Beasts sounded intermittently through the woods, some low, others shrill, echoing through the deep forest with a primal, dangerous air.
Zhao Wuji's expression grew utterly serious as he warned them in a low voice, "Listen up, all of you! The Star Dou Great Forest is far more dangerous than you imagine. There are countless Soul Beasts here, and an attack could come at any moment! No one is to move more than twenty meters away from me. Rongrong and Oscar especially-you two must stay right beside me, not a step away. Understood?"
"Understood!" everyone answered in unison, their expressions solemn.
Zhao Wuji ordered, "Dai Mubai, you're the strongest. Clear the way up front! Watch out for vines and hidden dangers. Everyone else, follow carefully and stay alert!"
Dai Mubai answered, and his Martial Soul possessed him as he spoke. His frame swelled, and he led the way deeper into the forest. The others followed close behind, treading over thick fallen leaves as they carefully threaded their way between the ancient trees.
After walking for about two hours, they found a relatively open spot beside a huge boulder to rest. Everyone took out the dry rations they had brought, replenishing their strength while easing their taut nerves.
Just then, Zhao Wuji's expression abruptly changed. He snapped his head up and swiftly turned his gaze toward the depths of the forest to their right, shouting sharply, "Everyone, get up! Something is approaching at high speed!"
Dai Mubai shot forward in a single stride, placing himself at the front of the group. The others dared not delay either. They each took their positions and summoned their Martial Souls, their Soul Rings flashing as they stared toward the source of the sound, braced for battle.
"Zhu Zhuqing!" Zhao Wuji ordered in a low voice. "Get up a tree and see what it is!"
Zhu Zhuqing did not answer. Her figure merely flickered as she lightly leaped onto a towering tree nearby. Her sharp claws dug deep into the rough trunk, and once she had steadied herself, her deep blue eyes fixed on the distance as she observed carefully.
"It seems to be a..." There was some hesitation in Zhu Zhuqing's voice.
"No 'seems.' No subjective judgments! Say what you see!" Lin Kong interrupted her coldly.
Zhu Zhuqing froze briefly. After a half-second pause, she continued her report. "A winged, serpentine Soul Beast, flying low, about three meters above the ground. There's a bright red fleshy crest on its head. It's extremely fast!"
"A Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent!" Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up, and he immediately identified it, unable to hide the excitement in his voice. "That's an extremely rare Soul Beast, and the Soul Skill it grants leans toward speed. Oscar, you brat, you've got excellent luck! Keep tracking its movements!"
"Yes!" Zhu Zhuqing answered, her gaze following the rapidly moving figure closely. "It's approaching us. Its flight path is bobbing up and down. Something's wrong with its balance, and it's gradually slowing down!"
At her words, a vicious glint flashed through Zhao Wuji's eyes. He swept his arm out and declared forcefully, "Keep your presence concealed. I'll handle this!"
Shrek Academy had several teachers, but Zhao Wuji was the only one who had accompanied them on this Soul Ring hunt. That meant he had to remain with the group without straying a step-if the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent detected the ambush in advance and turned to flee deeper into the forest, Zhao Wuji would not dare pursue it too far, for fear that something might happen to the group.
Everyone, who had been itching to try their hand and rubbing their fists eagerly, reined themselves in.
Before long, the sound of something cutting through the air drew closer. When the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent entered their sight, a cold gleam flashed through Zhao Wuji's eyes, and he suddenly struck!
He let out a thunderous roar. The overwhelming pressure of a Soul Saint swept out, filling the air and crushing down mercilessly. The speeding Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent shuddered, knocked straight out of the air to slam heavily into the ground.
At that critical moment, the fleshy crest atop the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's head erupted with dazzling red light. Pure Soul Power surged from the crest and swiftly coursed through its entire body. Twisting its winged form, it had barely struggled up from the ground before it tried to turn around and flee for its life into the depths of the forest.
"Trying to run? Too late!" Zhao Wuji snorted coldly and activated his Third Soul Skill. "Gravity Enhancement!"
Invisible gravity descended. The Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent's body abruptly sank, its speed plummeting. Even flying became incredibly sluggish.
Zhao Wuji's Fourth Soul Skill followed immediately. "Position Tracking!"
First, a Soul Ring flew away from Zhao Wuji's body and settled over the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. Then Zhao Wuji made a high leap and appeared beside it.
For a mighty Soul Saint going all out against a Thousand-Year Soul Beast, capturing it was child's play to begin with. With this chain of Soul Skills, he had the astonishingly fast Soul Beast completely in his grasp in the blink of an eye.
Zhao Wuji reached out and seized the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent firmly at its vital spot, seven inches below its head. No matter how it twisted and struggled, it could not break free in the slightest. Then he curled a finger on his other hand and lightly flicked its bright red fleshy crest.
With a soft smack, the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent shuddered and went limp, knocked unconscious on the spot. If he had not needed to keep it for Oscar's Soul Ring, Zhao Wuji would probably have long since smashed it to pieces with one swipe of his bear paw.
"Fantastic!" Oscar almost jumped with excitement, his face filled with wild delight as he scrambled toward Zhao Wuji at a trot.
Holding the unconscious Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, Zhao Wuji took a sharp short sword from the Storage Soul Tool at his waist and handed it to Oscar, saying in a low voice, "All right, do it. Kill it, and this Soul Beast is yours."
Oscar accepted the short sword with trembling hands. His palms were already covered in sweat from his overwhelming excitement. Gripping the hilt tightly, he looked at the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent, even his breathing growing rapid.
But just as he was about to act, a hoarse, icy voice shattered the forest's quiet:
"Stop!"
Hearing the voice, Lin Kong said inwardly, Sure enough... what was bound to come has come.
Two people leaped out of the forest and appeared before the Shrek group: an old woman and a young girl. The former held a Snake-Head Cane, with six Soul Rings revolving around her. The girl's Martial Soul was also a Snake-Head Cane, but she had only two Soul Rings. Clearly, she was the one who needed a Third Soul Ring.
Everyone from Shrek was startled at first, but once they clearly saw the Soul Rings surrounding the newcomers, they immediately relaxed. A Soul Saint could handle a Soul Emperor with ease. After all, the increase in strength brought by the Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar, was simply too terrifying.
Shrek felt reassured, while those opposite them naturally had their hearts hanging in suspense.
Just like that, the atmosphere grew delicate!